Classic R&B songs perfect for summer: recommended popular tracks
In Japan, when summer arrives, up-tempo songs that evoke the season start appearing on the scene.
While you can see a similar trend overseas, when it comes to R&B, even if the lyrics evoke summer, the melodies don’t necessarily follow that pattern.
This time, I’ve picked out overseas R&B tracks from the perspective of “suiting summer”! I’ve selected refreshing R&B songs—perfect for summer evenings or relaxation time—across different eras, so whether you’re a fan of Western music or not, be sure to check them out!
Classic R&B songs to listen to in summer: Top 10 recommendations
SnoozeSZA
This song is by the American artist SZA, who captivates the world with a wide range of expressions grounded in R&B.
Its laid-back groove and dreamy sound are soothing—perfect for a slightly languid summer afternoon.
The song celebrates how irreplaceable time with a loved one is, and expresses a deep affection that doesn’t want to miss a single moment.
You’ll find yourself enchanted by its sweet, immersive atmosphere.
Featured on the acclaimed 2022 album “SOS,” it won Best R&B Song at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Let this melody carry you during a twilight with someone special, or as you unwind at the end of the day.
FoldedKehlani
A song by the American singer Kehlani, marked by feather-light arrangements and layered, introspective vocals.
It portrays a poised figure who, without yielding to past experiences or pressure, quietly closes one chapter and moves on to the next.
Anyone who’s stood at a crossroads in life will find it deeply relatable.
Released in June 2025, the track showcases the heightened expressive power she’s honed since the masterpiece Crash.
Listen on a summer evening at dusk, and you may feel a sense of purification—along with a gentle warmth that feels like a soft push forward.
Best PartDaniel Caesar & H.E.R.
A duet by Canada’s Daniel Caesar and America’s H.
E.
R.
, distinguished by fingerpicked acoustic guitar and their sweetly interwoven vocals.
It warms the heart with its pure expression of love, singing that the simple, everyday moments—like sharing a morning coffee—are life’s greatest treasures.
Released in August 2017, the song appears on Daniel Caesar’s album “Freudian” and H.
E.
R.
’s compilation “H.
E.
R.” It won Best R&B Performance at the 61st Grammy Awards.
Listen to it on a summer evening while relaxing with someone special, and you may find yourselves cherishing each other even more.
BodySummer Walker
A perfect track for summer nights from Summer Walker, a leading figure in the modern R&B scene.
This song is included on her acclaimed October 2019 release, Over It.
While it seems to exude a purely sensual mood, the lyrics actually carry a message of self-love—cherishing your body and embracing its allure in full.
The fact that a music video was created about a year and a half later in response to passionate fan demand shows just how deeply loved this track is.
Listen at summer dusk, as the air turns a bit cooler, and you’ll feel both mind and body gently unwind.
Put it on for a night when you want to treat yourself with care.
WaterTyla
Tyla burst onto the scene from South Africa like a shooting star.
The song that catapulted her into stardom is a track from her debut album, “Tyla”! Blending the breezy rhythms of Afrobeats with sensual R&B, the sound feels like a refreshing tonic seeping into sun-warmed skin in summer.
The lyrics portray an irrepressible passion and a longing for intimate connection, and that slightly risqué worldview is sure to make your heart skip a beat.
This record became a historic hit, marking the first entry in 55 years on the Billboard Hot 100 by a solo artist from South Africa! It’s the perfect number for relaxing on a summer evening with a slightly grown-up vibe.
PUSH 2 STARTTyla
This is a track by Tyla, the South African artist who drew global attention with her 2024 Grammy win.
Featured on the deluxe edition Tyla+, an expansion of the acclaimed album Tyla, the song explores equality in romantic relationships.
With lyrics that tell a partner, “If we’re going to start something, show your worth through actions,” the confident protagonist comes vividly to life.
Its cool, smooth sound with Amapiano influences is perfect for a summer evening drive.
Maybe the secret to the best relationships is lifting each other up.
Why not take a positive step forward, believing in your own worth, while listening to this track?
LocationKhalid
This is the debut single released in 2016 by Khalid, a singer-songwriter from the United States.
Instead of an ambiguous relationship on social media, it expresses a distinctly modern, heartfelt desire to meet in person and deepen communication.
That straightforward wish—asking for someone’s location—resonates as it rides on his soulful vocals and a laid-back beat.
The track is the lead single from the acclaimed album American Teen and was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 60th Grammy Awards.
It’s perfect for a relaxed time with someone special on a summer evening—listening together might just bring the two of you closer.