[2025] A roundup of classic hits and popular summer anthems in Western music to listen to in August

I Fought The LawThe Clash

The Clash – I Fought the Law (Official Video)

A song that feels great to listen to while driving in the summer! I probably have that image because it was used in a Nissan commercial.

This track is famous as a single by the 1970s British punk band The Clash, but it originally comes from the American ’50s band The Crickets.

It’s also been covered by Green Day.

Their version is cool too, and I recommend it!

Under The BoardwalkThe Drifters

The Drifters – Under the Boardwalk

Known in Japan under the title “Nagisa no Boardwalk,” this song is one of the signature tracks by the group that featured R&B singer Ben E.

King, famed for the hit “Stand by Me.” With its cool-sounding guitars and strings that evoke midsummer beaches and poolside scenes, the song was later covered by many bands and singers, including the Rolling Stones and Yukadan.

TempleThe Fugees

The Fugees – Temple

Are you familiar with the movie “Sister Act 2”? To summarize briefly, it’s about troubled kids who turn their lives around by singing in a church choir.

Lauryn Hill, who played one of the troubled girls in the film, was a member of the 90s hip-hop group the Fugees.

Compared to today’s polished hip-hop, the Fugees’ music admittedly has a rough-around-the-edges feel, but it’s groovy with a lot of tracks that naturally make your body move to the rhythm.

This song has a reggae vibe, so it’s one you especially want to listen to in the summer!

Time Of The SeasonThe Zombies

The Zombies – Time Of The Season (with lyrics)

Known in Japan by the title “Futari no Season,” this song is a signature track by The Zombies, a rock band formed in the UK in 1962.

Its organ-centered arrangement still sounds cool and timeless today, and it was even used in a Nissan commercial in 2004.

In the lyrics, the “season when love rises” likely refers to the height of summer, doesn’t it?

Don’t Be ShyTiësto & Karol G

Tiësto & Karol G – Don’t Be Shy (Official Music Video)

“Don’t Be Shy” is a track by world-renowned Dutch DJ Tiësto featuring Colombian singer-songwriter Karol G.

Released as a single in August 2021, it reached No.

4 on the U.

S.

Billboard Dance chart.

In the music video, Karol G appears in an outfit reminiscent of Egypt’s Cleopatra, creating a vibe that evokes the heat of the desert.

Be sure to check it out.

Can’t Help Falling In LoveUB40

UB40 CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE

UB40 is a band that emerged in late-1970s Birmingham, where reggae and punk intersected.

With reggae and ska trending among punks at the time, they enjoyed overwhelming support from British youth from their debut.

As you know, this song is a cover of a massive hit by Elvis Presley, one of the most iconic singers of the ’50s.

It was also used as a movie theme song, reached number one on the charts in both the UK and the US, and became a signature track for UB40.

Tiki takaVacra

Vacra – Tiki Taka

“Tiki taka” is a perfect Western pop track for August, featuring a Latin-inspired rhythm that went viral on TikTok.

With lyrics themed around talent and conviction, it captures the fiery emotions of an artist on stage, and its distinctive beat is so catchy it’ll make you want to start dancing.

The repeatedly used phrases in the song are also memorable—just one listen and they’ll stick in your head.

Even when it’s hard to go out, listening to “Tiki taka” will give you a liberating, party-like feeling in your heart.