[2025] Recommended popular melancholic summer classics in Western music

DiveLost Frequencies & Tom Gregory

Lost Frequencies & Tom Gregory – Dive (Official video)

A dance-pop masterpiece that perfectly captures the exhilaration of summer romance was born from the collaboration between Belgian artist Lost Frequencies and British singer-songwriter Tom Gregory.

Expressing profound feelings for a loved one with the passionate refrain “I want to dive in,” the track layers emotive vocals over a piano-driven house beat to stunning effect.

Released in September 2023 from the album All Stand Together, it reached No.

20 in Belgium.

It’s the perfect song for summer moments with someone special—like seaside drives or nights at a summer festival.

Summer DaysMartin Garrix feat. Macklemore & Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy

Martin Garrix feat. Macklemore & Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy – Summer Days (Official Video)

A breezy, summer romance-themed pop tune was born from an unexpected collaboration between Dutch DJ Martin Garrix, American rapper Macklemore, and Fall Out Boy’s vocalist Patrick Stump.

Skillfully blending hip-hop and funk elements beyond the bounds of EDM, the track lightly captures the exhilaration of summer and the sparkle of love.

Released in April 2019, it became a hit on charts around the world and was nominated for the Teen Choice Awards’ Choice Summer Song.

It’s the perfect song for creating summer memories, whether you’re driving by the seaside or hanging out with friends.

IslandMiley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus – Island (Official Lyric Video)

Let me introduce a deeply affecting, emotionally rich tropical ballad by Miley Cyrus that resonates at summer’s end.

Featured on her March 2023 album Endless Summer Vacation, the song stands out for its gentle sound that skillfully blends pop and reggae elements.

Anchored by the question of whether one has been left stranded on a deserted island or arrived in paradise, it portrays a complex emotional state swaying between loneliness and freedom.

The protagonist’s feelings, poised on the boundary between the end of a romance and a new beginning, are sung with aching tenderness over a mellow melody.

It’s a perfect track for quiet moments spent alone in the twilight of summer.

FirefliesOwl City

Owl City – Fireflies (Official Music Video)

This is the signature work of Owl City, the electronica project by American artist Adam Young, which captivated many listeners with its dreamy, synth-pop soundscape.

The piece was created when he was struggling with insomnia and drew inspiration from the fireflies and meteor showers he witnessed while camping in Minnesota.

Released in July 2009, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks and became a massive hit, reaching number one on charts around the world.

Its poetic lyrics, expressing a longing for the tiny lights that shine on summer nights, and its striking, 1980s-style synth lines weave a dreamlike sound that is perfect for quiet evenings or moments when you’re moved by the beauty of nature.

Lush LifeZara Larsson

Zara Larsson – Lush Life

Swedish singer-songwriter Zara Larsson made her talent known to the world when she won the audition show “Talang” at the age of 10.

Released in June 2015, this track carries a message that’s perfect for summer: don’t dwell on past relationships—live fully in the present.

The lyrics portray a protagonist who, after a summer romance ends, finds new love and moves forward positively, expressing a longing for an unbound, free way of life.

Blending tropical house and electropop, the breezy sound became a massive hit, topping the charts in Sweden for five consecutive weeks.

It’s a recommended song for anyone who wants to see the end of a romance in a positive light or savor the liberating feeling of summer.

A Little More SummertimeJason Aldean

Jason Aldean – A Little More Summertime (Official Video)

This is a gem of a ballad by Jason Aldean, a heavyweight of the country scene from Georgia, that sings of the bittersweet end of summer.

Released in July 2016 as the second single from the album “They Don’t Know,” the song delicately portrays a love lost with the close of summer, with lyrics that resonate by overlaying the end of a romance with the changing seasons.

Marking a shift from his usual country-rock sound, the track showcases a more melodic and emotional approach that reveals a new side of Aldean, and it became a major hit, reaching No.

1 on the Billboard country chart.

It’s a perfect classic for those slow moments by the seaside at summer dusk.

7 SummersMorgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen – 7 Summers

This song, released in August 2020 by Tennessee-born singer-songwriter Morgan Wallen, is a beautiful ballad that evokes nostalgia for summers past.

Blending elements of country, pop rock, and soft rock, its sweet and wistful melody resonates deeply.

The lyrics, which reflect on his youth in East Tennessee and memories with a former lover, are nostalgic yet emotionally authentic, striking a chord with many listeners.

It set the record for the biggest first-day streams for a country song on Apple Music, reached No.

6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became Wallen’s first entry into the Top 10—a milestone work.

It’s a poignant track you’ll want to listen to by the seaside as summer draws to a close.