[2025] Songs You’ll Want to Listen to This Summer! Popular and Recommended Classic Rock Tracks from the West

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and have been contributing to music magazines and web media for over 15 years. Although Western music is my main field, I always strive to stay curious with the motto, “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in a band, where I was a bassist responsible for songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve performed on include bass, guitar, and piano. I resumed piano lessons after turning 40 and have been continuing ever since!
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerWakachan Araki
I started playing guitar in middle school and focused on band activities during my student years. I’ve been a hobbyist Vocaloid producer for over 15 years. After entering the workforce, I gained experience in various roles, including event sound engineering and videography/photography. As a writer, I’ve contributed introduction articles for music and manga websites, and in 2022 I had the opportunity to write the bonus liner notes for IA SUPER BEST. My specialties are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Spring, summer, autumn, winter—many music lovers keep playlists of songs they want to listen to when each season comes around.

In this article, under the theme “Rock Songs to Listen to in Summer,” we’ve compiled recommended summer tracks spanning the 1960s to the 2020s—from recent hits and fan favorites to timeless classics.

Of course, “rock” covers a wide range of styles, so you’re sure to find summer songs you’ll love.

Be sure to check it out and enjoy it as your soundtrack for this summer!

[2025] Songs You’ll Want to Hear This Summer! Popular and Recommended Classic Western Rock (21–30)

SummerSUM41

Summer

SummerSUM41

Sum 41, one of Canada’s iconic rock bands, is known for actively taking part in summer music events, and their summer-themed song is “Summer.” It’s a track about a broken friendship.

The word “summer” never actually appears in the lyrics, but many listeners can’t help imagining it as a story about a boy on summer vacation.

Despite the melancholic theme, the song itself is fast-paced and energetic, making it perfect for a drive.

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Wait Till Summer Comes AlongThe Kinks

The Kinks – Wait Till Summer Comes Along

Wait Till Summer Comes AlongThe Kinks

A pop tune that refreshingly captures the eager anticipation of summer’s arrival.

Featured on The Kinks’ 1965 EP “Kwyet Kinks,” this gem showcases the band’s diversity and musical range.

Its lyrics strikingly shift focus from the cold and loneliness of winter to the warmth of summer and the hope of reunion, while Dave Davies’s soft, wistful vocals further elevate the song’s mood.

Packed with the charms of a band emblematic of the 1960s British Invasion, this track is recommended for anyone who wants to savor an optimistic feeling of new beginnings as the seasons change.

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[2025] Songs You’ll Want to Hear This Summer! Popular and Recommended Classic Western Rock Tracks (31–40)

Do I Wanna Know?Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know? (Official Video)

Do I Wanna Know?Arctic Monkeys

Here’s “Do I Wanna Know?” by the popular British rock band Arctic Monkeys.

It’s included on their fifth album, AM, released in 2013.

The lyrics express lingering feelings for a woman who turned the narrator down, and the dark melody perfectly matches that mood.

Influenced by punk, garage, and hard rock, the heavy sound is brimming with an energy that blows away the summer heat!

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Harbor LightsBoz Scaggs

Harbor Lights

Harbor LightsBoz Scaggs

Let me introduce Harbor Lights, whose jacket photo shot by the sea is also striking.

It’s a song by American singer Boz Scaggs, and its sound blends elements of jazz and rock.

The lyrics, on the other hand, depict someone on a foreign shore, reflecting on their homeland.

Though not much is explicitly revealed, the poignantly melancholy atmosphere resonates with listeners.

Familiar place names appear in the song, so keep an ear out for them as well.

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Summer BabyJonas Brothers

Jonas Brothers – Summer Baby (Official Lyric Video)

Summer BabyJonas Brothers

A pop tune with a buoyant beat and polished vocal work that will make you want to head out in a great mood! “Summer Baby” is a track from the Jonas Brothers’ sixth studio album, The Album, by the hugely popular American band the Jonas Brothers.

Its sophisticated pop sensibility—sure to appeal to fans of Maroon 5—and stylish vibe make it perfect for a drive.

The sibling harmonies are gorgeous, too, and just listening might leave you counting the days until summer.

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SUMMERThe Carters

SUMMER

SUMMERThe Carters

If you want to spend a romantic time, I recommend “SUMMER.” It’s a song created by The Carters, the duo formed by Beyoncé and JAY-Z.

It portrays a couple enjoying a seaside vacation, with each of them singing from male and female perspectives.

Listen closely to the back-and-forth between the two; as an actual married couple, their chemistry is perfect.

Another appealing point is the many little Easter eggs, such as the track length being exactly 4 minutes and 44 seconds—matching the title of JAY-Z’s album.

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God’s CountryBlake Shelton

Blake Shelton – God’s Country (Official Music Video)

God's CountryBlake Shelton

This is “God’s Country,” a song released in 2019 by American country singer Blake Shelton.

Blake Shelton is a singer widely recognized in the United States, having been nominated for the Grammy Awards seven times and serving as a judge on the popular American audition show The Voice.

Its slow, groovy vocal delivery is really addictive.

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