DAILY DIRT: Breaking down the best summer songs, decade by decade

Daily Dirt for Friday, May 2, 2025

If pressed, from all of the following songs, my personal faves (in no particular order) would be “Brown-Eyed Girl,” “Summer Song,” “Alone,” “Viva La Vida” and “All Summer Long” … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,272 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Ober the years, the summer months have provided us with some memorable music.

I’ve picked by two favorite summer songs from each completed decade, beginning with the 1950s. Narrowing some of those decades down to just two songs was difficult. And in a couple of case (are you listening 1970s and 1990s?) it was hard to find two songs worthy of inclusion.

Here are the results of the aforementioned research:

1950s

“Sleepwalk,” by Santo and Johnny (1959): This was a No. 1 hit for Brooklyn brothers Santo and Johnny Farina. Its steel guitar melody brought to mind gorgeous island evenings. Fittingly, the song went to the top of the charts the same year Hawaii gained statehood.

“Summertime,” by Sam Cooke (1958): No singer, past or present, has ever brought the feeling to this song like the incredible Sam Cooke. The background vocals add an ominous feel to this timeless recording.

1960s

“Brown-Eyed Girl,” by Van Morrison (1966): One of the greatest songs of the rock era — summertime or otherwise. Morrison’s rendition remains on a wide genre of playlists even today. At the time, the lyrics “makin’ love in the green grass” were considered way too racy for many stations.

“Summer Song,” by Chad and Jeremy (1964): Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde gave us what Dick Clark once said was “one of the prettiest songs ever written”. I find it impossible to believe anyone could not like this soft-rock classic.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: For Steve to leave out the Chairman of the Board and “Summer Wind” (1966) is criminal. JRG

1970s

“Saturday In The Park,” by Chicago (1972): Chicago provided the perfect’ ’70s mellowness on this summertime smash. Kudos to lead singer Robert Lamm.

“Hot Stuff,” by Donna Summer (1979): One of the premier disco anthems, accented by the guitar work of Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of Steely Dan/Doobie Brothers fame. By the way, the late Donna Summer’s real name was LaDonna Adrian Gaines.

1980s

“Alone,” by Heart (1987): For those of you who are regular readers of The Daily Dirt, you know of my 38-year love affair with this song. Outside of Rod Stewart songs, this Heart classic is at the top of my personal playlist — and always will be. Many a summer night in 1987 I spent listening to Ann and Nancy Wilson belt out this magnificent work.

“Vacation,” by the Go Gos (1982): A true summer anthem.  It’s one of Belinda Carlisle’s best performances and its team-waterskiing video is one of greatest video clips of all time. “If you look at our eyes, we’re all so drunk,” Jane Wiedlin said years later. 

1990s

“Ice Ice Baby,” by Vanilla Ice (1990): Admittedly, the 1990s were a strain to find songs worthy of inclusion for this list. Sure, Vanilla Ice’s repetition was popular way back when, but even then it got tiresome.

“Steal My Sunshine,” by Len (1999): This song included the line “my mind was thugged, all laced and bugged, all twisted round and beat.” At least it had a bit more creativity than “Ice Ice Baby”.

2000s

“Viva La Vida,” by Coldplay (2008): The song is said to have been inspired by historical events and figures, particularly the French Revolution. Whatever was behind it, the finished product was outstanding and earned Coldplay the Grammy for song of the year after reaching No. 1 in both the U.S. and United Kingdom. This incredible entry, plus the following number by Kid Rock, would seem to award the 2000s as the premier decade for best summer songs.

“All Summer Long,” by Kid Rock (2008):The Kid’s biggest hit samples “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd and “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon, and also had a great, great video.

2010s

“Uptown Funk,” by Bruno Mars (2014): I’m bending my own rules here a bit. This song actually actually was released early in the fall, but its upbeat and energetic nature caused critics to categorize it as a “summer tune”. Good enough for me.

“Call Me Maybe,” by Carly Rae Jepsen (2011): The perfect late-summer song and, I think, the only offering from a Canadian entry today.

2. Did you know (Part 350)

That the oldest living member of the original cast of “The Andy Griffith Show” who was a major character is Ron Howard, who played Opie Taylor. Howard is 71.

That the oldest living member of the original Monkees is Micky Dolenz, who is now 80. Dolenz, in fact, is the only living member period. R.I.P. Peter, Dave and Mike.

That the oldest living member of the original cast of “Happy Days” is Marion Ross, who played the role of Marion Cunningham (Mrs. C). She is 96.

That the oldest living member of the MLB Hall of Fame is Luis Aparicio, who turned 91 this week.

That the oldest living member of the NFL Hall of Fame is Marv Levy, who is 99.

3. Stephen A. Smith took a break earlier this week from his ESPN job to shoot a crooked nurse in a recent episode of soap opera “General Hospital”.

Smith has shown up in more than 40 episodes of the long-running soap opera, first making a cameo as a reporter in 2007 before taking on the recurring role of “Brick” from 2016 onward. “But the latest appearance of Brick has a lot of fans talking,” writes Joe Price on complex.com.

On the April 28 episode of the ABC series, Smith’s character stopped by the hospital to save the life of mob boss Sonny, portrayed by Maurice Benard. A woman disguised as a nurse was seconds away from injecting something into Sonny’s bloodstream when Brick showed up and asked to see some ID. 

“She briefly played it cool, but he knew exactly what was coming as she pulled a gun on him,” according to Price. “Without saying a word, Brick shot from the hip and took her out.”

Smith arguably had the best overall line.

“Yeah, I got a body here you guys might be interested in,” Stephen A. said after shooting the nurse.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — If, for some reason, you have never heard “Sleepwalk” by Santo and Johnny, I would highly suggest giving it a try. 

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Will Stephen A. Smith be our next celebrity president?