Some things are essential ingredients to summer in the country — cutoffs, a swimmin’ hole, the perfect song on the radio — all of which make appearances in Kenny Chesney’s “Summertime.” His upbeat number draws openly on simplicity, nostalgia and romance, the way country songs do best. In the video, he breaks down his three-pronged approach to the season in a little speech: “Summertime. It means so many things. It’s tailgating in the parking lots, bein’ free and livin’ easy.”
Top 10 Summer Anthems
To celebrate our love of all things summer, TIME rounded up a list of songs perfect for any BBQ, road trip or beach day.
‘Summertime,’ Kenny Chesney
Full List
Summer, Summer, Summertime
- ‘Summertime,’ Kenny Chesney
- ‘Endless Summer Nights,’ Richard Marx
- ‘Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,’ Brian Hyland
- ‘Surfin’ USA,’ The Beach Boys
- ‘Summer Nights,’ Grease Cast
- ‘Cruel Summer,’ Bananarama
- ‘Summer of ’69,’ Bryan Adams
- ‘Summertime,’ DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
- ‘Summertime,’ Billie Holiday (and Others)
- ‘Summer in the City,’ The Lovin’ Spoonful