It’s my favorite day of the year, the day when my summer begins and I can bask in the glow of all things possible. I dictate my schedule and go at my pace while writing and squeezing as much living as I can out of the two and a half months on the calendar in front of me.

For the past 12 years or so, I’ve played the same playlist to properly inaugurate summer, then I will abandon it until the following year. Each song below will make its way onto playlist rotations this season, but not in this specific order, which makes it as special as the occasion itself.

Song 1: Take Me Home by Phil Collins (extended version). The harbinger of summer, I first stumbled upon this longer version of the mid-1980s hit about 15 years ago. It’s the first song I listen after I am officially dismissed from the school year.

Song 2: Now That The Summer’s Here by Michael Franks. Another song I found by accident while listening to the Smooth Jazz Music Choice channel years ago, it is a light and airy song as relaxing as summer itself.

Song 3: Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. How can you go wrong with this modern remake of Kool and the Gang’s Summer Madness, another wonderful song of the season.

Song 4: Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly and the Family Stone. “End of the spring / And here she comes back / Hi, hi, hi, hi there / Them summer days / Those summer days…” She’s back, baby! Summer!

Song 5: Summer by War. My words cannot do this song justice. Listen to it and I believe you’ll agree with me that THIS is the song of summer.

Song 6: Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra. My fickle friend, summer, she never stays around long enough, just like summer winds. Sinatra’s classic is a reminder to relish each and every second of summer.

Song 7: (Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay by Otis Redding. Otis knows what he’s talking about in this song. His lyrics and melody remind me to take life slow while watching the tides and the boats come and go at the Inlet, which is MY dock of the bay.

Song 8: Summer Breeze by Seals and Croft. It’s just before dusk. The warm summer breeze blows through the leaves and seduces me with its one-of-a-kind aroma while lightning bugs pattern the air with their flashes of light. Innocence and freedom, light and life. Summer is here.

As George Costanza would say, it’s the Summer of Jill, and it will be fantastic!

What’s your favorite song of summer and why? Leave me a comment as I’d love to know!

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you are here.

With light and love,

Jill

“Play, Playlist, Play!” was posted on jillocone.com on June 21, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.