Five summer songs to listen to during a beach day

Summer is sun and beach; it’s pool and card games. For many, summer also means reunions. It’s the season when days seem to never end and the speakers play louder than at any other time. In this selection, we suggest five summer songs with a Mediterranean (and Atlantic!) flavor and summertime spirit, ranging from the most festive to the most nostalgic. Perfect to accompany you from the way to the beach to the moment you head back home with the salt still clinging to your skin.

ROSALÍA – DESPECHÁ

If there’s one song that encapsulates the moment you take off your flip-flops, tie up your hair, and decide that summer belongs to you alone, it’s Despechá. Rosalía blends merengue with a carefree, summery attitude in this track that, in just two years, has become an essential of the season. Its music video, full of Spanish costumbrismo, perfectly reflects how this song should be listened to: at the beach, under th sun.

Evangelia – Tourísta

This Greek-American artist has made her Mediterranean heritage her main musical calling card. In Tourísta, Evangelia blends danceable percussion and traditional Greek sounds with a playful lyric. Perfect for when you're sightseeing in your own city or dancing at a party somewhere in southern Europe.

Melissa Kyriakou – I Adore You (Greek Version)

In this Greek version of the song I Adore You, Cypriot artist Melissa Kyriakou brings sweetness, rhythm, and a romantic, ethereal energy. Her warm voice and pop foundation make this song the perfect soundtrack for a summer afternoon when the sun begins to set, but you’re still dancing on the sand, barefoot and light-hearted.

Thegiornalisti – Riccione

The Italian band captures in Riccione the nostalgia of a teenage summer you don’t want to end. It has that blend of pop melody with an indie touch that makes it feel like you're at the end of a coming-of-age movie. It's perfect for the moment the sun goes down and you head back to the car, still with salt on your skin and damp hair.

NAPA – Deslocado

The Azorean band NAPA came up with a more introspective, yet equally summery, proposal. Deslocado, the song that represented Portugal at Eurovision this year and is currently trending across Europe and Latin America, captures that feeling of not fully belonging—something many people living away from home especially feel in summer, when everyone else seems to return to their roots. With a soft indie base and minimalist production, it’s the kind of song to play in your headphones as you walk back from the beach alone, feeling the wind and letting summer have its quiet moments too. Or, if you're lucky enough, as you go back home.