You’ve spent days planning and preparing, and finally have everything ready for your big Memorial Day bash. Burgers, skewers, and steaks are marinating and waiting for their moment to sizzle. Ingredients for cocktails and spritzers are at the ready. Appetizers and sides are in their serving-dish homes, begging to be passed and grazed and gushed about. And you didn’t forget dessert for a crowd, did you? (Don’t worry—even if you did, we’ve got you. Many times over.)
All that’s left is for you to put on some tunes, fire up the grill, and wait for the guests to arrive and enjoy themselves (don’t forget to enjoy yourself, too!).
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But perfect party playlists can be as stressful to plan as the menu. What to include? Tracks that are timely or timeless? Acoustic or electronic? And what about some Drake?
Since you’ve worked so hard on all the prep, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a collection of our favorite summer jams, so you can create that effortless, festive atmosphere this Memorial Day while letting your food sing. Here’s why we fully plan on rocking out to them, grill-side, through September and beyond—see you when the leaves start falling.
Megan Guntas, Digital Designer
I’ll be listening to “Real Love Baby” by Father John Misty and “Bad Bad News” by Leon Bridges (his new album is on fire).
Eric Kim, Senior Editor
“Going to California” by Led Zeppelin. It reminds me of July, driving through Northern California, wearing big sun hats and getting drunk at wineries by myself with friends.
Hana Asbrink, Senior Lifestyle Editor
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“Nice for What” by Drake, because that’s the jam of the summer and my new life motto (kidding!).
Erin Alexander, Assistant Editor of Partner Content
“Chan Chan” by Buena Vista Social Club. It takes me back to hot summers in Miami, eating Cuban sandwiches and getting sunburned.
Katie Macdonald, Assistant Editor
“Sway” by Tove Styrke. I just discovered it and it seems perfect for all the summer things: boozy beach days, street fairs, rooftop parties, tanning (in my case, burning) by the pool.
And as for me, a perennial summer favorite is Françoise Hardy’s “Le temps de l’amour.” It reminds me of Moonrise Kingdom, which is my best-loved summery (and possibly, of all time) movie.
What are the summer jams you’d like to see on this playlist? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll add them in!
