IT’S that time of year where you don’t want to be indoors putting together a playlist. So we’ve done it for you, neatly broken up into ten different genres giving you 100 rather diverse songs for summer. Before you get antsy, these aren’t meant to be the best songs ever, just a selection of excellent tunes.
GET THE PARTY STARTED
Make some room on the dancefloor — it’s going down once these kick in.
Deee-Lite — Groove is in the Heart
Released: 1990
This song could make a statue dance. A mix of funky samples, Q-Tip rap and Lady Miss Kier’s fierce vocals, they released three albums but would never better their perfect first impression.
Michael Jackson — Don’t Stop `Til You Get Enough
Released: 1979
We all miss Michael, but we really miss this Michael. This song managed to bottle a timeless disco groove forever and he’s clearly having fun, something he’d sadly lose the ability to do later on.
Diana Ross — Upside Down
Released: 1980
The ‘disco sucks’ campaign once derailed his band Chic, but Nile Rodgers has had the last laugh. He’s the coolest man in music again and his songs, like this, helped invent dance music.
Prince — 1999
Released: 1982
Before there was dancing like no one’s watching there was dancing like someone could drop a nuclear bomb and the world could end any minute. This would have been a great last song though.
Madonna — Into the Groove
Released: 1985
A career-defining classic — she’s made a mint singing about the lure of the dancefloor but has never put it better than “only when I’m dancing can I feel this free.â€
Pulp — Common People
Released: 1995
The planets aligned for UK band Pulp here — a literate, wildly infectious song about a rich girl slumming it for kicks became an anthem that still gets the blood gushing to the head.
Beyonce and Jay-Z — Crazy in Love
Released: 2003
Quite simply, one of the best songs created this century. Instantly elevated Beyonce to another level, a pedestal she’s remained on since. Her husband’s not too shabby either.
Salt’n’Pepa — Push It
Released: 1987
A hip hop classic, Push It has endured over the years and generations and can still fill floors from cool clubs to weddings.
Whitney Houston — How Will I Know
Released: 1985
Yeah, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, but that’s too easy. Whitney’s first big hit here also showcased that big voice and so much ’80s gold including the then-obligatory sax solo.
Daft Punk — Get Lucky
Released: 2013
The biggest song of 2013 sounded like it could have been made in 1978. Pharrell Williams plus Nile Rodgers plus French disco robots equals an instant future retro classic.
AUSTRALIAN MADE
You never need to go to far to find amazing homegrown voices, stories and melodies, naturally this list could go on forever but here’s a quick cross section.
Russell Morris — The Real Thing
Released: 1969
In an era when pop songs were fast and to the point, this takes you on a scenic route through the psychedelic summer of love, dropping you off at a far more exciting destination thanks to your musical chauffeur Molly Meldrum, who produced this.
The Church — Under the Milky Way
Released: 1988
The most delightfully happy accident of Steve Kilbey’s career, it’s got an other-worldly vibe and in-built mystery that still charms you every time you hear it.
Cold Chisel — Flame Trees
Released: 1984
How do you pick a Chisel song? Randomly. And Flame Trees is the kind of song that could only be written in Australia. Sorry Barnsey, we can all do with some sentimental BS at times.
The Go-Betweens — Streets of Your Town
Released: 1988
Gorgeous pop song from our most accessible alternative band that also has a sinister dark streak. The late Grant McLennan left so many harmonies to remember him by.
INXS — Don’t Change
Released: 1982
The first glimpse of the rock band INXS would become — every member is on fire in this song. Listen to those drums, the duelling guitar and keyboard and of course that voice and that swagger.
Icehouse — Hey Little Girl
Released: 1982
Icehouse grew up in an era when Australian bands knew they could take on the world with the right songs — like this one. Iva Davies made electronic music with heart and soul.
John Farnham — Please Don’t Ask Me
Released: 1980
How was this song never a hit? Written by LRB’s Graeham Goble, Farnham’s voice on this song is magic — so clear and direct without resorting to histrionics because, well, he doesn’t have to.
Silverchair — Straight Lines
Released: 2007
Which other grunge band went from something as simple as Tomorrow to something as grandiose yet appealing as this stroke of genius? Daniel Johns has a brain we should be proud of.
Paul Kelly — Sweet Guy
Released: 1989
Like Cold Chisel, there’s no wrong choice with Paul Kelly. But this has a Trojan Horse factor — Paul Kelly singing from a woman’s view about a violent male to his mainstream audience.
Sia — Breathe Me
Released: 2004
Adelaide’s Sia Furler has a once-in-a-lifetime voice. Breathe Me lets the music build up to those Chandelier-style highs, with her voice breaking and healing before your ears.
SIZE DOES MATTER
The classic three minute pop song is great, but sometimes you’re in it for the long haul. Buy these songs and you get your money’s worth.
Paolo Nutini — Iron Sky
Released: 2014
The British singer has a voice which gets to your heart as swiftly as a cardiothoracic surgeon. You never want Iron Sky to end as Nutini works himself into a right state over six minutes.
Broken Social Scene — Lover’s Spit
Released: 2002
Namechecked by Lorde in Ribs and loved by Vance Joy and Feist, this is a woozy baroque ballad from the Canadian indie band that is delightfully ramshackle.
Arcade Fire — No Cars Go
Released: 2007
If you had to explain the pure joy inherent in the Arcade Fire’s music, you’d play them this song and watch them chant along before it ends. Hey!
The Blue Nile — The Downtown Lights
Released: 1989
There’s almost a secret society of fans of The Blue Nile in Australia. Paul Buchanan is one of the most underrated British singers and lyricists, and this languid epic would be covered by Annie Lennox and Rod Stewart, but not bettered.
Frank Ocean — Pyramids
Released: 2012
Frank Ocean’s melding of hip hop beats, buzzing electro and soulful falsetto really excels on Pyramids, which morphs into some weird Pink-Floyd-gone-hip-hop-soundscape in its second half.
The Stone Roses — Fools Gold
Released: 1989
The last classic song of the ’80s, who’d have thought a bunch of jangly Mancunians could pull off this extended loose funk workout? A game and mood changer.
Chet Faker — Cigarettes and Loneliness
Released: 2014
This is the broken, pulsating heart of Chet Faker’s ARIA winning album Built on Glass. “This is love without love,†he emits from a raw wound in his chest, at his own pace.
Oasis — Whatever
Released: 1994
In which Noel Gallagher writes All You Need Is Love 2, because John Lennon wasn’t around to do it.
Guns N’Roses — November Rain
Released: 1992
They don’t make them like this anymore. Big, overblown power balladry that is also the longest song to ever reach the Top 10 in the US. The last few minutes are exhilarating.
Led Zeppelin — Stairway to Heaven
Released: 1971
Every year this monumental song inducts more and more people into a love of rock music or into playing the guitar. We salute you.
SAD SONGS SLAY SO MUCH
Here are some songs that range from glum to downright miserable because music isn’t just there for the good times. These people feel your pain.
Joy Division — Love Will Tear us Apart
Released: 1980
Arguably the saddest song of all time, written just months before singer Ian Curtis took his own life. Listen to those lyrics. Sigh.
Nirvana — Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
Released: 1994
It’s no mystery Kurt Cobain could articulate pain, but he could also channel it second hand on this American folk song — he nearly bleeds on this chilling Unplugged version.
Bonnie Raitt — I Can’t Make You Love Me
Released: 1991
We’ve all been there. It’s just this song is better at articulating that moment when you realise you can’t change how someone else feels. George Michael’s version is also breathtaking.
Cyndi Lauper — Time After Time
Released: 1984
The wacky Girls Just Want to Have Fun chick and a dude from ’80s two-hit wonders The Hooters create one of the most enduring ballads of our times.
Passenger — Riding To New York
Released: 2014
Crikey — the Let Her Go singer uses his tender voice to tell the story of a dying father (damn those cigarettes) crossing the country to see his kids and grandkids one last time. Ultimate sad face.
Damien Rice — The Box
Released: 2014
Ed Sheeran was inspired by Irish folkie Damien Rice’s emotionally-charged honesty. After seven years away, this proved that Rice still sulks in a more enjoyable way than most.
Elton John — Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)
Released: 1982
Elton pays tribute to his mate John Lennon with metaphor and melancholy. The title refers to Madison Square Garden, where Lennon made his last live performance.
Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue — Where the Wild Roses Grow
Released: 1995
From his cheery album Murder Ballads, here a super creepy Nick Cave lures a naive Kylie Minogue to his sinister side then three dates later kills her with a rock. This is how their friendship began.
Sun Kil Moon — Carissa
Released: 2014
Mark Kozelek gets unhappy as he details the grisly death of his second cousin in a fire. It’s actually a beautiful tribute as he heads to her funeral because “I need to give and get some hugs.â€
The Smiths — I Know It’s Over
Released: 1986
First line “Oh mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head.†The Sultan of Sorrow Morrissey made being rejected and dejected a work of art in this splendidly sad song.
IT TAKES TWO
We live in an age where duets are more often than not corporate mergers dreamt up in a marketing department, but here are some moments of magic shared by two.
Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush — Don’t Give Up
Released: 1986
Rumour has it Dolly Parton was the first choice for this ode to despair and hope. Rumour also has it Kate was dating Peter Gabriel when they sang it. Regardless, it is perfect.
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers — Islands in the Stream
Released: 1983
The Bee Gees wrote it, but Dolly`n’Kenny turned it into a karaoke classic. Sail away with them to another world, ah-ha.
Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield — What Have I Done to Deserve This
Released: 1987
Dusty’s career was in the dumper; the Pet Shop Boys were in their imperial period. It was an inspired pairing — that “Since you went away†refrain from Springfield was modern Motown.
Neneh Cherry and Youssou N’Dour — 7 Seconds
Released: 1994
Two cultures collide here on this trilingual hit — N’Dour sings (jaw-droppingly) in French and West African language Wolof, Cherry in English.
Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman — Stumblin’ In
Released: 1978
Was going to include Bryan Adams and Mel C’s When You’re Gone, but that’s effectively this song. Suzi Q and the dude from Smokie (ask your parents) did it first and better.
The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale of New York
Released: 1987.
The best Christmas song of all time — fact. It’s always a treat to hear Kirsty MacColl’s voice when this song justifiably resurfaces at this festive juncture each year.
Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks — Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around
Released: 1981
This is how you do a duet people. Petty wrote it for himself, Nicks got on board and it became a conversation as well as a killer rock tune. Listen to those drums!
Iggy Pop and Kate Pierson — Candy
Released: 1990
Mr Pop wrote a song about a teenage girlfriend, 20 years on. She’s then voiced by B-52s singer Pierson who throws herself into the dialogue. It’s like a mini-musical.
Aerosmith and Run DMC — Walk This Way
Released: 1986
This not only broke ground but helped introduce rap — and producer Rick Rubin — to the mainstream and rebooted Aerosmith’s career. Still sounds awesome.
Brandy and Monica — The Boy is Mine
Released: 1998
So smart — pit two rival female R & B singers together in a song about both dating the same gentleman. They keep their battling for the recording studio. Neither has bettered this since.
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
You had one job — to write an incredible song. And you did it. Once. Thankyou and goodbye.
MARRS — Pump Up the Volume
Released: 1987
This may be the best official One Hit Wonder of all time. In the early days of UK house and sampling (everything from Eric B and Rakim to Stock Aitken Waterman) this changed music.
4 Non Blondes — What’s Up?
Released: 1993
Singer Linda Perry would go on to write some amazing songs (Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful anyone?) but this is a campfire classic that tests vocal skills with that chorus.
Young MC — Bust a Move
Released: 1989
This here’s a jam for all the fellas and the ladies — Young MC (or Marvin Young to the passport officer) would release other songs, but this is the only one you need.
Lipps Inc — Funkytown
Released: 1980
Whether you know the discotastic original, Pseudo Echo’s rock cover or the versions from Shrek or South Park, this song is highly simple but highly effective.
New Radicals — You Get What You Give
Released: 1998
Like Linda Perry, New Radicals’ Gregg Alexander would write hits for others (including the only good Ronan Keating songs) which all sound like this, but not as incredible. Pop fact: contains unflattering shout outs to Courtney Love, Beck and Marilyn Manson.
The Knack — My Sharona
Released: 1979
Knack diehards (there are some) will tell you they actually released several albums. But they only had one My Sharona. Sharona Alperin, who the song was about, is now an LA real estate agent whose website is mysharona.com — seriously.
Modern English — I Melt With You
Released: 1982
What a great year for music. This British band broke America with this new wave song, well, not quite break but slightly dented, after it was used in a love montage in the movie Valley Girl.
Spectrum — I’ll Be Gone
Released: 1971
Mike Rudd would have more hits, but Spectrum are best known for this Australian classic with that unmistakable harmonica. They reformed in 2008 for their first new material in decades.
The Dream Academy — Life in a Northern Town
Released: 1985
Another band who kept on trying, but never bettered their first impression. What an exquisite song, a partial tribute to the late Nick Drake, that’s later been both sampled by dance acts and covered by country stars.
The Swingers — Counting the Beat
Released: 1981
Kylie Minogue admitted going to CountDown as a teenager and seeing this Kiwi band play this twisted pop treat live made her want to become a singer. More reason to love this song.
SLOW DOWN AND DANCE WITH ME
Sometimes you just need to drop the tempo and dim the lights.
Rolling Stones — Miss You
Released: 1978
Even the Stones fell for disco — it’s all about the bass, no treble, in this song. By the time the sax kicks in it’s already taken on a whole late night dimension. And we all know Mick Jagger does some of his best work nocturnally.
Lauryn Hill — Ex Factor
Released: 1998
Things haven’t been so great for Ms Hill since she released this album. The whole record is something special, but there’s something particularly dazzling about this song and her vocals. Bonus points for the use of the word reciprocity.
Shakespears Sister — Stay
Released: 1992
What a brilliantly, bonkers ballad. Starkly minimal for the first half, Siobhan Fahey (ex Bananarama) then arrives like a thunderstorm and musical witchcraft ensues. Magical.
Billy Joel — She’s Always a Woman
Released: 1977
Pink got married to this song. The mind boggles about how many other people have been married — and conceived — to this tender ballad. It’s about Joel’s first wife, then his manager, before their bitter split. Don’t let that ruin it for you.
Paul McCartney — Maybe I’m Amazed
Released: 1970
Written for his wife Linda, Paul McCartney has written a lot of love songs, but the audible passion in this one really hits that sweet spot.
Annie Lennox — Why
Released: 1992
It’s hard to pinpoint the best bit of this ballad. Maybe it’s when Lennox slightly unravels at the end with the strangely soulful rant “this is the fear, this is the dread, these are the contents of my head†which winds down into a whisper. Flawless.
Dire Straits — Romeo & Juliet
Released: 1980
Before they went all stadium, here’s Mark Knopfler’s painful post-mortem of a relationship, using Shakespeare’s characters except these ones have TVs and songs in movies.
Bruce Springsteen — Brilliant Disguise
Released: 1987
The Boss rarely plays this live as it’s reportedly about his first wife and their split. Which would explain the sadness and resignation about a love gone wrong in this song’s DNA, but that’s what makes it so powerful.
Kate Bush — This Woman’s Work
Released: 1989
Instant, prolonged and relentless goosebumps from start to finish.
Glen Campbell — Wichita Lineman
Released: 1968
In 100 years people will still be listening to this song and marvelling at it.
GROOVE IS IN THE HEART
You’ve started the party, but don’t be afraid to get a little deeper.
George Michael — Fastlove
Released: 1996
George Michael takes his sweet time to release songs, but when they’re as sweet as this one, they’re worth the wait. “I ain’t Mr Right but if you’re looking for fastlove ...†he sings before noting “I do believe that we are practising the same religion.â€
Good Times — Chic
Released: 1979
As soon as that bassline kicks in you’re at Studio 54 and all is good in the world for three and a half minutes.
Spandau Ballet — Chant No. 1
Released: 1981
White British boys were surprisingly soulful in the early ’80s — particularly with heavy percussion and even heavier brass work. Also contains an early white rap.
Hall & Oates — I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)
Released: 1981
This topped the American R & B chart. Because listen to that groove and those sky-high harmonies. Holy moly.
Sister Sledge — He’s the Greatest Dancer
Released: 1979
You may recognise Nile Rodgers’ riff being used by Will Smith. Rodgers started the craze of mentioning brands by name in song here. But it’s all about the elegant disco inferno contained within.
Drake — Just Hold On We’re Going Home
Released: 2013
If anyone tells you today’s music has no soul, direct them to this example of modern lovers’ rock pronto.
Marvin Gaye — Mercy Mercy Me
Released: 1971
How do you follow up What’s Going On? With this love song to the earth, and sadly the warnings of mercury and radiation poisoning were scarily prescient. If only Mr Gaye had looked out for himself as well and was still around to sing it.
Blackstreet — No Diggity
Released: 1996
Dr Dre operated with precision skill on this New Jack Swing anthem based around a Bill Withers sample. Everyone from Chet Faker to Ed Sheeran’s covered it of late.
Frank Wilson — Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)
Released: 1965
Northern Soul remains one of the most timeless and unexplored genres of music. This Motown stormer gets the job done in 150 seconds of pure joy.
The Bee Gees — Love Inside and Out
Released: 1979
When you’ve had as many hits as the Bee Gees some slip through the cracks. This went to No. 1 in the US but tanked here. It’s a shame; it’s the least over-played of their disco/funk/soul period. Plus, falsetto.
POP IS NOT A DIRTY WORD
There’s no shame in their game - they just want to make as many people as possible enjoy their music. Pop equals popular.
Kylie Minogue — Love at First Sight
Released: 2001
Little known fact: this may well be Kylie’s best pop song ever. Euphoric, impossibly catchy and dealing with both love and love of music, it is like listening to a warm hug.
Taylor Swift — New Romantics
Released: 2014
Most acts fill the deluxe versions of their albums with offcuts. Smart Swift put arguably her finest pop tune on the fancy edition of 1989 to make sure you get your extra money’s worth. Hopefully she’s putting the lyric “The best people in life are free†on T-shirts for her tour.
James — Laid
Released: 1993
If the tune is embraceable enough, you can sing pretty much anything, like this UK band’s ode to stalking, cross-dressing and bedroom positions. A delightful two minutes 36 seconds.
S Club 7 — Don’t Stop Movin’
Released: 2001
If you are going to be, er, inspired by a pop song, it may as well be the perfect Billie Jean. This is the definition of a guilty pleasure.
Fine Young Cannibals — She Drives Me Crazy
Released: 1998
That snare. Taking more than a few lessons from Prince, this strange concoction (soaring guitar, bubbling bass, Roland Gift’s powerhouse vocals) was justifiably a global No.1.
Donna Summer — I Feel Love
Released: 1977
Throw in Kraftwerk and this song (written by Giorgio Moroder) and you’ve got the basis for everything we now listen to that passes for electronic music. It proved that synthesisers could be sexy.
Human League — Love Action (I Believe in Love)
Released: 1981
Highlights: that electronic cat meow, the fact there’s not a single ‘real’ instrument involved just all machines and that Phil Oakey refers to himself in the third person.
New Order — Bizarre Love Triangle
Released: 1986
From moody misanthropes in Joy Division, this completed New Order’s transformation into unlikely pop stars. It always sounded liked they’d accidentally stumbled over a killer chorus rather than sat down to clinically design one.
David Bowie — Young Americans
Released: 1975
From outer space to soul man, Bowie was the original reinventer. The Brits take on American soul remains one of his many, many inspired moments. Mighty, flighty sax solo too.
Midnight City — M83
Released: 2011
Speaking of sax solos, this French delight is a dreamy, distorted anthem that takes you away and remains one of the great lost chart hits.
EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
“Making a song your own†is now a reality TV karaoke cliche, but here are people who have truly reinvented someone’s else’s work for a second-hand classic.
Johnny Cash — Hurt
Released: 2003
Originally by Nine Inch Nails, this was totally transformed by Johnny Cash and was one of the last things he recorded. Even Trent Reznor has admitted this song no longer belongs to him.
Jeff Buckley — Hallelujah
Released: 1994
Weirdly after Jeff Buckley’s definitive version of this Leonard Cohen song, people are still bothering to cover it. Actually the kd lang version was sublime. Otherwise, please stop.
Soft Cell — Tainted Love
Released: 1981
A flop Northern Soul song for Gloria Jones in the ’60s, UK electro duo Soft Cell slowed it down and made a seedy synthesised version that remains one of the most original non-original songs ever.
Pet Shop Boys — Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)
Released: 1991
Long before U2 discovered their humour or irony gland, the Pet Shop Boys punctured the myth around the Irish rockers by dragging them to the dancefloor with Frankie Valli for unlikely company. A prototype mashup.
Feeling Good — Muse
Released: 2001
Many people have tackled this song made famous by Nina Simone, from George Michael to Michael Buble, but maybe it was the fact this was so unexpected — and so incredible — that makes it so beloved.
Roxy Music — Jealous Guy
Released: 1981
The British band began covering this John Lennon song just after his death as a tribute. Factor in raw emotion and strong material they had to work with anyway and still hits the spot. Nice whistling too.
Gary Jules — Mad World
Released: 2001
The Tears for Fears quirky pop song was turned into a sombre, chilling ballad for Donnie Darko. It’s become the benchmark for sucking the fun out of bouncy ’80s hits to become ballads now, but no one has done as well as this yet.
You + Me — No Ordinary Love
Released: 2014
Here Pink and City and Colour’s Dallas Green turn Sade’s babymaking groove into a striking, stripped-down duet. And when you can out-sing Pink you know your voice is highly impressive, Mr Green.
Bananarama — Venus
Released: 1986
The best cover versions are genre hijacks. Originally a hippy hit for Shocking Blue in 1969, Bananarama and Stock Aitken Waterman gave it a hi-energy makeover that, like all good music, crossed over from sweaty nightclubs to the pop charts.
Adele — Make You Feel My Love
Released: 2008
This latter-era Bob Dylan song had already been covered by Billy Joel and Garth Brooks before Adele sang it. Like Hallelujah, nobody need sing it again since. Cheers.