Compiled by Kate Oczypok

The Georgetowner has created a holiday playlist to enjoy as you wrap those last-minute gifts, trim the tree, drive to grandma’s house, or celebrate the holidays however you choose to do so! You can find this playlist on our Spotify page below.

• “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac – One of our summer interns, Annabel Taylor, saw Stevie Nicks with Billy Joel at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore and has always been a huge Fleetwood Mac fan. “I love their music especially in the warmer months,” she said. “The lyrics invoke the same feeling I have being surrounded by friends and family in the summertime—‘I want to be with you everywhere.’”
• “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts – The next few songs are summer intern Caroline Woodward’s favorites. For this one, she said, “it has summer in the name—need I say more?”
• “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot – This yacht rock classic reminds Woodward of listening to the car radio as a child. “It invokes images of a rocky, dark seashore; it’s a quintessential, calm, yet powerful summer song,” she said.
• “This Life” by Vampire Weekend – Another favorite of Woodward’s, she said despite initial appearances of indie rock, autonomous style with hits like “Oxford Comma” and “Campus,” Vampire Weekend is indeed a summer band. “No song proves this more than ‘This Life’ with its fun beat, chill vibes and reggae-like sound,” she added.
• “The Thrill” by Wiz Khalifa and Empire of the Sun – From Woodward: “‘The Thrill’ is the embodiment of long summer road trips, late bonfire beach nights, running around young, free, and happy with friends. The song is true nostalgia, and perhaps joy, in a bottle.”
• “The Last Great American Dynasty” by Taylor Swift – Summer intern Grace Cady loves this song from Swift’s Folklore album, and said it is what made her fall in love with Swift’s music. “I believe this song is one of the greatest displays of her artistry and solidifies her as one of the best lyricists of my lifetime,” Cady said. The song is a story about Rebekah Harkness, an American composer and socialite who previously owned Swift’s Rhode Island home called ‘Holiday House.’ “Lyrics like ‘they say she was seen on occasion, pacing the rocks, staring out at the midnight sea’ make me feel windswept, nostalgic and oh-so-summery,” Cady said. “It is beautiful!”
• “2 AM” by Slightly Stoopid – Publisher Sonya Bernhardt is into smooth jazz and reggae sounds for the summer. She named this song as one of her favorites this season.
• “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift – There’s nothing better than belting this bridge on a summer car ride, relaxing poolside, or as I (Director of Content and Advertising Kate Oczypok) did in 2023, with thousands of other Swifties on a warm summer night.
• “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys – Lead singer Brian Wilson recently passed away, but his legacy lives on in this quintessential summer jam, along with the rest of The Beach Boys music.
• “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – As a ‘90s kid, there’s nothing that sounds more like summer to me (Kate Oczypok) than this retro hit featuring Will Smith back when he was better known as The Fresh Prince.
• “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry” – The catchy beginning hook instantly brings you back to simpler times. Fun fact: It only took 10 minutes to write, and the band’s lead singer Ray Dorset did it while taking time off from his regular job working in a Timex watch lab.
• “Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly and the Family Stone – Sly Stone, who recently passed away at the age of 82, will have his timeless music live on in this pop rock and funk classic.

tagssummersummer playlist