[Ed. note: The following playlists -- and introduction -- were curated by our friends at Songza -- a great site that lets you select music based on either your activity or mood. Clicking on a playlist below will open an single window or tab and immediately start the selected music -- no log-in or personal information is required. Enjoy, and happy Fourth!]
Because summer is our favorite season, it only follows that the Fourth of July is our favorite holiday. When you take all the classic summer activities and add parades, fireworks, and a nationwide birthday celebration for America, you have the recipe for a great time. With carefully curated soundtracks for every summertime activity and mood, we promise to make your Fourth, and every day for the rest of your summer, even better.
Patriotic Music
These All-American playlists are the best way to celebrate Independence Day.
Stars and Stripes Forever!
Celebrate America in music, from marching bands to great pops orchestras. Play this sparkling homage to the land we love before, during, and after you watch the fireworks this Fourth of July.
Heartland America
Celebrate the things that make America great -- including cars, young love and rock & roll -- with these classic heartland rockers.
Patriotic Country
Celebrate the spirit of America, our soldiers and the hard-working salt-of-the-earth folks who helped make this country great. Salute the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave with some of Music City's most patriotic tunes.
Summertime Indie
The indie playlists just sound like summer -- bright, hazy, and warm.
Poolside Indie
From the underground to your above ground; chill by the chlorine with your Ray Bans on and waste away the day with these sun-drenched indie tunes.
Sunshine Indie Pop
Shake off the winter doldrums and dance around to these upbeat and outrageously catchy indie pop tunes.
Rooftop Indie Rock
String the Christmas lights, fill the cooler, and watch the sun set behind the city while partying with your friends on an idyllic rooftop as these indie anthems, new and old, fill the air.
Summer in the ‘90s
These playlists will help you re-live the best summers of the ‘90s.
SoCal Summer
A sunny, nostalgia-drenched playlist packed with memorable hits from the ska-punk of Sublime and Reel Big Fish to the pop-rock of No Doubt and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Feelin’ Good in the ‘90s
Despite the prominence of malaise-infused genres like grunge, the '90s yielded a glut of shamelessly fun-loving, crowd-pleasing hits. Here's our salute to the '90s songs that made us feel so good.
90210 Slumber Party
Relive your bright and sunny California-in-the-'90s memories with these musical guests and soundtrack highlights from Beverly Hills 90210. Perfect for a giddy girls' night.
Sexy Pool Party
These sexy playlists will make yours the most memorable pool party of the summer.
Poolside Chic
Daytime disco, house, and R&B for drinking and dancing by the pool with friends and beautiful strangers.
‘70s Pool Party
This playlist takes you back to an idyllic '70s pool party where the bathing suits were as small as the sunglasses were big; Stealers Wheel was blasting out of the poolside AM and funky disco gems were spinning inside on the HiFi.
Hip-Hop/R&B Pool Party
You may not fill out a bikini like Mariah, or sport a six pack like LL, but none of that matters when you're partying to these classic hits on a hot summer day by the pool.
Relaxing in the Shade
Sit in the shade or blast the AC while cooling-off with these low-key summer playlists.
Lazy Summer
Whether you're lounging in a hammock or soaking up rays on a summer afternoon, this eclectic mix will help you reach your full potential for relaxation.
Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffet is more than a singer/songwriter, he's a state of mind. Put on your flip-flops and embrace your inner Parrothead with this beach-ready mix of Jimmy's hits, friends, influences and tributes.
Hamptons Beach Traffic
Sitting in beach traffic on 27 doesn't have to be a buzzkill. These bright, easygoing tunes will keep you in vacation-mode even when you're stuck in gridlock.
Classic Summer Cookout
Burgers and dogs taste better when you’re listening to these summer cookout playlists.
Country Summer
If you've ever worn cowboy boots with a bathing suit -- or if you think that sounds like a great idea -- these summertime country songs, both classic and contemporary, are just for you.
Classic Rock Summer
Some songs just sound like summertime. Hold up your lighter and groove to these essential warm-weather classic rock jams.
Soul BBQ
Get down with these soul and R&B classics -- most of which are about food -- at your next barbecue.
Hip Hop Block Party
You need bass-heavy hip hop for your hot-time summer in the city, and these playlists deliver.
Hot 97 Summer Jam 2012
The hottest summer anthems from the artists who just performed at Hot 97's Summer Jam festival.
Southern Rap BBQ
Let these laid back, southern-fried hip-hop grooves soundtrack your next good-time BBQ gathering. Slow your roll.
The Cookout: Summer Rap Hits
Kick it by the Weber with these hip-hop jams marinated in summertime flavor. Expect throwbacks, new joints, and a handful of guilty pleasures.
Classic Summer Souvenirs
These fun (and slightly kitschy) playlists will evoke memories of summers past.
Beach Blanket Bingo
Inspired by the classic beach party movies of the 1960s, this collection of surf rock, pop, and doo-wop music is perfect for riding waves or doing the twist by a beach-side bonfire.
Classic Sunshine Pop
In L.A. circa 1966, young producers and songwriters looked to the increasingly complex work of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson. Inspired by his harmonies and lyrical themes, a new generation of groups created a gently psychedelic brand of easy listening.
Classic Hawaiian Steel Guitar
Beautiful and soothing Hawaiian steel guitar classics from the 1920s through the early 1940s.
Want more? Check out 75 songs about fireworks -- from the literal to the figurative -- and remember, this Fourth of July, baby, you're a firework.
