There’s something almost magical about the first truly warm day of the year – and this year there sure have been a lot of them! The barbecue is lit, friends gather in the garden, sunglasses appear from nowhere and, almost instinctively, someone reaches for the speaker. Before long, Bryan Adams is declaring it was the ‘Summer of ’69,’ Katrina & The Waves are telling everyone to ‘Walk on Sunshine’ or The Beatles are reminding us that ‘Here Comes the Sun.’
But why do certain songs instantly transport us back to summers gone by?
New research commissioned by Topgolf suggests those familiar anthems are far more than nostalgic background music. They are woven into our happiest memories, with almost nine in 10 Britons (88%) saying they have a song that immediately lifts their mood. Topping the nation’s ultimate summer playlist is Bryan Adams’ timeless ‘Summer of ’69,’ which claimed 27% of the vote to edge out Katrina & The Waves’ feel-good classic ‘Walking on Sunshine’ (25%). The Beatles’ ‘Here Comes the Sun’ and The Beach Boys’ ‘Good Vibrations’ tied for third place with 22%, while Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now,’ Wham!’s ‘Club Tropicana’ and Madonna’s ‘Holiday’ all proved enduring favourites.
The results paint a picture of a nation that still associates music with its happiest moments. More than half of respondents (52%) said the perfect summer’s day simply requires sunshine, good friends and great music, while 59% believe the right playlist can completely transform a gathering. Whether it’s a barbecue (66%), a garden party (63%), a trip to the beach (45%) or a picnic in the park (38%), music has become almost as essential to the British summer as unpredictable weather.
But according to one leading neuroscientist, that’s no coincidence. Dr Manuel Anglada Tort, Lecturer in Psychology in Neuroscience and Director of the Music, Mind and Brain Group at Goldsmiths, University of London, says the songs we associate with summer are carefully shaped by both musical structure and human psychology. “Summer hits are not defined by a single musical ingredient, but they result from a complex interplay of many influences,” he explains.
“Many share a combination of musical features that our brains tend to associate with energy, dancing and positive emotions. Compared with slower or more introspective music, summer hits often have faster tempos, upbeat rhythms and catchy, repetitive melodies that are easy to sing along to and remember.”
Those ingredients create songs that feel uplifting almost immediately, but the science doesn’t stop there. Research examining more than 20,000 UK chart hits over the past seven decades found that periods of warmer, sunnier weather were consistently linked with songs that were more energetic, danceable and emotionally positive. Rather than simply reflecting our mood, these songs can reinforce it, creating a powerful emotional feedback loop.
Perhaps even more importantly, music becomes attached to memories. Dr Anglada Tort points to what’s known as “associative memory” – the brain’s remarkable ability to link songs with specific people, places and moments in our lives. “Summer hits therefore become more than just songs,” he says. “They become soundtracks to important moments in our lives, like getting together with friends and family and having fun.”
It’s a phenomenon most people recognise immediately. A three-minute pop song can instantly transport listeners back to a first holiday abroad, a festival weekend, a childhood family barbecue or a carefree road trip with friends. That emotional connection may also explain why so many of the nation’s favourite summer songs span multiple generations.
Bryan Adams, The Beatles, Queen, The Beach Boys, Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston and Fleetwood Mac all feature alongside more contemporary artists including Katy Perry, Rihanna, Harry Styles and The Black Eyed Peas. Despite being separated by decades, they all capture the same feelings of optimism, freedom and escapism.
The study also suggests summer itself encourages people to become more social. More than half of Britons (56%) consider it the year’s most sociable season, while almost one in three plans to try new outdoor activities during the warmer months. Swimming tops the list (37%), followed by hiking (28%) and golf (18%).
Alex Minto, Marketing Manager at Topgolf, believes the enduring appeal of these songs comes from their ability to bring people together. “The nation has chosen a great range of music that’s perfect for the summer season, from classic hits like Summer of ’69 and Livin’ on a Prayer to more contemporary songs like California Gurls and Watermelon Sugar,” he said.
Ultimately, the research suggests the perfect summer anthem isn’t simply about catchy hooks or memorable choruses. It’s about timing, emotion and memory. The right song becomes part of our lives, forever linked with sunshine, laughter and the people we shared those moments with. Perhaps that’s why every summer arrives with its own soundtrack, and why decades later, hearing just a few opening notes can make it feel like July all over again.
Britain’s Top 25 Summer Anthems
Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams (27%)
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves (25%)
Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles (22%)
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys (22%)
Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen (20%)
Club Tropicana – Wham! (20%)
Holiday – Madonna (20%)
Hotel California – Eagles (19%)
Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi (18%)
I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas (18%)
I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston (17%)
Mr Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra (17%)
Lovely Day – Bill Withers (16%)
California Gurls – Katy Perry (16%)
Dancing in the Moonlight – Toploader (15%)
Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey (14%)
Africa – Toto (14%)
Boys of Summer – Don Henley (14%)
Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (14%)
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd (14%)
Umbrella – Rihanna (13%)
Watermelon Sugar – Harry Styles (13%)
Summer in the City – The Lovin’ Spoonful (13%)
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac (13%)
Blame It on the Boogie – The Jackson 5 (13%)
From August 8-30 between 6pm-7pm, Topgolf Guests can enjoy the Topgolf Summer Soundtrack created by DJ Spoony throughout the venue. Plus, 50% off mocktails and desserts for the hour. Under 18s will not be permitted to enter the venue from 8.00pm onwards. A physical valid passport or UK driving licence is required from all guests. Topgolf operates a Challenge 25 Policy every Friday and Saturday night.