I don’t recall what year I started with the “I Believe In Summer” playlists. It was around the time Spotify debuted in the US, which was 2011, so let’s go with that. I’d owned the domain “ibelieveinsummer.com” for a couple years prior, but hadn’t figured out what to do with it. Still haven’t. What I do know is that I still enjoy putting together a playlist to suit a specific mood as much as I ever did. What is summer if not a mood? A scientifically defined astronomical and meteorological phenomenon? Actually, yes it’s both of those things, but I digress.
Here in the northern hemisphere summer is hot and the days are long. Astronomically speaking the longest day (and days) are already behind us. Doesn’t feel that way though does it? Ask most Americans about “peak summer” and their answer will likely involve something about mid-to-late July, which is fast approaching. Then are the “dog days of summer”, which I think could be loosely classified as when the Red Sox either get their shit together or don’t. Late summer is after school starts up again, bleeding into the weeks of September after Labor Day until the Autumnal Equinox.
I used to strongly dislike this period of time as my mind was already on the crisp, cool days of Autumn. Nowadays I enjoy late summer more than peak summer. Fewer people in the places that I want to be, but still enough going on for things to feel lively. You’ve probably heard about “shoulder season” travel and it being for the way to go. You’ll hear no argument from me on this. If you have the luxury of being able to travel in April/May and September/October instead of June, July August, then you ought to take full advantage. If you don’t travel during the summer, but rather open up the summer house/cabin/shack, count your blessings indeed. To escape anywhere that the days move slower and commitments are few, that’s the dream right? It’s definitely something to believe in.
So, that’s the essence of this playlist, as well as the ones that came before it. With the benefit of hindsight I can see the whole idea stemmed from living in Los Angeles where it’s either “full-on-summer” or “slightly-less-summer” all year ‘round. The highlight of every summer during my LA years was going back to the East Coast for a week or two. Concerts at The Hollywood Bowl are great, other than that, LA sucks during the summer. Music makes just about everything better. It has the power to change your mood and transport you elsewhere, if you let it. This is why I have always enjoyed making playlists…and before that mix CDs, and before that mixtapes. You get the point.
I Believe In Summer ‘26 was an undertaking. It’s nearly 11 hours as it sits and don’t be surprised if a few more additions push it to 12. I wanted to make a playlist that not only provided a soundtrack to a summer day, but to the summer months themselves. I’m pretty happy with where it sits content wise, but particularly happy where it sits flow wise. With that in mind, I’d suggest listening to the tracks as organized, not on shuffle, especially if listening on Spotify where I’ve taken advantage of the custom mix feature with a number of songs in the “evening dance” section. However you listen, give into the power of the music. Don’t get cynical, don’t let the bastards get you down, believe in summer.
-AM
Great playlist! Started it this morning...finishing it tonight with the grill going.