10 Best Songs About the Beach Your Mom Wouldn't Pick

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Our “10 Best Songs About the Beach Your Mom Wouldn’t Pick” presents a list of songs that are far from your traditional summertime beach tunes. If we were to follow the usual path, the list would be packed with those classic Beach Boys hits you’ve heard countless times before. Why tread that well-worn path? It’s been done too many times already. Instead, we’re opting for something a bit darker and a heck of a lot more fun. Most of these songs are about the beach, or at least summer in general. They’re all standout tracks, with some chosen from mainstream rock but mostly others from the world of punk.

# 10 – “The Ocean” – Led Zeppelin

We open up our 10 Best Songs About the Beach Your Mom Wouldn’t Pick list with a song you probably weren’t expecting to see on this list. Or maybe you were. This has always been one of our favorite Led Zeppelin songs, no matter what the subject matter. The song was released on Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy album in 1973. Ready, everyone? Now sing along with that famous count-in.

# 9 – “Surfin’ on Heroin” – Forgotten Rebels

Just to ensure that your mom gets a little ticked off from this list, we made sure to include this fun little song by the Forgotten Rebels. The funny thing about this song is that, despite its title pretty much assuring no radio airplay, it’s one of the catchiest songs to have emerged from the punk rock genre. The Forgotten Rebels came out of Hamilton, Ontario, and became one of Canada’s enduring punk bands. “Surfin’ on Heroin” became one of their signature songs and was later re-recorded for the band’s 1988 album Surfin’ on Heroin.

# 8 – “Ocean” – The Velvet Underground

In the number eight spot on our “10 Best Songs About the Beach Your Mom Wouldn’t Pick” list is the classic song “Ocean” by The Velvet Underground. There are many different versions of this song that were released by the band. The song was recorded during the sessions for the band’s fourth album, Loaded, but was left off the original 1970 LP. It later appeared as a session outtake and bonus track on expanded editions of the album. Lou Reed’s whispering vocal line will put you in a trance.

# 7 – “The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me” – Tom Waits

What’s a song genre list without a little old Tom Waits song included? We love Tom, and we want to keep him happy. Is there any single artist in classic rock history who has been as creative as Tom Waits, especially during his 1980s and ’90s work? This one will put you in a good mood, or maybe not. The song “The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me” was released on the 1992 album Bone Machine. Such a sweet-sounding name for a heartwarming album.

# 6 – “Summer Fun” – The Barracudas

Once you get past the spoof on car sales commercials, this is a very raucous song by a band you may have never heard of. The Barracudas originated in London, England, and were formed in the late 1970s. “Summer Fun” was actually a hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number 37 on the UK Singles Chart in 1980. These guys are great.

# 5 – “Holidays in the Sun” – The Sex Pistols

At the halfway point on our “10 Best Songs About the Beach Your Mom Wouldn’t Pick” list is a song by a band you either love or hate. The Sex Pistols exploded onto the rock music scene in the mid-1970s, giving heart attacks to pretty much anyone older than 40 back then. “Holidays in the Sun” was released as a single in 1977 and also appeared on Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols. Nonetheless, why not take a drive to the beach and pop in your old Sex Pistols cassette for everyone in the family to enjoy?

# 4 – “California Sun” – The Dictators

At the number four spot on our “10 Best Songs About the Beach Your Mom Wouldn’t Pick” list, we showcase a song from one of our all-time favorite bands, the Dictators. These guys knew how to have fun. Just take a listen to that opening guitar line bouncing off those rolling drums. Does it get any better than that? You’re going to want to set up the volleyball net right away with this one cranking in the background. You can thank us later. The Dictators released “California Sun” on their 1975 debut album, Go Girl Crazy! The Rivieras had scored a major hit with the song in 1964. It has since been covered by many artists, including The Ramones.

# 3 – “Here Comes the Summer” – The Undertones

Moving along and staying with that Dictators vibe, we hand it off to another classic band called The Undertones. We’ve never understood why this band wasn’t bigger in the U.S. We have always been big fans of this group. The Undertones formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in the mid-1970s. They broke through in the UK with “Teenage Kicks” in 1978, while “My Perfect Cousin” reached the UK Top 10 in 1980. “Here Comes the Summer” was released in 1979 and reached number 34 on the UK Singles Chart. Sadly, though, none of their songs ever charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. We’re on a mission here to turn people on to their music. If you like this one, check out our top 10 Undertones songs listed below.

Read More: Top 10 Undertones Songs

# 2 – “Lemme Take You to the Beach” – Frank Zappa

Just off the top spot on our “10 Best Songs About the Beach Your Mom Wouldn’t Pick” list is a song written and recorded by the late Frank Zappa. It’s hard to believe that Frank Zappa has been gone since 1993. The man was a musical genius and just an all-out brilliant person. Zappa could spoof anything and make it sound like a number one hit. I remember the first time I heard this song; I was thinking, “Why is he just goofing around? It’s such a strong melody, he could have had a top hit here with this song.” And then, of course, I realized what it was all about and kind of got it, and then actually fell in love with it. I’m kind of glad this is the way he did it. The song was originally released on the 1978 Studio Tan album.

# 1 – “Rockaway Beach” – The Ramones

If there was ever a song that got me pumped to take a ride to the beach, it was The Ramones’ “Rockaway Beach.” I grew up in the Bronx in the 1960s and ’70s. Rockaway Beach was one of the most popular spots for people who lived in one of the five boroughs of New York City. There used to also be an amusement park called Rockaway Playland. Those were the days. If you’re not from the city, this one probably wouldn’t mean as much to you as it did for The Ramones, who were from the city, and of course, people like me and the millions of other street kids from the ’60s and ’70s. “Rockaway Beach” was released on The Ramones’ 1977 album Rocket to Russia.