Those who are well-versed in music will be familiar with the image of so-called “surf rock” as the Ventures’ guitar instrumentals or the Southern California sound led by the early Beach Boys.
In recent years, however, “surf music” tends to evoke songs by singer-songwriters deeply connected to ocean culture—like surfers—built around acoustic sounds, which makes the contrast pretty interesting, doesn’t it? In this article, we take a broad view of “surf music,” presenting a lineup focused on Western music that also looks at contemporary indie pop and surf punk influenced by surf rock.
We’ve compiled a collection of classic tracks that pair perfectly with dazzling sunshine and rolling waves!
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Recommended surfer music: classic tracks you’ll want to listen to while surfing (1–10)
I’m YoursJason Mraz
This is one of Jason Mraz’s signature songs, notable for its cheerful ukulele sound and gentle vocals.
Featured on his 2008 album “We Sing.
We Dance.
We Steal Things,” it became a worldwide hit.
With lyrics themed around freedom and self-acceptance, it reminds us of the importance of opening our hearts and enjoying life.
Paired with its positive melody, it’s a track that brings happiness to listeners.
It’s perfect for relaxing by the seaside or lifting your spirits.
Listening to it will make you feel a warmth like basking in the sunlight.
Wipe OutThe Surfaris
An energetic track that could be called an icon of surf music.
The sounds of a surfboard being smashed and laughter at the beginning leave a strong impression, and a solo by drummer Ron Wilson captivates listeners.
After its 1963 release, it reached No.
2 on the Billboard Hot 100, stayed on the chart for four months, and became a huge hit with around 700,000 copies sold.
With a tone that evokes the freedom of sun and sea, it’s perfect not only for those who love surfing but also for anyone who wants to relax on the beach.
An ideal song for summer drives.
Surfin’ SafariThe Beach Boys
This is a song that’s indispensable when talking about the history of surf music.
Released as the Beach Boys’ debut single in June 1962, it’s a track that can be called a quintessential work of surf rock.
With its quintessentially “surf” breezy melody, the members’ still-fresh vocals, and catchy lyrics, everything about it makes you feel fantastic listening to it on a midsummer beach.
It was also included on the album Surfin’ Safari and reached No.
14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song cemented the Beach Boys’ popularity and has been used in many films and television shows as a symbol of surfing culture.
Crazy For YouBest Coast
It’s a song with a sweet-and-sour yet slightly wistful melody that vividly evokes sun-drenched California scenes.
Featured on Best Coast’s debut album “Crazy For You,” released in July 2010, it straightforwardly sings of overwhelming feelings for someone you love and the emotional turbulence that comes with them, in unadorned words.
Bethany Cosentino’s personal emotions—deepened by her time living in New York and her intensified longing for home—seem to melt into the lo-fi yet warm sound.
The album drew major attention in the indie scene at the time, debuting at No.
36 on the Billboard charts.
It feels like the perfect companion for surfing under dazzling sunshine or taking a leisurely drive along the coast!
BubblyColbie Caillat
This is the debut single by singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat, whose music pairs perfectly with the California sunshine.
The lyrics are memorable for expressing the sweet, happy feeling of falling in love as a tingling that starts from your toes.
Released in January 2007, the song was included on her debut album, Coco, and became a major hit, reaching No.
5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The music video—like spending a wonderful day at the beach—also drew attention and has been viewed over 125 million times.
It’s the kind of track that, played on a seaside drive, will let you soak in a happy mood with a refreshing breeze.
When I Go To The BeachThe Slickee Boys
Emerging from the Washington, D.C.
music scene, The Slickee Boys released a 1983 track brimming with a charm that whisks listeners straight to the shoreline.
The punk-born, racing beat and the gritty guitar textures of garage rock fuse together with a psychedelic tint, making for a truly distinctive sound.
The lyrics likely burst with the excitement of heading to the beach and the free, slightly wild moments spent with friends.
The song was also included on that year’s album “Cybernetic Dreams of Pi.” Notably, it took second place in MTV’s “Basement Tapes” contest and brightened a scene in the film “Back to the Beach.” For a coastal drive—or anytime you just want to lift your spirits—you’d be hard-pressed to find a more fitting track.
WetDazey and the Scouts
Despite only a few years of activity, Dazey and the Scouts have garnered popularity beyond their active period with an experimental sound that swirls together queercore, surf-punk, and indie rock.
This track epitomizes the band’s multifaceted appeal.
Featured on their self-released February 2017 album Maggot, it layers a lo-fi punk sound with lyrics that bare raw emotion until the tears dry, then wrap it all in wry humor—gripping listeners and not letting go.
Years after its release, the song exploded on TikTok, and in February 2021 a limited vinyl run sold out the same day, fueling a wave of renewed acclaim—an intriguing backstory in its own right.
Such unvarnished emotional expression resonates with many who long to embrace themselves as they are.
As boundary-defying surf music, it also delivers a fresh surprise.