The 50 Songs of Summer: 2014

Goodbye, polar vortex. Hello, hot stuff! Yeah, we're talking to you, summer. Welcome back! We've missed your warm embrace. We've also missed your usual promise of endlessly looping, stoopidly catchy, Godzilla-huge tunes to soundtrack the next three sun-scorched months ahead. You have not disappointed us this year.

Oh! Hi Sia, you chandelier-swinging party monkey! Who the heck swings from a chandelier? Crazy people who refuse to show their faces to promote their new album, that's who! Hey Ariana! Girl, we hear ya. Men are the pits. But lucky for you you've found a new companion in that raunchy saxophone you can't stop shimmying up to. Blow on it, Sax Guy! Yes, Iggy! Always love a Clueless reference. Shame about Stacey Dash and that Fox gig, huh?

Yeah, summer. You've brought the divas (here's looking at you, Sam Smith!). You've brought the thumps. You've brought the drunk and nasty. But you've also brought the requisite romance and longing and reflection. You have a heart, too, summer. You're a softie and a thinker.

As a token of our appreciation, here's a Spotify playlist of our favorite songs you've trotted out this season. There's a whopping 50 here because...well, we just couldn't help ourselves. Thank you for the music, summer. We love you.