Fruity drinks, all-inclusive perks, and afternoon naps on white sand beaches. It’s finally Spring Break. You might be swathed in Mexican sunshine or if you’re really lucky,at grandma’s timeshare in Florida. No matter your locale, we’ll bet an iPod’s in your carry-on. Get ready to lay down a few bucks for these download-worthy tunes—we’ve got songs to match every mood and moment of Spring Break 2012.
Pre-Departure Tasks
For last-minute cardio and crunches, listen to mashups of top 40’s hits and songs you haven’t heard since seventh grade. If you’re headed to a climate where the sun is stronger than the cocktails, you might chill with self-tanner on for some base color—we recommend songs to help you zone out without zonking out.
Let it Out – Girl Talk
Down for the Count – Girl Talk
Little Secrets – Passion Pit
Fire – Ingrid Michaelson
Youth – Beach Fossils
Young Blood – The Naked and Famous
Sick Muse – Metric
In the Sun – She & Him
Getting There
Oh, the anticipation! Ease jetlag or carsickness with soothing, but upbeat songs. But if you’re looking to get excited pre-arrival, Lady Gaga never fails.
Lights – Ellie Goulding
Shuffle a Dream – Little Dragon
Part of Me – Katy Perry
Jealous Girl – Ben Kweller
Wires – Matt & Kim
Shake It Out – Florence & The Machine
Americano – Lady Gaga
Marry the Night – Lady Gaga
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Getting Ready & Going Out
Nights on the town call for the perfect pump-up music as you slip into summery dresses. Just like going out with friends never gets old neither does hip-hop and pop hybrids and rap to prep you for it.
Super Bass – Nicki Minaj
Bad Girls – M.I.A.
Party on Fifth Avenue – Mac Miller
Heartbeat – Childish Gambino
Dear Professor – The Dean’s List
Hello – Martin Solveig & Dragonette
Run the World (Girls) – Beyonce
Sleazy – Ke$ha
A Spring (Break) Fling
Who says you can’t have a crush for a week? Whether you’ve found some eye candy, or are spending the week with (or without) your significant other, there’s room for love songs on every playlist.
Gimme All Your Luvin’ – Madonna
Where Have You Been? – Rihanna
Crazy for You – Schwayze
Favorite Song – Colbie Caillat feat. Common
Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes
Weight/Lightness – Ambassadors
She’s Got You High – Mumm-Ra
You Will Be Mine – Lenka
Lazy Days
The only thing better than warm sands and aquamarine coastlines are songs that make you feel like you’re there—all the time. Catch the wave of indie surf-pop musicwith the California-cool bands or beach-approved hits for laying out. Just remember to wake up before you burn up.
Crazy for You – Best Coast
When the Sun Don’t Shine – Best Coast
Sometimes – Miami Horror
Summertime – Pretty Lights
Down By the Water – The Drums
Bedroom Eyes – Dum Dum Girls
Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root
Holiday in the Sun – Weezer
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Back to Reality
Is it really over? Chill out on the ride home—or sulk over the fact your crush that lived five hotel rooms down now lives five states away. And since you can’t even pretend to be over Adele yet, check out her songs you haven’t heard 600 times before. Or if you’re a sucker for nostalgia, refer back to the songs in each section. There’s always next year, right?
Houdini – Foster the People
Without You – Arabia
Youth – Daughters
Say – Olivia Broadfield
Video Games – Lana Del Ray
Million Dollar Man – Lana Del Ray
Take it All – Adele
I’ll Be Waiting – Adele