Introduction
WASHINGTON — Burgers are hot on the grill. Drinks are in the cooler. Family is just minutes away. Then it hits you: What music are you going to play? Better yet, what’s appropriate to play?
You can’t just hit “shuffle” due to explicit lyrics (2Pac/Biggie), deep cuts (Alt-J/Run the Jewels) or piercing screams (Nirvana/Metallica) that aren’t exactly suited for mixed company.
Don’t panic; just download the WTOP Summer Playlist.
We’re not going for the latest indie records or hidden gems here. We’re rounding up the tried-and-true, can’t-go-wrong songs for any situation — regardless of genre, age or demographic.
Here’s roughly four hours of music for your party (60 songs at an average of four-minutes per song). The list isn’t perfect. Add and subtract as you like. But if you’re desperate, just hit play.
Click through the gallery, then download the Spotify playlist below.
(WTOP collage via AP)
Hailed by The Washington Post for “his savantlike ability to name every Best Picture winner in history," Jason Fraley began at WTOP as Morning Drive Writer in 2008, film critic in 2011 and Entertainment Editor in 2014, providing daily arts coverage on-air and online.