Who doesn’t love an Australian winter? Well, for one, me! Sub-optimal beach weather, the glorious summer of cricket gives way to AFL (yuck) and worst of all, you miss out on the chance for those summer romances that have formed their own sort of cottage industry as the epitome of fast food consumerism for modern day literature (as you may be able to tell, I’m not a fan). 

Fear not, gentle reader (and the more aggressive readers as well), for while Australia is caught in the grips of a bitter winter, that doesn’t stop its music from being ready and willing to soundtrack your summer love life for those lucky enough to be living in the Northern Hemisphere not facing war, humanitarian crises or having elected officials that could function as an effective argument for the importance of a quality education and critical thinking skills… so I guess the UK, Canada and Sweden? 

Despite the niche audience, let’s press on with this ill-fated concept and get the list started with… 

TISM – “Greg! the Stop Sign!!” (1995)

Melbourne-based alternative rock band TISM (This Is Serious Mum) kicks off any summer romance with a song full of the fears, gripes and concerns of your typical modern-day protagonist. We all come into summer, wherever we are, wanting to forget about our worries and enjoy ourselves and then out of nowhere we’re hit with this feeling…

Hoodoo Gurus – “Like Wow – Wipeout” (1985)

“I was gone the moment I laid eyes on you.” Is there a more honest encapsulation of the lust we feel when we meet that summer crush? Full credit to David Faulkner and the rest of the Perth boys Hoodoo Gurus, for this high-energy tribute to the wave of emotions that flood our system and the metaphorical high that gets us into so much trouble later on down the track.

Seth Sentry – “The Waitress Song” (2009)

Anyone who knows me won’t be surprised to learn that I’m anxious and (slightly) prone to overthinking things. This 2009 smash hit from rapper Seth Sentry combines the mixed emotions of lust, obsession and fear of rejection that a lot of us can feel after the initial rush of dopamine fades and you’re left to ponder whether pursuing these feelings you have is worth it. Sometimes, this is where the story ends for people, but sometimes they decide to take a chance…

Killing Heidi – “Heavensent” (2002)

Let’s say you take that chance and it works out for you. Congratulations! Now you get to experience the joy of discovering this new person and how they fit into your life, and that takes time (say an entire summer?). Eventually, you might end up feeling like this person was sent into your life by a higher power, and Killing Heidi‘s self-proclaimed only love song is one of the first songs that came to my mind when conceiving this list.

Abbe May – “Love Decline” (2017)

Then comes the best part of romance… the sensual connection between two partners that so many poets and philosophers have written about and pondered over history. That sensual energy is dripping off the fourth single from Abbe May‘s album Fruit, and I fucking loved it from the very first listen. Unfortunately, much like the song’s title, you can sometimes feel the love fading, which can lead to all sorts of unpleasant outcomes…

Painters and Dockers – “Love on Your Breath” (1986)

Yes, it’s an unfortunate fact, but cheating in relationships and summer romances can and does happen. It’s not fun and can be one of the most devastating and scarring experiences people can go through. Yet the feeling of suspecting cheating without knowing for sure can be even worse, and no song seems to encapsulate this more than this classic from pub rockers, Painters and Dockers (although I am more partial to the live version off their Bucket album).

San Cisco – “Consequence” (2024)

Now, sometimes seques (and segways) can trip you up, no matter how well you think you’ve planned out something. If you’re paying attention, you can probably guess this is where I got tripped up. Part of it’s just that I love this song so much, and the song title fits so well because, surprise, surprise! There are consequences when people cheat on each other, and they’re not fun. This song from San Cisco is more fun than dealing with the consequences of a cheating partner… not sure if that’ll make the marketing sizzle reel, but it’s good enough for this list.. Especially with that sequin outfit.

Something For Kate – “Captain (Million Miles an Hour)” (1997)

Wouldn’t be a list about Aussie music without a mention of one of the most prolific and long-lasting bands, Something for Kate. From the opening guitar riff, this song radiates the apathy one can feel for a former flame who has wronged you and deciding to distance yourself from them in order to protect yourself and in a very literal sense, that can be done by getting in an aeroplane and flying away form them at a million miles an hour… hopefully in one that’s not too small for you.

The Preatures – “It Gets Better” (2014)

Then the magic of time takes over… maybe you travel by yourself, or surround yourself with friends and family or take up that new hobby you’ve been meaning to pick up. Maybe you just take time to heal, and it will take time, but just like The Preatures promise in this upbeat dancefloor filler, it will also get better and sometimes better than you ever thought possible because of the lessons you’ve learnt from your experiences. 

The Herd – “2020” (2008)

This last entry on the list is a personal favourite of mine from hip hop group The Herd and a good listen for anyone who’s currently feeling like certain parts of history are repeating right in front of our eyes. You’ll be surprised how you look back on certain moments with 2020 vision, and it recontextualises everything.

Any of these songs caught your fancy? Well then, tune into Triple J on 26th July at 10 am (AEST) to enjoy the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs and get ready to discover some of your new favourite bands. 

What songs would you use to soundtrack your summer of fun? Any new favourites getting added to the rotation? Let us know in the comments down below.