St. Tropez Playlist: The Top 10 Songs of Summer

The city of St. Tropez (Photo: Corbis Images)

Some may believe St. Tropez is simply a hard-to-get-to beach town in the South of France, a two-hour drive (or 25-minute helicopter ride if you, and your wallet, are so inclined) from Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport. But let me tell you, mes amis, St. Tropez is oh so much more, and worth every bit of the ride. Especially if you’re into great music and a scene to go with it.

Not a bad place to sip a glass of rosé (Photo: Steve Lorillere/Flickr)

This chic seaside village is a melting pot of summer vacationers, all journeying to this oasis with the same mission in mind: To spend time with family and friends (over a glass of rosé, naturally), to enjoy the sunshine, and most noticeably, to be immersed in intoxicating music from around the world.

Related: The Hamptons of France: Even Better than Long Island, We Swear

Listening to music while boating (Photo: ALCBR/Iconosquare)

Music is playing everywhere, even at the beaches (Photo: Richard Rock/Flickr)

From morning to morning — very few actually sleep here — travelers are greeted by music everywhere they go. Get into your car at the airport? Riviera Radio is playing. Visit the beach clubs? From Bagatelle to Tahiti, Les Palmiers to Club 55, only the latest music is being played by the best DJs, with everyone dancing from the moment they arrive. At night, every restaurant, such as L’Escale, has people of all ages dancing in their seats (and on the tables), not really consuming food as much as consuming music. Then there are the nightclubs. DJ Niko at Le Quai, DJ Jack.E at Les Caves Du Roy… and the list goes on.

Related: The South of France on the Cheap? Yes, You Cannes!

The nightclub crowds in St. Tropez (Photo: Getty Images)

So what are St. Tropez’s Top 10 Songs for Summer 2014? Read on, s’il vous plait. It’s time for an aural vacation — and your next beach playlist.

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1 — “Summer” by Calvin Harris. Released in March 2014, this track is Calvin’s lead single from his upcoming fourth studio album and has become the season’s ultimate anthem. Loving: The synthesized violins.

2 — “Changes” (Ultra Deep House Mix) by Faul & Wad Ad vs. Pnau. French DJs and music producers, Faul & Wad Ad partnered with Australian dance music duo Pnau for this upbeat, catchy track. Loving: The children’s choir.

3 — “Love Never Felt So Good” (Fedder Le Grand Remix Radio Edit) by Michael Jackson. Since Michael’s hits have always been played heavily around the world, it is no surprise that this single, released posthumously, is another global success. Loving: Michael’s voice.

4 — “Rather Be” (Magician Remix) by Clean Bandit (Featuring Jess Glynne). This British electronic group released their hit single in January 2014. It was also the highest-selling January single in the UK, selling almost 1 million units within its first month after release, and peaked at number one on charts all over the world. Loving: The violin and piano.

5 — “Five Hours” by Deorro. The American DJ and producer released this Electro House track in early 2014 and (like its beat) it has shown no signs of slowing down. Loving: The vocoder synths.

Related: The Ultimate Playlist For Every #SummerTravel Road Trip

6 — “All Of Me” (Tiësto’s Birthday Treatment Mix) by John Legend. Dedicated to his wife, Chrissy Teigen, John’s single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 about a month ago, becoming his first number one single in the United States. Catch John on tour now to hear this song (and sing along) live. Loving: The speed of this mix.

7 — “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. First released in November 2013 as part of the “Despicable Me 2” soundtrack before peaking at number one in about 25 countries (talk about a breakout!), it’s no surprise that this track is still dominating the music scene. Loving: The chorus — seriously, clap along, you won’t be able to help yourself.

8 — “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)” by Santana & Wyclef Jean (featuring Avicii & Alexandre Pires). World Cup mania has spread all over the globe, so of course St. Tropez and its international crew of devoted-to-their-team vacationers will also hear heavy rotation of this track. FIFA’s Official 2014 World Cup Anthem is being played all around the village. Loving: The use of English and Portuguese.

9 — “I Got U” by Duke Dumont (featuring Jax Jones). Topping the UK singles chart earlier this year, this song will remind listeners of the late 90s as it samples Kelli-Leigh’s vocals of Whitney Houston’s “My Love Is Your Love”. Loving: The steel drums.

10 — “Welcome To St. Tropez” by DJ Antoine (featuring Timati & Kalenna). Although introduced to our ears in 2011, this song is the unofficial “official” song of St. Tropez. Loving: The lyrics. You haven’t done St. Tropez till you can sing along.

Bettie Levy is president of BCL Entertainment, a talent booking and branding company for the music industry, based in Manhattan. Her passions include music (yes, those are cassette tapes in her 1996 Ford Explorer), traveling (all 7 continents and 48 of the 50 states checked off), and writing (she still sends handwritten thank you notes and birthday cards).

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