Summer anthems are one of the most contagious songs in the pop music realm, and Matty is all about contributing to this feel-good music culture, whether it's through his own writing (First Day of Summer), or hooking you up with your soundtrack to summer 2014.

Summer is far and away my favorite time of year. There are so many great memories for me. Growing up as a kid on Lake Coeur d'Alene in North Idaho, you lived for June through August. Life was always at its finest in the summer, and year after year, it never disappoints! This year is certainly no different, as summer has never felt as much anticipation after the worst winter that much of North America has ever experienced. (goodbye winter 2014... forever).

I don't think I'm alone in thinking that we need to blow this summer out of the water to get our body temperature back to normal, and our vitamin D levels back on even keel. Go to the beach, read at the park, or grab your friends for a pick-up game of football. Whatever it is, get out and and enjoy it, and let my top 10 favorite summer songs be your soundtrack!

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10.) Jamming (Bob Marley)

You can't have summer without Bob Marley. The only problem is trying to figure out which Marley song to choose. I could have a whole list dedicated to Bob Marley for summer. For the sake of limiting this list to 10 songs, I will limit Bob to one. I'm going with "Jamming" because it feels like summer should, lazy and carefree.

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9.) Brandy You're a Fine Girl (Looking Glass)

This is one of those songs that I've loved since I was little kid. It just feels like the kind of song you should be playing over the stereo as you're driving in your convertible down the Pacific Coast Highway. I have no idea who Brandy is, but apparently a bunch of lonely sailors are crushing on her and supposedly she would be a good wife, so that's cool I guess.

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8.) Saturday in the Park (Chicago)

This song, those piano chords, that intro bass part, that horn line, it does something to me, I'm not gonna lie. I've always thoroughly loved the use of brass, and Chicago writes the book on how to incorporate it into pop music. This song just reminds me of how good pop music once was and can still be if we stop following a formula.

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7.) 54-46 Was My Number (Toots and the Maytals)

I'm a huge reggae fan, and reggae music IS summer to me. And it doesn't even matter what time of year, I'm listening to it. If it's January and this song comes on, it's instantly summer! I don't care if there is snow on the ground. That bass line and skanky guitar in unison gets me every time. It is laid so far back in the pocket that it pains me in the best way possible. This song is what happens when you've got some funky Jamaicans listening to James Brown. Quick someone get me a Red Stripe!

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6.) Summer Breeze (Seals and Croft)

When those harmonies and that flute, or clarinet or whatever that is that hits in the chorus, forget about it, it's summertime! Finally someone created an anthem for Summer Breezes everywhere.

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5.) Red Red Wine (UB40)

I love how mellow this track sounds. All the tones are just so unobtrusive to your ears. I feel like I'm wrapped up in a velvet blanket of sonic goodness. As I write this, I'm sitting on my patio on a warm June night with a glass of red wine to truly immerse myself in the song's vibes. Even though this is originally a Neil Diamond song, UB40 made it their own and took it to new heights.

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4.) Summertime (DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince)

What's there to say about this one? This song is the ultimate summer party/bbq jam. This track was a surprising departure from Will Smith's happy animated flow that everyone pigeon-holed him in. It reminded us all that he was still born and raised "Innnnn West Philadelphia," and put the world on notice he can still rap. One of the best summer anthems out there!

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3.) Hot Fun in the Summertime (Sly and the Family Stone)

Sly and the Family Stone, are just the baddest, let's be honest. And the fact that we have a summer song by which to celebrate their musical bad ass-ness makes any summer complete. If I had my way, in another life I would probably be part of the Family Stone - just saying.

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2.) In the Summertime (Mungo Jerry)

Does this song sound to anyone else like rope swings, swimming in the lake, and fresh squeezed lemonade? That's all I can think about every time I hear it, which makes it the perfect summer song. Plus it's called "In the Summertime" so that's a no brainer.

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1.) Warmth of the Sun (Beach Boys)

Not only is this my favorite summer song, but also one of my favorite songs period. This song to me encapsulates that melancholy feeling of watching the sun dip down below the horizon. The lyrics speak about lost love, and yet remain relatively positive, because at the end of the day you still have the warmth of the sun. I love that thought. Bryan Wilson wrote an absolute masterpiece with this one. The melody, chords, modulation, it's all brilliant to me. In my opinion, this may be one of the more underrated Beach Boys songs. It is almost spiritual to me every time I hear it.