What’s pop punk all about? Some say it’s about pizza, friendship, and getting out of this stupid town. Others say it’s about floral print snapbacks, T-shirts with AK-47s that say “Defend Pop Punk,” and khaki shorts. Whatever it is, whatever it means, it’s a genre that lends itself easily to summer anthems. However you’re spending these next couple months, here are ten pop punk tracks that’ll make your summer that much better.

“Let’s Go” // Good Charlotte ft. X-Ecutioners

Pop punk, like any other genre, has certain conventions. For instance, you generally expect a pop punk song to have guitars, bass, drums, and vocals, but you don’t expect it to have scratching and turntablism. So naturally, I’m starting this off with a song that breaks those conventions. I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest Good Charlotte fan, but the X-Ecutioners, quite possibly my favorite hip-hop DJ’s of all time, make “Let’s Go” stand out in any pop punk playlist with their skillful scratching. I doubt you’ll find another pop punk song quite like this one. (If you do, though, send it to me! I need more of this!)

“Feeling This” // Blink-182

So in case you’ve been living under a rock, Blink-182 are back together. They’re releasing a new album, they’re going on tour with A Day to Remember, who we’ll get back to in a minute...only thing is, Tom DeLonge is too busy chasing aliens and slowly losing his grasp on reality to re-join them. Fortunately, we still have tracks like “Feeling This” to remember him and his strange accent by. This track captures whirlwind passion like few other pop punk songs before or since with its breakneck speed and some of the best harmonies Mark and Tom have ever made. Seriously, if the three-part harmonies at the very end don’t make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, you might not be cut out for exciting music in general.

“I’m Made of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?” // A Day to Remember

A Day to Remember aren’t really straight-up pop punk. I think it’s fair to describe them as a band that wants to play pop punk and hardcore punk at the same time--and nowhere do they accomplish that quite like they do on “I’m Made of Wax.” If you’re not used to screaming, then the verses and breakdown might not be your cup of tea, but the chorus is pure pop punk goodness. And if your night is ruined, just play this and scream along while you throw a tantrum and wreck everything. It won’t help, but it’ll feel good.

“Bridges” // Courage My Love

When it comes to female-fronted pop punk, most people’s list begins and ends with Paramore. Most people don’t know what they’re missing out on in Courage My Love. But trying to compare “Bridges” to one of Paramore’s signature tracks would be oversimplifying things. Courage My Love isn’t the sort of band you can include with emo’s third wave, the one that Paramore and Fall Out Boy rode. Instead, it’s more along the lines of the carefree, high-energy sound of bands like New Found Glory and early Sum 41. And let’s face it, this is a summer playlist, so that’s probably exactly what you’re looking for.

“Not to Toot My Own Horn, But Beep Beep!” // Four Year Strong

Like A Day to Remember, Four Year Strong are a blend of two disparate ends on punk rock’s heaviness spectrum. “Beep Beep!” definitely leans more towards the pop side of things, though, and that shows in the melodic guitar lines and the vocal harmonies. For me, those harmonies are what makes this track special. Well, that and the title of the song. (Admit it, as soon as you saw it, you had to know what the song was about.)

“All You Are Is History” // State Champs

State Champs are riding high right now as one of the faces of the new generation of pop punk, and with songs like “All You Are is History” in their discography, it’s easy to see why. These guys know their songcraft; every piece fits perfectly, every section feels just the right length, and every note is right where it belongs. Right from the start, this song hooks you in and doesn’t let go.

“Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued” // Fall Out Boy

Remember how I said Fall Out Boy was part of the third wave of emo? Yeah, that’s basically just pop punk wearing too much eyeliner, so let’s get some Fall Out Boy in here! This song’s title, in classic FOB fashion, is long, unwieldy, and is more about making you laugh than connecting with the meaning of the song. The song itself, however, is pretty easy to grasp. It’s catchy as all hell, and despite the self-deprecating lyrics warning you to stop listening before it’s too late, you’ll be too busy singing along to turn it off. Then you’ll listen to “Of All the Gin Joints in All the World,” then “Dance, Dance,” and before you know it, it’s 3 a.m. and you’ve listened to From Under the Cork Tree so many times in a row that it’s no longer music. It’s just your life.

“Sweetness” // Jimmy Eat World

Okay, I know Jimmy Eat World is more emo than pop punk, but...forget it. I love this song. “Sweetness” is freedom in sonic form. From the moment this track starts, it holds your attention, and it doesn’t let go for a second. The production flourishes accentuate the song without distracting from it, the instrumentation is crisp and tight, the vocals are passionate, the melodies are ungodly catchy...look, no amount of description will ever do this song justice. If you only listen to one song on this list, make it this one.

“First World Tragedy” // Sunrise Skater Kids

Let’s face it, pop punk is music by people in their teens and twenties for people in their teens and twenties. That makes it relatable for our generation, but it also means every now and then, a band will take ordinary adolescent problems waaaaay too seriously. (Looking at you, Simple Plan.) That’s where songs like “First World Tragedy,” performed by one of the many fake bands created by YouTuber Jarrod Alonge, come in handy. This sounds pretty legit as a pop punk track, and it’d be easy to jam out to and not notice anything strange about it--or it would be, if the song wasn’t complaining about cracked iPhones, nothing new on Netflix, too many harmonies in the song...suffice to say, there’s a laundry list of grievances to air here.

“Circles” // Pierce the Veil

Here’s a track that feels right to close this out. Pierce the Veil aren’t usually a pop punk band. Their experimental tendencies and screaming lend themselves more towards post-hardcore. That said, “Circles” fits right in with this list. It’s by far one of their most accessible tracks, with catchy riffs, a sing-along chorus, and a surprisingly personal story in its lyrics. I won’t spoil what the song is actually about, but when you piece it together, trust me, it’ll make sense.