37 Best Songs About Florida

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Florida, the land of beaches, sunshine, and beautiful women, has inspired many throughout history to write music. Penned by many from Rick Ross to Lana Del Rey, these are the best songs about Florida ever.

“Miami” by Will Smith

“Miami” by Will Smith

Song Year: 1997

Is there any song about Florida more iconic and infectious than Big Willy’s “Miami”? It’s the perfect snapshot of the late 90s party lifestyle wrapped up in a catchy, feel-good melody.

Will’s lyrics mainly focus on the diversity of fine-looking women that frequent Miami’s nightlife hotspots, even integrating a bit of Spanish into the song to spice things up. It’s an irresistibly fun hit that makes you want to get up and dance nearly three decades after it dropped.

“Seminole Wind” by John Anderson

Song Year: 1992

Southern rock classic “Seminole Wing” is a favorite of every native Floridian, and it peaked at number two on Billboard’s Country.

This song opens with a gorgeous piano and violin duet that evokes the beauty of oak trees and Spanish moss.

Its lyrics detail the lives of the Seminole tribe of Native Americans who once inhabited Florida’s lands—and continue to do so to this day.

The song is from the perspective of Chief Osceola, whose ghost pleads for the halt of industry and a return to simpler times.

It’s a hauntingly beautiful song that is sure to inspire.

“Florida Boy” by Rick Ross ft. T-Pain and Kodak Black

Song Year: 2018

This song is about how hard it is to grow up in Florida—and the singers would know. Rick Ross, T-Pain, and Kodak Black are all native Floridians with tons of experience living and learning in the Deep South.

Florida Boy was the first single on Ross’ 10th studio album, Port of Miami. The song pays homage to the nuance and complexity of Florida, a gritty and beautiful place.

The music video for this song features the artist’s lavish lifestyle and many of Florida’s hip-hop legends, including Rozay, Flo Rida, and DJ Khaled.

“Florida Kilos” by Lana Del Rey

Song Year: 2014

With Lana Del Rey's iconic breathy whisper-singing, “Florida Kilos” envelops you in its irresistible allure. This sultry track transforms Miami's dark side into an unexpectedly romantic setting, where you might stumble upon a chance meeting with a rugged, tattooed bad boy.

Like Lana Del Rey herself, the song is a mesmerizing blend of beauty and danger, alluring you with seductive vocals that tell a captivating story of the darker side of the Sunshine State.

“FloriDada” by Animal Collective

Song Year: 2016

Warning: Video not safe for work.

This song was allegedly inspired by the band’s collective dislike of the trend of hating native Floridians. The song is an ode to the Sunshine State with its breezy vocals and psychedelic beach band sound, and it challenges many of the misconceptions people associate with Florida. The lyrics discuss the beaches' beauty and the people's kindness in Florida.

The band maintains that Florida symbolizes a land of strangeness and oddity—and that’s how they like it.

“Orlando” by XXXTentacion

Song Year: 2017

Despite its title, this song is actually about heartbreak. The singer laments the years he spent (or wasted) with an ex-girlfriend, wishing he could return to the past.

XXXTentacion, also known as Jahseh Dahyne Ricardo Onfroy, was a young singer, songwriter, and hip-hop artist in the tradition of artists like Lil Peep and Juice Wrld. He was initially from Plantation, Florida, and wrote many songs about the state. He was unfortunately killed in 2018 at the young age of 20.

“Floridays” by Jimmy Buffet

Song Year: 1986

Jimmy Buffet has never been a stranger to writing sun-soaked songs about vacation destinations, and “Floridays” is no exception. It has all the breezy charm and bongo drum backing tracks we’ve come to know and love about Buffet’s music, topped off with a healthy dose of nostalgic escapism.

While it’s not as upbeat as other tracks like “Margaritaville” or “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” it’s still the perfect musical accompaniment for a quiet evening on Delray Beach or enjoying drinks on your back patio while you watch the sun sink below the Gulf.

“Key Largo” by Bertie Higgins

Song Year: 1982

Depending on what decade you were born in, you either consider this Bertie Higgins banger one of the greatest love ballads of all time, or you’ve asked your parents to turn it off during a summer family road trip to Destin. Higgin’s velvety voice drips into your ear canals as the lilting rhythm and sand-swept lyrics tell the tale of two lovers on the outs. 

While it’s not my top choice for a boat party or lounging by the pool, Higgin’s melodic voice is enough to convince me to crank the volume when it comes on shuffle.

“Ocean Avenue” by Yellowcard

“Ocean Avenue” by Yellowcard

Song Year: 2003

This song is the quintessential teen angst anthem—and it’s a song everybody knows. It has all the ingredients for an early-2000s hit: teenage romance, an infectious melody, and a punchy bassline.

The song’s lyrics detail the singer’s relationship with Ocean Avenue, a main thoroughfare in Jacksonville, Florida—and the young woman he fell in love with there. He mourns her loss and desires to return to the days of his youth.

While it’s all pretty cringe-worthy in hindsight, something about this punk-pop classic—complete with soaring violin riffs—makes listeners yearn for the good old days.

“Swimming in Miami” by Owl City

Song Year: 2007

Owl City is an electronic music project by Adam Young. Originally from Minnesota, Young’s song, “Swimming in Miami,” is among the best songs about Florida.

This song is about finding serenity in times of crisis and hardship. In the music, the protagonist climbs a stairway to the sun, enjoying the beauty of the earth below.

In classic Owl City fashion, it features clean, airy vocals and a beautiful instrumental backtrack. It’s the perfect song for, well, swimming in Miami.

“St. Petersburg” by Supergrass

Song Year: 2005

From British rock band Supergrass comes a beautiful song about Pinellas County, the magical inlet in Tampa Bay.

The song is about the desire to leave one’s mundane, exhausting nine-to-five job behind in search of brighter horizons. The lyrics detail the singer’s urge to ditch his tired life and head down to the white, sandy beaches of Western Florida.

In the classic style of Supergrass, this song features an upbeat rhythm with gritty and haunting vocals—the perfect combination.

“Florida” by Modest Mouse

Song Year: 2007

Despite its name, this Modest Mouse cut has more to do with leaving the state than celebrating it. The distinctive voice of Isaac Brock carries a rather sad tale of a man who has lost sight of his purpose and direction in life.

Even more compelling than the lyrics are the way the song shifts from upbeat and sunny to more melancholy, further emphasizing the narrator’s slow realization that they would never escape themselves no matter what state they called home.

“Gator Country” by Molly Hatchet

Song Year: 1978

“Gator Country” is a hit song by the southern hard rock band Molly Hatchet. This song is about the unmistakably Floridian experience of running into an alligator. The gator calls the protagonist by the name, warning him to return to his native land of Florida.

This song propelled Molly Hatchet to fame, making them the frontman of Florida’s 1970s hard-rock movement. Although the band had broken up, they reunited for the release of this song, making it legendary in local lore.

The song ultimately touches on an experience everyone can relate to—the itch to go home after a long travel period.

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