The Go-Go's 'Vacation' Once Named No. 9 Best Summer Song by Rolling Stone

In 1981, the all-female rock group The Go-Go's broke barriers and became bona fide stars with the release of their debut album, Beauty and the Beat, which produced a pair of hits, "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat," the latter of which rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

For a follow-up, the band released Vacation in 1982. The album's title track would climb to No. 8 on the Hot 100; to this day, it is still regarded as one of The Go-Go's signature songs and in 2022, was named one of the best summer songs of all time by Rolling Stone.

However, even as "Vacation" was tearing up the charts, infighting was beginning to take its toll on the group. The Go-Go's would never log another top 10 hit, and by 1985, had broken up.

Nevertheless, the song remains a summertime classic more than four decades later and nearly five years after The Go-Go's were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

A 'perfect' summer song

Released on July 20, 1982, "Vacation" earned immediate positive reviews from Billboard, who called it a "perfect summer record."

"It's up-tempo, optimistic and the aural companion for lazy days at the beach," the publication wrote.

Rolling Stone agrees

Four years ago, the outlet slotted "Vacation" at No. 9 on its list of top 50 summer songs of all time, one spot ahead of "Essence" by Wizkid and Tems and just behind Prince's "When Doves Cry."

"With a radiant keyboard melody and swirls of surf guitar, The Go-Go‘s nailed the feeling of trying to use summer vacation to try to get over a crush," Rolling Stone said. "It's one of Belinda Carlisle's most heart-tugging performances and its team-waterskiing video is one of greatest MTV clips of all time."

The Go-Go's would release one more album, 1984's Talk Show, before their initial breakup. While the project's lead single, "Head Over Heels," would gain traction and reach No. 11 on the Hot 100, it could not duplicate the past success of "Vacation" and "We Got the Beat."

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 4:57 PM.