The New York Dolls frontman often uses this exact phrasing, particularly when promoting his Mansion of Fun show on SiriusXM. It aligns with his signature "sleazy boogie" and flamboyant rock style.

The band’s song "Young Lust" contains the lyrics: "You feel it in the summertime blues / Oh, easy when there's nothin' to lose... A little bit o' nasty, you look a little sleazy" . Aerosmith is famously described by critics and platforms like Spotify as specializing in "raunchy, sleazy boogie".

Writers sometimes use the phrase to mock political or social climates, such as a recent Spectator piece that punned on "Starmertime... and the livin' is sleazy" to criticize UK leadership.

Replacing the "polite" or "perfect" summer image with something more authentic, worn-in, and rebellious.

In modern usage, "livin' is sleazy" typically refers to a summer characterized by:

Often associated with punk, hair metal, or underground DJ sets.