CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nine years into this exercise, I’ve realized that selecting a Song of the Summer is like those trick questions at the end of the cyber awareness training videos your company makes you watch every month.
Multiple things can be true at the same time.
So, what began as the Summer of Sab in May turned into a Brat Summer in June. By August, we were in the throes of a full-blown Femininomenon. Indeed, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx and Chappell Roan were everywhere on our playlists and “For You” pages. But that’s not to say Shaboozey, Post Malone and that darn “cold iced tea and warm weather” song weren’t stuck in our heads, too.
The Song of the Summer is dead. Long live the Songs of the Summer. Turns out, there’s one for every occasion.
“Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish
Pics or it didn’t happen, right? Summer is about making memories with friends and then posting about it. We did, but every time we hit that “add sound” button, there was Billie with this super chill jam, begging you to use it again.
“Million Dollar Baby” by Tommy Richman
With its unique ‘90s sound and memorable hook, “Million Dollar Baby” was everywhere, inspiring a viral dance trend and more than 300 million videos on TikTok.
“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan
Summer has a way of sparking nostalgia and thinking about the one who got away. Chappell Roan’s breakthrough hit does both with wistful lyrics wrapped in a haunting 1980s sound reminiscent of Kate Bush and Bonnie Tyler.
“Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter (video contains mature lyrics)
Surf, sun and hot bodies. It wouldn’t be summer without going to the beach. The new reigning Pop Princess gave the season’s favorite activity a soundtrack with this fun, flirty and confident bop. But Sabby was no one-summer-hit wonder. “Please Please Please” is our Getting Ready for a Night Out on the Town Song of the Summer.
“I Had Some Help” by Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen (video contains mature lyrics)
Every summer needs a catchy singalong song for when you stumble into a random karaoke bar at 1 a.m. Bonus: Postie’s first country single doubles as a Morgan Wallen reclamation project.
“Guess” by Charli xcx ft. Billie Eilish (video contains mature lyrics)
Charli’s “Brat” summer produced a trio of smash singles. “360″ had one of the best lines of the season (”I’m everywhere, I’m so Julia), while “Apple” became a TikTok dance challenge. But like George Michael did with “I Want Your Sex” in 1987, Charli and Billie left us hot and bothered with the risque “Guess.” Just be sure the earbuds are in at work.
“Miles On It” by Marshmello & Kane Brown
Nothing says summer like hitting the open road with the top down, the wind in your face and the radio on full blast. Marshmello and Kane Brown’s addictive EDM-country mashup was made for that.
“Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone
Summer is the season for romance — and relationship benchmarks such as weddings, proposals, long weekends together, etc., No love song moved us more than Benson Boone’s powerful vocal on “Beautiful Things.”
“Austin” by Dasha (video contains mature lyrics)
Every summer has an f--- you song: think Leah Kate’s “10 Things I Hate About You” in 2022 and Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u” in 2021. Dasha adds her name to the list, bringing an unmistakable early Taylor Swift energy to this defiant ditty.
“I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” by Taylor Swift
If you’re like me and now remember summers based on which Taylor Swift song came out that year, we submit “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.” Not only is it a standout song on a samey-sounding album (“The Tortured Poets Department”), but it summed up everything we were feeling about having to drag ourselves out of bed and into the office on a beautiful, sunny day: I cry a lot but I am so productive, it’s an art.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey (video contains mature lyrics)
If you didn’t dance to this song at a bar or a wedding at least once during the past three months, then did summer really happen? Shaboozey dominated radio with this boot-scootin’ boogie, becoming the first Black male artist to ever hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Songs chart at the same time.
“Hot To Go!” by Chappell Roan
I lied. The Song of the Summer lives! Chappell Roan had such a remarkable run this summer that not giving her this title would have been a tragic mistake-nomenon. The Midwest Princess currently has seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Among them, “Hot To Go!”, with its cheeky lyrics, infectious beat and cheerleader vibes, has left the biggest mark on pop culture.
2023: ”Cruel Summer,” Taylor Swift
2022: “About Damn Time,” Lizzo
2021: “good 4 u,” Olivia Rodrigo
2020: “Watermelon Sugar,” Harry Styles
2019: “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo
2018: “In My Feelings,” Drake
2017: “Despacito,” Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber
2016: “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”, Justin Timberlake
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