Entertainment
The year’s biggest music battle is heating up.
As any critic will tell you in 2024, monoculture is, and has been, dead, and that includes the concept of a song of the summer, or the singular tune that’ll reign supreme during the year’s hottest months. It’s true: The song of the summer is no longer a static, non-fungible title, but a fluid and cyclical one that shifts with time and the public’s general mood.
Still, by Labor Day, there generally are a handful of tracks whose vibes, sticky choruses, and incessant repetitions can be used to define the summer’s culture. For example, I recently spent a solid 15 minutes connecting the dots between Tinashe’s “Nasty” and a Minions-themed “match my freak” meme on the phone for my (rapt) family.
This summer, we’ll be tracking the moves of the top SOTS contenders power-ranking-style — moving things up, knocking things down, and bringing new power players into the fold every week until Labor Day. Factors that’ll be taken into consideration: chart stats (including what’s hot on the Billboard Hot 100), online buzz, and what we hear out in the wild from the windows of passing cars to block parties and barbecues. Dive into our most up-to-date standing, below.
1
“Espresso” - Sabrina Carpenter
Current position: 1 (+9)
Last position: 10
Our prediction: Even though this Short n’ Sweet singer scored her first No. 1 hit with a different song of the summer contender, there’s no denying the staying power of this caffeinated bop. From pool parties to gay clubs, she’s been prevalent all season long, and it’s time we reward her for educating the world on the proper pronunciation of “espresso.”
2
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” - Shaboozey
Current position: 2 (-1)
Last position: 1
Our prediction: This viral good-vibes anthem continues to buzz, especially after J-Kwon joined Shabooozey for an exceptionally boot-scootin’ performance at June’s BET Awards. This country-music disruptor clearly has a few more double shots of whiskey left in him.
3
“I Had Some Help” - Post Malone & Morgan Wallen
Current position: 3 (-1)
Last position: 2
Our prediction: What’s summertime without a busted AC, the smell of sunscreen, and a Morgan Wallen chart-topper? After six weeks (and counting) atop the Billboard Hot 100, this Post Malone collab continues to show us that teamwork does, in fact, make the dream work.
4
“Not Like Us” - Kendrick Lamar
Current position: 4 (+3)
Last position: 7
Our prediction: If you thought Kendrick Lamar was done taking victory laps after his feud with Drake, guess again. With a baseball bat and owl piñata, the Pulitzer Prize-winning wordsmith breathed new life into his god-tier diss track with a big-budget music video. Although he assured fans “no OVHoes were harmed during the making,” the visual’s prodding details likely have his opponent nursing new wounds.
5
“Good Luck, Babe!” - Chappell Roan
Current position: 5 (+3)
Last position: 8
Our prediction: This synth-y, queer kiss-off anthem continues to propel pop’s DIY Midwest princess to new heights. It’s probably time to sit your parents down and tell them who Chappell Roan is, considering this ’80s throwback and a handful of tracks from her discography are relentlessly picking up steam.
6
“Joyride” - Kesha
Current position: 6
Last position: N/A
Our prediction: This snarky and frenetic party anthem arrived late to the game, but there’s no denying Kesha’s pen when it comes to carefree, self-assured tunes. Harnessing the powers of a Gregorian chorus, Mean Girls, and her newfound freedom, “Joyride” manages to be weird (and fun) enough to warrant a replay.
7
“Nasty” - Tinashe
Current position: 7 (-2)
Last position: 5
Our prediction: For three whole minutes, an entire crowd tapped into their inner freak when Tinashe performed this sexy slow jam at Brooklyn’s LadyLand Festival over Pride Weekend. With the tune hanging tight on the Hot 100 and a new album en route, we’re not ruling out a nasty-girl summer just yet.
8
“Million Dollar Baby” - Tommy Richman
Current position: 8 (+1)
Last position: 9
Our prediction: This addictive pop-trap offering from newcomer Tommy Richman has proven itself a worthy contender, holding tight on the charts and airwaves, and prompting Richman himself to assert: “I’m not no f*kkin tik tok artist.” And honestly, it’s not the worst song you could hear while trying to snag a $1.50 slice on the Lower East Side.
9
“Please, Please, Please” - Sabrina Carpenter
Current position: 9 (-6)
Last position: 3
Our prediction: Despite its Dolly Parton-level charm, this country-tinged plea for romance doesn’t spike the heart rate like its caffeinated competitor. Nevertheless, that campy delivery of “motherf*cker” and its Jack Antonoff touch has us holding on. Perhaps Taylor Swift was right when she dubbed it the “Summer of Sabrina.”
10
“Tough” - Lana Del Rey & Quavo
Current position: 10
Last position: N/A
Our prediction: The queen of “Summertime Sadness” celebrated Independence Day by dropping her long-awaited country-trap collab with Quavo. And while its path to sunny-season supremacy may be “tough,” this throwback to her 2012 debut album feels like a rainstorm in the middle of a drought.
Previous song of the summer contenders:
“4eva” - Shygirl; “Back Outside” - Anycia; “We Can’t Be Friends” - Ariana Grande; “Illusion” - Dua Lipa; “Texas Hold ‘Em” - Beyoncé; “Beautiful Things” - Benson Boone; “Bubble Gum” - NewJeans; “Family Matters” - Drake; “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)” - Taylor Swift; “Brutalizers (From the Challengers Soundtrack)” - Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross; “Lobster Telephone” - Peggy Gou; “360” - Charli XCX; Birds of a Feather - Billie Eilish
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