Summer 2024 was an incredible time for music. Throughout June, July, and August, it was guaranteed that at least one of the songs on this list was stuck in your head. Now that the summer is over (basically), we want to know what you think the song of the summer was?
Scroll through the list and make sure to vote at the poll at the bottom!
360 – Charli xcx
‘Brat Summer’ this, ‘Brat Summer’ that. Charli xcx’s long awaited album brat was practically every where this summer – including political campaigns. And for good reason. The dance-electro-pop soundtrack came with hard hitting dance beats, provocative lyrics and subjects, and encouraged the sort of environment summer calls for: slutty, dirty, and carefree… for some! Regardless of how you celebrate summer, there was at least one moment where you heard “I’m so Julia-ah-ah-ah-aah” either in your own head or through a speak somewhere.
A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey
Summer is about comradery, having fun with friends and strangers alike, and, well, drinking. And when Shaboozey dropped “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, it was clear that country music was coming in hot for summer anthems in 2024. Stomp-and-clap country, specifically. The song is not only fun, but it is insanely catchy. It’s easy to learn and easy to dance to. And it fit in almost every occasion for a summer night out. Country music isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but even the biggest country haters couldn’t help but give a holler when this song played. Hearing it in a dimly lit dive bar, four shots in, with your friend flirting with a stranger and the pool table calling your name? Indescribable.
Beautiful Things – Benson Boone
There is something inherently powerful about heavy hitting guitars and lyrics you can scream in the car, something Benson Boone took full advantage of in ‘Beautiful Things’. Not only did the song help him blow up as an artists, it was everywhere this summer. It was cathartic and had a message that was easy to resonate with. While it wasn’t a song for the club, it was still a song to get ready to, or simply scream in the car with the windows down.
Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
The pop girlies showed up and out this summer and Sabrina Carpenter was swinging in full force. “Espresso” followed the perfect recipe for a summer pop classic: be sexy, be catchy, and don’t be so damn serious! It felt new and exciting, an earworm song that was actually good, and captured an easy and carefree vibe. I mean, she literally says “My give a f—s are on vacation.” Not only did the lyrics feel unexpected and attention-catching, they were delivered in a catchy and bouncy way, making them extremely fun to repeat over and over again; “Walked in and dream came true’d it for ya,” and “I’m working late, cause I’m a singer,” and, of course, “That’s that me espresso.”
Gata Only – FloyyMenor, Cris MJ
Reggaeton is music that is made for dancing. And summer is a season made for dancing. Some may say that is a match made in heaven, and FloyyMenor and Cris MJ did when they released “Gata Only”. The song follows in the theme of summer being sexy and was played in almost, if not definitely, every latin club. Dark lighting, alcohol, sweaty dancing, and a good time are encouraged accessories when this song comes on. Following typical reggaeton elements, it’s insanely easy to feel it in your body and move your hips when this song comes on. If you stepped foot in any latin club this summer, you moved your body to this song at least once.
HOT TO GO! – Chappell Roan
While most songs of the summer are usually songs that came out in their respective summers, the ressurgance of The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess came this year for Chappell Roan. And HOT TO GO, the upbeat, silly, pop song that came with an equally fun dance, was the perfect catalyst for Roan to enter the running of pop girl summer. While the song encourages dancing, specifically the YMCA-esque arm spelling, it also encourages crowd participation and singing. It’s literally 7 letters and then 7 words! Easy and catchy lyrics are the perfect combination for a song to sing all summer
I Had Some Help – Post Malone (Ft. Morgan Wallen)
Post Malone’s switch from hip-hop/r n’ b to country was seamless and perfect, giving us something we didn’t know we needed. And when he released ‘I Had Some Help’ with country star Morgan Wallen, it only showed exactly how perfect it was. The song is kind of deep in nature when you really listen to it, basically saying “I f-‘d up but it is also kind of your fault.” But with an uptempo, boot tappin’ beat, catchy chorus, and underlying theme of drinking, it made it’s way perfectly into every summer playlist. Turn on any radio station for at least 10 minutes and you definitely heard the song at least once.
LUNCH – Billie Eilish
This summer was very much about all the girls, gays, and theys. Billie Eilish, who came out as queer in late 2023, released a killer album which featured one of the gayest mainstream pop songs ever. ‘LUNCH’, in which Eilish sings “I could eat that girl for lunch / Yeah, she dances on my tongue / Tastes like she might be the one,” blew up on tiktok, radios, and gay clubs everywhere. It was sexy, fun, and explicitly gay – perfect for an LGBT+ summer anthem. Even straight people were singing it!
MILLION DOLLAR BABY – Tommy Richman
Nasty – Tinashe
Sex was in the air this summer and one could argue Tinashe started it with her hit ‘Nasty’. The song came out in April and carried its weight through the entirety of May, June, July, AND August. It came with a sexy beat, catchy melody, and snappy hook. All summer, everyone was begging for someone to match their freak. Not only did the song dominate the club scene, it dug its way into business marketing tactics, and every day lingo. Hopefully you found somebody to match your freak this summer.
Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar
It’s always refreshing when an “overplayed” song is actually good. Kendrick Lamar has always been a lyrical genius (he’s won a Pulitzer, for pete’s sake). But the controversary surrounding ‘Not Like Us’ had some play in its rise. However, it was also fun and it brought a sense of community with it. Hearing an entire club full of people scream “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A-Minorrrrrrrrr,” was almost religious in nature. I once heard the song played eight time in the span of two hours on a night out this summer. The song lit a fire in the music industry, Lamar’s fanbase, and even those who don’t normally listen to rap music.
TGIF – GloRilla
Not only was “TGIF” an incredible anthem for a carefree, fun night out, it’s an excellent commentary on climate change. Despite that, when this song came on, it was time to hit the town. People in relationships could be heard screaming about not having a man. The entire song was an ode to not being tied down and having a crazy good time with your friends, specifically in the summer time, or any time its 95 degrees at 7 PM on a Friday night.
We want to know what YOU think the song of Summer 2024 was from our list:
Don’t see the song that defined your summer? Maybe you’ll find it on our Summer 2024 Spotify Playlist, curated by our team, so you can relive the music of the summer over and over again!
