Top Contenders for the 2024 Season’s Most Beloved Melody
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Each season, an infectious tune earns the accolade of being the “song of summer,” reigning over radio broadcasts and playlist selections from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This melody is generally spirited, an invitation to dance, and is ubiquitous – from automobile radios to seaside outings to bustling eateries persistently for numerous weeks.
This honorific designation carries no tangible prize, simply the recognition of which musician most perfectly encapsulated the jovial essence of the sunniest period. Previous summer anthems included “As It Was” by Harry Styles and “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Considering aspects such as streaming, airplay, and commercial figures, one melody will rise as the season’s most adored — and often, this can be foreseen by May. Let’s delve into which tracks are potential contenders for 2024’s summer song and reflect on the beloved tunes from prior years.
Contenders for the 2024 Song of Summer
The landscape of music discovery has expanded vastly over the previous decade, making it more of a challenge to pinpoint a single track that stands out in cultural and commercial triumph. What you constantly hear on the airwaves may diverge from what tops Spotify’s charts, and the tunes that are pervasive on TikTok may not translate to robust sale figures.
Dua Lipa delivers a performance in May. (Gotham/WireImage)
Several renowned artists known for topping charts have recently launched new albums:
Dua Lipa’s latest singles, “Training Season” and “Illusion,” are well-received, though a different track from her May release Radical Optimism may steal the spotlight.
Taylor Swift presented her followers with 31 new tracks in April — “Fortnight” is showing significant traction.
Billie Eilish’s latest work “Lunch” is garnering considerable buzz on the internet. While it’s premature to forecast its chart success, Eilish is known for creating viral sensations.
Ariana Grande’s freshest compilation emerged in March, and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” is progressively gaining popularity.
New works from Charli XCX and Normani, eagerly awaited by many, are slated for release in early summer, though it’s unknown which compositions will become hits.
🤠 The Yeehaw Movement
Beyoncé at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards. (Michael Buckner/Billboard via Getty Images)
Although Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter,” which dropped in March, appears to have hit its peak well ahead of summer, she could still unveil music videos capable of propelling tunes like “Texas Hold ‘Em” to renewed prominence.
Having made two appearances on Beyoncé’s album, Shaboozey could experience a breakout moment with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which is creating buzz on TikTok.
Post Malone, who made appearances on both Swift and Beyoncé’s recent albums, ventured into country music by releasing the track “I Had Some Help” with Morgan Wallen, which soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 shortly after its debut.
📈 Emerging “middle class” artists
Sabrina Carpenter performs on Saturday Night Live. (Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images)
Two highly-regarded tour support acts are currently categorized as part of pop’s developing class—much appreciated online, yet not quite filling stadiums offline. This could shift during the summer:
Sabrina Carpenter, already known for several hits, could ascend to true pop stardom with her fresh release “Espresso,” considering her role opening for Swift’s tour.
Chappell Roan, gaining significant momentum since warming up the crowd for Olivia Rodrigo’s concert tour, has a potential hit in “Good Luck, Babe!”
🥩 Lyricists in conflict
Rapper Kendrick Lamar at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2017, on the left, and Canadian rapper Drake at the Euphoria series premiere in 2019. (AP Photo)
Kendrick Lamar and Drake have been exchanging barbs in their lyrics since March. Some of their verbal skirmishes have risen to the summit of music rankings:
Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical contribution in “Like That,” a tune by Metro Boomin and Future, sparked a rivalry that has been brewing for nearly ten years — and it topped the charts. As we approach summer, it’s still holding a spot in the Billboard Hot 100’s upper echelons.
Thus far, Lamar’s most successful track from this contention is the biting “Not Like Us,” which achieved No.1. His other songs “Euphoria” and “Meet the Grahams” maintain their popularity, but “Not Like Us” secures the most airwaves, granting it the top potential for a breakthrough.
Drake’s retorts, namely “Push Ups” and “Family Matters,” have found favor, though they don’t match the impact seen by Lamar’s tracks. The possibility remains that the two might perpetuate their verbal sparring, giving us a soundtrack to our summer filled with musical ripostes.
🐎 Unlikely contenders
Tyla attends the 2024 Met Gala. (Gotham/Getty Images)
Mellow R&B tracks such as “Saturn” by SZA and “Jump” by Tyla are poised to feature prominently on numerous tranquil summer playlists.
A slew of melodic, soul-infused tracks are capturing the airwaves, counting “Too Sweet” by Hozier, “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, and “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone among them.
A single TikTok could rocket a song to instant viral success within days. A couple of notable TikTok-propelled sensations that might be in the running include “I Like The Way You Kiss Me” by Artemas and “Million Dollar Baby” by Tommy Richman.
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Revisit past summers’ anthems
The idea of a quintessential summer tune gained traction many years ago, but it was during the 1990s that the term started to become widespread. In the 2000s, the search for the “song of summer” title by various media became a contest among artists.
Reflect on the peak summer track for each year over the last two decades, based on Billboard’s data, and bask in the warm glow of bygone summers:
2023: “Last Night” by Morgan Wallen
2022: “As It Was” by Harry Styles
2021: “Butter” by BTS
2020: “Rockstar” by DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
2019: “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
2018: “In My Feelings” by Drake
2017: “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
2016: “One Dance” by Drake feat. WizKid & Kyla
2015: “Cheerleader” by OMI
2014: “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
2013: “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell
2012: “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen
2011: “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
2010: “California Gurls” by Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg
2009: “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
2008: “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry
2007: “Umbrella” by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
2006: “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland
2005: “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
2004: “Confessions Part II” by Usher
2003: “Crazy In Love” by Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z
2002: “Hot in Herre” by Nelly
2001: “U Remind Me” by Usher
2000: “Bent” by Matchbox Twenty
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