While this summer might have come and gone, it's that time of year again where music journalists and pop culture pundits crown their yearly song of the summer. Some years, there is universal consensus on which song is exemplary, such as “Old Town Road” in 2019 and “Closer” in 2016. Yet this summer was stacked with hits and bangers, and release after release has cemented the powerhouse year that 2024 has been in music so far. Without further ado, here are my picks for my songs of the summer.
Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter
First and foremost, this list wouldn’t be complete without something off of Short n’ Sweet. While Sabrina’s other singles “Please Please Please” and “Taste” are strong centerpieces of her new project, “Espresso” was indeed the song that started it all. Sabrina Carpenter casually coined the phrase “that’s that me espresso” into existence, and then the rest is history.
HOT TO GO! - Chappell Roan
Did this song technically come out in 2023? Yes. But “HOT TO GO!” has made such a splash on the current pop landscape that I have to give it the nod over “Good Luck, Babe”, Chappell’s most recent single from 2024. The countless TikTok videos of people saying “I hope she plays Hot To Go!” to even sororities posting their “RushTok” dances to “HOT TO GO!” have dominated the social media realm. I can even see this song becoming the new wedding, bar, and party staple, with everyone doing the dance and all.
Apple - Charli XCX
The viral standout of the most viral albums of the summer, BRAT, “Apple” by Charli XCX is arguably one of the most impactful songs on the project. While the song touches on themes of generational trauma and familial issues, “Apple” found a life of its own through a TikTok dance choreographed by Kelly Heyer, who even got to dance to it live at the Sweat Tour at MSG. “Apple” is a breath of fresh air, and you will always catch me doing the dance whenever the song comes on.
I Can Do It With A Broken Heart - Taylor Swift
While The Tortured Poets Department is more of a melancholic project for Taylor Swift, the second single “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” is a synth-pop standout that appeals to the masses. Written as an ode to the early tour dates of The Eras Tour in 2023 where Taylor was dealing with tumultuous behind the scenes action, she acted like it was her birthday every day for thousands of Swifties each show. Swift even wrapped up the European leg of The Eras Tour with the premiere of the ICDIWABH music video, featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the tour. This track is a highlight of the TTPD set of the tour, and Travis Kelce joined the excitement during a performance of it in London!
I Had Some Help - Post Malone and Morgan Wallen
With country starting to become a mainstay on today’s pop charts, the pop-country crossovers keep on coming. And Post Malone, who has successfully pivoted from melodic rap to pop, pivoted once again for his new country album, F-1 TRILLION. To set this project up for success, he teamed up with current country superstar Morgan Wallen for his lead single “I Had Some Help”, which dominated the country charts and streaming platforms this summer. Whether you’re at the beach or on a boat, this song is a certified summer anthem.
Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar has had a year of releasing incredible music, starting with the release of “Like That” spiraling into a diss-track feud with Drake. “Not Like Us” is the magnum opus of Kendrick’s releases - if you didn’t think Kendrick won the feud, this track says otherwise. This track is a statement larger than the feud itself, and “Not Like Us” exemplifies Kendrick's poetic and lyrical talents. Kendrick even played the song 6 times at his Juneteenth concert, and my money is that he will garner a very energized reaction if he plays this as part of his Super Bowl Halftime Show next year.
Close To You - Gracie Abrams
While this song initially was a years-old demo that Gracie Abrams’s fans were begging for her to release, putting “Close To You” on the deluxe version of us., and releasing it as a promotional single was a smart way to give longtime fans a treat before the release of her new album while also building hype and gaining a new audience. As a more casual listener of Gracie, “Close To You” has always been my favorite song of hers, and I was really ecstatic for this song to finally be released. I already know it’ll be high on my Spotify Wrapped.
Am I Okay? - Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney is going to be the next country superstar - I’m already calling it now. And her song “Am I Okay?”, the title track off her new LP, is the perfect introduction to her music, alongside being an incredible song with lyrics that already have been resonating with fans. As a woman in my early twenties, this song is the essence of debriefing a first date with your best friends.
Girls - The Dare
Indie sleaze is back, alive, and well thanks to songs like “Girls” by The Dare. After being associated with Charli XCX, and even name-dropped on “Guess”, The Dare is having his breakthrough moment with the viral, catchy tune “Girls.” This song is making waves at BRAT adjacent events and even had a wild crowd singing along at The Dare’s sold out NYC show at Webster Hall.
places to be - Fred again.., Anderson .Paak, and CHIKA
Fred again.., has done it once again with the release of “places to be” with Anderson .Paak, and CHIKA as the lead single for his new album ten days. Coming off of pop-up shows at the Sydney Opera House and the LA Coliseum, alongside critically acclaimed previous releases, “places to be” is the electronic staple of the summer. I know this song will be a fan-favorite at Fred’s sets for years to come.
While this article might be my belated celebration of the music of this summer, these songs serve as a sonic time capsule for summer 2024. Here’s to another summer of incredible music!
Check out the playlist with all of these songs here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MTRc4twas8PSxCdVTRrei?si=dbac9c38b8ce47ef
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