As the end of summer approaches, it’s time for music’s favorite debate to resurface: What was the song of the summer? In recent years, the rise of TikTok has made this debate even more complicated. We’re left wondering whether a song is truly the “Song of the Summer” or if TikTok simply told us it was. The answer often lies in the songs we hear blaring from car speakers, soundtracking warm beach days, or prompting us to frantically Shazam them in crowded clubs. The truth is, there’s rarely just one definitive song—music is simply too diverse and too regional for that.
Interestingly, many of these summer hits were released weeks or even months before the season began. A significant number owe their success to TikTok, where their catchiest 15 to 30 seconds captured the attention of a massive and influential audience. It was easier a decade ago to settle on a single summer anthem—think Controlla in 2016 or Despacito in 2017. But with the shrinking monoculture and TikTok’s ever-quickening trend cycle, even songs by major artists can get lost in the shuffle. Below, 10 tracks that have been battling out for the coveted title of 2024’s Song of the Summer.
Espresso
Although it may not be the song of all songs, there’s no denying Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso was everywhere this summer. The rising pop star delivered a fun, flirty track that had all the makings of a summer smash, complete with a well-timed release date, a beach-themed music video, and endlessly quotable lyrics. You’re lying if you say you never blurted out “I’m working late, ‘cause I’m a singer,” randomly throughout the day.
Not Like Us
It’s almost ironic that in the Drake-vs.-Kendrick Lamar feud, it was Lamar who delivered the summer anthem with Not Like Us, a bonafide banger and arguably the biggest hit of the Compton-born rapper’s career. Typically, it’s the Toronto artist who provides the summer bops, but this time, Lamar took the season by storm with a track that dominated airwaves and had everyone crip walking in the clubs.
Move Me
Keinemusik was everywhere this summer, making Move Me a top contender for the song of the summer. The German electronic music label, comprising Adam Port, &ME, Rampa, and others, created a track that blends afro-house production, an ear-wormy melody, and pop lyricism—sounds that thrive in warmer weather worldwide.
Gata Only
Gata Only became the biggest Latin track of the year, topping TikTok’s global Songs of the Summer list. Chilean artists FloyyMenor and Cris MJ teamed up to create a reggaeton banger that sparked over 15 million TikTok creations. The song, all about chasing after the girl you’ve got feelings for, marks the first time a Chilean artist has entered the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart since 1999. And let’s be honest—how can you not dance when this song comes on?
Get it Sexxy
The title says it all: Get It Sexxy was the club song of the summer. Sexyy Red, with her distinctive flow and not-exactly-safe-for-work bars, took over with this track. It became a confident mantra for everyone planning to hit the dance floor.
Nasty
Tinashe’s Nasty surged in popularity during the first two weeks of the Songs of Summer predictions reveal, according to Spotify. The song saw a 110% increase in streams globally and in the U.S., perhaps thanks to the catchy refrain, “Is somebody gonna match my freak, is somebody gonna match my nasty?”
Million Dollar Baby
Tommy Richman has a knack for creating groovy tunes, and Million Dollar Baby is no exception. With a nubby bass line that feels like it crept up from some forgotten ’80s electro jam, this track is smothered in funk. Richman, hailing from Woodbridge, Va., has previously collaborated with Maryland singer Brent Faiyaz, and his distinct, addictive style is on full display here.
Praise Jah in the Moonlight
YG Marley’s debut single, Praise Jah in the Moonlight, is potentially reviving reggae, celebrating one billion streams worldwide. The hypnotic record, with deep poetic meaning, samples his grandfather, the legendary Bob Marley and the Wailers’ 1978 track Crisis. In the song, YG Marley pleads with a loved one, making it clear how much he misses and adores them. The accompanying music video showcases bonding time with his co-writer and mother, Lauryn Hill.
Habibi Leh
Although Habibi Leh made its way onto our summer playlists towards the end of the season, it deserves a spot on this list. Tult8te, the masked artist, has been at the center of a heated debate surrounding his identity. Whether it’s a mystery or a smart marketing technique, some are already calling him Gen Z’s Amr Diab. His tracks Matigy Aadi Aleki and Habibi Leh claimed the 9th and 10th spots on Spotify’s Viral 50 Global Chart.
