No one can quite agree on what a song of the summer actually is. Technically, the song of the summer is the most commercially successful track between the months of June and September. For example, the technical winner of 2015 wasn't Taylor Swift or The Weeknd; it was "Cheerleader," a sickeningly cheerful reggae pop track by newcomer Jamaican artist OMI. This by no means makes it the best song of summer 2015—only that it hit No. 1 and stayed on the charts for 15 weeks. The same could be said about Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" in 2014 [shudders], or "Blurred Lines" in 2013 [groans]. This summer it will very likely be Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling," which isn't even in the top 20 best Justin Timberlake songs.
The song of the summer is so much more than that. It's the song that you'll hear 10 years from now and suddenly remember exactly what you were doing during Summer 2016. It's the reason whenever I hear "What's In It For" by little-known indie rock band Avi Buffalo that I remember getting in Roman candle fights on bikes in the streets of Fort Collins, Colorado, and the crappy little pink house I lived in with a huge back yard.
So, getting to our list. The below songs are a mix of Billboard chart toppers (that are still good) and songs that will never make it to the charts (and are also very good!).
Chance the Rapper — "Summer Friends"
Looking back at all the A-list hip-hop contenders for songs of the summer they're all party songs. Though, with a beat as comforting as a warm, fading summer night, Chance the Rapper has perfected the sound of nostalgic, hip-hop balladry.
Tegan and Sara — "Boyfriend"
For now, there's absolutely nothing wrong with '80s-tinged pop music sticking around as a trend through summer '16. There was Taylor Swift's 1989 in 2014 and Carly Rae Jepsen's Emotion in 2015. This year, we get near-perfect '80s pop from Tegan and Sara.
Twin Peaks — "Holding Roses"
No band makes you want to be young and stupid again more than Twin Peaks. Light keys, careless yelps and howls, and talk of goodbyes you thought would never come, this is the '70s soft rock throwback you forgot you needed.
Drake — "Controlla"
Dancehall-injected beats have been proven international hits the last couple of years. Much like "Work," his hit with Rihanna, Drake's "Controlla" has the style to land on Top 10 charts across the world.
Car Seat Headrest — "Destroyed By Hippie Powers"
Sure, a five minute garage rock song with a super unclear title by a 24-year-old from Virginia doesn't have the makings of a Billboard chart topper, but "Destroyed By Hippie Powers" will bring you back to the summer Weezer's Blue Album came out.
White Lung — "Below"
What are the odds you're going to get broken up with this summer? You can't expect everything to be perfect just because the weather is! That's why White Lung is here: for you to go to a quiet place and burn all the shit from your ex straight into the ground.
Joey Purp — "GIRLS"
That vintage Neptunes-sounding beat, a verse from current hip-hop "it boy" Chance the Rapper (complete with a Ta-Nehisi Coates reference)—Joey Purp is here with a party from Chicago.
James Blake — "Radio Silence"
Summer can't be all about fun, OK? At a certain point, everyone needs to put down that vodka and lemonade and listen to something heavy. As a producer, James Blake is more technically gifted than most mainstream pop machine songwriters. As a vocalist, he rivals Sam Smith. Try to decide if his music is for people who are too sad or too complex for the typical EDM crew.
Ariana Grande — "Into You"
And because the last one was so intense, unwind to some Ariana Grande. While the song didn't immediately catch as her third single, it has come roaring back into the charts in recent weeks.
Whitney — "No Woman"
Vocals like fluffy clouds, a guitar hook like a soft breeze, and a triumphant horn section: "No Woman" is the road-trip soundtrack this summer.
Kanye West — "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1 and 2"
Though the release of Kanye West's The Life of Pablo was kind of a confusing mess early in the year without any proper singles or videos (or really anything), "Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1 and 2" will be 50 percent more influential than Picasso this summer.
Anderson Paak — "Am I Wrong"
Anderson Paak's Malibu came out in the wrong season. Named after one of the most sun-drenched places in the country, one of the warmest albums of the year came out in early January. This is some of the brightest SoCal R&B/hip-hop since Frank Ocean.
Parquet Courts — "Human Performance"
If there's any good time to be a slacker, it's the between the months of June and September. The half-assed, conversational vocals and the lazy tempos layered with hazy feedback makes this one for lounging about and getting stoned on warm days.
Rihanna — "Needed Me"
There are five songs either by or featuring Rihanna currently on the Billboard Hot 100. Though Anti has been out since late January, Rihanna isn't going anywhere.
Charles Bradley — "Changes"
"Changes" isn't the first song that comes to mind when thinking of the hard-hitting Black Sabbath catalog. It's a sweet piano ballad from Black Sabbath Vol. 4 that had been largely forgotten until a cover version of the song by a 67-year-old soul singer was released this year. And that song just happens to be a highlight of Charles Bradley's album of the same name.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard — "Gamma Knife"
The rock scene in Melbourne is strong. And among the bands leading that pack is King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, the relentless psych-rock band behind one of 2016's weirdest albums, Nonagon Infinity.
M83 — "Go!"
The cheesy sax and '80s guitar solos on M83's "Go!" will send you into many late nights this summer. This is high gloss dance pop that's as much for mainstream radio listeners as it is for experimental electronic snobs.
Kaytranada — "You're the One"
For anyone who has kept up on electronic music via soundcloud or niche blogs, Kaytranada isn't anything new. But this year saw the release of the Canadian producer's major label debut, which will finally expose him to wider audiences.
Gucci Mane — "First Day Out Tha Feds"
Did you miss him?! Gucci Mane is out of jail for summer 2016 with a hot new beat from Mike Will Made-It. Just in time to make this the song for all the First Day Out of College-themed parties.
Adele — "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)"
Yes, 25 was released in late 2015, but this is Adele we're talking about. Adele hits will last until every single song on the record has charted at number one. And "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" will do just that this summer.
Here's the full playlist on Spotify:
