The Song of the Summer Is Dead. Long Live the Playlist.
- Jordyn Mayes
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
What used to be one hit song is now a thousand micro-moments. Welcome to the playlist era.
August is here. The sun’s still blazing, but that back-to-school energy is creeping in. The season’s winding down, and a familiar debate is heating up: What was the soundtrack to it all?
Every year, one song usually rises above the noise. A clear, unmistakable song of the summer. But 2025? It’s different. There’s no definitive front-runner. No runaway hit dominating every speaker from pool parties to rooftop bars. This summer feels more like a free-for-all, a genre-blurring, algorithm-fed battle royale of bops.
TikTok Made Me Play It
In today’s streaming-first world, the race to the top doesn’t wait for radio spins. Bunna B’s “Bunna Summa” proved that. A short clip dropped in April, just a beat and a hook, was enough to light up TikTok. By the time the full track hit platforms, it was already the song blasting out of car windows at dusk. Infectious bounce, slick hooks, and that perfect windows-down energy. Certified summer.
The Vibe Dealers
But if we’re talking full-album experiences, Metro Boomin’s A Futuristic Summa changed the temperature entirely. This isn't a record you blast at the cookout. It’s what you play when the party’s winding down and the night gets real. Dark, polished, cinematic. Less anthem, more atmosphere.
Then there’s Kwn’s "Back of the Club", a lowkey standout that doesn't scream summer, but whispers it. It’s moody, intimate, built for after-hours linkups and whispered conversations. Some songs hit hard. This one lingers.
The Pop Machine Keeps Spinning
On the pop side, the girls are doing numbers and pushing boundaries. Sabrina Carpenter’s "Manchild" is undeniable. Playful, petty, and disco-drenched, it climbed to No. 1 with ease. Addison Rae, now more than just a viral name, dropped her self-titled project with "Fame is a Gun" quietly turning into a sleeper hit.
Lizzo came back swinging with "IRL", a power-pop anthem made even more iconic by a surprise duet with SZA in Paris. And PinkPantheress delivered yet another alt-pop gem with "Illegal", UK garage meets bubblegum, made for clubs and scrolls alike.
Even Justin Bieber took a sharp turn. His new album Swag (yes, that’s really the name) traded in bangers for vulnerability. Tracks like "Devotion" and "Dadz Love" showcase a softer, more introspective Biebs. Still pop, but grown.
The Curveballs Hit Hard
And then there are the left-field contenders. Chappell Roan’s "The Giver" is a slow-burn country-pop moment with a bold queer narrative that’s both personal and political.
Wet Leg returned with "Catch These Fists", a riotous, guitar-laced anthem from their new album Moisturizer. It’s got the kind of punch that’s made for both mosh pits and chaotic beach days.
And Bad Bunny is still on his own wave. "NuevaYol" is a genre-blending tribute to Puerto Rican pride and NYC swag. Salsa, reggaeton, boom-bap. Nobody’s doing it like El Conejo Malo.
So... Is There a Song of the Summer?
Honestly? No. And that’s the point.
2025 didn’t give us one anthem. It gave us options. A mosaic of moods. Whether you're chasing dopamine hits on TikTok, zoning out on a late-night drive, or dancing in someone’s kitchen at 2 a.m., there’s a track for that. From viral heat to slow burns, from major label dominance to indie curveballs, this summer didn’t crown a winner. It handed out the aux cord to everyone.
The soundtrack of 2025 isn’t a single song. It’s a feeling. A playlist. A moment. And that, in itself, is the point of it all.
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