The idea of a “song of the summer” has become a cultural phenomenon in recent years. It’s that one song that you hear everywhere during the summer, on the radio, at the beach or even while scrolling on TikTok. It becomes a summer anthem that ends up defining and capturing memories and feelings from that specific time of year.
For instance, in the summer of 2017, the sound of “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee plagued radio stations and social media feeds, and the version of the song featuring singer Justin Bieber reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone featuring country singer Morgan Wallen was crowned 2024’s song of the summer according to Billboard, following other popular hits such as Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso.”
Over the years, the concept of there being one song to define the summer has gone down. In 2016 The Washington Post published an article titled “There is no song of the summer,” while in 2018 The Rolling Stone published “There was no song of the summer this year – and there won’t be ever again.”
And now that the summer of 2025 is coming to an end, as the heat winds down and the seasons change, people have taken to social media to discuss one thing: Was there a song of the summer?
According to Billboard, “Ordinary” by Alex Warren was the top hit of this summer, as it spent up to 10 weeks at the No.1 spot on the Hot 100 chart.
“There actually is a clear cut song of the summer,” said Jason Lipshutz to Eyewitness News. “It’s Ordinary by Alex Warren. 10 weeks at number one on the hot 100. This doesn’t feel like a summer song, it feels kind of like a fall contemplative reflective singer songwriter song, but it was by far the biggest song of this summer.” According to Lipshutz, Billboard’s song of the summer is determined by what spends the most time at the top of the charts over the period between memorial day and labor day.
Warren’s pop ballad is followed by three songs from Wallen. His song in the No. 2 spot titled “What I Want” features pop artist Tate McRae, while his other songs “Just in Case” and “I’m the Problem” placed third and fourth on the list.
Other hits on the list include “Luther” by Lamar and SZA, “Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, “Golden” by HUNTR/X (EJae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami), “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter and “Love Me Not” by Ravyn Lenae.
Depending on different music tastes, social circles or memories created during the year, everyone has their own track that makes them think back to the summertime.
“My song of the summer is Cinema by Stray Kids,” said junior forensic science student Mia Zullo. “It meant so much to me to be able to see them live over the summer, and I can replay the show in my mind when listening.”
Other students also expressed how seeing different artists in concert this summer helped them determine their songs of the summer. Sophomore accounting major Brooke Hagen said “Lemon Drop” by Ateez was her song of the summer because she saw them live, while sophomore forensic science student Asher Martin said “Moonstruck” by Enhypen was his song of the summer because he “was excited for their concert.”
Although Warren’s song may be this summer’s song statistically, everyone can have their own song of the summer, different from what the charts show.
