Does 2025 Even Have a Song of Summer?

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6 days ago

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Every year the same debate enters the cultural conversation: what is the song of summer?
Last year, there were almost too many contenders to count. Thanks to anthems courtesy of Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Kendrick Lamar, it seemed as if every genre had skin in the game when it came to what songs were soundtracking the season. This time around, the answer to what song is ruling the airwaves is a lot less clear—but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Rather than feeling as if we have to succumb to what our musical algorithms are feeding us, this summer brings a refreshing sense of freedom. Whether you're exploring a new genre or discovering under-the-radar artists, this season's musical bounty is a promising one.
Ahead, Harper's Bazaar editors share their personal picks for the ultimate song of summer 2025.
'Love Me Not' by Ravyn Lenae
2025 is the year the world finally woke up to the genius of Ravyn Lenae. I love how this song has such a timeless melody but you can still shimmy along to it while blasting it at home or shed a little tear when zoning in on the vulnerability of the lyrics. We love duality! TikTok virality aside, Lenae is a modern day musician that encompasses the soprano abilities of a Minnie Ripperton combined with the lyrical prowess of a young Mariah Carey; which to me means we undoubtedly have a number of anthems to come from the young diva in the making. — Bianca Betancourt, culture editor
'The Giver' by Chappell Roan
My household never skips a Chappell Roan song. After a whirlwind year that landed her the Grammy for Best New Artist, Roan entered 2025 with a new mission: conquering country. 'The Giver' is cheeky and flirtatious, a wink to the women who know they can satisfy their lovers better than any 'country boy quitter.' (My personal favorite bit is the choir of baritone voices echoing her in the bridge: 'She gets the job done.') Complete with fiddles and a Shania Twain affect, this bop has been playing on repeat all summer long. — Chelsey Sanchez, editor
'NuevaYol' by Bad Bunny
I knew from my first listen of this song back in January that it was going to be an anthem for the ages. You can't travel through any of New York City's five boroughs without passing by a car blasting this booming track from their speakers. 'NuevaYol' will surely go down in history as a song that encompasses the magnitude of cross-cultural Latino pride, but for now, it's a personal ode from Bad Bunny himself to his second-favorite city in the world and the immigrants who have contributed to American culture tenfold. — Bianca Betancourt, culture editor
'Headphones On' by Addison Rae
There's something so addictive about this song that I want injected in my veins. The string instruments, the beat, Addison whispering seductively in your ear—this song is meant to be blasted in the car on a warm summer night with all of the windows down. It's a master class in its writing and production, by an all female team. I've had it on repeat all season long, and absolutely expect it to end up on my Spotify Wrapped at the end of the year. — Olivia Alchek, senior designer
'Relationships' by HAIM
No one gets me in a summer mood quite like Haim. The rollicking drums on 'Forever,' the oozing guitar on 'Summer Girl'—their songs scream sunset drives down the Pacific Coast Highway or an afternoon spent drinking spritzes by the beach. When 'Relationships' came out, I instantly knew it would be my song of the summer. With an endless loop of addictive hooks, the track accurately captures that feeling of fleeting summer love and the on-again, off-again struggle that comes when neither can decide whether to fully commit. The Haim sisters are masters at capturing the intricacies of relationships, and let me just say this song has been soundtracking a summer full of feelings for me. Oh, and a music video featuring heartthrob-of-the-moment, Drew Starkey, was just the cherry on top. — Joel Calfee, assistant editor
'Mystical Magical' by Benson Boone
Controversial opinion, but my song of the summer is Benson Boone's 'Mystical Magical.' You've probably heard this song before since its lyrics, 'Moonbeam Icecream, taking off your blue jeans,' have gone viral all over social media. I still don't know what Moonbeam Icecream is, but I don't care. This song is an absolute banger and I will continue to stand by that. —Kristina Ang, social video coordinator and writer
'Catch These Fists' by Wet Leg
If you are, like me, an elder millennial who still listens to indie rock, then I highly recommend this song by two girls from the Island of Wight about beating up obnoxious men at the club. Apparently there's some discourse around the fact that they're hot and also sound like Pavement, but I care less about that than I do their arched-eyebrow musical delivery. Something about the way singer Rhian Teasdale says 'Man down' at the end of every chorus reminds me of the way Phoebe Waller-Bridge looks at the camera during Fleabag—totally deadpan yet totally goofy. — Izzy Grinspan, digital director
'Giddy Up, Gorgeous' by Tanner Adell
I'm calling it now: Tanner Adell will soon be the newest country darling. When she teased this infectious track on TikTok a few weeks back, I impatiently waited until it hit streaming platforms so I could blast it from my home speakers. It's such a funny, witty—and hot!—song that reminds me of when "traditional" country music felt a lot more light and free. — Bianca Betancourt, culture editor
'Afterlife' by Alex GProducer, singer, and songwriter Alex G released Headlights, his first album in three years, earlier this month, and I've had its lead single, 'Afterlife,' on repeat ever since. Warm and introspective, it bounces between nostalgia, transcendence, and new beginnings, revisiting some of Giannascoli's personal childhood memories through clipped lyrical vignettes along the way. The result is a track that shimmers with hope and tenderness; it's also a beautiful reminder to live in the moment because everything could soon change (and it is, in my opinion, best enjoyed on a walk in the sun). — Ariana Marsh, senior features editor
'IRL' by Lizzo (feat. SZA)
As soon as I heard Lizzo tease a snippet of this song on TikTok, I was hooked. And after hearing all two minutes and 43 seconds of IRL, I kept it on repeat for at least three cycles back to back—it's simply infectious. Lizzo caught my attention instantly with her lyrics and a hook that just makes you want to dance, and SZA's vocal contribution adds that perfect je ne sais quoi to lock 'IRL' in as one of the songs of the summer. It's exactly what you want to have blasting at your next kickback. — Tiffany Dodson, beauty commerce editor
'Childlike Things' by FKA twigs
These days, we should take as much joy as we can get, and nothing feels better than indulging your inner child. 'Childlike Things' is a quirky, summer bop that makes me want to immediately start jumping up and down as I mouth along in my room or in the car—something I'd do without a second thought in middle school, not so much as a 'serious' adult. The energy is infectious and pure fun. — Michella Ore, fashion commerce editor
'Chains and Whips' by Clipse (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
I could easily say that every song on Let God Sort Em Out deserves to be nominated as the song of the summer, but the combination of Clipse, Pharrell, and Kendrick Lamar on 'Chains and Whips' is absolutely next-level. Not only did Pharrell once again mastermind a beat that directly hits my soul, but the pure lyricism of each verse makes it necessary to listen to the song at least twice in a row to make sure you've actually processed their words. Truly a masterclass in hit-making all around. — Tiffany Dodson, beauty commerce editor
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