Latest news with #SongoftheSummer
Global News
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Shouldn't we have heard about a ‘song of the summer' by now?
Summertime: when the weather, activities, emotions and music coalesce to make memories, for better or worse. I, for example, am still triggered by Heat of the Moment by Asia, which was big during the summer of 1982, during which I suffered a very bad breakup. Even today, a few notes are enough to bring back that university-era hurt. Anything from Green Day's Dookie immediately transports me to the summer of 1994. You're probably thinking of your own personal songs of summers gone by. There's another level to this. Each year, there are one or two songs released in May or June that rise to the level of universal ubiquity by midsummer. It's the earworm with the contagiousness of the measles. It's an inescapable hit that no one is capable of avoiding. If you're not listening, you're at least hearing it enough that it becomes indelibly imprinted on your brain. You may not like the song, but it's everywhere. Resistance is futile, and before long, its existence is connected to a specific few months on the calendar. Story continues below advertisement It wasn't all that long ago that we were aware of most of the popular songs of the moment, including the ones we hated, even to the point of knowing most of the words. Summer songs were that powerful. There's a portion of the music industry (and thus the general public) that remains obsessed with declaring who has the official Song of the Summer (yes, they capitalize it). It's all marketing bumf, of course, a chance to goose streams of priority acts so they blast up the charts, creating even more hype. Last year, for example, it was all about Sabrina Carpenter's Espresso battling it out with Beautiful Things by Benson Boone. In 2023, we were pointed at Olivia Rodrigo's Vampire. A year earlier, it was As It Was by Harry Styles. 2:07 Sabrina Carpenter bites back ahead of (another) Sabrina Summer I could be wrong, but I don't remember the music industry's Song of the Summer obsession existing before 2010. This seems to be a product of the streaming age, an effect to take us back to an era when there was a universal consensus about what songs were hits, what songs we all needed to know about, and what songs defined a period of time. Story continues below advertisement Today, though, things are different. We no longer live in a monoculture where everyone is constantly exposed to the same thing. Our attention to, well, all entertainment has been segmented, stratified, separated, and personalized down to the second. We listen to what we want, when we want, wherever we are, and on whatever device we happen to have. MIDiA, a music business analytics company, suggests that we are extremely close to what they call 'peak fragmentation.' The concept of anxiously waiting for a radio station to play your favourite hit song at the same time as thousands of other listeners is a thing of the past. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The reason I bring this up is that here we are in the middle of July, and there doesn't seem to be a strong Song of the Summer candidate for 2025. Oh, sure, Billboard has its Songs of the Summer chart (the number one position is currently held by Alex Warren's Ordinary), but I have no idea if I've ever heard it — and I work in radio and the music industry! Nor can I hum any of the top five: What I Want from Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae, Morgan Wallen and Just in Case, Luther from Kendrick Lamar and SZA, and *sigh* more Morgan Wallen with I'm the Problem. True, maybe I'm the problem. But if we dig deeper, it may be a fault of the music. According to Chartmetric, another music business data analytics company, there are substantially fewer breakout hits this year (23 vs. 49), with less than half the number of hit songs that we saw at this point in 2024. Plenty of 2025's top-charting songs — think Die with a Smile from Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars — were released last year. Story continues below advertisement What's more, there are no 2025 albums that have the cultural impact that Brat by Charli XCX had last year. For this summer, the smart money had been on Something Beautiful, the Miley Cyrus concept album, but so far, crickets. Lorde's Virgin doesn't seem to have much momentum, either — at least not yet. Rock? The highest-charting album in the country, according to Billboard Canada, as I write this is — wait for it — Rumours (1977) by Fleetwood Mac at number 18. The Tragically Hip's greatest hits collection, Yer Favourites (2005), is next at 24. What this comes down to is what constitutes a 'hit' in this day and age. A song may do well on the Spotify Top 50 but flounder on radio. It could show up on an important playlist but not translate to use on Instagram and TikTok. A big movie will come with one or two halo songs that don't travel beyond the closing credits. Cross-media pollination just isn't very strong in 2025. 2:42 Will Netflix and other major streaming services leave Canada after CRTC ruling? But here's the biggest issue. The streaming music services have access to more than 200 million songs in their libraries, all available to users with just a couple of pokes at their phone. Contemporary artists aren't just competing with their peers for attention; they're competing against the greatest songs of all time. These songs may not be new, but they're certainly new to young people in the midst of their musical coming-of-age years. Story continues below advertisement And the price? Free, or something very close to it. There's still time for a 2025 Song of the Summer, of course. Hearken back to 2022 when Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill reached the peak of its virality that August. There might be something gestating on TikTok right now that will explode in the next four weeks. But just because something goes crazy on TikTok doesn't mean it will land on the radar of those who don't use the platform. Nor does reaching number one on the Spotify Top 50. A true Song of the Summer has to transcend all platforms simultaneously — and that just hasn't happened so far in 2025. Music has always been a cyclical thing, so maybe this is just one of those occasional droughts. Or maybe we're entering an era when not enough people latch onto the same song at the same time. Do people care about the 'hits' the way they used to? Could it be that the new stuff that's out there is unable to create strong emotional connections? Does too much of today's pop music sound the same? Are artist images as strong and relatable as they used to be? With so much music available, is it possible for music consumers to create connections with individual artists? Strange times, indeed. Meanwhile, enjoy your summer, no matter how you want to soundtrack it.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Doechii and Tyler, the Creator Song ‘Get Right' Debuts at Louis Vuitton Fashion Show
A new Doechii and Tyler, the Creator song is on the way. On Tuesday, during Louis Vuitton's fashion show, a new track by the rap pair, titled 'Get Right,' played publicly for the very first time — and it might be a Song of the Summer contender. The upbeat new track, which Complex reports is produced by Pharrell, played as the models walked down the elongated runway, showing off the 2026 Summer/Spring show at Place Georges-Pompidou in Paris. Doechii's vocals took over the song for the first two minutes before Tyler swooped in near the end of the track. More from Rolling Stone Natanael Cano Launches Urbano Era With 'Blancanieves' Kesha Gears Up for Tits Out Tour With Slayyyter, Rose Gray Collab, 'Attention!' Cardi B Is Feisty and Ready for Summer on 'Outside' 'Get Right' marks the second time the stars collaborated after they paired on 'Balloon' from Tyler's 2024 album, Chromakopia. The pair performed the song during Camp Flog Gnaw last November and at his Los Angeles show in February. 'Genius, love her. That girl's an alien. She's an alien,' Tyler told Narduwar in March when speaking about Doechii. 'I came across Doechii on something that YouTube recommended. It was the 'Catfish' record or 'Nissan Altima.' I was like, 'What is this? Damn, this girl pretty as hell.' And I clicked it and I was blown away and I just kept going.' The new track may be a taste of new music expected from both artists this year: Tyler is currently on a headlining festival run celebrating his 2024 album Chromakopia, while Doechii last joined The Weeknd on a remix of 'Timeless,' after dropping an extended version of her Grammy-winning album Alligator Bites Never Heal earlier this year. Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch Sabrina Carpenter Perform ‘Manchild' Live for First Time at Primavera Sound
Hours after Sabrina Carpenter dropped her new single 'Manchild,' the singer debuted her latest Song of the Summer stab live for the first time Friday at Barcelona, Spain's Primavera Sound festival. 'So I put out this new song yesterday. I was thinking I could sing it for you right now for the first time,' Carpenter said before the performance, which was preceded by a faux advertisement for a product called Manchild Spray. More from Rolling Stone Sabrina Carpenter, Lil Wayne, Addison Rae, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week Song of the Summer, Again? Sabrina Carpenter Drops 'Manchild' Ariana Grande, Pedro Pascal, Sabrina Carpenter Sign Letter for LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention Funds In an Instagram post following the single's release, Carpenter shared a series of behind-the-scenes photos from the video. The singer-songwriter said she wrote the song 'on a random tuesday with amy and jack not too long after finishing short n' sweet and it ended up being the best random tuesday of my life.' She said 'Manchild' has become 'something I can look back on that will score the mental montage to the very confusing and fun young adult years of life,' adding, 'it sounds like the song embodiment of a loving eye roll and it feels like a never ending road trip in the summer ! hence why i wanted to give it to you now- so you can stick your head out the car window and scream it all summer long! thank you always and forever for listening and thank you men for testing me!' In addition to 'Manchild,' Carpenter also performed a cover of the Weather Girls' disco classic 'It's Raining Men' for the first time: Next month, Carpenter will perform two nights at London's Hyde Park, followed by stops at festivals Lollapalooza (August 3) and Austin City Limits (October 4 and 11). In the fall, she'll kick off another North American leg of the Short n' Sweet tour, which includes a return to Madison Square Garden for three shows. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tommy Richman Claps Back at Streamer Asking Him to Sing: ‘What Am I? A Dancing Monkey?'
Don't ask Tommy Richman to sing on command. The Virginia singer popped up on streamer DLOU's Twitch earlier this week and found himself in an awkward situation. While hanging out in a studio in L.A. with fellow artists like Cash Cobain and newcomer B Jack$, whose song 'Get Jiggy' is an early contender for Song of the Summer, DLOU asked Richman to sing his smash hit 'Million Dollar Baby' on the spot — which didn't go over well. More from Billboard Tommy Richman Talks Working On New Album, 'Worlds Apart,' Nomination for 'Million Dollar Baby' & More | AMAs 2025 How 'Real Women Have Curves' Went From 2002 Film to 2025 Tony Nominee: 'It's Like It Should Have Always Been a Musical' Chris Brown Earns 21 New RIAA Certifications - Including 8x Platinum for These Two Hits 'I ain't singing that sh–, bro,' a clearly annoyed Tommy Richman said. 'What am I? A dancing monkey? I'm not singing that sh–. I don't even know you, bro.' He then reiterated that he was in no mood to sing on command for DLOU's chat and demanded to be treated with some decency. 'I'm not singing sh–,' he said again. 'So chill out, bro. Have some respect. Have some respect, bro. I just met you, bro. You're telling me to sing a song. Talk to me like a real man. I don't give a f— about this streaming sh–, bro. Talk to me like a real man.' He then added: 'Get your camera off me, bro. Don't be weird to me.' 'Million Dollar Baby' took over TikTok and the rest of social media last year, propelling the song to debut at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2024. During last month's American Music Awards, Richman told Billboard that he's working on a new album that he plans to release sometime this summer. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sabrina Carpenter Releases ‘Manchild,' Courting Song of the Summer Status With a Knock on No-Good Guys: ‘Half Your Brain Ain't There… I Like My Men All Incompetent'
The music video will have to wait till Friday morning, but Sabrina Carpenter dropped the audio version of her new single, 'Manchild,' Thursday evening, and initial responses were strong, with some fans confidently predicting the upbeat number is strong enough to contend in the Song of the Summer race. Even if not every guy will necessarily be singing along. Carpenter talked about the creation of the song in an Instagram post. 'I wrote 'Manchild' on a random Tuesday with Amy and Jack not too long after finishing 'Short n' Sweet' and it ended up being the best random Tuesday of my life,' the singer wrote, referring to Jack Antonoff — who co-produced the track with her — and Amy Allen. More from Variety Sabrina Carpenter to Release New Single, 'Manchild' Maren Morris on Addressing Divorce, Religion and a Single Woman's Freedom in Pop-Leaning 'Dreamsicle' Album: 'It's Taken Me Years to Live Up to the Boldness of My Own Music' Airbnb Will Let You Book Celeb-Hosted 'Experiences' With Megan Thee Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter, Seventeen, Patrick Mahomes and More 'Not only was it so fun to write, but this song became to me something I can look back on that will score the mental montage to the very confusing and fun young adult years of life. It sounds like the song embodiment of a loving eye roll and it feels like a never ending road trip in the summer! Hence why i wanted to give it to you now — so you can stick your head out the car window and scream it all summer long!' She concluded, 'Thank you always and forever for listening' — although she added a P.S. that indicated not everyone out there is such a good listener: 'And thank you men for testing me!!' The new tune is very much in the tradition of 'Please, Please, Please' and other songs that have found Carpenter putting members of the opposite sex in their collective place. Following an introductory, '80s-sounding synth riff that sounds almost straight out of 'What a Fool Believes,' Carpenter comically lays into one fool in particular. 'Manchild, why you always come a-runnin' to me?' she sings. 'Fuck my life, won't you let an innocent woman be? / Never heard of self-care / Half your brain just ain't there…' But she takes some credit for her own poor choices: 'Oh, I like my boys playin' hard to get / And I like my men all incompetent.' The video will not come out till Friday at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT, but fans already have a pretty strong indicator of how it'll start off, with both a brief teaser video and the single's digital cover portraying Carpenter hitchhiking in the southwestern desert in high heels and the world's shortest short-shorts. The song is widely assumed to be the first single from Carpenter's seventh album, although no actual news has been promised along those lines. Her IG comments saying she just wanted to put it out for summer could be a deflection against expectations that any full-length project is immediately looming, especially when the deluxe version of her last album is still a weekly staple of the Billboard 200 chart. As she did with her mega hit 'Espresso' for Coachella last year, Carpenter will likely give the song its live debut during her festival appearance at Primavera Sound in Barcelona on of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Animated Program — Can Netflix Score Big With 'Arcane,' 'Devil May Cry' and the Final Season of 'Big Mouth?' What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025
