Song of the Summer 2025 | The Best Contenders So Far

The competition is stiff every year. It feels like some artists reserve the summer for dropping their best earworms, their most contagious hits. Each year, we find ourselves leaning on that one special song to keep us going during those endless summer nights.

Who will have the Song of the Summer this year? From Lady Gaga to Lorde to KATSEYE, the contenders for this year’s Song of the Summer are all heavyweight champs when it comes to making hits. Here are our finalists for this year’s Song of the Summer, the music we plan to stream all season long.

Want to see your favorite artists on tour this summer? TickPick is going to be your best source for affordable concert tickets. Keep reading to see which musicians are performing live this year.

Lorde: “What Was That”

The Grammy award-winning singer and pop artist Lorde led her new album, Virgin, with the sharp synth-driven single, “What Was That.” After debuting the single in Washington Square Park, fans became obsessed with the vulnerable new pop song. The chorus ends with Lorde hailing back to her own origin story: “Since l was seventeen, I gave you everything // Now we wake from a dream, well, baby, what was that?”

“What Was That” is a highly listenable, big energy track suited to get any night going in the right direction. We can’t wait to hear Lorde perform it all over the world, this year, on her “Ultrasound” Tour.

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Bad Bunny: “NUEVAYoL”

Not only is Bad Bunny’s “NUEVAYoL” the perfect rallying cry to begin his latest album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. “NUEVAYoL” is a celebration of Latin people, Latin culture, the Puerto Rican disapora, and his own Puerto Rican heritage. Plus, it’s an absolute banger.

From sampling “Un verano en Nueva York,” to the dembow beat, to the intermission of Tito Trinidad’s voice, “NUEVAYoL” is purely Puerto Rican. We couldn’t envision a better opener for this record, or a better song to bump to all summer long.

Be sure to check out the “NUEVAYoL” music video, a tribute to these times.

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KATSEYE: “Gnarly”

The silly, provocative new song from KATSEYE has caused much online debate. Is “Gnarly” the best, or the worst? No matter how you look at it, the arrival of “Gnarly” has stirred so much discussion amongst pop fans, we have to consider it for song of the summer.

Poking fun at pop culture, meme culture, and the like, “Gnarly” almost feels like a rogue social experiment. The gaze of the song is trained on where we are right now in the culture war.

It really took KATSEYE’s performances of “Gnarly” for fans to fully understand the mode of the song’s address. With sassy expressions, sharp movements, and a cheeky delivery, “Gnarly” is meant to make us cringe. We can’t help but smile along with them. .

KATSEYE Tickets

Haim: “Relationships”

The lead single from the new Haim album, I Quit, is the perfect summery sample to encapsulate the fluctuating nature of “situationships.” The track, aptly named “Relationships,” occupies that pop-funk space the sisters are accustomed to owning. In short, “Relationships” is a song they were born to record.

We love the angst-driven “Relationships” and its notes of freedom and longing for independence while also craving romance. “Relationships” is directly suited for song of the summer, a track to play to keep delaying the inevitable end, a season we never want to say goodbye to.

Haim Tickets

Benson Boone: “Mystical Magical” or “Mr Electric Blue”

When Benson Boone released “Mystical Magical” back in April, leading the release of his sophomore album American Heart, we knew it would be a top contender for the song of the summer. With lyrics like “Moonbeam ice cream, taking off your blue jeans,” Benson Boone’s entire American Heart persona fits right into this pop-centric moment.

But we also have to give a nod to the dark horse American Heart track, “Mr Electric Blue,” which has put a hold on fans since the full album dropped. The track is peak pop, a polished anthem showcasing Boone’s drop dead gorgeous voice. We simply cannot imagine partying without Benson Boone’s American Heart this summer, and for many more seasons to come.

Benson Boone Tickets

Lady Gaga: “How Bad Do U Want Me”

The Mother Monster, aka Lady Gaga, returned this Spring with her new album MAYHEM just in time for fans to stream obsessively this summer. Aside from the heavy-hitting lead single “Abracadabra,” and the Bruno Mars assisted ballad “Die With A Smile,” MAYHEM is laden with ear worms. Including, “How Bad Do U Want Me,” a bubble pop song which hails back to Lady Gaga’s earliest days of recording music.

“How Bad Do U Want Me” is an 80’s inspired, pop-polished song we think is perfect for summer listening. Have an unresolved crush, or several? Lady Gaga’s crooning voice is here for you.

Lady Gaga Tickets

Morgan Wallen: “What I Want (feat. Tate McRae)”

It’s nearly impossible to choose just one track from Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem to nominate for song of the summer. But we have to go with the Tate McRae assisted “What I Want.” The gorgeous addition of the Canadian singer, the mid-tempo backbeat, and Wallen’s crooning vocals are the perfect summer song backdrop.

“What I Want” is quintessential Morgan Wallen, contemporary country, and summer listening. But really, the whole I’m The Problem LP could contend. Don’t forget, fans can catch Morgan Wallen on the road this year.

Morgan Wallen Tickets

Chappell Roan: “The Giver”

Chappell Roan’s “The Giver” technically arrived back in the spring. But this summer, it’s finally getting the radio play it deserves. “The Giver” is a rowdy, country inspired track which showcases Chappell Roan’s incredible voice. It’s the ideal song for rolling the windows down and letting the night take you.

The Midwest Princess has reclaimed her roots with this one, hailing back to her love of country (but making it queer). “The Giver” is another vocally-inspired banger we know we’re going to be listening to all summer long.

Drake: “NOKIA”

Though it arrived back in February, we have to give a nod to Drake’s “NOKIA.” Arguably the hottest track off of Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, “NOKIA” feels tailor made for song of the summer. We predict many long nights are going to end with someone at the bar, drunkenly shouting, “Baby girl
Let me see you do your dance, let me see you twirl.”

All of us who’ve been paying attention to the rap beef know: Drake needed a hit. “NOKIA” is a comeback track, a party anthem, a song to encourage his fans to step away from the drama and dance like no one is watching.