It’s not truly summer without a feel-good playlist to accompany those long sunkissed days. And like temps around the country, 2019’s selection of tunes is hot, with artists like Lizzo, Beyonce, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift all turning out hit tracks. Here are 15 summer songs you’ll want to put on repeat long after the season ends.
“Hot Girl Summer” by Megan Thee Stallion featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign
Not only is “Hot Girl Summer” the anthem of the summer, but it should be the theme for the rest of your year–and life. Megan Thee Stallion’s tune is all about having the right attitude and being unapologetically you. If you’re not already living a hot girl summer, what are you waiting for?
”You Need to Calm Down” by Taylor Swift
Say what you will about TSwift, but the girl knows how to write a catchy tune. Swift dropped “You Need to Calm Down” right in the middle of Pride month as a way to celebrate all forms of love and shake off all the internet trolls and haters. The music video is also packed with Easter eggs and A-list cameos like Queer Eye’s Fab Five, Ellen DeGeneres, Ryan Reynolds, and once-enemy Katy Perry. It’s the most fun way to chill out.
“Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers are all grown up, and we’re suckers for their new album, Happiness Begins. Their first single, “Sucker,” shows that the boy band is here to stay. The campy music video also has three star-studded appearances: the Jonas wives, Sophie Turner, Priyanka Chopra, and Danielle Jonas.
“All For Us” by Labrinth, Zendaya
Euphoria, HBO’s buzzy drama about teens dealing with modern-day struggles, addiction, and coming of age is intense, frenetic, and unsettling, and the soundtrack only adds to the mood. The show’s star, Zendaya, lends her vocals to a remixed Labrinth song, “All For Us,” which is both captivating and haunting.
“Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
If you haven’t heard at least a couple different remixes of chart-topper “Old Town Road” yet, then you’ve probably been hiding under a rock. The first remix featured Billy Ray Cyrus, and other versions include Diplo, BTS, and the yodeling kid from Walmart, so really, there’s a version for everyone. There’s no denying the irresistibility of this genre-bending hip hop/country tune.
“Brown Skin Girl” by Beyonce with Blue Ivy Carter, SAINt JHN, and WizKid
One of the best things about the new CGI Lion King movie is Beyonce’s companion album, Lion King: The Gift. “Brown Skin Girl” is the superstar’s ode to dark-skinned women and gives shoutouts to Lupita Nyongo, Naomi Cambell, and Kelly Rowland. Plus it has an extra personal and sweet touch: Blue Ivy follows in her musical parents’ footsteps and lends her vocals to this tune.
“I Don’t Care” by Ed Sheeran featuring Justin Bieber
If you thought Ed Sheeran and the Biebs were unlikely song partners, wait ‘til you see their music video for “I Don’t Care“, which features the duo on hilarious green screens bopping around and dressed as a panda, ice cream cone, and corn on the cob, among other things.
“boyfriend” by Ariana Grande with Social House
Grande’s love life has given us plenty of hits (ahem, “Thank U, Next”) and “boyfriend” is no exception. Grande says the song is about being afraid of taking the leap into a relationship even if you’re crushing on someone, and honestly, we can all relate.
“Juice” by Lizzo
Blame it on her juice because Lizzo is unabashedly confident and full of positivity, and her energy is contagious. If you need a banging summer song with a side of empowerment, “Juice” is your anthem.
“Beautiful People” by Ed Sheeran featuring Khalid
Sheeran brings in R&B singer Khalid in “Beautiful People,” a reminder to be yourself and not to get caught up in the world of beautiful people, which is filled with “champagne and rolled-up notes, prenups and broken homes.”
“Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish
It seems like it was just yesterday when we first heard of Billie Eilish, the artist who uploaded her first song to SoundCloud in 2015, and now she’s everywhere. Eilish’s ethereal, mysterious, almost whisper-like vocals are a nice contrast to the typical pop stars of the Gen Z era and for anyone with a little bit of a dark side, “Bad Guy” reinforces the sentiment, “I’m the bad guy, duh.”
“Never Really Over” by Katy Perry
“Never Really Over” is reportedly about Perry’s on-again, off-again (and now engaged) relationship with Orlando Bloom, but despite that, the song is upbeat and signature Perry fun. And now that Swift and Perry put their beef aside, there’s room for both of them on a rockin’ summer playlist.
“Earfquake” by Tyler, the Creator
“Earfquake” is not about shifting tectonic plates, but it is about love and heartbreak. With background vocals from R&B crooner Charlie Wilson and rapper Playboi Carti, this track is more swoon than sorrow.
“Señorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello
We’re not saying the super sexy music video for “Señorita,” the hot collab between Mendes and Cabello, was the impetus behind why they started dating, but we’re not saying it’s not the reason either. Here’s to summer songs and summer loves.
“I Can’t Get Enough” by Benny Blanco, Tainy, Selena Gomez, J Balvin
“I Can’t Get Enough” dropped in February, but the song about the all-consuming nature of love features Gomez singing in English, J. Balvin rapping in Spanish, and a bumping beat that just screams summer.
Did we miss any summer anthems? Tell us which summer songs are your faves in the comments!
(Featured image via @oliviapateas)
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