Does 2025 have a song of summer?

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. The brilliance of this song is that you can shimmy along to it while blasting it at home or shed a little tear while zoning in on the vulnerability of the lyrics. We love duality! Lenae isn't just someone who's gone TikTok viral. She's the rare modern musician with the soprano abilities of a Minnie Ripperton and the lyrical prowess of a young Mariah Carey, which makes me think she's a diva in the making—stay tuned for many more anthems to come. — 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 favourite 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 its 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-favourite 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—it's all meant to be blasted in the car on a warm summer night with the windows down. It’s a masterclass in 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 are meant for sunset drives down the Pacific Coast Highway or an afternoon spent drinking spritzes by the beach. When “Relationships” came out, I 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 party can decide whether to fully commit. Oh, and the music video featuring heartthrob-of-the-moment Drew Starkey is 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.” Even if you've never heard it, you probably know the lyrics “moonbeam ice cream, taking off your blue jeans,” which have gone viral all over social media. I still don’t know what moonbeam ice cream 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 irony-tinged song by two girls from the Island of Wight about beating up obnoxious men at the club. 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 could barely wait until it hit streaming platforms so I could blast it from my home speakers. It's such a funny, witty—and sexy!—song, and it reminds me of when "traditional" country music felt a lot more light and free. — Bianca Betancourt, culture editor

“Afterlife” by Alex G

Producer, singer, and songwriter Alex Giannascoli, who records under the name Alex G, released 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 and new beginnings, revisiting some of Giannascoli’s personal childhood memories through lyrical vignettes along the way. The result is a song that shimmers with hope and tenderness—a gentle reminder to live in the moment, and that life, like the seasons, can change in an instant. (So savour the sweetness of summer while it lasts!)—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 listening to all two
minutes and 43 seconds of it, I played it again three more times—it’s simply that infectious. Lizzo caught my attention instantly with her lyrics and a hook that makes you want to dance, and SZA’s vocal contribution adds that perfect je ne sais quoi. It’s exactly what you want to have blasting at your next kickback. — Tiffany Dodson Davis, 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 our inner child. “Childlike Things” is a quirky summer bop that makes me want to 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 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 Davis, beauty commerce editor

Lead Image: Getty 

This article originally appeared on Harper'sBazaar.com

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