Updated 2025-09-10T15:56:46Z
- Every year, music fans wonder which song will be crowned the "song of the summer."
- Business Insider uses Billboard charts and streaming stats to determine the season's defining hit.
- This year, the title goes to Alex Warren's "Ordinary." Our list below goes back to 1975.
"Song of the summer" is a subjective title by design; one person's go-to beach jam is another person's radio slop. Still, hard data — like Billboard chart positions and streaming stats — can point us in the direction of a zeitgeist-capturing hit.
Keep scrolling to see every song of the summer from the past 50 years, listed in reverse chronological order.
Anjelica Oswald contributed to an earlier version of this story.
2025: "Ordinary" by Alex Warren
Despite a lukewarm reception from critics and many pop fans, Alex Warren's breakout hit "Ordinary" dominated Billboard charts in the warm months of 2025.
"Ordinary" spent a few months gaining momentum before it arrived at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in June. In late August, the song notched its milestone 10th week atop the all-genre chart.
"Ordinary" also reigned at No. 1 on Billboard's Songs of the Summer chart for the entire 14-week season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
2024: "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey
To many, 2024 was all about "Brat summer," named for Charli XCX's beloved sixth studio album. But according to the summertime charts, it was a country song that ruled the season for the second year in a row.
Virginia native Shaboozey burst onto the mainstream in March 2024, thanks to prominent features on Beyoncé's album "Cowboy Carter." (Shaboozey is credited as a featured artist on both "Spaghettii" and "Sweet Honey Buckiin.'")
Shortly after "Cowboy Carter" arrived, Shaboozey released "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," a classic foot-stopper that interpolates J. Kwon's 2004 club hit "Tipsy."
The single caught fire on country radio and racked up digital sales, leading to an eight-week reign on the Hot 100 — the year's longest streak at No. 1 as of Labor Day.
"A Bar Song (Tipsy)" even managed to hold the top spot when Sabrina Carpenter, arguably the biggest breakout pop star of 2024, unveiled her much-anticipated new album, "Short n' Sweet," in late August. (That week, Carpenter took No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 on the Hot 100 with "Taste," "Please Please Please," and "Espresso," respectively, while "Short n' Sweet" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.)
By the end of the year, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" had amassed 19 total weeks atop the chart, the most ever for a solo hit.
2023: "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen
In the midst of Taylor Swift's "cruel summer," largely defined by "Barbie" and the Eras Tour, Morgan Wallen overcame a string of scandals to become 2023's most dominant chart presence.
His third studio album, "One Thing at a Time," spent 15 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1, surpassing Bad Bunny's "Un Verano Sin Ti" for the most weeks atop the Billboard 200 this decade. (Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" has since captured the record.)
The album's signature song, "Last Night," reigned atop the Hot 100 for 16 weeks, and wrapped the season at No. 1 on Billboard's Songs of the Summer chart.
In fact, according to Billboard, "Last Night" is the first country song to lead the summertime tally since 1974.
2022: "As It Was" by Harry Styles
Harry Styles' hit single "As It Was" ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks, setting a record for a British artist. It was released as the lead single from Styles' third solo album, "Harry's House," which went on to win album of the year at the Grammy Awards.
2021: "Good 4 U" by Olivia Rodrigo
Although competition was stiff in the summer of 2021 — challengers included "Butter" by BTS and Dua Lipa's sleeper hit "Levitating" — the ubiquity of "Good 4 U" helped cement 2021 as the year of Olivia Rodrigo.
The punk-pop banger was named Spotify's most-streamed song of the summer and reigned at No. 1 on the Rolling Stone Top 100 Songs chart for seven weeks.
2020: "Rockstar" by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
DaBaby's collaboration with Roddy Ricch swept the summer months, holding the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 for seven weeks.
Originally released in April, the song became an instant No. 1 after DaBaby released a Black Lives Matter remix to the song on June 12 that addressed police brutality and the George Floyd protests across the nation.
Other honorable mentions go to Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga's 2020 anthem "Rain On Me," Styles' sleeper hit "Watermelon Sugar," and Swift's "Cardigan," which became the superstar's second No. 1 debut after "Shake It Off."
2019: "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
The undisputed song of summer in 2019 was Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, which sat atop the Hot 100 Billboard chart for 19 weeks, beating a record previously held by Mariah Carey's 1996 hit "One Sweet Day."
2018: "In My Feelings" by Drake
"In My Feelings" inspired a viral Internet challenge and dethroned Drake's previous hit, "Nice For What," on the Hot 100. It reigned atop the chart for 10 weeks through July, August, and September.
2017: "Despacito (Remix)" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber
"Despacito" was already a smash hit in several countries before Justin Bieber was tapped for the remix.
2016: "One Dance" by Drake featuring WizKid and Kyla
2015: "Cheerleader" by OMI
"Cheerleader" was originally released in 2012 before the Felix Jaehn remix caught fire in 2015.
2014: "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
Charli XCX, who cowrote "Fancy," was best known at the time for writing and featuring on Icona Pop's 2012 hit "I Love It."
After reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100 for the first time with "Fancy," Charli released another top-10 hit in 2014: "Boom Clap."
2013: "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell
"Blurred Lines" was later hit with a copyright lawsuit from Marvin Gaye's estate and denounced by Pharrell for its sexist lyrics.
2012: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen
After achieving viral success with "Call Me Maybe," Carly Rae Jepsen went on to release the cult-favorite pop album "Emotion."
2011: "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock
"Party Rock Anthem" helped popularize a viral dance trend thanks to the lyric, "Every day, I'm shuffling."
2010: "California Gurls" by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg
"California Gurls" was released as the lead single from Katy Perry's album "Teenage Dream," which later became the second album in history (joining Michael Jackson's "Bad") to spawn five No. 1 hits.
2009: "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas
"I Gotta Feeling" debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100, blocked from the top spot by the Black Eyed Peas' previous single, "Boom Boom Pow."
2008: "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry
2007: "Umbrella" by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
Legend has it that "Umbrella" was originally offered to Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige before Rihanna turned it into a smash. "Umbrella" became Rihanna's second No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 and reigned atop the chart for seven weeks.
2006: "Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
"Promiscuous" was released as the second single from Nelly Furtado's album, "Loose," and topped the Hot 100 for six weeks.
2005: "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey
"We Belong Together" was ranked among Business Insider's top breakup songs of the century.
2004: "Confessions Part II" by Usher
"Confessions Part II" became Usher's third consecutive No. 1 hit in 2004, following "Yeah!" and "Burn."
2003: "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
"Crazy in Love" was Beyoncé's debut solo single following her success with Destiny's Child.
2002: "Hot In Herre" by Nelly
"Hot In Herre" was produced by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who were then known as The Neptunes. It was a No. 1 hit for seven weeks.
2001: "U Remind Me" by Usher
"U Remind Me" won a Grammy for best male R&B vocal performance.
2000: "Bent" by Matchbox Twenty
"Bent" was written by Matchbox Twenty's frontman, Rob Thomas. It is one of a handful of solo-written No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 this century.
1999: "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera
"Genie in a Bottle" was released as the lead single from Christina Aguilera's self-titled debut album,
1998: "The Boy is Mine" by Brandy and Monica
Brandy and Monica's hit duet was later interpolated in Ariana Grande's song of the same name, released on her 2024 album, "Eternal Sunshine." Grande later recruited the duo for a remix.
1997: "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112
"I'll Be Missing You" was released as a tribute to Diddy's labelmate, Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, who was murdered in March of that year.
1996: "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los Del Rio
The Spanish-English remix was helmed by Miami producers Carlos de Yarza and Mike Triay, a.k.a the Bayside Boys.
1995: "Waterfalls" by TLC
"Waterfalls" was released as the third single TLC's album, "CrazySexyCool," and spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100.
1994: "I Swear" by All-4-One
All-4-One's pop-R&B version of "I Swear" was not the first; it was originally recorded in 1993 by country artist John Michael Montgomery.
1993: "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" by UB40
Other popular songs in the summer of 1993 included Janet Jackson's "That's the Way Love Goes" and Tag Team's "Whoomp! (There It Is)."
1992: "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot
Although "Baby Got Back" stirred up controversy, with some saying its lyrics objectified women, the song topped the Hot 100 for five weeks and became one of 1992's best-selling tracks.
1991: "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams recorded the power ballad "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" for the "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" soundtrack album.
1990: "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey
"Vision of Love" was cowritten by Mariah Carey and Ben Marguiles for her self-titled debut album. It became the singer's first of 19 No. 1 hits, which remains a record among solo artists.
1989: "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx
"Right Here Waiting" was released as the second single from Richard Marx's sophomore album, "Repeat Offender."
1988: "Roll With It" by Steve Winwood
"Roll With It," the title track for Steve Winwood's fifth solo album, spent four weeks atop the Hot 100 in the summer of 1998.
1987: "Alone" by Heart
Heart's "Alone" is a cover of i-Ten's 1983 track of the same name. Celine Dion also recorded her own cover in 2007.
1986: "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna
"Papa Don't Preach" was Madonna's fourth No. 1 hit on the Hot 100.
1985: "Shout" by Tears For Fears
"Shout" reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 in August 1985, nine months after it was released as a single.
1984: "When Doves Cry" by Prince
"When Doves Cry" was released as the lead single from Prince's acclaimed album "Purple Rain." It became his first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100.
1983: "Every Breath You Take" by The Police
"Every Breath You Take" remains The Police's only No. 1 on the Hot 100. It reigned atop the chart for eight weeks.
The song had a second life as a summer hit when Diddy sampled it in "I'll Be Missing You," which the rapper did without permission from Sting, the sole credited songwriter.
1982: "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
"Eye of the Tiger" was the theme song for "Rocky III."
1981: "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield
"Jessie's Girl" was the No. 1 song in the US when MTV launched in August 1981.
1980: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" by Billy Joel
"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" was Billy Joel's first No. 1 on the Hot 100, remaining atop the chart for two weeks in the summer of 1980.
1979: "Bad Girls" by Donna Summer
"Bad Girls," the second single and title track from Donna Summer's seventh studio album, spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100.
1978: "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb
"Shadow Dancing" was written by Andy Gibb and his older brothers, Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb, a.k.a. the Bee Gees.
1977: "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb
"I Just Want to Be Your Everything" was Andy Gibb's first No. 1 hit.
1976: "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John and Kiki Dee
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart," which Elton John cowrote with Bernie Taupin using pseudonyms, became his sixth No. 1 hit in the US.
1975: "One of These Nights" by the Eagles
"One of These Nights," the lead single and title track from the Eagles' fourth studio album, was the band's second No. 1 single on the Hot 100 following "Best of My Love."
