From Touching Tributes To Introvert Anthems: The Top 10 Songs Of The Summer

By Henry Walsh
Arts Reporter

10. “Cool For The Summer” – Demi Lovato
Confident

Why we love it: Demi embraces her sexuality in this incredible song. This is her first sexually driven piece since she started fully embracing her body for what it is, and it couldn’t have paid off more. After her stint in rehab, Lovato produced a string of inspiring yet average pop tunes that made the Top 40 but never stuck around. But this song, in which she celebrates her newfound self-love, is off the charts. Where this piece really shines, however, is her following in the footsteps of her newfound best friend, Selena Gomez. She shows off a softer, sexier side of her voice on the verses. We still hear her signature belt on the chorus, but this new versatility will keep us interested and give us a new reason to love her.

9. “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Pluth
Furious 7 Soundtrack

Why we love it: The movie Furious 7 released this song as a tribute to Paul Walker, which propelled this otherwise mediocre song to the top of the charts. The chorus, by rising singer-songwriter Charlie Pluth, gives us a vibe of nostalgia, modernized in a necessary fashion after the death of a beloved actor. Wiz Khalifa’s rap, although promisingly skillful, doesn’t exactly go with the vibe of the chorus. However, Pluth more than makes up for that with his earnestness shining through on the vocals. A great song for a rainy day, but all we’ll probably think a year from now is “meh.”

8. “Lean On” – Major Lazer ft. MØ
Peace Is The Mission

Why we love it: The chorus is “blow a kiss/fire a gun/we all need someone to lean on,” how could we possibly not adore it? The smart, short, one-two-three punch of the chorus repeats multiple times before the inevitable dubstep-esque dystopian party beat kicks in and we all just have a good time.

7. “Here” – Alessia Cara
Four Pink Walls – EP

Why we love it: The only summer hit for introverts in the pop world, is led by Cara in such a style that is confident but not assertive—the perfect way for an introvert to approach the music industry. The relatable college party lyrics give us something solid to stand on as she pulls us in and shakes us up with her vocal avalanche. This is the song you would expect to be the theme song of Tumblr, but it transcends its home base to become a tune for which Cara will definitely be remembered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP-NWDCvnCA

6. “Hey Mama” – David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj and Bebe Rexha
Listen

Why we love it: To be quite honest, I absolutely hate this song. Can’t stand it. The sexist lyrics in the first Nicki verse (where she is at her most lazy and submissive) and the mediocre beat drag the song far too low for the average bridge and chorus sung by rising star Bebe Rexha to save it. Nevertheless, the sales do not lie: Mr. Guetta has pulled off another impressive hit.

5. “Run Away With Me” – Carly Rae Jepsen
EMOTION

Why we love it: Many people probably have not heard the song or didn’t care enough to give it a chance. But what does give this song such a massive boost is its critical reception. You would be hard-pressed to find a critic who doesn’t call this song, not to mention the album it comes from, the best pop music of the year. The unbridled joy captured in the lyrics transcend the already solid ’80s beat it has going and turns a solid pop song into an addictive ear worm that is easy to fall in love with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_PoP3jFUXI

4. “Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd
Beauty Behind The Madness

Why we love it: First off, in the modern pop landscape, Abel Tesfaye can do no wrong. The man behind the smooth R&B voice that millions are already in love with released this song early in the summer. It began as a sleeper hit that only a few people appreciated on the radio now and then, then slowly rose in popularity as people were like, “Oh wait this is kinda awesome.” Finally, it landed a spot as the Weeknd’s first hit.

3. “Good For You” – Selena Gomez
Revival

Why we love it: Selena has given us sexy before, with her megahit “Come & Get It” and her ironically fast “Slow Down,” but this time she gives us a more coy kind of sexy, leaning more towards seductive than demanding. We see a different side of her vocals, as well, with more breathy vulnerability than the auto-tuned confidence that was “Come And Get It.” In short, this radio giant has a well-earned place in SelGo’s best work.

2. “Fight Song” – Rachel Platten
Fight Song EP

Why we love it: This inspirational anthem by a Massachusetts native gave us a perfect singalong for the hot days that beat down on us in August. The production of the song sets itself up as an iconic anthem for years to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UqfrH74wc0

1. “Cheerleader” by OMI
Me 4 U

Why we love it: The shouldn’t-be-catchy-but-is chorus sticks in our heads long after we last heard it, whether we like it or not. With his first big hit getting a second life in a remix two years after it’s original inception, OMI’s voice sounds far more comfortable here in a modernized version.