In 2025, the song of the summer is no longer a singular designation but a window into how music consumption and culture writ large has become increasingly fragmented. With monoculture dead, any number of tunes could take home the title if they boast an influence sphere that’s big enough.

Still, it’s tradition at the FADER to make our bets for song of the summer (check out our SOTS podcast from 2024), so this year we decided to shake things up by funneling our picks into context-appropriate categories. Ahead, find our 2025 song of the summer contenders as filed away by where you’re most likely to encounter them: on the charts, online, in-the-know music communities, and our very own playlists. At the very least you’ll pick up some nice tunes for a perfect sunny day.

“Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA has been No. 1 on the Hot 100 for 13 consecutive weeks and on the chart, in general, for much longer. That bodes well for any commercial hit vying for lasting seasonal power — and its effortless groove screams summer.

The stunning resurgence of Charli xcx’s “party 4 u” confirms to us that the wistful A. G. Cook-produced smash was always the best song on how i’m feeling now. And we’ll join in on the TikTok trend: it feels like the sunrise moments of a teen house party movie put into slo-mo. Fuck it, let’s have another Brat Charli summer.

Thanks to TikTok, Ravyn Lenae has finally become a Hot 100 name. Her breezy, rock-lite anthem “Love Me Not” sounds like slamming 10 Aperol Spritzes at the rooftop bar before leaving to go back to that bad-decision’s house.

The lyric “My name is Pink and it’s really nice to meet ya” has gone triple-platinum on TikTok. The song’s prominent Underworld sample has made the track irresistible and by virtue of its name, PinkPantheress’ “Illegal” was tailor made for getting up to midnight shenanigans with your pals.

A singular stuck-in-your-head lyric has the power to catapult any track into a summer hit and Rob49’s silly throttler “WTHelly” has several that’s already folded itself into online lexicon: What the hellyante? What the helly Berry? What the helly ‘Bron James?

Not often does a song as weird (read: for the mainstream) as KATSEYE’s “Gnarly” have the potential for summer success, but this hyperpop doozy has already won over millions of skeptics with its sheer commitment to the bit — and its absolutely bonkers dance which I’ve already seen performed in the wild all over New York City.

Like Rema, Shallipopi is due to be Nigeria’s next global export. His hypnotic afrobeat tune “Laho” — with over 27 million views in two months — has already grabbed the ears of Burna Boy and Central Cee, which means you can expect it to hit U.S. shores just in time for block party season.

The FADER’s rap correspondent Vivian Medithi puts the all-gas-no-brakes vibe of Pluto’s viral “Whim Whamiee” better than I can: “Consider it “F.N.F.” for 2025: the song’s addictive adlibs, both the titular whim whammieeeee and Lululemonnnnn, seem liable to emanate from smartphones around America for the next three months.”

Lorde’s sparse banger “What Was That” was made for urbanites pulling up to their local park with a book and baguette on their bank-sponsored public bike, and that’s beautiful.

From “One Kiss” to “Slide,” Calvin Harris has single-handedly blessed us with so many summer dance hits. “Blessings,” his latest, stars Clementine Douglas’ rich vocals and a truly euphoric sparkling build-up that, mark my words, will soundtrack so many festival-sponsored acid trips.

You don’t need to be from Atlanta to appreciate BunnaB’s extremely Y2K rap-sounding heater “Bunna Summa” but it’ll make you wish you were. With its summer-ready lyrics — “We outside and its gonna be a vibe / get your camera phone start an Instagram live / wear booty shorts showing extra skin and thighs” — it’s built to be a Southern scorcher.

A song of the summer in the daytime isn’t always applicable once the sun goes down. Rising R&B singer Destin Conrad’s “Bad Bitches” featuring Kehlani should be your go-to after hours tune. Put on this sticky, sultry bop, text your crush, and lock in.

“Hands Up,” K-pop’s biggest song of the moment, comes from fifth gen girl group MEOVV. Any song that comes with built-in directions is automatically a contender for SOTS, especially if it’s as tropical-sounding and addictive as this one.

Shy introvert girlies deserve a summer bop too and I nominate Erika de Casier’s “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” off her new album Lifetime. The record’s cover is a perfect visual representation of how the song feels: lounging on cotton gauze sheets and feeling the occasional stir of a breeze for a cracked window. —Steffanee Wang

Listening to Jeff Mills’ Liquid Room set has made me hunger for music that doesn’t just blend genres, but connect them. Enter “Sex Life” by Tracey, a club track with myriad erotic pleasures. They’re hiding in the hovering bass of the song’s dubstep foundation, in Riko Dan’s fearsome verse, in the Jersey Club bridge building to the climax. Like the best one night stands, it’ll have you demanding reload after reload. —Jordan Darville

Lana Del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness” cleared the way for the wistful summertime banger. Put Addison Rae’s “Headphones On” in that category: It’s perfectly engineered pop for gazing out the car (or subway) window, or going on a long walk in the woods with just your headphones. —SW

ZayALLCAPS’s “MTV Pimp My Ride” is a slow jam for summer that delivers both overwhelming millennial nostalgia and unbridled horniness. You don't need Xzibit to tell you this one has got it all. —David Renshaw

From its insistent Rich Kidz vocal chop to Playboi Carti’s yelped verses, “LIKE WEEZY” seems tailor made to soundtrack reckless joyrides, dance floor shoutoffs, and of course, the occasional money spread all summer long. —Vivian Medithi