Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer have always been the best barometer to predict which tunes will stay in our memories in the years that follow, but since this past year has been a doozy for stress-fuel, light, escapist pop seems to be floating everywhere on the airwaves right now. Which one ones will be the hottest hits of summer 2021?
It may be too early to say which song or songs will dominate the season, but it’s fun to listen and guess. Experts say the classic “song of the summer” tag isn’t what it used to be, though, because music listening has become so fragmented—with some consumers turning on the radio, others relying on streaming playlists, and still others buying CDs from big-box retailers. As a result, with everyone grooving to their own niches, it’s harder for one song to stand out.
America’s current top summer songs are upbeat, dance-pop tracks, according to the latest Billboard Hot 100 singles chart chart we checked. The No. 1 song is Butter, an effervescent single by BTS, K-Pop’s biggest band. Also at the top are rapper-singer Doja Cat’s Kiss Me More, featuring R&B singer SZA, at No. 4, and U.K. pop star Dua Lipa’s Levitating, featuring rapper DaBaby, at No. 3. Disney star and singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo’s Good 4 u, is sitting pretty at No. 2, and the No. 5 spot is held by Lil Nas X with his poppy rap tune, Montero.
Here are the Top 5 as of right now… click the videos and prepare to tap those toes!
Hottest Hits of Summer 2021
1. BTS – Butter
This upbeat, bouncy K-Pop radio-friendly hit makes us feel like dancing. (But we’ll have a lot of practicing to do before we master those moves in the video…)
2. Doja Cat – Kiss Me More (featuring SZA)
This tongue-twister about kissing might be tough to sing along to, but it’s so much fun we’re still gonna try!
3. Dua Lipa – Levitating (featuring DaBaby)
Dua Lipa is one of the most talented and fun pop stars on the horizon (we wore down the virtual grooves on her first single from this album, Love Again) so it’s easy to see why her popularity is “levitating” right now. This is our personal fave.
4. Olivia Rodrigo – Good 4 u
This track has the most guitar on it, and it has a punky, Avril Levigne throwback flavor that’s instantly danceable. Good 4 u is feisty and fun!
5. Lil Nas X – Montero
The light, easy feel of this song is negated by its dark lyrics but it sure does play like a summer song.
Now to lighten up your summer even more, see five of the funniest, weirdest music videos of all time.