What will be the song of the summer? Spotify weighs in.

Will it be a 'Cruel Summer' or a '4EVA' season?
 By 
Elena Cavender
 on 
Screenshots of three TikTok videos each saying something about the song of the summer.
So what's actually the song of the summer? Credit: Mashable composite / TikTok: adrien_nunez, jaiwolfx, shelbyhyoung

We're mere weeks away from summer solstice, and the song of the summer has yet to reveal itself.

The song of the summer has the potential to define the entire course of the season. Just look at the impact of "Hot Girl Summer" by Megan Thee Stallion in summer 2019 as an example. A truly great song of the summer will have the power to transport you back to that time for years to come.

Predicting the song of the summer has become its own niche on TikTok. The tag "song of the summer" has over 4.2 billion views on the platform. In the months before the official start of summer, like clockwork, every aspiring singer-songwriter posts a video saying something along the lines of, "I don't want to jinx is, but I think I just wrote the song of the summer." It's such a popular format this time of year that it has spurred parody videos of users posting their own terrible fake songs. In one video that garnered over 3.4 million views creator @superkeara refers to this genre on TikTok as "a white woman battle royale."


You May Also Like

With so many parody videos overrunning the song of the summer tag on TikTok, is it just a meme now? Spotify doesn't seem to think so.

Today, the music streaming giant released its predictions for 2023's song of the summer. The list is created by its global hits curation team and is based on "a number of factors" including streaming numbers and current trajectory. Swifties will be pleased to see Taylor Swift's 2019 summer anthem on the list, and those anxiously awaiting Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie can be assured Dua Lipa's theme for the film is on there.

Spotify's 2023's song of the summer predictions:

"4EVA (feat. Pharrell Williams) by KAYTRAMINÉ, Aminé, KAYTRANADA

"All My Life (feat. J. Cole)" by Lil Durk, J. Cole

"Baby Don't Hurt Me" by David Guetta, Anne-Marie, Coi Leray

"Calm Down (with Selena Gomez)" Rema, Selena Gomez

"Cruel Summer" by Taylor Swift

"Cupid – Twin Ver." by FIFTY FIFTY

"Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)" by Dua Lipa

"Ella Baila Sola" by Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma

"Fast Car" by Luke Combs

"Favorite Song" by Toosii

"Last Night" by Morgan Wallen

"Miracle (with Ellie Goulding) by Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding

"Moonlight" by Kali Uchis

"Not Strong Enough" by boygenius

"Peaches & Eggplants (feat. 21 Savage)" by Young Nudy, 21 Savage

"Rhyme Dust" by MK, Dom Dolla

"Unavailable (feat. Musa Keys)" by Davido

"VAGABUNDO" by Sebastian Yatra, Manuel Turizo, Beéle

"What It Is (Solo Version)" by Doechii

"WHERE SHE GOES" by Bad Bunny

What do you think the song of the summer will be?

Topics Music Spotify

Mashable Image
Elena Cavender

Elena is a tech reporter and the resident Gen Z expert at Mashable. She covers TikTok and digital trends. She recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in American History. Email her at [email protected] or follow her @ecaviar_.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Spotify Smart Shuffle played a song I'd never heard before. It was AI generated.
The buttons of the music streaming app Spotify, surrounded by Podcasts, Apple Music, Facebook and other apps on the screen of an iPhone.

Spotify moves beyond audiobooks to offer physical books
An array of books on a colorful background

Spotify said AI has been doing the heavy lifting for its coding since December
Spotify and AI

Streaming deals anyone? The best Big Spring Sale deals on Paramount+, Spotify, Starz, and more.
Spotify, Prime Video, and Paramount+ logos with Amazon Fire TV Stick against colorful abstract background

Streaming for less: Score Spring Sale streaming deals on Paramount+, Spotify, Dropout TV, and more
Spotify, Prime Video, and Paramount+ logos with Amazon Fire TV Stick against colorful abstract background

More in Life

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone


NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 2, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!