Nobody really talks about winter songs, but summer songs are another story. In addition to typically being tunes that sound good with fewer clothes on (the better to let your body heat mix with someone else’s), they also tend to capture the carefree, pass-the-rosé spirit that comes with being in vacation mode.
We assembled a panel of music experts — Tom Poleman, president of iHeartMedia’s national programming group; Kid Kelly, vice president of music programming and Hits 1 host at SiriusXM; and Kevin O’Donnell, Twitter’s manager of music partnerships — to forecast which tunes will scorch your world.
1. Taylor Swift, “You Need to Calm Down”
T-Swizzle knows exactly what it takes to make a blockbuster summer song: She’s done it before with 2012’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and 2014’s “Shake It Off.” And the pop princess looks ready to rule the season once again with “You Need to Calm Down” — her anti-hater anthem with the catchphrase title — which is building anticipation for Swift’s seventh studio album, “Lover,” due Aug. 23.
“All the metrics I’m looking at point to ‘You Need to Calm Down’ doing even better than ‘Me!’ ” says Poleman, referring to Swift’s previous hit that dropped in April. “I think they’re brilliant lyrics that people need to hear. It’s a really interesting social commentary on the problems with social media and how people try to pit people against each other. It’s a great message, but then she puts it together in a really poppy way.”
2. Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello, “Señorita”
Combining their considerable pop powers, the “In My Blood” singer-songwriter Mendes and the former Fifth Harmony member Cabello dropped “Señorita” on June 21, the official first day of summer. This strummy serenade, set to a lilting, finger-snapping groove, makes you believe that the 20-year-old Mendes and the 22-year-old Cabello are truly hot for each other.
“It’s really steamy — you would almost think that they’re dating, but they’re not,” says Kid Kelly. “You would almost think that there’s been some real passion and perhaps intimate moments there. It sounds that way. They did a really good job creating that vibe.”
3. Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road”
The only thing stopping this chart-topping smash from being the No. 1 song of the summer is probably timing. The 20-year-old Atlanta rapper — no relation to New York’s own Nas — released “Old Town Road” as his debut single way back in December. Then the twangy tune got another life when Miley’s dad jumped on the remix in April.
Although “Old Town Road” may have already peaked, it still has enough heat to ride high through the season. “It has that novelty quality that we’ve seen in a lot of past songs of summer,” says O’Donnell. “The fact that it mixes hip-hop with country gives it wider appeal. And you definitely see how that song has resonated, especially on Twitter.”
4. Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber, “I Don’t Care”
It remains to be seen what other can’t-miss hits Sheeran has on “No. 6 Collaborations Project,” his album of all-star pairings that comes out July 12. Despite competition from the album’s previous singles “Cross Me” (featuring Chance the Rapper and PnB Rock) and “Beautiful People” (featuring Khalid), the breezy “I Don’t Care” is in the pole position among Sheeran’s collaborations this summer.
“He’s a global superstar with huge appeal,” says O’Donnell. “And I think the message of feeling a little bit like an outsider speaks to the way a lot of Americans are feeling at this moment.”
“I would always place money on Ed Sheeran coming out on top — especially when he’s paired with Justin Bieber,” says Poleman.
5. Lizzo, “Truth Hurts”
Although Lizzo’s dance jam “Juice,” released in the middle of winter this year, had all the makings of a summer smash, “Truth Hurts” — a sassy kiss-off from her breakout album, “Cuz I Love You” — is the track that is making people see that she’s “100 percent that bitch” right now.
“I think Lizzo is lightning in a bottle with that album — every song feels like it has massive hit appeal,” says O’Donnell. “ ‘Truth Hurts’ seems to be the one that’s connecting with everybody. She’s been tweeting nonstop about it to her fans. It’s a fantastic song.”
6. Daddy Yankee & Katy Perry feat. Snow, “Con Calma (Remix)”
Latin sounds have been spicing up the flavor of recent summers: First it was “Despacito,” with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, in 2017; and then it was “I Like It,” with Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin, in 2018. This year, Yankee is back at it with “Con Calma,” as a certain “California gurl” bumps up against her “Puerto Rican dream” on the remix.
“It’ll absolutely be in the mix,” says Poleman. “Daddy Yankee is the king of that sound.” Certainly, this reggaeton banger — already a No. 1 Latin hit — has more momentum than Perry’s current solo single “Never Really Over.” Of that song, Kelly says, “Sadly, it’s kinda almost over.”
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7. Jonas Brothers, “Only Human”
The JoBros are back and on a roll, with many still being a “Sucker” for their recent No. 1 single. But as that song begins to cool off, “Only Human” — another track from their new album, “Happiness Begins” — looks poised to keep the reunion party going.
“This feels like a sleeper song-of-summer [contender] to me,” says O’Donnell, who calls it an “awesome” track. “The group is doing something interesting right now riding this developing trend of reggae and ska making a comeback . . . They’re on the trend early.”
8. Billie Eilish, “Bad Guy”
This 17-year-old goth-pop phenom should start getting ready for next January’s Grammys thanks to the success of her debut album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” But for now, she can enjoy soaking up some summer love for her big hit “Bad Guy.”
“That song will continue to be a force throughout the summer,” says Poleman. But Eilish’s impact will be felt long after Labor Day, O’Donnell says, “I think you’re gonna be seeing plenty of copycats in the months and years to come.”
9. Panic! At the Disco, “High Hopes”
Although rock music isn’t the force it once was, Panic! At the Disco gives some “High Hopes” for the genre with a song that’s so infectiously upbeat, it may have you doing cartwheels in the sand. The band has reason to feel optimistic about its prospects these days, after frontman Brendon Urie — who Kelly calls “the secret weapon that everybody knows” — recently raised its profile with his “Me!” collaboration with Taylor Swift. “It’s a great rock song,” says O’Donnell.
10. Khalid, “Talk”
With its melancholic vibe, this current hit from the 21-year-old alt-R&B singer probably won’t get the barbecue rocking. “It’s not an uptempo party song,” says Kelly. “I couldn’t see anybody throwing their hands up in the air.”
Still, Poleman points out that Khalid is “on a hot streak,” making this tune undeniable no matter the season. “I’m not sure it’s tailor-made for summer necessarily, but it’s a smash,” he says. “It’ll absolutely be on the list of most-played songs at the end of the summer.”
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