Songs have an undeniably big impact on people’s lives. Everybody knows music can help with development, socialization and affect emotions. Music is often attached to a moment in time, and can trigger very specific thoughts and memories. Even after a long time has passed, there are songs that have an atemporal feelings. And there are some summer songs of 2019 with a sensation like that.
A summer hit song is usually something that marks the whole year. You hear it on the radio, in the supermarket, every party you go to and it’s always in your head. It’s also usually high up the Billboard Hot 100 list, which has been historically ranking the top songs. This rank is deeply based on sales, radio airplay, and, more recently, streaming activity. Each of the main streaming platforms also puts out a chart of what their hottest, most played songs are. And now we bring you the definitive guide to the top 10 songs so you can start your summer off right.
Señorita by Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes
Pals Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes hit the world with Señorita about two weeks ago. The song debuted straight up on Billboard’s #2, making it Mendes’s highest ranking tune. Its video, which is steamy and full of chemistry, already has over 150 million views on YouTube alone.
Sucker by Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers. Are. Back. For the bigger part of last semester, this seemed to be all people could talk about on the internet. They released it on March 1 and it instantly became Billboard’s #1. The song is catchy and fun and the music video features all of their wives. By the way, you can notice Game of Thrones star, Sophie Turner. She was Joe Jonas’s fiancée at the time. With over 450 million streams around the world, it’s been in the Top 10 for 17 weeks.
Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) by Post Malone and Swae Lee
Sunflower is a collaboration between rappers Post Malone and Swae Lee for the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Spring Aspers, head of music and creative affairs at Sony Pictures, called it heroic and emotional, “anthemic, but also heartfelt — the perfect soundtrack for Miles to discover the Spider-Man inside himself”. The song debuted at Billboard’s #3, went up to #1 and has slowly dropped to #12. It has been one of the most played songs for 36 weeks.
Money In The Grave by Drake feat. Rick Ross
Last month, Drake announced that he’d be dropping two new songs to celebrate the Toronto Raptors’ NBA championship win. Money In The Grave became one of the most streamed tunes on Spotify, Deezer and Tidal for the past few weeks and is also being released as a single. It currently holds #8 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
bad guy by Billie Eilish
bad guy is the fifth single from Billie Eilish’s debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. It was released in late March, when it held #2 of the Billboard charts. Now it’s currently at the third spot. It is her highest-ranking song to date and it’s sure to stay at least for the season.
Suge (Yea Yea) by DaBaby
Rapper DaBaby released Suge back in April. The title is in reference to music executive and former football player, Suge Knight. It’s incredible how the song shows the artist’s true versatility. The video, deemed “hilarious” by the internet, features DaBaby playing a bunch of different characters (like a mailman and Suge Knight) and even shows him dancing in an office. It debuted at #87 of the charts, but made its way up to #7. It is currently a once-again-rising #8.
Truth Hurts by Lizzo
Even though it was released in 2017, this song is finally climbing up the charts now after being featured on the Netflix film Someone Great. Starting from #50, going all the way to #7 and still rising, it is full of charisma and power and just might be one of the most relatable summer songs of 2019.
God’s Country by Blake Shelton
Now, Blake Shelton is hardly a newcomer. The country singer has had over 30 songs in the Hot 100 list in the last 18 years. This southern rock anthem is part of a yet-unnamed album (coming soon) and was performed at the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards last April. Shelton says the song speaks to him in a unique way and that he felt he had to record this song as soon as he heard it. On the charts for 13 weeks, currently at #18, this song is still rising as a country favorite.
You Need To Calm Down by Taylor Swift
The second single from Taylor Swift’s new album, You Need To Calm Down debuted mid-June to #2 spot. The video, released a few days later, brought singer Katy Perry as one of the characters. Even though the two have had some bad blood in the past, in the video, they are a perfect combo – hamburger and fries. The song makes several references to the LGBTQ+ community, in the pop-y way Swift is best known for. It currently holds down #13, which is, as fans will know, the singer’s lucky number.
Old Town Road (Remix) by Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
Last, but not least, there is this catchy collaboration between rapper Lil Nas X and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. This unexpected hit debuted at Billboard’s Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs when it was released and was defined by Lil Nas X as a country-trap tune. It has been #1 on the charts for 13 weeks now, as well as on top of most of the streaming platforms, which just pretty much settles it as the biggest hit of summer songs of 2019.
