Throughout this past summer, a number of different musical trends arose. From TikTok dances to stadium tours, there was something for everyone to enjoy. But, with mainly female artists topping the charts, it was undoubtedly the summer of pop girlies.
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Your favorite artist’s favorite artist finally seems to be getting the recognition she deserves. After opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts” tour, Chappell Roan’s upbeat “Hot to Go!” off of her 2023 release, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess”, quickly grew popular via TikTok, and eventually the radio. With a dance similar to that of the “YMCA”, the queer icon’s song became the center of several TikTok trends. With a beat so catchy it’s almost guaranteed to end up stuck in your head, Chappell’s “Good Luck Babe!” was also wildly popular on social media and was the center of several trends. The album isn’t all so upbeat, though, as it also features a number of songs about breakups and situationships. The most popular of these is probably “Casual”, which dives into how two people can view a relationship entirely differently.
BRAT
Charli XCX’s latest album left an undeniable mark on this summer. It started with the reveal of her unconventionally simple, neon green album cover. Following the album’s release in June, it quickly became popular on TikTok; so much so that the summer of 2024 was referred to as “BRAT Summer” by many. Even those who never listened to the album themselves were able to appreciate it in other ways, from the trending “apple dance”, to the album’s collaboration with the popular Roblox game “Dress to Impress”.
Short n’ Sweet
My only complaint regarding this Sabrina Carpenter album is that it didn’t come out sooner. With an August release, we only got a few summer days to blast it in its entirety from the beach. However, the two previously released singles, “Espresso” and “Please Please Please”, were hits for the entirety of the summer, with both reaching number one on the charts.These were her first singles to do so. Short as it may be, the entire album is full of clever lyrics and tasteful (pun intended) beats that create a listening experience that brings you from crying to “Don’t Smile” to dancing to “Juno”. The album has a carefully curated vintage yet romantic theme within its marketing, which has led to a carefully planned tour with the same vibe, making it almost feel like a Broadway show rather than just a concert.
Hit Me Hard and Soft
After three years without a new album, Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” was highly anticipated by many, and did not disappoint. After teasing a snippet of the album’s lead single, “Lunch”, at an event, fans quickly grew impatient waiting for the track to release. After its release, “Lunch” spent a number of weeks on the Billboard charts. Another track off the album, “Birds of a Feather” grew similarly popular, and was the center of several TikTok trends, as well as another radio hit. While these two upbeat songs are great, the album as a whole is even greater. It creates a certain mindset as you listen to it, with many of the tracks transforming midway through from an upbeat tempo to an almost underwater sound featuring lyrics that leave you questioning why anyone else bothers writing music. Billie is now on tour with the album, and will be in Boston for a show on October 11.
The Secret of Us
To end our musical summer journey, we have Gracie Abram’s “The Secret of Us”. This album set the perfect summer soundtrack for getting hype at the beach, and crying in your bedroom alike. After opening for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour”, she amassed an even larger fanbase than she already had, many of whom had been hoping for a collaboration between the two. Gracie did not disappoint with her latest album, as Swift was featured on her track “Us”. As though she was hoping to further prove her loyalty to her fans, she went as far as to release a highly requested track that she had previously only teased on her Instagram since 2017, “Close to You”. It debuted on the radio as her second single off of the album.
Check out some of our staff writer’s favorite songs of the summer!
