Each year, when winter thaws and spring arrives, Grand Valley State University students let their obsession with summer hits begin. Summer is the time to finally relax, leave their sweatshirts at home, lounge on the beach and, most importantly, turn the speakers up.
Most people have what they would consider the “song of the summer,” an unofficial anthem that defines the season and cultural mood from June to August. College students are in a great position to make waves in political movements and culture; what they listen to matters. From Chappell Roan to the Black Eyed Peas, multiple GVSU students have defined what they think the song of the summer was.
“I’d say the song of the summer was ‘Mystical Magical’ by Benson Boone,” said Ayden McClintock, a GVSU freshman. “Not because it was good, but because it was everywhere.”
Ayden was not the only student who picked a song based on its popularity, with many students choosing songs that were brought into the spotlight by TikTok, a social media app that highly influences the pop music of today. Other picks popularized by TikTok included “Gnarly” by KATSEYE, “Rock That Body” by the Black Eyed Peas and “Love Me Not” by Ravyn Lenae.
Cashing in on both popularity and talent, Roan was another frequently mentioned artist, with GVSU sophomore Bailey Bishop choosing “The Subway,” a pop ballad about loss and breakups, as her song of the summer.
“(“The Subway”) was highly anticipated,” Bishop said. “She would only play it live, (and) you never knew if she was going to.”
Despite being a newer artist, Roan has become a staple in pop music and an obvious contender for song of the summer considerations. “The Giver,” one of her summer releases, was mentioned by students more than once. With a more upbeat vibe than “The Subway,” the duality of Roan’s discography highlights that it truly is the individual who decides what song of the summer means to them.
Despite many songs having been released recently, such as picks from Sabrina Carpenter and Tyler, the Creator, the song of the summer doesn’t need to be from this year or even this generation. Many students mentioned songs by artists like Billy Joel, Radiohead and even The Sundays.
This reflects the current generation’s growing obsession with nostalgia, with streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music increasingly catering to listeners who prefer older music over new releases. Some students said these songs reminded them of memories, while others simply enjoy listening to older hits.
Unlike last year’s defining “Brat summer,” inspired by musical artist Charli XCX, it seems that people are a little more indecisive with this season’s hits. With an endless catalogue of summer hits from this generation and the last, perhaps GVSU students are excited and overwhelmed by all the musical options to settle on just one song.
