Every song of the summer from the past 48 years

  • Every year, music fans wonder which song will be crowned the "song of the summer."

  • Insider uses Billboard charts and streaming stats to determine the season's defining hit.

  • Our list includes every year since 1975.

Anjelica Oswald contributed to a previous version of this article.

1975: "One of These Nights" by The Eagles

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"One of These Nights" was released on June 10, 1975.Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Listen on Spotify.

1976: "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John and Kiki Dee

elton john and kiki dee
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" was released on June 21, 1976.YouTube/EltonJohnVEVO

Watch the video.

1977: "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb

Andy Gibb
"I Just Want to Be Your Everything" was released in April 1977.Ron Frehm/AP Photo

Watch him on YouTube.

1978: "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb

andy gibb
"Shadow Dancing" was released in April 1978.AP

Watch him on YouTube.

1979: "Bad Girls" by Donna Summer

donna summer
"Bad Girls" was released as a single on June 23, 1979.Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Watch her on YouTube.

1980: "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" by Billy Joel

billy joel
"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" was released on May 12, 1980.YouTube/billyjoelVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

1981: "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield

rick springfield
"Jessie's Girl" was released in February 1981.YouTube/RickSpringfieldVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

1982: "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor

eye of the tiger survivor
"Eye of the Tiger" was released on May 31, 1982.YouTube/SurvivorVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

1983: "Every Breath You Take" by The Police

the police every breath you take video
"Every Breath You Take" was released on May 20, 1983.YouTube/ThePoliceVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

1984: "When Doves Cry" by Prince

when doves cry prince
"When Doves Cry" was released on May 16, 1984.YouTube/Prince

Watch the video on YouTube.

1985: "Shout" by Tears For Fears

shout tears for fears
"Shout" was released as a single on November 19, 1984.Mercury

Listen on Spotify.

1986: "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna

papa don't preach madonna
"Papa Don't Preach" was released on June 11, 1986.YouTube/Warner Bros. Records

Watch the video on YouTube.

1987: "Alone" by Heart

alone heart video
"Alone" was released in May 1987.YouTube/HeartVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

1988: "Roll With It" by Steve Winwood

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"Roll With It" was released as a single on August 11, 1988.Pizzello/AP Photo

Listen on Spotify.

1989: "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx

richard marx
"Right Here Waiting" was released on June 29, 1989.YouTube/RichardMarxVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

1990: "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey

mariah carey
"Vision of Love" was released on May 15, 1990.YouTube/MariahCareyVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

1991: "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams

bryan adams 1996
"(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" was released on June 18, 1991.YouTube/BryanAdamsVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

1992: "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot

Sir Mix-A-Lot Baby Got Back
“Baby Got Back” was released on May 7, 1992.SirMixALotVEVO/YouTube

Watch the video on YouTube.

1993: "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" by UB40

ub40
"(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You" was released on May 10, 1993.Keystone, Fabrice Coffrini/AP Photo

Listen on Spotify.

1994: "I Swear" by All-4-One

all 4 one
"I Swear" was released as a single on April 28, 1994.YouTube/All-4-One (Official channel)

Watch the video on YouTube.

1995: "Waterfalls" by TLC

tlc waterfalls
"Waterfalls" was released as a single on May 29, 1995.YouTube/TLCVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

1996: "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los Del Rio

los del rio macarena
"Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" was released in 1995 and reached No. 1 in August 1996.Lionel Cironneau/AP Photo

Listen on Spotify.

1997: "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112

i'll be missing you puff daddy
"I'll Be Missing You" was released on May 23, 1997.Bad Boy Entertainment/YouTube

Listen on Spotify.

1998: "The Boy is Mine" by Brandy and Monica

the boy is mine
"The Boy is Mine" was released on May 19, 1998.Brandy & Monica/YouTube

Listen on Spotify.

1999: "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera

christina aguilera
"Genie in a Bottle" was released on May 11, 1999.YouTube/CAguileraVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2000: "Bent" by Matchbox Twenty

matchbox twenty
"Bent" was released as a single on July 4, 2000.YouTube/Matchbox Twenty

Watch the video on YouTube.

2001: "U Remind Me" by Usher

usher 2000
"U Remind Me" was released on May 22, 2001.YouTube/UsherVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2002: "Hot In Herre" by Nelly

nelly
"Hot In Herre" was released on May 7, 2002.YouTube/NellyVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2003: "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z

crazy in love beyonce
"Crazy in Love" was released on May 14, 2003.Beyoncé/YouTube

Watch the video on YouTube.

2004: "Confessions Part II" by Usher

usher confessions part ii
"Confessions Part II" was released as a single on June 1, 2004.YouTube/UsherVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2005: "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey

mariah carey
"We Belong Together" was released on March 29, 2005.YouTube/MariahCareyVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2006: "Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland

nelly furtado
"Promiscuous" was released on April 25, 2006.YouTube/NellyFurtadoVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2007: "Umbrella" by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

rihanna
"Umbrella" was released on March 29, 2007.YouTube/RihannaVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2008: "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry

katy perry kissed a girl
"I Kissed a Girl" was released on April 28, 2008.YouTube/KatyPerryVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2009: "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas

black eyed peas
"I Gotta Feeling" was released on May 21, 2009.YouTube/BlackEyedPeasVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2010: "California Gurls" by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg

katy perry
"California Gurls" was released on May 7, 2010.YouTube/KatyPerryVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2011: "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock

LMFAO
"Party Rock Anthem" was released on March 8, 2011.YouTube/LMFAOVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2012: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen

carly rae jepsen
"Call Me Maybe" was released in 2011.YouTube/CarlyRaeJepsenVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2013: "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell

blurred lines
"Blurred Lines" was released on March 26, 2013.YouTube/RobinThickeVEVO

Watch the video on YouTube.

2014: "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX

fancy iggy azalea charli xcx
"Fancy" was released on February 17, 2014.Iggy Azalea/YouTube

Watch the video on YouTube.

2015: "Cheerleader" by OMI

omi
"Cheerleader" was released in 2012 and the remix reached No. 1 in July 2015.YouTube/UltraMusic

Watch the video on YouTube.

2016: "One Dance" by Drake featuring WizKid and Kyla

drake one dance snl
"One Dance" was released on April 5, 2016.Dana Edelson/NBC

Watch him on YouTube.

2017: "Despacito (Remix)" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber

luis fonsi despacito
"Despacito (Remix)" was released on April 17, 2017.LuisFonsiOfficial/YouTube

Listen to the song on YouTube.

2018: "In My Feelings" by Drake

drake in my feelings
"In My Feelings" was released on July 10, 2018.Young Money Entertainment/Cash Money Records/YouTube

"In My Feelings" inspired a viral Internet challenge and dethroned Drake's previous hit, "Nice For What," on the Billboard Hot 100. It reigned atop the chart for 10 weeks through July, August, and September.

You can watch the music video here.

2019: "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus

old town road billy ray cyrus lil nas x
The "Old Town Road" remix was released on April 5, 2019.Columbia Records

The undisputed song of summer in 2019 was Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road," which sat atop the Hot 100 Billboard chart for 19 weeks, beating the record set by Mariah Carey's 1996 hit "One Sweet Day."

The song's celebrity-filled music video features cameos from Chris Rock, Vince Staples, Haha Davis, and more.

2020: "Rockstar" by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch

rockstar dababy
"Rockstar" was released on April 17, 2020.DaBaby/YouTube

DaBaby's collaboration with Roddy Ricch swept the summer months, holding the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks.

Originally released in April, the song became an instant No. 1 after DaBaby released a Black Lives Matter remix to the song on June 12 that addressed police brutality and the George Floyd protests across the nation.

Other honorable mentions go to Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga's pop anthem "Rain On Me," Taylor Swift's "Cardigan," and Harry Styles' "Watermelon Sugar." "Cardigan" became Swift's second No. 1 debut after "Shake It Off." Though "Watermelon Sugar" was released in 2019, it returned to the Billboard charts after the music video's release in May and reached No. 1 in August.

You can watch the music video for "Rockstar" here.

2021: "Good 4 U" by Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo good 4 u
"Good 4 U" was released on May 14, 2021.Olivia Rodrigo/YouTube

Challengers include "Butter" by BTS and "Levitating" by Dua Lipa, but the domination of "Good 4 U" helped cement 2021 as the year of Olivia Rodrigo.

The punk-pop hit was named the most-streamed song of the summer on Spotify and reigned at No. 1 on the Rolling Stone Top 100 Songs chart for seven weeks. Additionally, throughout the summer, Rodrigo's album "Sour" regularly returned to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, spending five nonconsecutive weeks on top since its May release.

You can read Insider's music video breakdown here.

2022: "As It Was" by Harry Styles

harry styles as it was music video
"As It Was" was released on April 1, 2022.Harry Styles/YouTube

"As It Was" ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks, setting a new record for a British artist. It was released as the lead single from Styles' third solo album "Harry's House," which went on to win album of the year at the Grammy Awards.

You can read Insider's music video breakdown here.

2023: "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen

morgan wallen last night
"Last Night" was released as a single on February 6, 2023.Morgan Wallen/YouTube

In the midst of a cruel summer, largely defined by "Barbie" and Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, Morgan Wallen overcame a string of scandals to become 2023's most dominant chart presence.

His third studio album, "One Thing at a Time," spent 15 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1, surpassing Bad Bunny's "Un Verano Sin Ti" for the most weeks atop the Billboard 200 this decade.

The album's signature song, "Last Night," reigned atop the Hot 100 for 16 weeks, the most ever for a solo hit, and wrapped the season at No. 1 on Billboard's Songs of the Summer chart, which tracks performance from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

In fact, according to Billboard, "Last Night" is the first country song to lead the summertime tally since 1974.

You can watch the performance video on YouTube.

Read the original article on Insider