The characters on Game of Thrones are experts in predicting when winter is comin g. I, on the other hand, am far more interested in reading the signs of summer. Summer technically starts on June 21, sure — but the summer mood begins much earlier than that. First, there are the obvious progressions: The temperature rises, the AC starts buzzing, and your maxi dress finally gets its first debut since last August. Then, there are the subtle changes. All the movies in cinemas involve superheroes or explosions. Everyone’s drinking rose.
Then, there's my favourite part of summer: Blasting songs from open car windows. There’s a certain magic in the combination of warm nights and booming pop anthems. Even now, I dream of my days playing “We Are Young” from my beat-up car in school. A summer anthem somehow inspires instant nostalgia.
In the future, when you hear these songs, you’ll remember where you were in the summer of 2017. You’ll remember the songs you played at the beach. The songs you sang to on your friend’s roof. The songs you memorised accidentally, so often were they on the radio.
Here are the tracks you may be sick of come October — but maybe not.
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"Green Light" by Lorde
So long to the reign of "Someone Like You" by Adele and "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye. "Green Light" is the raging, exuberant, fantastic breakup song of the summer.
"Slide" by Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, Migos
This is the only groove you need to set the tone for a good night out.
"Down" by Marian Hill
The Philadelphia-based electro-pop duo may have just written the indie hit that'll triumph over the pop charts.
"Want You Back" by HAIM
After a long, long HAIM drought, the sister group is back. "Want You Back" might be too mellow to dominate the charts, but if you're searching for a low-key and folky tune, it's certain to dominate your head.
"It Ain't Me" by Kygo feat. Selena Gomez
It's absolutely inevitable that you, me, and everyone we know will be shouting "It Ain't Me" in a crowd at some point this summer.
"HUMBLE." by Kendrick Lamar
This charged song about standards of beauty has already incited dialogue.
"Carolina" by Harry Styles
With "Carolina," we can pretend it's the summer of 1971 and classic rock's still on the radio.
"I Feel It Coming" By the Weeknd feat. Daft Punk
With hints of house and '80s-pop, this funky and optimistic song about a relationship going places is the song equivalent of a good mood.
"I'm the One" by DJ Khaled, feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Change The Rapper, Lil Wayne
Better make peace with this song now. It's already gone platinum, and that means it's going to be everywhere.
"Passionfruit" by Drake
Of all the tracks on More Life, "Passionfruit," a track about Drake's struggles in a long-distance relationship, is likely to be what you'll hear on the radio this summer.
"I Got Issues" by Julia Michaels
Michaels pulls the listener into an intimate, honest conversation about her "issues." Hey, we all got 'em.
"Don't Kill My Vibe" by Sigrid
Move over "Roar," "Brave," and every other pump-up anthem you can think of. This Norwegian singer's break-out hit is the only sonic self-esteem boost you need.
"Dark Red" by Steve Lacy
Kendrick Lamar collaborator Steve Lacy wrote this catchy, creepy song about a man paranoid his relationship's about to end. Lacy's only 18 years old, so expect to hear more of him.
"Mask Off" by Future
Get that flute sample out of your head, I dare you.
"Malibu" by Miley Cyrus
In which Miley makes domestic bliss seem more blissful.
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