9 song of the summer contenders for your summer 2019 playlist

Summer is right around the corner — finally — and that means it’s time to round up the song of the summer front-runners to make the perfect playlist to blast all season long!

The sun is getting warmer, the days feel longer, and the radio is burning up with hot new tracks that are ready to take the season by storm. Summer is around the corner, and that means it’s the most wonderful time of the year — no, not Christmas, but time to pick our song of the summer contenders!

The song of the summer can be judged by how it charts in the warmer months, but really, isn’t it a personal decision? There are always songs that just feel like summer to you, whether it’s the beat or the lyrics or whatever else. No matter how you measure it, some tracks have that power to transport you to a beach somewhere with a cocktail in your hand, and these nine songs definitely have that power.

Who knows how much airplay they’ll get this summer, but they’ll be the perfect fit for your summer playlist.

“Con Calma” – Daddy Yankee Feat. Snow

The Latin invasion is in full force and this summer will be no different thanks to Daddy Yankee. Not only does “Con Calma” have a fun, dance-worthy beat and that distinct Latin sound, but it also samples the 1992 hit “Informer” by Canadian reggae singer Snow (who’s featured on the track), which makes it feel familiar to listeners even if it’s brand new. Plus, it will definitely make you want to get up and dance, which is all we really need in a summer song.

The song even got an upgrade with a Katy Perry remix, so you get to choose which one is the right one for your summer mood.

“Juice” – Lizzo

Lizzo is on fire right now, so don’t be surprised if this is the Summer of Lizzo! Really, this entire list could be songs from Lizzo’s latest album Cuz I Love You. “Like A Girl” is the feminist anthem everybody could jam to, and “Soulmate” will help you learn to love yourself first. But it’s “Juice” that will definitely be on heavy rotation this summer.

Like all of her songs, “Juice” will have you feeling yourself, because you ain’t a snack, you’re the whole dang meal! With a retro sound and a chorus you’ll just want to belt out, it’ll be perfect for any summer get-togethers, pool parties, or barbecues where you just need that extra boost of confidence.

“Medellín” – Madonna Feat. Maluma

Madonna is no stranger to having massive summer hits. She has had so many bangers over the years, so now that she’s back with a new album on the way, expect the Queen of Pop to take back her rightful place on the throne. The new album, called Madame X, is expected in June, and she knew exactly what music-lovers wanted this summer so she called up superstar Maluma for a collab.

“Medellín” has a breezy and summer-ready, more laid back sound than some of the other tracks on our list, and Maluma’s soothing voice singing in Spanish will no doubt have you feeling sexy.

“Boy With Luv” – BTS Feat. Halsey

If you thought the Latin takeover was intense, wait until the K-pop takeover! Anybody who has even the slightest knowledge of K-pop can tell you it’s definitely not new, but thanks to BTS’ massive newfound success in the North American market, you’ll need to prepare your playlists accordingly!

The latest BTS single is the best way to ease yourself into K-pop this summer, because “Boy With Luv” featuring Halsey is breezy pop goodness. It’s a departure from their usual intense R&B/hip-hop sound. It’s cute and fun, and Halsey’s voice pairs perfectly with the sound they’re going for. It might just be the anthem of your summer romance!

“Blame It On Your Love” – Charli XCX Feat. Lizzo

Didn’t we warn you it was going to be the Summer of Lizzo? Charli XCX doesn’t get nearly enough mainstream attention for pumping out bop after bop the last few years, but she was lucky to land the very in-demand artist on a bubbly track that will have you singing along with all your besties.

Fun fact: “Blame It On Your Love” has been around for a while, and Charli XCX fans will recognize it as “Track 10” from her EP Pop 2. That was a highly produced, more electronic version of the track as we know it now, and even though both versions are great, the one with Lizzo is on a whole other level! Your head will start bobbing the second that beat starts, and hearing Lizzo’s infectious laugh will suck you in faster than you can say “Blame it on the juice!”

“Now That I Found You” – Carly Rae Jepsen

Like Charli XCX, Carly Rae Jepsen is wildly underappreciated in the mainstream music scene. She debuted “Now That I Found You” as a promo for the latest season of Queer Eye, which was the perfect way to present it to the world. It’s upbeat and sure to make you feel happy, just like Queer Eye does, but with a lot less tears (and sadly not enough Jonathan Van Ness). Like Lizzo, Carly Rae Jepsen also just released a new album, Dedicated, so you can fill your summer playlist with even more bops from the Canadian pop star!

“Con Altura” – Rosalia & J Balvin Feat. El Guincho

If you’re not already, you’ll probably be fluent in Spanish by the time summer’s done! J Balvin got a taste for having a summer hit with 2017’s “Mi Gente,” and now he’s teamed up with Rosalia and a feature from El Guincho to do it again. The repetitive beat and lyrics will get stuck in your head immediately, and Rosalia pulls some serious #looks in the video, so take notes for your summer wardrobe.

“Cool” – Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers are back. With their first studio album in a decade — Happiness Begins — on its way soon, JoBros fans will be hearing a lot of them over the next few months. They burst back on the scene with “Sucker,” which is a contender for song of the summer in its own right, but “Cool” has the perfect laid-back sound for relaxing by the pool or having some drinks on the patio. Plus, this gives you the perfect opportunity to dust off some of your other fave Jonas tracks from the past to complete your playlist.

“Old Town Road [Remix]” – Lil Nas X Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus

Who would’ve thought that one of the biggest contenders for the song of the summer in 2019 would be a country-rap track featuring Billy Ray Cyrus? Lil Nas X might be blowing the world of country music wide open with his genre-bending hit, but he’s laughing his way all the way to the top of the Billboard charts. It might not fit in with the rest of your summer tracks, but it’ll definitely get everyone singing along, no matter how hard they resist, because “Old Town Road” is here to stay.

What songs will you have blasting from your speakers all summer? Let us know in the comments.