In the last two years, playfully tropical trifles reigned in the form of OMI’s “Cheerleader” and Drake’s “One Dance,” but many of this year’s contender for summer jam are noticeably more urgent. (A sign of the times?) And while the 2017 field has some familiar names, it also looks more eclectic than most. There’s piano-house catharsis from an unpredictable star out of New Zealand, an enigmatic auteur’s radio grab with a Scottish song-of-summer producing vet and the rap trio of the moment, and a no-nonsense trunk banger from hip-hop’s reigning king. There’s also a bunch of guys rhyming along to flutes, for some reason. (Yet another sign of the times?!)
Here, Pitchfork staffers run down which songs are the odds-on favorites for 2017 summer jam status, and why.
Calvin Harris: “Slide” [ft. Frank Ocean and Migos]
Why It Jams: The role of the DJ is to know what’s hot and to read the room. Calvin Harris did just that when he built a breezy midtempo banger around Frank Ocean, still glowing from going Blonde last summer, and hip-hop King Midas-es Quavo and Offset of Migos. This is a playlist in a song, meant to be repeated for however long it takes to get ready and smoke half a joint out the window, wondering what the night could bring. The only reason you don’t slide on all your nights like this is cuz there aren’t enough songs like “Slide” to effortlessly set the vibe.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: Decent. It’s rising up the Hot 100 chart slower than Harris’ usual hits, finally cracking the Top 30 and seemingly gaining some steam. But in the corners of the internet where Blonded radio shows are cause to ring the siren emoji, “Slide” has been the song of the summer since the winter. –Jillian Mapes
Drake: “Passionfruit”
Why It Jams: The stoner cousin of “Hotline Bling,” “Passionfruit” is soft for sure, but soft in the way beautiful skin feels. Chances are decent this song is about something, but all you really need to know is Drake repeatedly coos the word “passion.” The beat is a subtle monster that resonates almost solely in the hips—it will rule dance floors on docked boats, warm weather Bat Mitzvahs, and Ibizan sand through the end of time.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: Ten ripe and delicious passionfruits out of 10 –Matthew Schnipper
Kendrick Lamar: “HUMBLE.”
Why It Jams:“HUMBLE.” passes the Rattle Test. Brilliantly. The Rattle Test gauges exactly how much a song quakes the sidewalks, sediment, and sheetrock in its immediate vicinity when played out of an expensive car sound system at high volume. It is an understood, unspoken measure of summer song supremacy, a very physical disruption, a show of brute force. “HUMBLE.” cracks the Rattle Test meter like many songs before it, with bass that moves bowels courtesy of producer Mike WiLL Made-It, and enough space in between those deep hits to make every single one boom. But what elevates it even further is how Kendrick’s voice and self-aware boasts add to the tremors, shaking fear into any and all would-be challengers to his undisputed status as the best rapper alive.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: Very high. Along with it being Kendrick’s first proper No. 1 single, “HUMBLE.” nabbed that top spot by unseating Ed Sheeran’s offensively limp “Shape of You” following an interminable 12-week reign. For that alone, it deserves our infinite gratitude—and perhaps the official summer song title. –Ryan Dombal
Haim: “Want You Back”
Why It Jams: Look, the second the sun comes out, people just want to get their fringed Fleetwood Mac festival vibes on, and “Want You Back” delivers. As soon as the track begins, the Haim sisters sound seconds away from bursting into the climactic purge of “Go Your Own Way.” With subject matter that’s ultimately more regretful than carefree, “Want You Back” offers here-and-now thrills while also hinting at nostalgic summer days of yore.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: Admittedly slim. “Want You Back” is a bit too mellow for even the chillest summer doggies. –Quinn Moreland
Lil Uzi Vert: “XO TOUR Llif3”
Why It Jams: Teens love being upset as much as they love being happy, and summer is the time to unleash your inner teen. “XO TOUR Llif3” has a tiny dash of self-destruction amid a larger helping of flexing, but that self-loathing is loud and attractive, especially on the awesomely goth hook: “Push me to the edge/All my friends are dead.”
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: XO TOUR Llif7/10 –Matthew Strauss
Lorde: “Green Light”
Why It Jams:Lorde’s gothier devotees may not be so into the sun, and there is a seething lyric in this song aimed at an ex’s phony love of the beach. But as Lorde sings of a shattered relationship, of wanting to scream the truth at this fool, “Green Light” is a line in the sand. Summer, as ever, remains ripe with the glittering promise that life is starting over, that everything will be possible now, and that’s what “Green Light” is all about.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: What are the odds of us all wanting to feel a little reborn? You tell me… –Jenn Pelly
Future: “Mask Off”
Why It Jams:“Mask Off” signals the Summer of Flute. Yes, the flutter of breath through a reedless woodwind instrument is the vogue hip-hop sound of the season—bassoons, maybe you’ll get your turn next year.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: Just look at Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook caught in a moment of public solitude, sitting on the bench during warm-ups, hypnotized by a flute, choreographing a dance to this song while dribbling a ball between his legs, and realize that this is the summer of Future. –Jeremy Larson
Playboi Carti: “Magnolia”
Why It Jams: The season of flute rap continues with millennial heartthrob Playboi Carti, though the breathy high notes in producer Pierre Bourne’s beat are only one reason why this song bangs. The humid New Orleans bounce beat catches each and every one of the 20-year-old’s nasty jokes and nonsensical hooks. It’s brilliantly unbothered house-party music, and Carti’s a wild man riding that that flute into oblivion.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: Though the song has been streamed more than 30 million times between Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube, it seems unlikely to make the jump from internet sensation to ever-present, radio-dominating force. –Kevin Lozano
Paramore: “Hard Times”
Why It Jams: In this fragile time, there will likely be plenty of reasons to find a hole in the ground and stay there until the coast is clear this summer—pray that we can all get to rock bottom only to find a neon dance party like “Hard Times.” The song’s got new-wave angles, trop-house vibes, and Daft robotspeak, all carried off with Paramore’s stubbornly strutting individuality.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: The song of summer contest offers no bonus points for writing your own songs or playing guitars, but for former pop-punkers trying on different styles while still sounding only like themselves, it sure doesn’t hurt. –Marc Hogan
Sahbabii: “Pull Up Wit Ah Stick”
Why It Jams: It is scientifically proven that rap songs with medium shot, crew-oriented videos can dominate summers (see: Waka Flocka Flame, Chief Keef, Bobby Shmurda). There’s a very specific energy to them—one that incites unruliness. Not only is Sahbabii’s “Pull Up With Ah Stick” the next street rap anthem to carry the torch for mobbing deep, the song is an unorthodox banger that creates an unlikely intersection between 21 Savage’s dead-eyed “murder music” and the melodic chirps of Young Thug. There’s a candied glaze to this gun-toting thumper.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: Among the rabble-rousers at house parties, it’s already gospel. –Sheldon Pearce
Gorillaz: “Saturnz Bars” [ft. Popcaan]
Why It Jams:Gorillaz’s first single after a seven-year hiatus is a laconic spin through trip-hop thrall and dancehall humidity, pairing the deejay Popcaan’s sepia-tone memories of family and Jamaica with a shuddering beat and Damon Albarn’s distorted humblebrags about being “a debaser” and “a heartbreaker.” Meanwhile, the psychotropic music video reminds us to take our meds.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: Virtually even. –Stacey Anderson
DJ Khaled: “I’m the One” [ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, Lil Wayne]
Why It Jams: At the beginning of the video for “I’m the One,” DJ Khaled pitches his new song’s premise to Chance the Rapper. “We’re gonna celebrate LIFE. SUCCESS. and our BLESSINGS,” he declares, each word as crisp as the $100 bills in which he swims every day. Though Quavo, Chance, and Wayne each offer charming promises of financial comfort (“’Cause I promise, when we step out you’ll be famous”), Justin Bieber emerges as the song’s true MVP. As his smooth and self-assured hook carries the song, Bieber sounds happier than he has in years.
Odds of It Ruling the Summer: “I’m the One” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, went gold after less than three weeks, and currently boasts 145 million views on YouTube. It seems safe to say that this song will be the One to haunt us all summer. —Quinn Moreland