Written By: Isaac Julian, Staff Editor
STANDOUT: The summer of 2024 was marked by hits from both rising and seasoned artists, cementing it as an unforgettable year for music lovers.
Seemingly as a fact of life, trends come and go in popular culture. Music is no stranger to this phenomenon, with a new batch of songs making the rounds each year. However, this current year is unlike any we have seen in a very long time. This past summer alone, the amount of highly praised music entering the scene was unprecedented. From breakout artists finally making their mark to experienced musicians making their grand return, everyone had music to look forward to last summer.
Regarding radio hits, there is no question of who takes the top spot this year. Sabrina Carpenter has dominated the charts for months on end. She had previously released her album “emails I can’t send” to some positive reception and mild popularity, but was nothing compared to the success following her 2024 single, “Espresso.” The song was an instant hit, satisfying the feel-good niche people look for in their go-to summer songs. Sabrina became almost inescapable. Nadia Lewis, a senior here at Poly reports that she played her song upwards of “fifteen times a day.” She and her label wasted no time in capitalizing on this success, going on to release her next single, “Please Please Please,” just two months later. It caught on just like the last did, clearing her name from any one-hit-wonder allegations. Nadia mentioned that you would hear Sabrina “whenever you turned on any kind of radio station” during this time. While some critique her music for being too bland, the numbers speak for themselves, and Sabrina Carpenter has paved the way for greater success as time goes on.
Another crucially important artist that came to the scene seemingly out of nowhere was Chappell Roan. From posting singing videos on YouTube to breaking the record for the largest crowd size at Lollapalooza, Chappell has had quite a meteoric rise in her career. With her April release “Good Luck, Babe” she saw a spike in popularity, with many hearing her for the first time through this song. She stood out for her authentic and stylized stage persona, which embraces her queer identity, leading many many to quickly connect to her through her personality, not just her music. It is impressive enough to have one hit song, but lightning struck twice, this time with the year-old “HOT TO GO” from her 2023 album suddenly becoming massively popular. Her social media presence was unmatched, so much so that the average bystander probably knew the dance to her song. From that point on, her entire discography went up in streams. Her amazing stage presence and authenticity draws in new fans every day and cements her as yet another pop pioneer.
We can’t just talk about the summer without the mention of BRAT summer. Appearing in almost every online space, often in real life as well, Charli XCX’s album “BRAT” has not only received critical acclaim from fans and critics but has created a cultural phenomenon lasting throughout the summer. The branding of the album is simple: a distinct bright green background with the word “brat” sprawled across the front in lowercase. At first, it may seem simple, but that simplicity is what makes it so recognizable. Paired with music and lyrics promoting an emotionally messy and carefree lifestyle, many instantly connected with the message and catchy beats of this album. Jacob Watkins (10) agreed that “its cultural significance was unlike anything else this year”. Anything resembling that shade of green would be deemed “BRAT”. Organizations like the University of California (UC) or even Kamala Harris’ PR team used the likeness of the album in their marketing campaigns. The aesthetics of “BRAT” surpassed music itself, but the pop sound stands tall on its own. Songs like “Apple” and “360” have amassed many streams since their release. While not being the most popular of the summer, it is easily the most prominent in online culture.
Though we may all be sick of it by now, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar cannot be left off of this list. Before its release, the beef between him and Drake went back and forth, a story which frankly needs no introduction. Shots were fired, and things got dirty, but after the shocking release of “Meet the Grahams,” Kendrick ran a victory lap with “Not Like Us” being released just one day later. Beginning with the DJ Mustard producer tag, the song became an instant classic to fans. Its catchy flows and playful jabs only confirmed that. Beyond its quality, “Not Like Us” really shines because of the conflict surrounding it, which kept us all on the edge of our seats. Kendrick proved with this song that he remains the king of hip-hop and isn’t likely to be dethroned any time soon.
Indie fans got their fair share of good tunes this summer as well. Clairo released her long-awaited album, “Charm,” a worthy follow up to her bedroom pop material from 2021 and 2019. She takes a bit of a stylistic change here, but it works beautifully. The song “Juno” has especially impressed her fans, and Bryse Norris (12) contends that “every single person at Poly knows the lyrics to that song”. Someone else who took a vastly different approach this year was Billie Eilish, with her album, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT”. Each studio album of hers has taken on a new sonic palette, this one being her most realized yet. Jonathan Viene agrees strongly with these claims of high quality, adding that “it’s the most complete album put out this summer in terms of artistic unity and quality”. No matter the genre you prefer, something released this year is bound to impress.
Every year there are claims of summer hits, but this year was truly proof of that. Radio and internet spaces harbored incredible songs and new talent. New and old faces came together to make a truly special era that will be remembered in the industry for years to come.