Although the weather may get warmer, and the years increase in number, each summer has one distinct facet in common with those that came before and those that will follow: songs of the summer. 2021 was the summer of Olivia Rodrigo‘s “Sour“; 2022 was dominated by Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)“; 2023 was ruled by the soundtrack of the hit movie “Barbie.” Just as summers before, 2024 was also defined by incredible songs and albums that topped the charts. However, summer 2024 wasn’t defined by just one song or one artist: summer of 2024 will go down in history as pop-girl summer.
If you opened Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Youtube or any musically related platform during June, July and August, you most definitely encountered the phenomena of pop-girl summer. During these months, Billboards Hot 100 charts were packed with female artists, and the radio stations were consumed by female-made music.
So, let’s unpack these songs and albums and talk about how these women created the iconic sounds of the summer.
“Brat” by Charli xcx
Pop princess Charli xcx established her presence for the summer starting all the way back in February with the release of her single “Von Dutch.” Just three months later, Charli released the album’s second single “360.” Although “Brat” had not been fully released yet, it had already taken the world by storm. Brat’s iconic green hue plagued the digital walls of social media platforms, news stations and eventually took a paramount role in Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
Arguably, the popularity of the album can be mainly credited to TikTok. For months, the “Apple” dance ruled the For You page, and influencers and Gen Z’ers alike were living in a “Brat summer.”
After its release, many were confused as to why people were celebrating being “brats” due to the word’s negative connotation. However, in the context of her album, one cannot be a brat, but one is brat. On social media, Charli explained that “You’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. [A girl] who feels like herself but maybe also has a breakdown… But it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.”
Each song is candid, vulnerable and downright bratty, and the world is loving it. “360” has become a hyperpop anthem, while “Club classics” embodies the spirit of the self-described “club album.” With collaborators like Billie Eilish, Addison Rae and Lorde, “Brat” is truly an album for the girls and from the girls, solidifying its well-deserved place in this past pop-girl summer.
“Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter
Similar to Brat’s success, even before its release, former Disney star Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album, “Short n’ Sweet” also had a notable rise to fame. Album singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” were undeniably two of the biggest songs of the summer. The synth-pop songs with witty and exuberant lyrics made for the perfect summer melodies.
Even though the album was only released in the last week of August, its impacts on the summer are still notable. “Espresso” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 10, and in just two weeks, the song secured its spot as No. 1. Even more impressive than that, “Please Please Please,” which was released in early June, debuted at No. 2, and rose to No. 1 after just one week.
Hashing out both the joyful and painful realities during the period of young female adulthood, Carpenter sings about the experience of so many women. Her blunt and unapologetic lyrics bring listeners through a story with each song, and the tunes and background vocals are addicting and leave us wanting more.
“Short n’ Sweet” is undoubtedly one of the few true pop albums to be released by a female artist in quite some time, and it achieved everything we needed it to.
“The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess ” by Chappell Roan
Although Chappell Roan’s debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” was released in September 2023, the album has remained highly popular over the past few months.
The upbeat, plucky songs are just what the summer called for. Roan’s music fits in perfectly with the other pop songs of the summer, and they served it well. Album hits “HOT TO GO!,” “Femininomenon” and “Good Luck, Babe!” continuously topped the Billboard charts, and deservedly so.
One of the biggest moments for music each summer is the iconic Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago. This summer, Chappell Roan was one of the headliners for the festival. At her daytime set, Roan generated the largest crowd in Lollapalooza history. While speaking about Roan’s history-making set, Brittany L’Heureux, a representative with Lollapalooza notes that “it was a magical moment that added to Lolla’s DNA.”
Further solidifying her music’s vital role over the summer, a survey conducted by the New York Times found that her hit “HOT TO GO!” was one of 13 top-rated “songs of the summer.”
Each of these artists are trailblazers in the music industry who are reestablishing the importance and popularity of the genre. Although these three singers were arguably the most influential female artists of the summer, there are a plethora of other inspiring female pop artists who also redefined this summer as a true pop-girl summer. But, the era of pop-girls should not end here: We should continue supporting and listening to these talented and inspiring women year-round.
