Liner Notes: So what was the song of the summer? – Stars and stripes

With Labor Day coming and going this past week, we’ve officially unofficially said goodbye to summer. Where did he go? I’m not exactly sure, but wherever he went, he went there quickly. So quickly, in fact, that it seems like it was just yesterday that we published an article speculating on what the song of the summer would be. There were a lot of ideas that fell into many genres. There was hope. There was anticipation.

But here’s the problem with these “Pronouns the song of the summer!” » articles: We rarely see a follow-up. Writers and commentators look at the release schedule for the next few months, pick the biggest names, add a few pieces already bubbling to the highest tier of popular culture, and call it a day. It makes no sense to refuse to revisit what happened after making such a fuss about predicting it before it happened.

And so, here’s a quick look at…well, what could have been the song of the summer. Everyone’s experiences are different – ​​I wouldn’t dare speak for someone who has made memories by hitting the repeat button on a song in the last three months. As far as a consensus, though, I thought it might be worth taking a look at what’s been dominating the charts and airwaves of summer 2023 and trying to make sense of it. which could have been the song of summer 2023.

Literally any Taylor Swift song. Honestly. Really. Any of them.

It was Swift’s summer, no matter how you slice it, and not only did she redefined what it means to be a mega-star and tour soccer stadiums in North America, but she also set a template for future superstars work smarter, not harder. Parachut into a city for a weekend, take the next week off, rinse, repeat. It worked — and it worked so much that the “Taylor version” of “Speak Now” and “1989” made headlines at different points during the season (the former was released in July while the announcement of the second was made on one of his last tour stops of the summer). You can choose “Anti-Hero” if you want. There is also “Karma” with Ice Spice. And don’t forget “Cruel Summer.” The woman owned summer. Any of his songs, new or old, could fill this spot.

Luke Combs – “Fast Car”

Brilliant: Tracy Chapman will get paid in 2023 for a song she wrote decades ago. Not exactly great: it’s because a watered-down male country star appropriated it for a new generation without really showing that he has any imagination. OK, so maybe that last part is a little harsh, but there’s no denying the unexpectedness of this cover’s success. Combs was true to his original incarnation, for better or worse, and it’s crazy to think that Tracy Chapman’s songwriting expertise has been highlighted on pop radio in 2023. My only concern? None of these kids will take the time to discover the brilliant mind who actually wrote the song in the first place. It’s to these people, I say, get off my lawn.

Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”

I had high hopes for it, if only because I really liked it. Sure, it’s selfish, but it also shows how lighthearted the song was and still is. With such a nice, laid-back summer dance groove and a hook that’s both self-loving and catchy as hell, I was hoping to see this reach greater heights than it did. That’s not to say any of us haven’t heard it on the radio — and rest assured, it’s definitely one of the talk songs of summer 2023. But, man. This song depresses me because it didn’t take over the world and it had all the potential to do so. Well. I’m just going to buy myself some flowers and write my name in the sand.

Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire”

While the edited version can pound sand…my goodness, does this young lady know how to swear. I don’t know why it seems unexpected that the first single from his second album is so epic – “Drivers License” is teen melodrama at its best – but you won’t hear any complaints from me. Rodrigo’s anger is matured here, a step forward from the naivety that made his debut so charming, and as some of his contemporaries will settle for today’s predictable pop formula, Rodrigo has tackled this one with movements, looking more like Meatloaf than Miley. Here’s hoping she can come up with a second single on “Guts” that will up her game even more than she already has.

Morgan Wallen – “Last Night”

Whether you love it or hate it (here’s a hint: I don’t), you have to respect its longevity. I don’t know what this guy’s problem is, and he doesn’t seem particularly friendly, but he’s fully inhabited the “Uncle Kracker” space during pop music’s summer of 2023. The song is simple, vibrant and about a complicated night with a romantic partner – all things that the majority of the music-loving population can relate to. It’s hard to say what’s next for him, but it’s clear that he knows how to sing a song that people can enjoy in the summer: while it spent 31 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, the song rose to number 3 in the ranking. recently like last week. And as we head into fall in earnest, it seems he might not have been wrong when he said it wasn’t over yet.