Continuing my look at the top songs of 2025…
Kendrick Lamar holds the #17 position with ‘Not Like Us,’ giving him three songs in the top 20 (so far). This track was the #6 song of 2024, and another indication that 2025 didn’t introduce many new hits.
At #18 is Morgan Wallen’s ‘Just in Case,’ his fourth track in the top 20. At least this one was released last year.
In my opinion, Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ was last year’s Song of the Summer regardless of what the charts said. Sure, it peaked at #3 on the Hot 100, but it felt like it was everywhere. And it’s exactly the sort of frothy crowd-pleaser that deserves the SotS title.
This year, Carpenter had another runner-up in ‘Manchild.’ This one did hit #1 (it even debuted there) but ended up at only #9 on the Songs of the Summer chart. Carpenter just can’t catch a break.
(Incidentally, #8 was Chappell Roan’s ‘Pink Pony Club,’ which I’ve already featured).
Sabrina Carpenter has released six albums since 2015, a fact that makes her Best New Artist Grammy nomination a bit of a head-scratcher.
The song at #25 on last year’s Billboard year-end Hot 100 is from her fifth album, 2022’s Emails I Can’t Send. ‘Feather’ was released as a single from the deluxe edition of that album, and became her first song to reach the Top 40 (it peaked at #21). Of course, her next three singles all reached the top three, so I guess it’s that “overnight” success the Grammys are acknowledging.
The fifth and sixth slots on the current Billboard Hot 100 belong to the same artist: Sabrina Carpenter.
My pick for Song of the Summer, ‘Espresso‘ currently sits at #5 after peaking at #3. It still boggles my mind that this song never reached #1. Maybe it still will.
Just below it is ‘Please Please Please,’ the second single from Carpenter’s upcoming album Short n’ Sweet.
Before I get to my countdown of 2024’s albums by the women of pop, I had to give a nod to Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso,’ surely destined to be the Song of the Summer even at this early date.
Carpenter’s sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet, is coming this August. If ‘Espresso’ is any indication, it should be a fun one. Second single ‘Please Please Please’ is another pop confection (and features Carpenter’s boyfriend, actor Barry Keoghan, in its video).
Meet Me In Montauk 