So is Brat actually dead? These are officially the hottest songs of summer 2025 so far

In 2024 the Eras Tour ruled our summer, and this year the lucky ones are donning their cowboy hats yet again to see Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter Tour. After last year’s summer was dominated by Brat, Short n’ Sweet, and Pink Pony Club, it was hard to see how this year could produce more iconic songs.

However, the music industry has proved us all wrong, and has been producing summer defining tracks long before it hit 20°C in the UK. Here are the 2025 summer songs that should be on everyone’s holiday playlist this year.

Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter

One of the defining voices of last summer, the pressure was on Sabrina to replicate 2024’s global success. Luckily Sabrina pulled through, releasing Manchild at the start of June. This marks the start of her new album Man’s Best Friend, but still fits within Short n’ Sweet’s popular soundscape.

If you’re having a hot girl summer and swearing off men until September, we recommend blasting this 24/7. (Also, ignore the texts from the boy who broke up with you before you moved to uni.)

Illegal – PinkPantheress

Already viral on TikTok, PinkPantheress is again providing us with another hit song to play on repeat all summer. Described by the artist as a “weed diss track”, the instant earworm blew up, especially during the festival season.

Celebrities jumped on the TikTok trend and would shake each other’s hands while lipsyncing, giving us iconic unlikely duos such as Halsey and flowerovlove.

Fame is a Gun – Addison Rae

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Addison Rae is continuing with her run of producing hit song after hit song. Fame is a Gun was the last single released before her new album, Addison, was dropped. Hitting back at the haters of her music career, Addison’s sultry electro-pop track points out the irony that when people give her attention by criticising her, it merely boosts her career and gives her opportunities to do more.

Like every other single Addison has released, it has quickly gone viral, proving the song’s point as her haters only inspire her to write hit songs and work even harder at her rebrand. This is arguably one of the biggest 2025 summer songs among the girlies.

 back to friends – sombr

Even though this song has been viral since its release in 2024, it is still dominating music charts and can be found in the background of almost every TikTok video. Despite rising to fame by opening for Daniel Seavey and Nessa Barrett, sombr has now overtaken both of them with all of the songs he has released in 2025 breaking into the top charts.

If anyone’s going through heartbreak this summer, add this song to your playlist to be properly in your feels (then you can switch to Manchild when you’re ready to move on.)

Love Me Not – Ravyn Lenae

This song is the singer’s first hit single, but she has long been making a name for herself. Ravyn Lenae has never been an underground artist, but has collaborated with Doechii and Childish Gambino before her viral moment. Completely taking over TikTok, Instagram and the charts overnight, you would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard this song already. Anyone who scrolls past it is sure to get it stuck in their head for the rest of the day.

Another song to soundtrack an unserious and light-hearted summer, this track is a fun depiction of the first exciting stages of a new crush.

Take A Sexy Picture – CMAT

CMAT’s upbeat but still angsty hit song has propelled her to new levels of fame, written in response to hate comments circulating after she played at festivals last summer. We’re sure her upcoming Euro-Country album, set to be released this August, will be full of more instant hits.

CMAT sings about impossible female beauty standards that bring pressure, scrutiny and misery, and still being shamed by the media. This is accompanied by a jaunty tune and viral TikTok dance that celebrities such as Lola Young, Liz Gillies, Ilona Maher, and Amelia Dimz have recreated.

If you want to release your frustration at the pressure to have a mythical “perfect” bikini body but still want an upbeat track to boost your confidence, this song is perfect for your 2025 summer.

One Thing – Lola Young

Lola Young hasn’t just been dancing on TikTok this summer, as she has also released her next single, One Thing. Lola has succeeded in not collapsing under the pressure of Messy’s popularity, as her first hit. No longer caught up in self-criticism, this track is much more light-hearted and sexy, challenging gender roles in sex in the music video that accompanied it.

Another fitting track for a hot girl summer or to listen to while daydreaming about your summer fling, Lola Young has again made it onto our summer 2025 playlist.

Nice To Each Other – Olivia Dean

This song is one of our favourites, perfectly encapsulating the free, laid back summer we all want to have. A captivating pop-soul performer, Olivia Dean has already won the nation’s heart, but consolidated it with her most recent track, Nice To Each Other, which was called “heartwarming” when she played it at Glastonbury.

Now collabing with artists like Sam Fender, Olivia Dean’s music is perfect to match a luxuriously lazy summer, conjuring images of sipping wine in the warmth of the late evening.

People Watching – Sam Fender

Speaking of Sam Fender, the artist released his own hit single in late 2024 that has continued to stay popular. This is most likely because it was the first song he released since Seventeen Going Under in 2021. Sam has only become more successful since! The song’s upbeat rhythm and electric guitar riffs are a balm to the song’s sad lyrics concerning the loss of a close relative, and thinking about how people everywhere manage their grief.

The song was followed by the Newcastle artist’s new album, also titled People Watching, which is certain to become the soundtrack of the summer for indie rock fans.

Survive – Lewis Capaldi

Not everyone can debut a completely new song at Glastonbury and have it immediately become an overnight success. After a two year drought of one of Britain’s favourite singers, we were more than happy to welcome him back.

The song is an uplifting anthem celebrating Lewis’ perseverance in the face of his mental health battle, and the strength it takes to keep going. For those who experienced challenges during the last academic year and are taking the summer to recover and look after themselves, this song will inspire you to stay strong when struggling.

Leave Me Alone – Reneé Rapp

Already an iconic lesbian artist, Reneé Rapp returns to the music scene after taking a break for a year. A playful track that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this pop song champions reclaiming your young years and allowing yourself to be messy.

Also poking fun at the inter-connectedness of the lesbian dating pool, this song is perfect for listening to when you visit the one gay club in your hometown and see every girl you’ve ever made out with enter at the same time.

Borderline – Ely Oaks and LAVINIA

If you’re having a club rat summer or going to Ibiza, Magaluf and Marbella this year, you’ll know this track. Exploring the high highs and low lows life can bring, Borderline doesn’t stay too depressing as an electropop dance anthem, sounding like it could be featured in a Euphoria episode.

Borderline encapsulates the vibe of crying over your ex at pres, and simultaneously getting ready for the club. This makes it one of our summer 2025 anthems for anyone who is feeling down, but still wants to dance the night away with their friends at the club.

These 2025 summer songs have already brought us half a year of music which has been just as iconic as 2024 so far. However, Brat summer remains eternal.

Featured image via YouTube