Several songs have emerged as contenders for "song of the summer" in 2025, reflecting a diverse range of moods and styles. Addison Rae's "Headphones On" offers a detached, relatable anthem for navigating anxieties, while K-pop group Katseye's "Gnarly" embraces maximalist, early 2010s energy. Jade's "Plastic Box" showcases bold genre-bending, similar to Sabrina Carpenter's work, and PinkPantheress's mixtape "Fancy That" delivers a high-energy rush of UK dance music. Cilia Catello's "commie bf" provides a punk-pop antidote to summer lethargy.

MK's "Dior" tops the UK charts, showcasing polished dance-pop, while Haim's "Relationships" offers a dreamy, melancholic counterpoint to the season's typical exuberance. The Beths' "No Joy" ironically tackles depression with upbeat music, and Shane Boose's guitar-driven tracks like "We Never Dated" and "Back to Friends" have propelled him to stardom. Khamari's "Head in a Jar" captures a seductive summer sadness, and Matías Aguayo's "El Internet" encourages communal dancefloor liberation. Finally, Tom Rasmussen's "Gay Bar" delivers a trashy, gossipy narrative set to high-NRG dance-pop.

Impact Statement: The variety of musical styles and themes represented in these "song of the summer" contenders reflects the diverse experiences and emotions of the season.