Even though fall is starting, there is still one question remaining from the past season: What was the song of the summer? There were certainly many impactful releases for fans of all genres, but no one song became a universal viral hit, unlike last year, which had Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Espresso.” The summer of 2025, however, did not have a true consensus. So I’ve taken it upon myself to choose three songs that could be considered the “song of the summer,” ranking them based on their popularity and quality.
- “Mystical Magical” by Benson Boone
“Mystical Magical” may be an earworm, but that’s about all it has going for it. While people may think of it as the song of the summer because of its TikTok fame, the song itself doesn’t hold much substance. The lyrics are nonsensical; or instance, Boone himself admitted that the infamous “moonbeam ice cream” line has no meaning. The instrumental is flat and uninspired, and the production puts a fake glossy finish over everything, which is probably the worst part of all. Yet with the boring instrumental and cheesy lyrics, Boone’s vocal talent still shines through — even if it’s buried under a bunch of effects. Despite the song being everywhere, it has quickly overstayed its welcome, and I hope to never hear it again.
- “Doot Doot (6 7)” by Skrilla
I doubt many people listen to this song unironically, but you can’t deny the impact it had on this summer’s culture; in fact, I would argue it’d be hard to find a student who hasn’t heard of the song and the trend that accompanies it. The song originally went viral in May of this year with people on TikTok making videos associating the song with basketball player LaMelo Ball, whose height is 6 feet and 7 inches. The trend, however, arose during the summer, which made the song popular not for its ingenious musicality but because people started to say “6-7” anytime the numbers were mentioned. The song itself, though, leaves something to be desired. Apart from its viral chorus, Skrilla cannot seem to stay on beat as he throws out “masterfully” crafted bars such as “Dump truck, baby shark doo-doo-doo.” The chorus, which is easily the best part of the song, seems to be building towards a beat drop, which never comes. Overall, I think this song is a loose collection of Skrilla’s thoughts. Rather than the song of the summer, it felt more like the trend of the summer.
- “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter
Hot off the heels of her hit single “Espresso” and her compilation of songs on “Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter has taken the prize for having the “song of the summer” for the second year in a row. “Manchild” is the lead single from her seventh album, “Man’s Best Friend.” It is possibly the biggest contender for THE song of the summer because it’s arguably the most popular, at least in terms of streaming numbers — the song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent three weeks at the top, subsequently becoming viral on TikTok as a dance trend. The song itself hooks into the listener with its synth beat and slick radio-friendly production, and Carpenter’s signature vocals are lush and sweeping. Personally, I think the song is undeniably catchy, and I find myself coming back to it again and again.
In the end, there may not have been a definitive answer for what the “song of the summer” for 2025 was — but that doesn’t mean the season lacked its culture-defining tracks. Whether it was the overplayed “Mystical Magical,” the virality of “Doot Doot (6 7),” or the infectious energy of “Manchild,” each song impacted different corners of the music scene. Still, the true “song of the summer” might just be the one that still lingers in your mind and brings back your best memories from the season.
