As we approach the 1/3 mark of Summer we have all our contenders so far laid out plain as a summer day. There were a lot of new challengers last week but none have really had staying power quite yet. So this week we're going the exact opposite way - here are some of the classics of Summer 2019!
Hot Jam of the Week: "Sister" by K.Flay
I saw K.Flay open for Snoop Dogg in 2010 - she's solid and someone to listen to. "Sister" popped up this week as a pretty cool track with weird slide whistles, a sultry vocal melody, and an all-around pleasing rhythm. Take a gander with your earballs.
"Talk" by Khalid
This has been around for a minute and sounds like an older R&B song, so I think it's kind of snuck into the back of my brain instead of the front where it belongs. It's a jam-worthy, seductive track and an underrated Summer Jam contender, at least from this column. It's been on the radio and charts for quite some time now.
"ME!" by Taylor Swift ft. Brendan Urie
I don't know why this doesn't feel as ubiquitous as other Tay Sway songs. Has she rolled over? Reputation did fine sales-wise but certainly left a more bitter taste in my mouth than Red did. Then again - how could anything not? This is a fun jam, though, and contagious as hell. It keeps sneaking back on this list.
"Dancing with a Stranger" by Sam Smith ft. Normani
Back again is Sam Smith and Normani, providing a pretty consistent Summer Jam track here. I could take or leave this one, but Jam is Jam my friends! Sam Smith does have a hell of a voice and it's nice to see Normani in more and more things. I don't really see this going anywhere but likely not climbing that much higher.
"I Don't Care" by Sheeran & Bieber
I heard this a ton this week and my sentiment is essentially that - I don't care! Whatever, this song kind of blows but it a super star heartthrob collabo. The beat is typically too fast for Bieber, but this is a little new territory for Ed. At this point, though, it's definitely a thing and doesn't quite show any signs of slowing.
"Sweet but Psycho" by Ava Max
This song is back again and to be honest, is so damn catchy. I find myself singing it all the time. It's great. It has had steady chart performance but not much spotify love. I wonder how much people actually listen to this. I dig it, though, and it's good enough to have earned this spot, perhaps on a more perennial basis.
"Bad Guy" by Billie Ellish
This was a tough call this week between the #1 and #2 slot, and they've been locked this way for a while now. There is just no other obvious choice. I saw a lot of this track this week and it seems to have a little bit more mainstream appearances than the #1 track, but the charts and general meme-ability doesn't quite back that up. Still, this could break into the #1 spot at any time and likely will before Summer is through.
"Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X ft. Chad Kroeger
Obviously when I discover the Nickelback remix it's time to get the #1 spot again. This is maybe fading, but still sound so damn fresh. Of course, its beat is actually quite malleable and derivative, but that's part of the fun! It's just a gigantic song right now and is making the strongest case for early Summer Jam King. Of course it's tough getting an early lead. Will we remember and care by September? We never do. We'll keep our ears open, but this might be more a Spring Jam. And no one cares about that.
Next week...
I almost put Katy Perry here, but she really just missed it this week. There is a new Black Eyed Peas song that doesn't include Fergie, and is also super weird, so that's a thing but not really. Stay tuned, folks for more and more excitement as the Summer Jam Continues!!
Hot Jam of the Week: "Sister" by K.Flay
I saw K.Flay open for Snoop Dogg in 2010 - she's solid and someone to listen to. "Sister" popped up this week as a pretty cool track with weird slide whistles, a sultry vocal melody, and an all-around pleasing rhythm. Take a gander with your earballs.
"Talk" by Khalid
This has been around for a minute and sounds like an older R&B song, so I think it's kind of snuck into the back of my brain instead of the front where it belongs. It's a jam-worthy, seductive track and an underrated Summer Jam contender, at least from this column. It's been on the radio and charts for quite some time now.
"ME!" by Taylor Swift ft. Brendan Urie
I don't know why this doesn't feel as ubiquitous as other Tay Sway songs. Has she rolled over? Reputation did fine sales-wise but certainly left a more bitter taste in my mouth than Red did. Then again - how could anything not? This is a fun jam, though, and contagious as hell. It keeps sneaking back on this list.
"Dancing with a Stranger" by Sam Smith ft. Normani
Back again is Sam Smith and Normani, providing a pretty consistent Summer Jam track here. I could take or leave this one, but Jam is Jam my friends! Sam Smith does have a hell of a voice and it's nice to see Normani in more and more things. I don't really see this going anywhere but likely not climbing that much higher.
"I Don't Care" by Sheeran & Bieber
I heard this a ton this week and my sentiment is essentially that - I don't care! Whatever, this song kind of blows but it a super star heartthrob collabo. The beat is typically too fast for Bieber, but this is a little new territory for Ed. At this point, though, it's definitely a thing and doesn't quite show any signs of slowing.
"Sweet but Psycho" by Ava Max
This song is back again and to be honest, is so damn catchy. I find myself singing it all the time. It's great. It has had steady chart performance but not much spotify love. I wonder how much people actually listen to this. I dig it, though, and it's good enough to have earned this spot, perhaps on a more perennial basis.
"Bad Guy" by Billie Ellish
This was a tough call this week between the #1 and #2 slot, and they've been locked this way for a while now. There is just no other obvious choice. I saw a lot of this track this week and it seems to have a little bit more mainstream appearances than the #1 track, but the charts and general meme-ability doesn't quite back that up. Still, this could break into the #1 spot at any time and likely will before Summer is through.
"Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X ft. Chad Kroeger
Obviously when I discover the Nickelback remix it's time to get the #1 spot again. This is maybe fading, but still sound so damn fresh. Of course, its beat is actually quite malleable and derivative, but that's part of the fun! It's just a gigantic song right now and is making the strongest case for early Summer Jam King. Of course it's tough getting an early lead. Will we remember and care by September? We never do. We'll keep our ears open, but this might be more a Spring Jam. And no one cares about that.
Next week...
I almost put Katy Perry here, but she really just missed it this week. There is a new Black Eyed Peas song that doesn't include Fergie, and is also super weird, so that's a thing but not really. Stay tuned, folks for more and more excitement as the Summer Jam Continues!!
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