As the leaves begin to change colors and the air grows cold, we’re left reminiscing about a season of sun, laughs, and memories. This year, I have taken on the daunting challenge of recounting all the songs that collectively define our summer, compiling—with the help of Voice Leisure—a list of 10 songs that I believe best commemorate the season.
- “brand new chanel$” – Slayyyter
Slayyyter has gifted us a song reminiscent of early 2010s pop, and we have never been more grateful. Although “brand new chanel$” was released in late July, it was simply too fierce not to consider it symbolic of the entire season. The song is the most recent in a series of singles released after Worst Girl in America (2026), and is a reprise of her song “BEAT UP CHANEL$.” Aside from taking the crown as the Voice’s Song of the Summer, “brand new chanel$” is a beautiful reflection of Slayyyter’s artistic growth. Her new crunchy and distorted sound pairs amazingly with her pristine vocals, leaving us curious as to what her next project might sound like.
- “Drop Dead” – Olivia Rodrigo
If being the first artist to film a music video inside of the Palace of Versailles was not enough to impress you, it may be time to get off your high horse and give Olivia Rodrigo a listen. The first of an incredible three-single run for you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love (2026), “drop dead” set the tone for what would easily become her best-written project. It turns the parasocial, obsessive desires of love into an enchanting song that everyone can appreciate.
- “Ain’t in LA” – Adéla
As someone from a mid-tier American city that almost no one outside my home state of Texas knows, I must give Adéla credit where it’s due. Someone has to hold it down in the small and unknown cities on the map! Adéla recently made history as the first person ever from her home country of Slovakia to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 for “Ain’t in LA,” and for good reason. The track is suggestive of Bangerz-era Miley Cyrus and shares a message that millions of people across the world can relate to: “I’d rather be a nobody than to be like everyone.”
- “Spend Dat” – Yung Miami
No one has heard much from former City Girls rapper Yung Miami since her public fallout with JT on X, formerly known as Twitter, two years ago. This summer, however, she has returned with a hit dedicated to boosters, those fearless shoplifters who, in the image of Mother Teresa, “borrow” items from luxury multinational corporations to resell them to the masses at lower prices on the streets. If you have not yet seen Boots Riley’s comedy I Love Boosters (2026), it will give you a good idea of what Yung Miami means when she tells you to “go in that Goyard bag.”
- “Wink Wink” – Charli xcx
No matter what direction Charli xcx moved after BRAT (2024), one thing was certain: change would undoubtedly alienate many of her new fans. While Music, Fashion, and Film (2026) isn’t the same dance party album as BRAT, it is an impressive leap into a new musical landscape for her, attempting to switch from dance pop to rock music. The album shows off her witty songwriting chops with tracks like “Wink Wink,” which emphasizes that people can change, and maybe that’s not always a bad thing.
- “Bring Your Love” – Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter
Madonna and Sabrina have “something [they] wanna talk about” on “Bring Your Love.” An industry legend and a modern pop princess team up on a dance track where they refute criticisms of their artistry and image while asking themselves: “What do I do it for?”
- “On Your Mind” – FKA Twigs and Lil Yachty
FKA Twigs extends the aesthetics of her Body High Tour with “On Your Mind,” featuring Lil Yachty. Written in light of her visa problems while trying to bring her tour to the United States, Twigs shows us how she can produce hits in spite of the obstacles in her life.
- “CRANK” – Slayyyter
What does it mean to “crank it”? Slayyyter leaves us with this unanswered question, along with what it means to “get so gay off that tequila” on “CRANK.” Perhaps it means smoking? Drinking? Public indecency? To crank it like Slayyyter, it seems like all three are necessary components. While Slayyyter already took the top spot on this list for “brand new chanel$,” this song was simply too nasty, raunchy, and hedonistic to leave off the list.
- “Jeep” – Kim Petras
The final single from Kim Petras’s latest project Detour (2026), “Jeep” is a clear standout on the album: its inclusion of acoustic instrumentals and vulnerable lyrics was a large step away from the brash and lively electronic production on the rest of the album. On the track, Petras sings to a lover about their tumultuous relationship, admitting that they are not good for one another, but staying anyway. If you can relate to this experience, dear reader, tap in to Kim Petras now!
- “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley
The biggest hit of the summer, Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has become the longest-charting number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for any non-holiday song, spending 20 weeks at the top spot. But what has made this song such a great part of the 2026 summer zeitgeist? Perhaps its popularity can be attributed to the fact that it ticks every box of the standard country ballad masterfully. The catchy guitar intro and songwriting help from Miranda Lambert no doubt helped turn this tune into the earworm of 2026.
