“Worth It”

Each year, artists compete to have one of their songs crowned the official “Song of the Summer.” This year, in my opinion, there was no decisive winner of this prestigious title. Instead, individual artists and bands climbed the charts and slowly started winning over America’s hearts and airwaves.

The first all-girl group to have a top 15 hit since the Pussycat Dolls, Fifth Harmony rose to prominence over the summer. Their single “Worth It” reached 12th on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts and captivated America with its infectious melody.

“Worth It,” released March 3, is a rhythmic crossover hit combining pop, EDM and upbeat R&B styles. The repeated phrase “worth it” appears 35 times in the song, supporting the idea that the band is worthy of their audience’s time and attention. Fifth Harmony first gained popularity on the second season of The X Factor USA.

The group consists of five singers, Ally Hernandez, Normani Kordei, Lauren Jauregui, Camila Cabello and Dinah Hansen, who all started as soloists on the reality show before forming their band. After the band placed third on The X Factor, Fifth Harmony signed with Simon Cowell’s label Syco Music and released their debut album, Reflections, in February.

—Brooke Granovsky

“Golden Boy”

Just like every summer has a story, every summer has a song. For me, that song came all the way from singer Nadav Guedj in Israel. “Golden Boy,” my head-rocking, fist-popping summer anthem, was originally sung by Guedj as a finalist for the Eurovision Contest 2015, a contest similar to “American Idol.” Although Guedj did not win, his tune was not quick to escape summer playlists all around the world. Being of Middle Eastern descent myself, I am no stranger to the region’s catchy and danceable melodies. Guedj’s “Golden Boy,” however, stands out. Written in English, with strong Middle Eastern undertones, this song has extended far beyond the Hebrew-speaking parameters of Israel to be understood by people worldwide. It’s not difficult to relate to Guedj’s lyrics. The 16-year-old singer, tired of the heartache young love brings, just wants to “ease [his] pain / dancing on the floor.” Guedj breaks into chorus, singing about how he’s “a golden boy / Come here to enjoy,” and finishes off with an invitation to show all his listeners Tel Aviv, Israel—one of Israel’s most vibrant cities. As I ease into the school year, I do not see “Golden Boy” leaving my playlist. Even though the summer is ending and I can no longer belt the song in my car, there’s never a wrong time to channel my inner golden boy and dance the woes of academia away.

—Michelle Banayan

“2 Heads”

My playlists only get updated during the summer. Riding in the car with the windows down is the only time when I genuinely feel a need to switch up my music. Lately, I have been listening to a relatively new song by Coleman Hell called “2 Heads.”

The single, which dropped April 27, is part of his forthcoming full-length debut album Srry Bout last Nite. “2 Heads,” true to the rest of Coleman Hell’s music, does not fit neatly into any specific genre. Rather, his music easily fits into a variety of genres, including hip-hop, electronic, funk, folk and house.

The strong base in this newest single creates a solid beat that was constantly stuck in my head during the summer. Hell is part of the Sideways Collective, a group that also includes La+ch, Michah and Shan Vincent de Paul. Together they work on everything from songwriting and production to design and videos, which helps to promote each other’s work. The members of Sideways Collective are clearly influenced by one another, and this collaboration seems to help their newer singles. The lyrics, “If only I could live forever, if only I could hold you longer,” definitely seem more poignant with the end of summer fast approaching.

The song, however, with its rapid dance beat and surprisingly fitting banjo, will probably stick around on my playlist for a while.

—Morgan Brill

“Worse Things Than Love”

With roots in Boston—Tufts University to be specific—Timeflies was first brought to my attention when it performed at Brandeis for Fall Fest my sophomore year. I discovered their latest single, “Worse Things Than Love,” earlier this summer while looking up one of the band’s older songs, “All the Way.” The song was released on Jun. 23 as the lead single off the band’s soon-to-be-released album Just for Fun, and is just as catchy as all of the previous songs and covers released by Timeflies. The group has a wide range of styles—from R&B to Hip-Hop to Rap—but this pop hit was my summer love.

The upbeat pop tune is fun to dance around to with your friends and easy enough listen to when you are relaxing in the sun.

It’s a song about summer love and longing—lead singer Cal Shapiro urges a girl to take a chance with him. “Take a chance with me tonight, I know you feel it, so do I,” he sings. The song reflects the struggles of many young men trying to find love. It’s “Summer Lovin”—updated for 2015.

With how easy the song is to listen to and how relatable it is to youth struggling to find romance during the summer, there’s no wonder it’s on Spotify’s Top Pop Hits Playlist.

—Grace Kwon