As the summer draws to a close, we asked our writers which song summed it all up.

‘Sandpaper’ by Zach Bryan feat. Bruce Springsteen 

‘Winter was a drag, but spring was a friend. I’ll love you ’til the summer comes back again.’ Whilst not a chart topper, this electrically nostalgic ‘I’m on Fire’ inspired track did mark Springsteen’s debut on the Hot Country Chart – an achievement in itself for someone who’s seen a few more than ‘27 seasons’. The TikTok Billboard Top 50 might not be where I turn for my music recommendations, but seeing an American icon paired with a country-adjacent songwriter suggests that it hasn’t just been a Brat summer, it’s been a Bryan summer too. – Daisy Innes

‘Girls’ by The Dare 

The Dare’s ‘Girls’ is a fun, punchy, upbeat tune evocative of the New York club scene of the 90s and early 00s, whose rise in popularity over a year after its initial release comes in direct correlation with the revival of indie sleaze in fashion, media, and all-around aesthetics. Because of this, The Dare’s sound is both the perfect complement to and contrast for Charli XCX’s Brat summer. – Micah Petyt

‘Good Luck, Babe!’ by Chappell Roan 

Rising pop star Chappell Roan masterfully combines vulnerable lyrics with vibrant 80s beats in her recent hit, that urges a female lover to embrace her queerness. Roan tells her kissing “a hundred boys in bars” won’t “stop the feeling,” creating an empowering message for listeners. Repeatedly trilling “good luck, babe,” Roan sarcastically encourages her lover’s endeavour, making the song both brutally humorous and devastating. This skilful duality, along with its crippling relatability and jovial rhythms, defines Roan’s single as a song of the summer as well as an embodiment of pop perfection. – Polly Dye.

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