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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Rolling Stone’s July 31, 2024 feature names 16 songs its staff had on repeat that summer. It is an editorial playlist—not a ranked chart or a declaration of one objectively definitive song of the summer. The distinction is explicit: the feature separates these staff favorites from a data-driven look the publication said it had run the previous week.
What the 2024 list is—and is not
The feature’s guiding question is “What makes a song of the summer?” Its answer is a collection of staff picks with different sounds, moods, and cultural associations. Rolling Stone does not give the 16 tracks a shared scoring method or rank them against one another. Their order in the article should not be read as a ranking.
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| 1 |
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The publication describes a separate, data-driven look at the season’s biggest songs as a companion to this staff collection. That companion’s rankings and methodology are not established here, so the staff list cannot be used to identify an official chart winner or quantify which song was biggest.
The 16 staff selections
Here are the songs in the order they appear in Rolling Stone’s July 31 feature. The descriptions summarize the publication’s critical framing, not measured audience findings.
#1 Best Overall
| Artist and song | How the feature frames it |
|---|---|
| Charli XCX, “Von Dutch” | Genre-blurring pop shaped by the Brat era and its cultural memes. |
| Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us” | A track tied to the Lamar–Drake feud and its visibility that summer. |
| Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso” | Playful vocal attitude over retro synth, bass, and drums. |
| Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!” | A big-chorus road-trip song with an emotional, sexuality-centered narrative. |
| Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, “I Had Some Help” | Part of the list’s country-crossover and party-song strand. |
| Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” | Another country-crossover party selection. |
| Cash Cobain featuring Ice Spice and Bay Swag, “Fisherrr (Remix)” | Described as “sexy drill.” |
| FloyyMenor and Cris MJ, “Gata Only” | Lo-fi reggaeton that reached listeners on TikTok before chart growth. |
| GloRilla, “TGIF” | A Friday-night party scene built around summer heat. |
| Sabrina Carpenter, “Please Please Please” | A blend of retro soft rock and country-pop. |
| Chappell Roan, “Hot to Go!” | A cheer-style chorus paired with a dance. |
| The Dare, “Perfume” | Dance-punk connected to New York nightlife. |
| Lana Del Rey and Quavo, “Tough” | A mix of country-trap and Americana. |
| Kesha, “Joyride” | A return to mischievous pop. |
| MJ Lenderman, “She’s Leaving You” | An indie-rock counterpoint with a melancholy feel. |
| Billie Eilish, “Birds of a Feather” | A reflective song about romance. |
Why the picks resist a single definition
The list moves between pop, hip-hop, country, reggaeton, dance-punk, and indie rock. Some selections are pitched as party or nightlife tracks; others suit a road trip or a more reflective listen. The feature’s variety suggests that “song of the summer” can describe several kinds of seasonal attachment rather than a single sound or mood.
Its entries also use different kinds of context. The “Not Like Us” discussion connects a song to a high-profile feud and performance; “Gata Only” is framed through TikTok and subsequent chart growth; Charli XCX’s selections are situated in the Brat era. These are editorial angles, not a common measure of popularity.
Rank #2
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What the feature says about “Not Like Us”
Rolling Stone notes that “Not Like Us” debuted at the top of the charts in May and that Lamar performed it five times during his Juneteenth show. The feature does not name the chart or supply supporting data for those details. They help explain the article’s discussion of the song’s summer visibility, but they do not establish that it was the season’s top song.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Charli XCX and the Brat connection
Charli XCX’s “Von Dutch” is framed through her genre-blurring Brat-era pop and the memes surrounding it. The feature also invokes the album when discussing “360” and the “Guess” collaboration. That makes Brat the clearest album context in the article; it does not establish a particular physical edition or current retailer availability.
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