Spotify Has Named The Biggest Tracks Of 2018 (So Far)
There are a few...odd choices in here.
While we’re embracing the winter season’s discontent with repeat listens of Drake’s ‘I’m Upset’, over in the US the race to predict the song of the summer is heating up. And now, Spotify‘s pre-emptive ‘Songs of the Summer’ playlist is here to add fuel to the fire.
The streaming service isn’t hedging bets on any one song just yet. Instead, they’ve offered 16 contenders, studying their playlist numbers and seeing what songs are rising to the surface. But, at the end of the day, the team say they “go by their gut” — after all, you just know it when you hear it.
To be fair, if you were going to trust any guts, it’d be the collective intestines of Spotify. Last year, they had their sights set early on Yankee Daddy’s ‘Despacito’ remix, which boosted the hit to undisputed song of the summer thanks to a little feature from Justin Bieber.
In the fray are some no-brainers. There’s Drake’s super smooth ‘Nice For What’, Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa‘s ‘One Kiss’ (which sorry Grease, but is the true sound of sultry summer nights), and ‘Sangria Wine’, a reggae-leaning tune from Pharrell Williams and Camila Cabello.
Then there’s Cardi B‘s ‘I Like It’, an infectious jam which follows the formula of ‘Despacito’. Both combine a big name with Latin American sounds — in Cardi’s case, a horn sample from boogaloo classic ‘I Like It Like That’, and verses from J Balvin and Puerto Rican trap star Bad Bunny. Plus, integrally, a feel good-vibe: can you tell it’s our pick?
There are a couple of misfires too. While Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’ has the music video of the year, we can’t imagine a song about police brutality will be the soundtrack to beach bonfires and lazy afternoons.
We’re also doubting the chance of country star Thomas Rhett crossing over with ‘Life Changes’, or heavy metal group Bad Wolves breaking into the #1 slot with a cover of The Cranberries ‘Zombie’.
According to Spotify, other contenders include the latest singles from Post Malone, Anne-Marie, Clean Bandit and Ariana Grande. Khalid is the only artist who features twice with his own song, ‘OTW’, then his feature on Shawn Mendes’ ‘Youth’.
Of course, another track could drop and blow these away. But for now, start the bickering early by listening to Spotify’s playlist below.