Skip To Content
  • win badge

35 Best Pop Songs You May Have Missed This Summer

All the best music you missed this summer, imo.

1. "Younger" by Seinabo Sey

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: A Swedish pop soul singer person.

What it sounds like: It starts out slow and picks up from there. There's also an organ.

Why you should listen to it: Seinabo Sey has a truly incredible voice. You will not be disappointed.

2. "Strange Enough" by VÉRITÉ

Who is it: A 24-year-old from Brooklyn.

What it sounds like: ~ Synth pop ~

Why you should listen to it: The "I I I wanna fall where everything's the same same same" chorus is SO GOOD. Seriously one of the most underrated songs this summer.

3. "Come Over" by Clean Bandit feat. Stylo G

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: A British electro group. Clean Bandit made that song "Rather Be."

What it sounds like: A bop with steal drums.

Why you should listen to it: The "you bring me sun sun sun shine" actually makes me happy every time.

4. "Expertease" by Jennifer Lopez

View this video on YouTube

Who is it: IDK some lady.

What it sounds like: This song was written by Sia and J.Lo actually sings it just like her, which is kind of weird, but it totally works.

Why you should listen to it: Seriously one of the most underrated J.Lo songs that sounds nothing like her. I've listened this song like 400 time and have yet to get sick of it.

5. "Ghost" by Ella Henderson

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: She came in sixth place on a season of The X Factor in the U.K.

What it sounds like: Another fist-pumping "get over you" anthem about going to the river.

Why you should listen to it: Her voice.

6. "Some Like It Hot" by Neon Hitch feat. Kinetics

View this video on YouTube

Who is it: An actual IRL gypsy pop star who can't quite seem to go mainstream yet. See: "Fuck U Betta." Her cover of Kreayshawn's "Gucci Gucci" is one of my favorite covers ever.

What it sounds like: Her voice kind of sounds like a baby prostitute but in a good way.

Why you should listen to it: Neon Hitch should happen! She has another new song out called "Yard Sale" that is pretty good too.

7. "Toy Guns" by Tokyo Police Club

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: They're a Canadian ~ indie ~ rock band.

What it sounds like: Something you really would have liked in 2004.

Why you should listen to it: It's basically 2004 pop-punk (or whatever) perfection.

8. "One More Minute" by Capital Cities

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: They sing that song "Safe & Sound."

What it sounds like: Better than "Safe & Sound."

Why you should listen to it: Because it's better than "Safe & Sound."

9. "Stay" by tyDi feat. Dia Frampton

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: tyDi is an Australian DJ (with a bad name) and Dia Frampton came in second place on the first season of The Voice.

What it sounds like: It's one of those ~ DJ songs with a random vocalist songs ~ (think: Tiesto and Avicii.) It's a little like "Hey Brother" minus the weird country bluegrass thing.

Why you should listen to it: This song will put you in a good mood.

10. "Liberate" by Eric Prydz

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: The guy who did "Call On Me."

What it sounds like: It's the repetition of these lyrics for the entire song:

"Don't break now/

The world's locked out/

Just close your eyes/

And we can push them all away."

Why you should listen to it: It's a perfect "I'm on a roll getting shit done at work" song.

11. "All About You" by Hilary Duff

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: Hilary Duff.

What it sounds like: A Taylor Swift song.

Why you should listen to it: "Chasing The Sun" was totally meh, but this is actually good. If Taylor Swift had released this, it would be a huge hit by now.

12. "Peaches" by In The Valley Below

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who are they: A duo from Echo Park, L.A.

What it sounds like: Chill as fuck and deeply metaphorical (lol).

Why you should listen to it: Because this is the best song called "Peaches" since that one by the Presidents Of The United States of America.

13. "Bo$$" by Fifth Harmony

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: 5H. They were on The X Factor, duh.

What it sounds like: There are horns and Michelle Obama.

Why you should listen to it: The "C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T" spell out is the best and the rest of the lyrics are insane(ly out there).

14. "Cheap Sunglasses" by RAC feat. Matthew Korma

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: RAC stands for Remix Artist Collective. It's basically a group of DJs who mix together songs (I think.)

What it sounds like: The guy who sings on this song, Matthew Korma, was also the vocalist in Tiesto's "Wasted," so I guess I'd compare it to that.

Why you should listen to it: Because this is one of those songs they play when you're ~out shopping at a store~ and you're like I want to download this.

15. "As Long As I Got You" by Lily Allen

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: Lily Allen.

What it sounds like: Classic Lily Allen.

Why you should listen to it: Because if you were upset with Lily's latest album this song will remind you of the other two.

16. "You Don't Know What To Do" by Mariah Carey feat. Wale

w.soundcloud.com

Who is it: The elusive chanteuse.

What it sounds like: It's a fun throwback-y disco-sounding song.

Why you should listen to it: It's the most obvious hit (besides "Money") on her latest album and it deserves to be a hit (but it won't be). Get past Wale's intro and you'll be set.

17. "Everything She Wants" by Saint Raymound

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: It's actually just one guy named Callum Burrows from Nottingham.

What it sounds like: Kind of like The 1975.

Why you should listen to it: The guitar in the chorus is gr8.

18. "Ten Feet Tall" by Afrojack feat. Wrabel

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: Afrojack is Dutch, which I just found out now. Wrabel is the vocalist.

What it sounds like: Like those other EDM collabs that have come out this summer with more of a slower burn.

Why you should listen to it: This is a great pump up song.

19. "Salute" by Little Mix

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: A British girl group.

What it sounds like: The girl power song you've been waiting for since the Spice Girls (but not quite as good obv.)

Why you should listen to it: Little Mix is good! They're trying so hard to happen in the states, but they haven't broken through yet. Give them a chance. This video is cute too.

20. "All Of The People" by Panama Wedding

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: An indie pop band from New York.

What it sounds like: Bouncy (lol).

Why you should listen to it: Another song that will just put you in a good mood.

21. "Scarecrow" by Alex & Sierra

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: They're an actual real-life couple from that TV show The X Factor.

What it sounds like: This is like fun ~pop rock~. Like there isn't much out there that sounds like this.

Why you should listen to it: Because honestly it's just really cute.

22. "Lemonade" by Danity Kane

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: The iconic Danity Kane.

What it sounds like: It samples "Grindin'," which is one of the most underrated songs of the '00s.

Why you should listen to it: It's so unfortunate this song wasn't a big hit. It was everything we needed this summer.

23. "Come Alive" by Paris Hilton

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: ... lol.

What it sounds like: It's a Paris Hilton song.

Why you should listen to it: This is way better than the first single "Good Time" and "Living the dream, having fun, love is my addiction" is an iconic perfectly Paris Hilton line.

24. "Incredible" by Céline Dion and Ne-Yo

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: The inventor of the Titanic and Ne-Yo.

What it sounds like: This is a great duet!

Why you should listen to it: The music video is so bizarrely Céline. There's a giraffe.

25. "Sexotheque" by La Roux

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: Remember "Bulletproof"?

What it sounds like: It's like "doo doo doo doo" lol.

Why you should listen to it: The chorus is. so. good. Listen to this song immediately. Her new album is probably the best this summer too.

26. "Suitcase" by Mary J. Blige

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: Goes without saying.

What it sounds like: Also anthemic.

Why you should listen to it: Somehow this song snuck through the cracks this summer, and it's actually really good. The "zipping up zipping up" part is super catchy.

27. "I Adore U" by Adore Delano

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: A drag queen from Drag Race.

What it sounds like: A power ballad with some spoken word.

Why you should listen to it: This is the first song by one of the queens from Drag Race that I've heard that really takes itself seriously. It's kind of beautiful tbh.

28. "Change" by Mapei

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: Another Swedish singer.

What it sounds like: She kind of reminds me of Solange but with a better voice.

Why you should listen to it: It's way more fun than "Don't Wait" (which is also a really good song by Mapei you have to listen to.)

29. "My Love" by Route 94

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: A British music producer.

What it sounds like: Very '90s.

Why you should listen to it: If you love '90s dance music you will love this song.

30. "I Wanna Feel" by Secondcity

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: A music producer person who was born in the U.S. but now lives in the UK.

What it sounds like: It's a dance song that samples Toni Braxton's iconic "You're Making Me High."

Why you should listen to it: Toni Braxton's mid-'90s discography is flawless and it's nice that it's resurfacing in this song.

31. "Sunrise" by Slaptop

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: Some guy from California, I think.

What it sounds like: It's an electro dance song with sax.

Why you should listen to it: It will chill you out.

32. "Ugly Heart" by G.R.L.

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: I literally have no idea who these women are but one of them looks like Amber Rose.

What it sounds like: It's a total ~ fuck boys ~ anthem.

Why you should listen to it: This song is perfect for a walking down the street or long corridor moment.

33. "The Struggle" by Grizfolk

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: A group made up of Swedes and Americans.

What it sounds like: Electro rock-ish.

Why you should listen to it: The "ooooooo" and "say what you feel" chorus is a nice listen. There's also a bear in the music video.

34. "Mother & Father" by Broods

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: A brother & sister duo from New Zealand.

What it sounds like: This song kind of sounds like a more electro Arctic Monkeys.

Why you should listen to it: Broods is great. Listen to their EP.

35. "Super Love" by Dami Im

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

Who is it: She won a season on Australia's version of The X Factor.

What it sounds like: In a word, "soaring" (lol).

Why you should listen to it: This is one of those songs you blast in your car and just badly scream-sing the lyrics.

Listen to all of the songs here on this Spotify playlist!

Looking to discover great new artists — and find out more about the bands you already love? Then sign up for the BuzzFeed Music newsletter!