The idea of just one “song of the summer” feels quaint — a relic from when MTV and radio reigned supreme. It feels increasingly impossible that there will be one song to bring the masses together, even if there are songs that feel well and truly inescapable (“Espresso,” I’m looking at you).
The problem is, there's too much music right now to pick just one song. Nearly every major-label pop artist released an album in the first half of the year; the Kendrick Lamar-Drake jabs were easily the most culturally impactful rap beef since uh, Pusha T and Drake; Taylor Swift and Beyoncé’s reigns are still ongoing. All while the artists making country and folk-y pop are easily outselling everyone else.
So, screw it. Song of the summer is dead. Long live songs of the summer.
Since we’re in the thick of San Francisco Pride, I asked DJs playing Pride events this weekend — officially affiliated and otherwise — for their go-to party starters right now. And we’ve put them all into a Spotify playlist, just for you. Happy Pride!
Name: Tomu DJ
Catch them at: JUST US: Keep the FIGHT, Keep the LIGHT, PRIDE 2024 with UNiiQU3 at Monarch on June 28
Song pick: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
“The way I see it not like us is the song of the summer for sure and me being gay doesn’t change that 🤣”
Name: Ani Klang
Catch them at: Eden: Pride Womxn’s Party at DNA Lounge on June 29
Song pick: “Lunch” by Billie Eilish
“I’d say after the four Pride parties I've already played this month, one song that pretty much always gets a great crowd reaction is Billie Eilish's 'Lunch.' Everyone in the queer community was so happy to see her come out, and 'Lunch' is the perfect embodiment of summertime queer love and celebration. It's an automatic dancefloor igniter — the lyrics are just the right amount of raunchy but the melody and beat are accessible enough for anyone to groove to. My favorite stanza is "She's takin' pictures in the mirror, Oh my God, her skin's so clear / Tell her, "Bring that over here" You need a seat? I'll volunteer" It's the perfect balance of sexual and sweet, promiscuous and playful.”
Name: Dj Harmonyy
Song pick: “After Hours” by Kehlani
“For me, I would just say, my ultimate choice will be right now — after hours. Gotta be. There’s so many versions, I got so many mashups of them right now, and it fits every type of hype that you’re on at the moment.
There’s a Destiny’s Child one. That one goes crazy, I like that one. I played that one a couple of times this weekend, and shit just dropped. She’s one of the bigger representations of the community and I think that’s pretty cool.”
Name: Zaheer Suboh a.k.a. DJ Subeaux
Catch them at: VAMP X Pride at Public Works on June 29
Song pick: “Alter Ego” by Doechii
“The lyrics, the beat, and all of the remixes have been phenomenal. I’ve been traveling most of this month across the U.S. for Pride gigs and it’s been my number 1 song to get pumped up before a show.”
Name: Saint Hills
Catch them at: VAMP X Pride at Public Works on June 29
Song pick: “J Christ” by Lil Nas X
“I think Lil Nas X is really brave for talking about the church’s hypocrisy, I myself as an LGBTQ person get hundreds of comments on social media saying “You need Jesus” etc. (little do they know I was raised Catholic). I listen to this song everyday at the gym and it is really empowering — it’s giving proud no matter what ignorance gets projected onto us, we are strong 💪🏼🏳️🌈”
Listen to the full Spotify playlist below.
