10 Songs: Anthems for Your Hot Girl Summer

graphic by HSR

Thot Shit by Megan Thee Stallion

You can’t have a list of anthems for Hot Girl Summer without coming back to the moniker's originator Megan Thee Stallion. The song is her most recent offering of instantly likable, bold, bodacious rap. Megan Thee Stallion revives her alter ego Tina Snow for “Thot Shit”, in anticipation of her album Tina Snow II, (the follow-up to the first part released in 2018.) And if you want to dance along, the instructions are right in the chorus: put your hands on your knees and shake your ass. 

Solar Power by Lorde

Lorde is back and breezier than ever with “Solar Power”, the debut single and title track off her upcoming album. “It's a new state of mind / Are you coming, my baby?” Lorde coos, beckoning the listener to follow her into a more carefree mind space, one of flushed cheeks and sandy dance parties. By the time the song hits in full force with a rush of backing vocals and horns, you can’t help but chase the sun with her. 

Punching Bag by Wallice

Wallice dropped her debut EP Off The Rails just in time for Summer. “Punching Bag” is one of the catchiest, and punchiest (ha) of songs the project has to offer. Wallice recounts a distinctly current brand of teen heartbreak, complete with long-saved addresses in Google Maps and abandoned Hydroflasks. But under this is a yearning for a connection that is ultimately one-sided: “Do you wanna see me or just pass the time?” Wallice asks. It hits right in the heart. 

Sour Candy by Rayne

Every playlist needs an underrated gem that’ll make everyone’s ears perk up and ask “who sings this?” With only 61,000 streams on Spotify, “Sour Candy” by Rayne is the perfect song for the job. Glistening with sweet, glassy synths and pulsing bass, it’s the maximalist pop song perfectly suited for strutting your stuff. Rayne’s sassy vocals and kiss-off lyrics add just enough zing. It’s a treat every time. 

Kiss Me More by Doja Cat ft. SZA

With the release of her third album Planet Her, Doja Cat put her own distinct stamp on the Summer of 2021. “Kiss Me More” is one of the album’s most memorable hits, an airy, lovestruck duet with SZA. And the two work great together. Doja Cat’s bright delivery provides a nice contrast to SZA’s serene crooning. With several viral moments and Billboard success under its belt, “Kiss Me More” is stacking up to be one of 2021’s defining hits. 

Everyone Knows by Loviet

Hailing from the debut EP of Toronto singer-songwriter Loviet, “Everyone Knows” bristles with the anthemic energy perfectly suited for top-down drives. Loviet beautifully relates the emotions of falling for someone with a precarious reputation, her warm yet gritty vocals catapulting the anxious thrill to pure defiance. The chorus is one for the ages, begging to be belted along with at the top of your lungs after just one listen. 

The King by Sarah Kinsley

On May 10th of this year, New York-based singer and producer Sarah Kinsley posted a clip to TikTok captioned “OK I HAVE DISCOVERED WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO TRULY BE ALIVE.” What followed was a slow build from a simple piano melody to full-blown glissando of keys and pounding drums. “The King” takes the path of youthful electropop predecessors such as “Electric Love” or “Tongue Tied” and pairs them with the vocal whimsy of Kate Bush. It really does sound like truly being alive, and it’s stunning.

Lifestyle by Dizzy Fae

“Lifestyle” is the best kind of summer staple song, balancing a carefree, blasé atmosphere with a warm and addictive pulse. Dizzy Fae’s performance is cool and confident, skating over the beat with ease. And let’s talk about that beat. A blissful combo of clinking percussion, hypnotically warped vocal samples, and steady bass. It’s the perfect versatile track for summer, just upbeat enough for dancing and just chill enough for relaxing. 

Chance by Hayley Kiyoko

If you need a song to encapsulate summer heartbreak, turn to “Chance” by Hayley Kiyoko. Kiyoko’s mournful lyrics detail that distinct pain of craving a relationship that was never meant to be: “How did it go? We'll never see / I knew she'd never take a chance on me.” But the production shimmers alongside it, dappled with bright keys and echoing reverb. It’s just enough brightness to balance out the melancholy. 

I Want Love by Jessie J

Jessie J is best known for her in-your-face hits accompanied by powerful vocal performances, like “Bang Bang” and “Price Tag”. “I Want Love” shows her pivoting towards slick, polished dance-pop with a tinge of disco flair. J’s signature belting is accompanied by a grandiose chorus that helps her usher in one of the catchiest choruses of the summer so far. It’s somewhere between Jessie Ware’s What’s Your Pleasure and Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, and Jessie J finds a way to make it distinctly her own.