npr.org
Ordinary" Tops Stagnant 2025 Songs of the Summer Chart
Alex Warren's "Ordinary" is Billboard's 2025 Song of the Summer, despite a lack of typical summer hit qualities; its nine-week reign at No. 1 is attributed to streaming algorithms and radio programming favoring already established songs, leading to an unusually static chart with songs like Morgan Wallen's "What I Want" and Kendrick Lamar's "Luther" also prominently featured.
- What is the most significant characteristic of Billboard's 2025 Songs of the Summer chart, and what factors contribute to it?
- Alex Warren's "Ordinary" tops Billboard's Songs of the Summer chart, holding the No. 1 spot for nine of the past ten weeks. However, despite its chart dominance, its lack of a typical 'summer hit' feel contrasts with past winners.
- How do streaming algorithms and radio programming influence the selection of songs for the Songs of the Summer chart and their longevity?
- The current Songs of the Summer chart is unusual due to the prolonged chart presence of several songs, some lasting over 50 weeks. This is partly attributed to streaming algorithms and radio programming, which favor already popular tracks, hindering the emergence of new summer hits.
- What are the potential long-term impacts of the current trends on the future of summer hit songs, and what changes might occur to address the situation?
- The absence of many top pop, hip-hop, and R&B artists from the 2025 summer releases, combined with the chart's weighting system that favors long-charting songs, has created a less dynamic summer music landscape than in previous years. Later summeearly fall releases by significant artists further contribute to this trend.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the lack of a 'classic' song of the summer negatively, focusing on the perceived shortcomings of the current top contenders. The repeated use of terms like "grim," "stale," and "uncharacteristically sleepy" sets a pessimistic tone and predisposes the reader to share this negative view. The emphasis on the long chart lives of several songs contributes to this negative framing.
Language Bias
The article uses loaded language to describe the current state of summer songs, such as calling the chart "grim" and the songs "stale." These terms carry negative connotations and aren't neutral descriptions. Alternatives could include 'unremarkable', 'lacking in energy', or 'unusually long-charting'. The use of words such as 'loll' to describe the charts staying at the top for an extensive amount of time has a negative connotation. A more neutral alternative would be to state they 'remained' at the top of the chart.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the Billboard Songs of the Summer chart and its limitations, potentially overlooking other metrics or perspectives on what constitutes a 'song of the summer'. The absence of discussion regarding social media trends, streaming data outside of Billboard, and critical reception from music publications could limit the comprehensiveness of the analysis. The KPop Demon Hunters' recent surge is mentioned but not deeply explored, indicating a potential bias by omission.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a false dichotomy by framing the debate as solely between Alex Warren's "Ordinary" and other contenders. It implies that a 'true' song of the summer must be an upbeat, fun, and widely appealing track, neglecting the possibility that a more introspective or nuanced song could also capture the zeitgeist. The article ignores potential alternatives outside its prescribed vision of a song of the summer.
Gender Bias
The article's gender representation appears balanced in terms of artists mentioned. However, there's a potential for implicit bias in the description of certain songs. While 'What I Want (feat. Tate McRae)' is described using terms that emphasize McRae's vocal contribution, this analysis does not reflect a similar approach toward other artist collaborations. This selective use of descriptive language could subtly influence readers' perceptions.