How do you make the song of summer?

“I’m obviously a huge music fan. I can’t remember having that many conversations with friends about, ‘What’s the song of the summer?’ I think that concept is largely promoted by the media,” Hamilton said.

Social media is also awash with references to the song of the summer, where the term has become something of a marketing tool. Aspiring musicians film themselves asking the camera, “Did I just write the song of the summer?” and then show the new song they’re trying to promote while awkwardly dancing to the beat.

Usually, however, these songs don’t make it through. Finding the song of the summer is a collective effort that takes place in online fan communities or among one’s own circle of friends. Companies often use summer songs that come up spontaneously in their advertising.

“I think people want to give the impression that this is something that happens naturally, even though there are of course people who encourage it and try to make it possible,” Hamilton said.

Summer soundtracks are upbeat and easy to sing or dance to, regardless of genre, and they often come out a few months before summer begins.

“For something to become a summer song, there usually has to be some kind of runway because it also has to have staying power,” Hamilton said. “Summer song means it’s something that people listen to all summer long.”

Hamilton’s own prediction for song of the summer certainly ticks all of those boxes: Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” a diss track that takes aim at Canadian rapper Drake.

If you want to reminisce about summers past, Hamilton has put together a playlist of some of his favorite summer songs especially for UVA Today readers.