# 2015 Pop Song of the Summer (US) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 10, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515 "2015-09-10T13:25:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/1 "2015-09-10T13:25:59Z")
I’m a bit old school and still listen to regular radio while driving or in the shower. These days, I’m in a phase in which I no longer listen to music and mostly listen to sports radio. However, I have my kids for the summer and they prefer to listen to music. Anyway, it seemed like there were 3 songs that were constantly on the radio that I think could qualify as the pop song of the summer (for the US at least). There were others, but IMHO these 3 had that catchiness and summer feel. So which of these wins the title? If none of these, please feel free to tell us your choice. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/2 "2015-09-10T13:41:00Z")
I think all of the major pop music outlets have picked [Lean On by Major Lazer feat. MØ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqeW9_5kURI) (Blow a kiss, fire a gun) as the song of the summer 2015. Spotify has said that it was the [most streamed song worldwide this summer](http://mashable.com/2015/09/03/song-of-summer-2015-lean-on/#aW5DOEKkG5kJ). I have to admit it’s pretty damned catchy. And it seems like youtube has thousands (I may be exaggerating) of amateur videos imitating the dance moves in the official video or with original choreography. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/3 "2015-09-10T14:26:35Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > I think all of the major pop music outlets have picked [Lean On by Major Lazer feat. MØ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqeW9_5kURI) (Blow a kiss, fire a gun) as the song of the summer 2015. Spotify has said that it was the [most streamed song worldwide this summer](http://mashable.com/2015/09/03/song-of-summer-2015-lean-on/#aW5DOEKkG5kJ). I have to admit it’s pretty damned catchy. > > And it seems like youtube has thousands (I may be exaggerating) of amateur videos imitating the dance moves in the official video or with original choreography. Interesting in that I only remember hearing it a few times. The ones I listed were on constantly. And we listened to numerous stations. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/4 "2015-09-10T16:51:34Z")
[Billboard](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6686008/song-summer-2015-billboard-staff-picks) is saying the #1 song of the summer is “Cheerleader.” By my personal favorite is “Lean On.” ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/5 "2015-09-10T17:10:25Z")
“Lean On” has not gotten as much radio play as the others listed. I went with “Shut Up and Dance With Me”, lots of airplay for months now. “Cheerleader” makes sense though. A song has to pretty ubiquitous on radio. “Lean On” is pretty catchy and good. We can come up with a good list. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/6 "2015-09-10T21:16:44Z")
I’m neutral toward Can’t Feel My Face, while I dislike the other two. I like Lean On much better than the three choices, so I’m voting for. “You forgot…” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/7 "2015-09-12T16:19:26Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > I think all of the major pop music outlets have picked [Lean On by Major Lazer feat. MØ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqeW9_5kURI) (Blow a kiss, fire a gun) as the song of the summer 2015. Spotify has said that it was the [most streamed song worldwide this summer](http://mashable.com/2015/09/03/song-of-summer-2015-lean-on/#aW5DOEKkG5kJ). I have to admit it’s pretty damned catchy. > > And it seems like youtube has thousands (I may be exaggerating) of amateur videos imitating the dance moves in the official video or with original choreography. I do not listen to the radio and had never heard of any of these songs until I opened this thread. I watched the video for Lean On linked above and loved it because I am a sucker for India. The song, tho is IMO terrible and the singer only seems to know one dance move: arms in the air with a crotch thrust. Take her out of it, remove the vocals from the song and I could believe this was a bland Thievery Corporation tune or something. I Can’t Feel My Face has an execrable intro, but the funky part of the song was kinda fun. The bridges were boring as hell, but they were mercifully short. Cheerleader was horrible in every way. Seriously, this was so bad I couldn’t even listen to the last minute or so. Lyrically and musically horrible, IMO. Shut Up And Dance was high tempo, high energy and had a guitar. It was boring and repetitive, aye, but at least it was about getting off your ass and moving and the music was made to serve at end as well. My vote goes to Shut Up And Dance. Also, I am constantly amazed that with exception of the addition of autotune, pop music essentially has not changed since the very early 1980s. Thanks to **JJ** and **AD** for introducing me to new music! ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/8 "2015-09-12T17:22:09Z")
To me the song that defines this summer is Jason Derulo’s Want You to Want Me. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/9 "2015-09-12T17:53:05Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > To me the song that defines this summer is Jason Derulo’s Want You to Want Me. This one should have been on the list. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/10 "2015-09-12T18:14:28Z")
You forgot… Demi Lovato - Cool for the Summer ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/11 "2015-09-12T18:25:35Z")
Everything posted so far has been popular in the UK too. These have become ubiquitous the past couple of months: [Galantis - Peanut Butter Jelly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jBDnYE1WjI) [Calvin Harris & Disciples - How Deep Is Your Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgqUJOudrcM) ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/12 "2015-09-12T19:21:36Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > To me the song that defines this summer is Jason Derulo’s Want You to Want Me. This one should have been on the list. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/13 "2015-09-12T21:04:11Z")
My 15yo daughter would say Walk the Moon, Shut up and Dance. She sings that one loudest when it comes on. Overall - not a great year. No Hey Ya! or Get Lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/14 "2015-09-12T23:43:25Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > This one should have been on the list. Not bad, but it was certainly not as big a hit as the others listed charts wise. Plus those have been more exposed. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/15 "2015-09-13T00:16:15Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I watched the video for Lean On linked above and loved it because I am a sucker for India. The song, tho is IMO terrible and the singer only seems to know one dance move: arms in the air with a crotch thrust. Mileage varies. I think the choreography in the video for “Lean On” is cool as hell. > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Also, I am constantly amazed that with exception of the addition of autotune, pop music essentially has not changed since the very early 1980s. A good summer pop song has to be upbeat, danceable, and radio-friendly. You’re not going to find a lot of variation within that category, even going back to 60s. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/16 "2015-09-13T01:09:15Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > Mileage varies. I think the choreography in the video for “Lean On” is cool as hell. For everyone but the lead singer, I agree. She pretty much just does the crotch thrust thing. > [@SaharaTea](#): > > A good summer pop song has to be upbeat, danceable, and radio-friendly. You’re not going to find a lot of variation within that category, even going back to 60s. I disagree. A pop song from the '60s sounds like it was made in the 60s. Pop songs from the '70s sound different too (that’s why Guardians of the Galaxy used 70s pop songs, after all: they sound distinct from other eras). But starting about 1982 or so, most pop songs become indistinguishable, with the exception of the recent addition of autotuning. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-pop-song-of-the-summer-us/730515/17 "2015-09-13T06:45:28Z")
> [@infinitii](#): > > You forgot… > > Demi Lovato - Cool for the Summer My 13-year-old agrees with you. I voted for “Can’t Feel My Face.”