Quote from Alex bobby on August 18, 2025, 5:57 AM

From Tyler, The Creator to CMAT: Euronews Culture’s Songs of the Summer 2025

Every summer, music fans look for that one defining track – the song that blares from beach bars, fills festival fields, dominates TikTok challenges, and cements itself in our collective memory as the Song of the Summer. In 2024, we had several contenders that captured the moment: Sabrina Carpenter’s cheeky Espresso, Kendrick Lamar’s biting Not Like Us, and Charli XCX’s club-saturated Brat.

But 2025 has been different. Instead of one unifying anthem, this year has offered a patchwork of contenders without a clear winner. Many of the songs dominating the charts are carryovers from last year, with Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ Die With A Smile, Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club, and Kendrick Lamar’s Luther still pulling in streams and airplay.

So where is the ultimate 2025 soundtrack to sweaty nights, road trips, and summer romance? Euronews Culture decided to stop waiting and curated a list of the tracks that deserve recognition as possible contenders for Song of the Summer 2025. From Tyler’s surprise album drop to CMAT’s country-glam swagger, here are the sounds shaping our summer.

Tyler, The Creator – Big Poe

Few artists know how to grab attention quite like Tyler, The Creator. On July 18, he surprised fans by announcing his ninth studio album Don’t Tap The Glass, then dropped it three days later. The record marked a bold shift from the introspective Chromakopia of 2024, swapping soul-searching for sharp, dance-ready bangers that barely give you time to catch your breath.

Among its highlights is Big Poe, a track that sets the album’s tone from the first beat. Tyler opens with a set of playful “rules” for listeners — “Number one, body movement – no sitting still / Number two, only speak in glory – leave your baggage at home / Number three, don’t tap the glass” — before unleashing a sonic collage. The track weaves a sample of Roked by Shye Ben Tzur and Jonny Greenwood with nods to Busta Rhymes, layered over a booming beat and Pharrell Williams’ touch of funk.

Big Poe is kinetic, loud, and irresistible. It may not achieve the universal sing-along power of last year’s Espresso, but its groove makes it impossible to sit still. For many, it has already become the soundtrack to summer nights out — and a strong case for Song of the Summer 2025.

Joé Dwèt Filé & Burna Boy – 4 Kampé II

Sometimes, the song of the summer isn’t new but reborn. That’s the story of 4 Kampé, first released in October 2024 by French-Haitian singer Joé Dwèt Filé. Drawing from Haitian kompa, with its merengue-inspired rhythms and irresistible swing, the song became a TikTok favorite and even caught the attention of Madonna.

But the real magic came in March 2025, when Joé released 4 Kampé II, a remix featuring Nigerian superstar Burna Boy. The result is a cultural fusion that blends Afro-Caribbean kompa with Afrobeats swagger, creating a jubilant anthem about ambition and self-confidence. Performed live at Burna Boy’s April Stade de France concert, the track electrified the crowd and cemented its place as one of the year’s most infectious hits.

Its jubilant outro and addictive “da-da-da” chorus have been blasting across clubs and streaming playlists all summer. Beyond being a dance-floor magnet, the collaboration also symbolizes something larger: the growing cultural crossovers between African and Caribbean sounds in global pop. That global relevance makes 4 Kampé II a real contender.

CMAT – Take A Sexy Picture Of Me

If Tyler brought the chaos and Joé & Burna brought the groove, Irish singer-songwriter CMAT delivered sass and humour with Take A Sexy Picture Of Me. Released in May, the track quickly spread across TikTok thanks to its quirky line — “I did the butcher, I did the baker” — paired with a viral dance challenge.

But beneath the memes lies a confident, country-infused glam-pop song with undeniable staying power. With its playful lyrics and strutting rhythm, the track feels tailor-made for those summer moments when you want to walk down the street as if it’s your own personal runway.

CMAT’s live performances of the song amplify its infectious energy, turning the tune from an internet trend into a genuine mood lifter. It’s one of those rare songs that work equally well through headphones on a sunny walk or blasting from speakers at a crowded house party. If any single track has the personality and reach to define this summer, Take A Sexy Picture Of Me might just be it.

Kokoroko – Da Du Dah

London-based Afrobeat collective Kokoroko added yet another layer to this eclectic summer with Da Du Dah. Known for their rich blend of jazz, soul, and West African rhythms, the group’s latest track is a sun-drenched instrumental piece that feels like pure celebration.

Unlike the bombastic beats of Tyler or the viral hooks of CMAT, Kokoroko’s contribution is subtler, built around layered horns, hypnotic percussion, and a groove that unfolds slowly but surely. It’s less about commanding the dancefloor and more about setting a communal, feel-good vibe — the kind you’d want at a festival sunset or an outdoor gathering with friends.

While it may not dominate TikTok or top charts, Da Du Dah captures a different side of summer: relaxation, connection, and warmth. Sometimes, that’s exactly what makes a song timeless.

So, Where’s the Song of the Summer?

Unlike 2024, 2025 hasn’t given us a consensus anthem. Instead, it’s delivered a mix of strong contenders, each representing a different flavour of the season: Tyler’s adrenaline, Joé & Burna’s cultural fusion, CMAT’s viral sass, and Kokoroko’s soulful groove.

Maybe that’s the story of 2025 — a year without the song, but with many songs worth celebrating. Instead of one soundtrack uniting us all, we have a patchwork of sounds reflecting the diversity of global music today.

And perhaps that’s a good thing. After all, summer is as much about personal memories as it is about collective ones. Whether you’re sweating on the dancefloor to Tyler, swaying to Burna Boy, strutting to CMAT, or basking in Kokoroko’s warm horn lines, there’s a song for every summer mood.

Final Thoughts:

The summer of 2025 may not have crowned a single cultural anthem, but that isn’t necessarily a loss. Instead, it highlights how music has become more fragmented, personal, and richly diverse. Rather than rallying around one track, listeners now curate their own summer soundtracks, pulling from global influences, viral moments, and genre-bending creativity. This shift suggests that the idea of one definitive “Song of the Summer” might be fading, replaced by a mosaic of tracks that reflect different identities and communities. And maybe that’s the beauty of it — the music of summer is no longer about consensus, but about connection, discovery, and the freedom to let different rhythms define our memories.

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Conclusion:

While 2025 may not have given us a unanimous “Song of the Summer” like in years past, it has provided a refreshing variety of sounds that capture different moods of the season. Tyler, The Creator brought kinetic energy and bold experimentation, Joé Dwèt Filé and Burna Boy delivered cross-cultural joy, CMAT gave us playful sass wrapped in country-pop glam, and Kokoroko soothed with soulful jazz-funk. Each track reflects the evolving landscape of global music — diverse, borderless, and deeply personal in the way it resonates with listeners. Perhaps the real takeaway is that the summer no longer belongs to a single anthem; instead, it’s a playlist of experiences, allowing everyone to find their own soundtrack too long nights, bright days, and unforgettable memories.

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Meta Description:
Summer 2025 may lack one defining anthem, but Euronews Culture highlights standout tracks from Tyler, The Creator, Joé Dwèt Filé & Burna Boy, CMAT, and Kokoroko that capture the season’s spirit.