Alongside carnivals and vacations, one of the best sources of entertainment and fun over the summer is music. Whether it be through concerts or even just listening on an app, music can both define and enhance the summer experience.
When asked, mathematic fanatic Suzanne Sturm said her favorite song this summer was “Bathroom Light” by Mt. Joy. She thinks that Mt. Joy just has a “really cool rhythm and sound.” “Bathroom Light” was not released this summer, but instead on June 3, 2022, on the alternative/indie album Orange Blood.
According to Sturm, a song that you can “dance to” or are “able to move to,” alongside “good lyrics” and a “good sound,” is what makes for a great, summer-worthy song.
Evthokia Papathanasiou, a senior at Waterford High, shares a similar sentiment to Sturm, with her favorite summer song being “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter. She states she enjoys it because it’s so “catchy, fun, girly,” and it’s “fun to dance to.”
Nora Christensen states she believes a good song is based on the voice and lyrics. “I really liked the new Big Thief album,” says the junior. Double Infinity, released September 5th, 2025, is Big Thief’s sixth studio album, released under the genre of alternative/indie. “It was fun and I like their music,” she continues.
Junior Mohisha Prasad believes that “Bad Desire” by ENHYPEN was the best song released over the summer, as she “listened to it a lot.” She states that the beat, rhythm, and instruments “amuse” her when she listens. ENHYPEN is a South Korean pop boy band, consisting of seven members.
Senior Lilah Colonis credits Wishbone as being the best thing released this summer, specifically the songs “Caramel” and “Care” because they’re both upbeat, but also “sad and meaningful.”
When it comes to summer songs, some people believe the most important part of a song is the rhythm, whereas others believe that the lyrics and meaning take precedence.
Sturm states that the meaning behind a song can really alter the listening experience. She cites “The Subway,” a song released by Chappell Roan over the summer, as an example. She stated the meaning behind the change in lyrics, “She’s got, she’s got a way” vs “She got, she got away” completely changed her perception of the song.
Junior Marlena Childs agrees on the validity of “The Subway,” as it was her favorite song this summer because it “hit very close to home.”
On the contrary, Prasad states that while lyrics matter, she listens for enjoyment and “do[esn’t] really think about the music lyrics much.”
“The meaning could matter, but I don’t think it’s the number one factor [of a good summer song],” Papathanasiou adds.
“What could be someone’s favorite song could be torture for someone else to listen to,” Colonis explains. “But I think that if you just enjoy a song, then it’s good,” she continues.
According to Waterford High, most people seem to be in agreement that a good summer song has good lyricism and danceability.
The overall music scene this summer was dominated by genres such as pop, alternative, indie, K-pop, and more, all of which can be enjoyed and listened to by all Waterford students.
