This list of 26 songs isn't seeking one single Song of the Summer.
Yes, it starts with Beyoncé, whose new song "Break My Soul" announced her momentous return. And it includes lots of other boldface names from Lizzo to Harry Styles to Bad Bunny to Kate Bush. (That's right, Kate Bush.)
This summer songs list is conceived not as a No. 1 to No. 26 ranked best of, but as a playlist that brings together candy-colored hits and subtler experiences, with indie acts and local luminaries mixed in with the heavy hitters and a little bit of melancholy to go with the euphoria.
