It’s not just you: plenty of people—from TikTok users to Grammy-winning artist Adele—have Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Espresso” stuck in their heads. The catchy tune, which debuted in April, is now a strong contender for the 2024 song of the summer, as Billboard tracks popular songs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Competition is fierce at the top of the charts. Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department,” Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” and Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s duet “I Had Some Help” are all vying for the top spot. However, some music experts believe Carpenter has a better shot after building significant momentum over the past year.
Carpenter, 25, has been in the industry for years, but her rise to pop stardom has been more of a “slow burn,” according to Alex Marshall, a TikTok content creator. In 2015, Carpenter released her debut album “Eyes Wide Open” and starred in Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World.” She released four albums with the Disney Music Group before her music career took off.
Carpenter’s recent performances have elevated her profile. She opened for Taylor Swift, performed at Coachella, and gained traction online with Spotify streams and TikTok videos featuring “Espresso.” Her set at Coachella went viral after she performed “Espresso” for the first time, and earlier this month, she was the musical guest on the season finale of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”
Marshall noted the song’s appeal: “Everyone is looking for a groovy, chill, laid-back fun song to enjoy.” Carpenter has effectively used TikTok and Spotify to increase the song’s popularity. Some Spotify users have even noticed “Espresso” autoplaying on the platform, helping it rack up over 34 million streams by Memorial Day weekend.
The definition of a song of the summer has evolved with the rise of streaming and social media. According to Jason Lipshutz, senior director of music at Billboard, the song of the summer doesn’t need to be a massive chart hit. Instead, it should capture the essence of summer, whether through nostalgic energy or widespread radio play.
With “Espresso,” Carpenter has tapped into the modern music landscape, using platforms like TikTok and Spotify to her advantage. The song’s breezy, groovy feel and catchy, albeit nonsensical, lyrics contribute to its appeal. As Marshall said, “It reminds you of sitting by the beach, enjoying a drink with your friends, or going out at night.”
“Espresso” could very well define summer 2024, as fans continue to embrace its infectious charm.
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