Rio Lacey — 2024’s Song of the Summer, According to the Grammy Awards
Every year, fans try to define the summer song, and the 2025 Grammy nominations may reflect this ongoing battle. Readers of The New York Times chose many of the nominated artists’s hits as their song of the summer, including artists Charli xcx (“Apple”), Sabrina Carpenter (“Espresso”), Chappell Roan (“Good Luck, Babe!”), Billie Eilish (“BIRDS OF A FEATHER”) and Kendrick Lamar (“Not Like Us”). Ranging from catchy, lighthearted pop songs to Lamar’s iconic diss on rival rapper Drake, there is no clear winner for top song of 2024.
In comparison, there has been more speculation over the album of the year, especially when it comes to Charli xcx’s “brat,” which was released at the start of this summer. Mashable Entertainment writer Belen Edwards attributed Charli xcx’s recent popularity — and her seven nominations — to the brat summer craze.
“That’s the power of [“brat”], her internet-beloved album that spawned the brat summer phenomenon, powered Kamala Harris’ Presidential campaign, and gifted us a banger remix album months after its release,” Edwards said.
We will stay tuned for the Grammys telecast on Feb. 2, 2025, which may put the debate over 2024’s summer song, album or artist to rest.
Joshua Repp — Nominations in the Face of Previous Criticism
The Grammys have long been critiqued for the problems that stem from the Recording Academy, which determines both Grammy nominees and winners. Those frustrated with the Academy accuse it of failing to be truly characteristic of music’s cultural representation, instead representing the views of Academy voters, who skew old, white and male. Often, these critiques are directed at the fact that nonwhite artists are often not selected to be judged in major categories that they might belong in — following Beyoncé’s album “Lemonade” winning Best Urban Contemporary Album and losing to Adele for Album of the Year in 2017, Adele shared that she believed the award should have gone to Beyoncé.
But how do nominations fare this year in the face of the Academy’s tumultuous history? Beyoncé’s 11 nominations put her ahead of all other artists, perhaps on track to finally get the award she long wanted. While the Academy’s voting irregularities have come up in previous years, the nominations seem to be a safe choice: each of the top nominees seem deserving of their share of national attention this year. Nominated artists including Charli xcx, Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish toured or gave performances this year, giving them a source of relevancy.
Junior Lucy Brewer remains conflicted about predictions, but is excited for the results in February.
“I’m honestly not sure. I know Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are up there for nominations, but I am hoping for Beyonce because I think ‘Cowboy Carter’ accomplished more culturally than ‘Tortured Poets Society!’”
Olivia Miller — Semi-Stars Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo Put to the Test
This year, some music industry staples are up against shiny and new musicians — Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Charli xcx are nominated alongside (relative) newcomers Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. But what about the quasi-legends that linger in the space between veteran and breakout star? A trend in recent years, many rising stars earn several (3, 4, 5) Grammys for their debut albums, then release stellar sophomore albums only to be snubbed by the academy. For these artists, the 67th Grammys are a true test of their impact on the industry.
Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is sonically strong but lyrically lacking. Nominated for 7 Grammys, the album is up against some of Eilish’s toughest competition yet. Eilish’s last album, “Happier than Ever,” was also nominated for 7 Grammys in 2022, but Eilish lost all 7. Eilish has the opportunity to break her personal record (5 Grammys for “when we all fall asleep where do we go”) or strike out again.
Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album “GUTS” was nominated for six Grammys last season, yet Rodrigo walked away without a single trophy. The album — far from a sophomore slump — couldn’t hold its own in the eyes of the academy against more established musicians like Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift. This year, her only nomination is in the “Best Song Written for Visual Media” category, for her single “Can’t Catch Me Now.” The song was written for “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” and is arguably one of her most powerful pieces. This year’s Grammys will be a test of Rodrigo’s songwriting talent as judged by the academy.
