This week, The FADER went deep on our Songs of the Summer, from global megahits to underground bangers. We broke down our final list of contenders into a March Madness-style bracket, with four regionals, each representative of a different class of summer hit. Then, after going through a list of honorable mentions (tracks that almost made the cut), our staff battled their picks against each other and came out with four regional champions.
Listen to Songs of the “Summer, Day 5: Honorable Mentions & The Overall Winner” wherever you get your podcasts or in the embed below.
The regional winners were as follows:
The FADER’s Songs of Summer is presented by Splice. Discover expertly created and curated samples in any style imaginable with a catalog so deep, it’s dangerous.
Day 1, Main Stage: Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”
Still from “Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us” via YouTube.
Read Jordan Darville’s case for “Not Like Us” as the Song of the Summer here, and stream “Songs of the Summer, Day 1: Main Stage” wherever you get your podcasts or in the embed below.
Day 2, Slacker: MJ Lenderman, “She’s Leaving You”
Still From “MJ Lenderman - She’s Leaving You” via YouTube,
Read Cady Siregar’s case for “She’s Leaving You” as the Song of the Summer here, and stream “Songs of the Summer, Day 2: Slacker” wherever you get your podcasts or in the embed below.
Day 3, Touch Grass: POLO PERKS <3 <3 <3, AyooLii, and FearDorian’s “Rainbow”
POLO PERKS <3 <3 <3, AyooLii, and FearDorian. Photo by Peter Gonzalez.
Read Raphael Helfand’s case for “Rainbow” as the Song of the Summer here, and stream “Songs of the Summer, Day 3: Touch Grass” wherever you get your podcasts, or in the embed below.
Day 4, Brat: RADA’s “payme”
Still from “rada - payme” via Youtube.
Read Vivian Medithi’s case for “payme” as the Song of the Summer here, and stream “Songs of the Summer, Day 4: Brat” wherever you get your podcasts, or in the embed below.
Listen to “Songs of the Summer, Day 5: Honorable Mentions & The Overall Winner” to find out which song took home the trophy.