Top 25 Best Summer Songs of 2018

Author:
ThatWallflowerJen
Updated date:
Nov 12, 2021

When life tries to break me down, only music can make me feel all right. Let me share music's greatest gift through my top playlists!

Summer is the season of fun. Every summer, we are blessed with a great number of hit songs. Here are 25 of the best and most recognizable songs from the summer of 2018.

25 Best Summer Songs of 2018

"In My Feelings" by Drake
"Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B
"I Like It" by Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin
"Nice for What" by Drake
"Lucid Dreams" by Juice WRLD
"Psycho" by Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign
"Boo'd Up" by Ella Mai
"One Kiss" by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa
"Better Now" by Post Malone
"No Tears Left to Cry" by Ariana Grande
"Solo" by Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato
"God's Plan" by Drake
"SAD!" by XXXTENTACION
"Youngblood" by 5 Seconds of Summer
"Taste" by Tyga
"The Middle" by Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey
"Yes Indeed" by Lil Baby and Drake
"Meant to Be" by Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line
"Delicate" by Taylor Swift
"Perfect" by Ed Sheeran
"F.R.I.E.N.D.S." by Marshmello and Anne-Marie
"Love Lies" by Khalid and Normani
"Mine" by Bazzi
"Back to You" by Selena Gomez
"No Brainer" by DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, and Quavo

1. "In My Feelings" by Drake

Artist: Drake

Released: 2018

Album: Scorpion

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

This was the official summer song of 2018. This bop, which had a worldwide viral dance challenge, made #1 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018." It was also #1 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2018," #4 on YouTube's "Top 10 Songs of the Summer U.S. List," and #9 on YouTube's "Top 10 Songs of the Summer Global List."

The track held the #1 spot on the "Billboard Hot 100" for ten weeks. It peaked at #1 in 13 countries around the world. You can also check out the fun music video, which garnered 117 million views within its first month of being on YouTube.

Kiki, do you love me? Are you riding?
Say you'll never ever leave from beside me
'Cause I want ya, and I need ya
And I'm down for you always

— Drake ("In My Feelings")

2. "Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B

Artists: Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B

Released: 2017

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3. "I Like It" by Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin

Artists: Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin

Released: 2018

Album: Invasion of Privacy

Genres: Latin trap, Hip-Hop/Rap

Cardi B was one of the highest trending artists from 2018, and she is well-known for her rap songs and her amusing personality. "I Like It" is one of her many hits from 2018. It peaked at #1 in three countries, as well as hitting #1 on the "Billboard Hot 100." It was officially #2 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018" and #3 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2018." It was also #1 on YouTube's "Top 10 Songs of the Summer U.S. 2018" and #5 on YouTube's "Top 10 Songs of the Summer Global 2018."

This song was nominated for a handful of awards in 2018 and won the MTV Video Music Award for "Song of Summer 2018." Its colorful music video had 531 million views in its first three months on YouTube and has since soared past 1 billion views.

Diamond district in the Jag' (I said I like it like that)
Certified, you know I'm gang, gang, gang, gang (I said I like it like)
Drop the top and blow the brains (I said I like it like that)
Oh he's so handsome, what's his name? (I said I like it)

— Cardi B, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin ("I Like It")

4. "Nice for What" by Drake

Artist: Drake

Released: 2018

Album: Scorpion

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

This is Drake's second song on this list. Why? Because he's Drake. His songs have slayed charts all over the world. Not surprisingly, his track peaked at #1 in five countries. It peaked at #1 on Billboard's "Hot 100" and hit #4 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer." After only five months on YouTube, the music video for "Nice for What" had 252 million views; it later passed 350 million views.

Cry for me, cry for me,
you said you'd die for me
Give to me, give to me,
why won't you live for me?

— Drake ("Nice for What")

5. "Lucid Dreams" by Juice WRLD

Artist: Juice WRLD

Released: 2018

Album: Goodbye & Good Riddance

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

The late Juice WRLD was only 20 when he made it big in 2018, but he was already killing the game with his first few singles. His track "Lucid Dreams" was officially #4 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2018," #5 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018," and #2 on YouTube's "Top 10 Songs of the Summer U.S. 2018."

It also peaked at #3 on Billboard's "Hot 100" and spent 48 weeks on the charts. After just six months on YouTube, the song's music video had over 126 million views, later exceeding 160 million views. Juice WRLD sadly passed away in late 2019.

I have these lucid dreams
where I can't move a thing
Thinking of you in my bed
You were my everything
Thoughts of a wedding ring
Now I'm just better off dead

— Juice WRLD ("Lucid Dreams")

6. "Psycho" by Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign

Artists: Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign

Released: 2018

Album: Beerbongs & Bentleys

Genres: Contemporary R&B, Hip-Hop/Rap

Song Stats

#6 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
#10 on YouTube's "Songs of the Summer U.S. 2018"
Peaked at #1 on Billboard's "Hot 100"
Peaked at #1 in six countries
367 million YouTube views in five months

Damn, my AP goin' psycho,
lil' mama bad like Michael
Can't really trust nobody
with all this jewelry on you
My roof look like a no-show,
got diamonds by the boatload
Come with the Tony Romo
for clowns and all the bozos

— Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign ("Psycho")

7. "Boo'd Up" by Ella Mai

Artist: Ella Mai

Released: 2017

Album: Ready

Genre: R&B/Soul

Song Stats

#7 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
#5 on YouTube's "Songs of the Summer U.S. 2018"
Peaked at #5 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
220 million YouTube views in four months

Feelings, so deep in my feelings
No, this ain't really like me
Can't control my anxiety
Feeling, like I'm touching the ceiling
When I'm with you I can't breathe
Boy, you do something to me

— Ella Mai ("Boo'd Up")

8. "One Kiss" by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa

Artists: Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris

Released: 2018

Album: Dua Lipa: Complete Edition

Genres: Deep house, Eurodance, Dance-pop, Funky house, Dance/Electronic

Song Stats

#7 on Spotify's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #1 in 25 countries
247 million YouTube views in four months

One kiss is all it takes
Fallin' in love with me
Possibilities
I look like all you need

— Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa ("One Kiss")

9. "Better Now" by Post Malone

Artist: Post Malone

Released: 2018

Album: Beerbongs & Bentleys

Genre: Contemporary R&B

Song Stats

#6 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2018"
#10 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #1 in five countries
Peaked at #4 on the "Billboard Hot 100"

You probably think that
you are better now, better now
You only say that 'cause
I'm not around, not around
You know I never meant
to let you down, let you down
Woulda gave you anything,
woulda gave you everything

— Post Malone ("Better Now")

10. "No Tears Left to Cry" by Ariana Grande

Artist: Ariana Grande

Released: 2018

Album: Sweetener

Genre: ‎Dance-pop‎, Disco

Song Stats

#8 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #1 in 12 countries
Peaked at #3 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
544 million YouTube views in four months

Right now, I'm in a state of mind
I wanna be in like all the time
Ain't got no tears left to cry
So I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up
I'm lovin', I'm livin', I'm pickin' it up
I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up
I'm lovin', I'm livin', I'm pickin' it up

— Ariana Grande ("no tears left to cry")

11. "Solo" by Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato

Artists: Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato

Released: 2018

Album: What Is Love?

Genre: Dance/Electronic

Song Stats

#8 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2018"
Peaked at #1 in 17 countries
Peaked at #58 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
258 million YouTube views in three months

I wanna f-woop, woop woop,
but I'm broken hearted
Cr-cr-cry but I like to party
T-t-touch but I got nobody
Here on my own
I wanna f-woop, woop woop,
but I'm broken hearted
Cr-cr-cry since the day we parted
T-t-touch but I got nobody
So I do it solo

— Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato ("Solo")

12. "God's Plan" by Drake

Artist: Drake

Released: 2018

Album: Scorpion

Genres: Pop music, Trap music, Pop-rap

Song Stats

#9 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #1 in 14 countries
Peaked at #1 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
813 million YouTube views in six months

God's plan, God's plan
I hold back, sometimes I won't, yuh
I feel good, sometimes I don't, ay, don't
I finessed down Weston Road, ay, 'nessed
Might go down a G.O.D., yeah, wait
I go hard on Southside G, yuh, Way
I make sure that north-side eat

— Drake ("God's Plan")

13. "SAD!" by XXXTENTACION

Artist: XXXTentacion

Released: 2018

Album: ?

Genres: Emo rap, Cloud rap, Alternative R&B

Song Stats

#5 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2018"
#6 on YouTube's "Songs of the Summer U.S. 2018"
#14 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #1 in five countries
Peaked at #1 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
459 million YouTube views in six months

Who am I? Someone that's afraid to let go, uh
You decide, if you're ever gonna let me know, yeah
Suicide, if you ever try to let go, uh
I'm sad and low, yeah, I'm sad I know, yeah

— XXXTENTACION ("SAD!")

14. "Youngblood" by 5 Seconds of Summer

Artist: 5 Seconds of Summer

Released: 2018

Album: Youngblood

Genres: Pop rock, Pop

Song Stats:

#10 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2018"
Peaked at #1 in two countries
Peaked at #13 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
82 million YouTube views in four months

Youngblood
Say you want me
Say you want me
Out of your life
And I'm just a dead man walking tonight
But you need it, yeah you need it
All of the time
Yeah, ooh ooh ooh

— 5 Seconds of Summer ("Youngblood")

15. "Taste" by Tyga

Artist: Tyga ft. Offset

Released: 2018

Album: Legendary

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

Song Stats

#9 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2018"
#7 on YouTube's "Songs of the Summer U.S. 2018"
#15 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #1 in two countries
Peaked at #8 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
274 million YouTube views in four months

Taste, taste, she can get a taste
Taste, taste, she can get a taste
Taste, taste, fuck what a nigga say
It's all the same, like Mary-Kate
Taste, taste, she can get a taste
Taste, taste, let you get a taste
Taste, taste, do you love the taste?
Yeah that's cool but he ain't like me

— Tyga ("Taste")

16. "The Middle" by Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey

Artists: Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey

Released: 2018

Album: N/A

Genres: Pop, Dance-pop

Song Stats

#5 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #5 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
Peaked at #1 in five countries

Oh baby, why don't you just meet me in the middle?
I'm losing my mind just a little
So why don't you just meet me in the middle?
In the middle

— Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey ("The Middle")

17. "Yes Indeed" by Lil Baby and Drake

Artists: Lil Baby and Drake

Released: 2018

Album: Harder Than Ever

Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Trap

Song Stats

#6 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
#10 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer U.S. 2018"
Peaked at #6 on the "Billboard Hot 100"

The dash, it's digi', the schedule busy
My head in a hoodie, my shorty a goodie
My cousins are crazy, my cousins like Boogie
Life is amazin', it is what it should be

— Lil Baby and Drake ("Yes Indeed")

18. "Meant to Be" by Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line

Artists: Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line

Released: 2017

Album: All Your Fault: Pt. 2

Genre: Country pop

Song Stats

#9 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #2 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
Peaked at #1 on Billboard's U.S. "Hot Country Songs" chart
Peaked at #1 in two countries

So, won't you ride with me, ride with me?
See where this thing goes
If it's meant to be, it'll be, it'll be
Baby, if it's meant to be

— Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line ("Meant to Be")

19. "Delicate" by Taylor Swift

Artist: Taylor Swift

Released: 2017

Album: Reputation

Genre: Electropop

Song Stats

Peaked at #12 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
Peaked at #1 on Billboard's U.S. "Adult Contemporary," "Adult Top 40," and "Mainstream Top 40" charts

Sometimes I wonder; when you sleep
Are you ever dreaming of me?
Sometimes when I look into your eyes
I pretend you're mine, all the damn time
'Cause I like you

— Taylor Swift ("Delicate")

20. "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran

Artist: Ed Sheeran

Released: 2017

Album: ÷ (Divide)

Genre: Soft rock

Song Stats

#17 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #1 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
Peaked at #1 in at least 28 countries

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight

— Ed Sheeran ("Perfect")

21. "F.R.I.E.N.D.S." by Marshmello and Anne-Marie

Artists: Marshmello and Anne-Marie

Released: 2018

Album: Speak Your Mind

Genres: EDM, Pop

Song Stats

#13 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #11 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
Peaked at #1 in 12 countries

Haven't I made it obvious?
Haven't I made it clear?
Want me to spell it out for you?
F-R-I-E-N-D-S

— Marshmello and Anne-Marie ("F.R.I.E.N.D.S.")

22. "Love Lies" by Khalid and Normani

Artists: Khalid and Normani

Released: 2018

Album: Love, Simon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Genre: R&B

Song Stats

Peaked at #9 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
Peaked at #1 on Billboard's U.S. "Mainstream Top 40" chart
Peaked in the top 10 in five other countries

So baby, tell me where your love lies
Waste the day and spend the night
Underneath the sunrise
Show me where your love lies

— Khalid and Normani ("Love Lies")

23. "Mine" by Bazzi

Artist: Bazzi

Released: 2018

Album: Cosmic

Genres: Alternative R&B, Pop, Electronica

Song Stats

#20 on Billboard's "Songs of the Summer 2018"
Peaked at #11 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
Peaked in the top five in six countries

Hands on your body, I don't wanna waste no time (Time, time, time)
Feels like forever even if forever's tonight
Just lay with me, waste this night away with me
You're mine, I can't look away, I just gotta say

— Bazzi ("Mine")

24. "Back to You" by Selena Gomez

Artist: Selena Gomez

Released: 2018

Album: 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 (Music from the Original TV Series)

Genres: Dance-pop, Electropop, EDM

Song Stats

#15 on Spotify's "Songs of Summer 2018"
Peaked at #18 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
Peaked in the top five in 11 countries

I wanna hold you when I'm not supposed to
When I'm lying close to someone else
You're stuck in my head and I can't get you out of it
If I could do it all again
I know I'd go back to you
I know I'd go back to you
I know I'd go back to you

— Selena Gomez ("Back to You")

25. "No Brainer" by DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, and Quavo

Artists: DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, and Quavo

Released: 2018

Album: Father of Asahd

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

Song Stats

Peaked at #5 on the "Billboard Hot 100"
Peaked at #1 on Billboard's U.S. "Rhythmic" chart
Peaked in the top 10 in seven countries

You stick out of the crowd, baby, it's a no-brainer
It ain't that hard to choose
Him or me, be for real, baby, it's a no-brainer
You got your mind unloose
Go hard and watch the sun rise
One night'll change your whole life
Off top, drop-top, baby it's a no-brainer
Put 'em up if you with me

— DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, and Quavo ("No Brainer")