Let's be real: there's never a wrong time to break it down to the music world's latest jam. Now that Winter has slowly headed out the door, the weather's heating up, and so are all the dance floors. Believe it or not, we've already seen our fair share of bops in 2017. Between Lady Gaga's suprise Coachella release [1] and Lorde's long-awaited single [2], we hardly know what to do with ourselves. Actually, wait, we totally know what to do: break it down. Check out our preliminary Summer playlist here, and fear not, we'll add to it all season long.
"The Cure" by Lady Gaga
"Lady Gaga [3] hasn't really been in on the 'Summer jam' game the past couple of years, but I'm so glad she threw one into the ring this time around. If you don't think this is a bop, you're wrong." — Ryan Roschke, assistant editor
"I'm the One" by DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne
"Did I ask for DJ Khaled to make a Summer anthem with Justin Bieber [4]? No. Am I happy he did? Yes." — Maggie Pehanick, editor
"It Ain't Me" by Kygo and Selena Gomez
"A breakup song that doesn't make you sad because it's a total banger." — Shannon Vestal, director
"No More Sad Songs" by Little Mix and Machine Gun Kelly
"This song does exactly what it promises in the title — makes you feel extremely happy. And if you've seen the music video for it, you'll want to hit your local country bar and ride the mechanical bull while belting out the lyrics." — Caitlin Hacker, editor
"Hard Times" by Paramore
"Paramore has finally returned to the scene after four years, and they've seriously matured as a band. While Hayley Williams's vocals are unmistakable, the track is much more modern. You can teach an old pop-punk band new tricks! (Hear that, Fall Out Boy?)" — MP
"Green Light" by Lorde
"Lorde [5] may be waiting for the green light in this indie pop smash, but we've been waiting for Lorde music for, like, four years. Suffice it to say, she did not disappoint." — RR
"Kissing Strangers" by DNCE and Nicki Minaj
"This new track will make you forget all about 'Cake by the Ocean.' The sound is a lot more sophisticated (think Spoon), and the addition of Nicki Minaj adds the edge DNCE has been lacking." — MP
"Some Kinda Wonderful" by Betty Who
"I dare you to listen to this without at least shaking your shoulders a little bit. I dare you." — RR
"3am (Pull Up)" by Charli XCX and MØ
"Charli XCX is a queen; the woman knows her way around a beat. Ah, ah da-da-oh!" — MP
"No Promises" by Cheat Codes and Demi Lovato
"Demi Lovato [6]'s powerhouse vocals lend a fun, feminine edge to this jam, which is essentially an upbeat warning sign to anyone about to embark on a Summer fling." — Britt Stephens, editor
"Stay Together" by Noah Cyrus
"Noah Cyrus is a pretty fresh addition to the music scene. After all, this is only her second single. Even so, it's clear she's on to something, and it's hard to imagine a Summer where this song isn't a perfect fit." — RR
"Flame" by Tinashe
"Tinashe always delivers on catchy-as-hell anthems, and this one is no different. It's both slow and fast, which makes it work perfectly for a party under the stars or a chill day in the sun." — CH
"Don't Leave" by Snakehips and MØ
"This song is best played while drinking your problems — at the beach!" — BS
"Bambi" by Jidenna
"This is a Summer jam meant for long, listless, steamy days. It's the song you play in this exact scenario: it's late afternoon, you're in a pool on some Instagram-worthy floatie, sunglasses on, eyes closed, and an ice-cold drink in your hand." — SV
"Whippin'" by Kiiara and Felix Snow
"Kiiara's 'Gold' will forever be a Summer jam, and I'm equally obsessed with this cute follow-up bop. The beat is catchy and laid-back, and lyrics like 'F*ckboy, thought I told you not to hit me up' definitely deserve to be sung along to at full volume, no?" — BS
"Break Up Every Night" by The Chainsmokers
"OK, don't break up with your SO every night, but do listen to this song every day. Preferably in the car, the shower, or anywhere you can chant the lyrics." — MP
"Stay" by Zedd and Alessia Cara
"I'm a huge fan of Alessia Cara's voice, and she finds the perfect companion in Zedd with this catchy beat. The song is literally made to dance to." — MP
"Your Eyes" by The Knocks and Tayla Parx
"The Knocks offer pretty consistent bangers, so I knew I was going to love this song before I even hit play. I suggest listening to it while pregaming with the girls or relaxing on the beach with bae." — BS
"Daisy" by Goodbye June
"To be honest, I'm sort of surprised by how much I love this song — and I don't know who 'Daisy' is, but she certainly has a hold on this guy. It's the perfect tune to include on a BBQ playlist!" — BS
"Name For You" by The Shins
"I'm so glad The Shins are back, and 'Name For You' just puts you in a good-ass mood. Put this at the very top of your park-day playlist." — BS
"Still Got Time" by Zayn and PartyNextDoor
"Sometimes you just need a reminder that you've got plenty of time to settle down and it's not worth wasting your precious youth looking for an SO (at least, that's what I consider this jam to be). Zayn and PND sound so great together that you'll wish they would just put out a joint album together — but until then, crank this song up while you're getting ready to go out on the town with your BFFs." — BS
"Run Up" by Major Lazer, Nicki Minaj, and PartyNextDoor
"The beat on this song just screams Summer. If you don't want to drive around with your friends with the wind in your hair while listening to this, you're not doing it right." — CH
"Sooner or Later" by Aaron Carter
"Keep making solo beats like this, and Aaron Carter can hang with me any Summer." — MP