Top 10 Songs of the Summer
With summer coming to an end and the fall season just around the corner, many of our favorite artists are gearing up to release new singles and music videos, leaving listeners with fond memories of their songs that made a major impact on their summer trips to the beach and nights on the town. Here is a look back on 10 of the most downloaded, radio requested, hit singles of the summer.

10. Super Bass – Nicki Minaj: After exploding onto the hip-hop/rap scene last year, Nicki Minaj released a string of hit collaborations and singles before releasing her most popular single to date, “Super Bass”. Accompanied by an outrageous music video that features the rapper using various pink props and a motorcycle made entirely out of ice, the song achieved national success, giving Minaj her highest peaking single on the Billboard Hot 100, coming in at number 3. The rapper promoted the song heavily, including appearances on Good Morning America and as the opening act in pop star Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale Tour.

9. Give Me Everything – Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo: Pitbull has been a fixture on Top 40 radio charts for years, but his single with Ne-Yo gave the artist new life, mixing different genres ranging from techno and R&B with Pitbull’s signature Latin-rap style. The song was Pitbull’s first career number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed around the top all summer long. The Miami rapper has performed the song on several television shows and while on tour with Enrique Iglesias.

8. Lady Gaga – The Edge of Glory: While the self-proclaimed “Mother Monster’s” music video for the song received some mixed reviews from critics and fans, the pop singer’s electro-rock remained a strong fixture on music charts all summer. Accompanied by the late saxophonist Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band, the song’s powerful vocals and stadium-anthem nature gave the song plenty of legs to dance its way to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song received wide attention courtesy of Gaga’s own Google commercial and several different television performances.

7. Good Life – OneRepublic: Originally released in late 2010, the group’s fourth single from the album Waking Up achieved bigger success throughout the summer, as it’s carefree and positive message fit the tone and mood of summer music listeners. Frontman Ryan Tedder and his band mates promoted the song heavily on award shows and talk shows throughout the year as they watched the song climb the Billboard Hot 100 to number 8, their highest charting single since their 2008 smash “Apologize”.

6. Pumped Up Kicks – Foster The People: Another single released in late 2010, Foster The People gained wide popularity over the summer through word of mouth and an impressive debut album, Torches. Their catchy indie sensibilities was something both rock and pop music listeners could identify with, helping the single and album remain a fixture on the iTunes charts for weeks. “Pumped Up Kicks” has so far peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
5. I Wanna Go – Britney Spears: Seven studio albums into her career and the princess of pop is still turning out huge hits. Paired with a cheeky music video that pokes fun at the paparazzi and her often-exaggerated public persona, the song’s high-energy beat and message about losing all inhibitions resonated with fans big time. Spears’ “I Wanna Go” peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and surpassed her previous single, “Till The World Ends” as her biggest radio hit of her career.

4. Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera: As if having a hit summer TV show (NBC’s The Voice) wasn’t enough, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and his band took to the charts to release their fourth single off of their 2010 album, Hands All Over, with the help of Levine’s The Voice costar Christina Aguilera. The song debuted at number 8 upon its release and has since peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to strong digital download sales and radio spins. Aguilera even joined Maroon 5 for their first ever performance of the song on an episode of The Voice.

3. Otis – Jay-Z & Kanye West: No one gets music listeners more pumped than rap superstars Jay-Z and Kanye West. But when the two collaborated together for the album Watch The Throne, it seemed that the wishes of all music fans had been granted. The rappers trade versus over a sample of soul singer Otis Redding’s version of “Try A Little Tenderness” for their summer single, which has so far peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The two rap legends will embark on a joint tour to support Watch The Throne this fall.

2. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) – Katy Perry: After four previous Billboard Hot 100 number ones, it only made sense for Perry to go after her fifth number one. Accompanied by a quirky music video that features cameos ranging from Glee actor Darren Criss to internet sensation Rebecca Black to Kenny G, “Last Friday Night” soared up the charts and became a certified summer anthem, remaining a fixture on radio and digital download charts since its release. Perry performs the song with pictures displayed of fans own “Friday Nights” on her California Dreams Tour.

1. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO: The one song that had everyone shuffling and dancing all summer long definitely was LMFAO’s monster hit “Party Rock Anthem”. A fixture on radio, digital download charts, and just about any party you went to, the song was an essential addition to all summer playlists. The song became LMFAO’s first number one single in the United States and spent weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The feel good, celebratory nature of the song provided everyone something to enjoy this summer and will without a doubt be a fixture to any party, no matter what season it may be.


