Charli XCX's 'SS26' Leads a Wave of Melancholic Summer Songs in 2026

Charli XCX has released a new song, 'SS26,' a quiet guitar ballad that marks a stark departure from her 2024 album 'Brat.' The cover trades Brat's iconic acid green for stark white with simple black text. The song's title stands for 'spring/summer 2026,' and its lyrics include apocalyptic lines like 'The world is gonna end, no hope for any of it.' DJ Louie XIV, host of the podcast Pop Pantheon, notes that many summer songs have a wistful quality, capturing fleeting memories. Charli's new track reflects global turmoil, from Trump to climate change, and the irony that entertainment cannot save us. Other contenders for 2026's song of the summer include Ella Langley's country ballad 'Choosin' Texas,' Ariana Grande's unhappy ballad 'hate that I made you love me' from her upcoming album 'Petal,' Kim Petras's 'Jeep' inspired by her evacuation during the 2025 Palisades fires, and Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drop Dead.' Drake surprise-released three albums in May, including 'Iceman,' and scored a #1 with 'Janice STFU.' Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast, who released a sad summer song in 2010, notes the pressure to appear happy in summer. Taylor Swift's 'August' from 'Folklore' (released July 2020) is cited as a bittersweet summer anthem. Neil Young's 'Harvest Moon' (1992) is mentioned as a song that bridges seasons.