The 8 Biggest Songs of This Summer Face Off
Summary
NYT Popcast hosts John Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli crown the 2026 Song of the Summer via a bracket tournament. They debate eight contenders, including Tame Impala’s “Dracula,” Drake’s “Janice,” and Phoenix Flexin’s AI-debated “Rubbers.” After analyzing cultural impact and musicality, Ella Langley’s “Choose in Texas” defeats Zara Larsson’s “Midnight Sun” in the final to win the title.
Topics discussed
Intro and the concept of the Song of the Summer bracket
Round 1: Ella Langley's 'Dracula' vs Tame Impala
Round 1: Ella Langley's 'Choose in Texas' vs Tame Impala
Round 1: Ice Spice's 'Boston' vs Stella's 'Shebang'
Round 1: Young Miami's 'Spend That' vs Shoreline Mafia's 'Rubbers'
Round 1: Don Toliver's 'E85' vs Zara Larsson's 'Midnight Sun'
Semi-Finals: 'Choose in Texas' vs 'Shebang'
Semi-Finals: 'Rubbers' vs 'Midnight Sun'
Finals: 'Choose in Texas' wins the bracket
Outro: Personal picks and pickle debate
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