The timeline of the summer song
The contenders emerge (May–June)
The contenders: the songs that sound like July (see our Len feature) — the release timing, the radio momentum, the festival moments.
The winner emerges (July)
The winner: the song that defines (see our features) the season — the streams peaking, the singalong becoming automatic.
The legacy (August–September)
The legacy: the song that lasts (see our one-hit feature) — the return every summer, the memory of the year.
The summer song's anatomy
The anatomy: the joy (see our Parachute Club feature), the simplicity, the universality, the seasonal lock (see our summer-of-69 feature). The summer song wins (see our chart features) the season and keeps (see our features) the memory (see our atlas feature). The race repeats (see our features) yearly (see our features). The summer song endures (see our features).
Frequently asked questions
What makes a Canadian summer anthem?
Joy, simplicity, universality — the seasonal lock that returns every July.
What are Canada’s biggest summer songs?
“Summer of ’69” (the eternal), “Steal My Sunshine” (1999), “Call Me Maybe” (2012).
How is the Song of the Summer chosen?
Streams, radio momentum, and the singalong becoming automatic.