The Last 25 Songs of the Summer, Ranked

The Summer of 2017 is officially over (or Winter, in case you live in the South hemisphere), and Despacito by Luis Fonsi has just been named The Song of the Summer. But how does it measures among other tracks that got that same recognition in previous years? Here we rank the 25 latest ones from worst to best:

25. Los del Rio - Macarena (1996)

The fact that everybody danced to this song (and probably we still know the moves of it) is a strong argument on why humans deserve extinction.

The song that your Summer of 1996 really needed: Underworld - Born Slippy

24. All-4-One - I swear (1994)

If you married the person who dedicated this song to you, you probably condemned yourself to the most boring sex life in the world.

The song that your Summer of 1994 really needed: Blur - Girls & Boys

23. LMFAO - Party rock anthem (2011)

Annoying to the point of causing you an instant headache once the buzzing blender noise starts. Plus, is the most standard "let's have a party" song for fratboys that you'll ever find.

The song that your Summer of 2011 really needed: Kanye West & Jay-Z - Niggas in Paris

22. UB40 - Can't help falling in love with you (1993)

A petition should be asked for untalented Brits to keep their hands out of foreign music genres. Reggae cultural appropiation at its worst.

The song that your Summer of 1993 really needed: Beck - Loser

21. Omi - Cheerleader (2015)

In spite of been released only two years ago, it feels extremely irrelevant already. There's not a single remarkable thing about it.

The song that your Summer of 2015 really needed: Drake - Hotline bling

20. Puff Daddy - I'll be missing you (1997)

Does Notorious B.I.G. tribute is really a loop sample of The Police? Lazy and very uninspired homage.

The song that your Summer of 1997 really needed: Natalie Imbruglia - Torn

19. Katy Perry - I kissed a girl (2008)

Rather than helping to the LGBT movement, this song only perpetuated the porn idea of lesbianism as a kinky way to arouse men.

The song that your Summer of 2008 really needed: Hot Chip - Ready for the floor

18. Usher - Confessions pt.II (2004)

It was more probable that Usher's girlfriend left her for trying to make things better with such a boring song rather than for the actual cheating.

The song that your Summer of 2004 really needed: Franz Ferdinand - Take me out

17. Luis Fonsi - Despacito (2017)

Doing a disservice by comprising every single Latin stereotype in a single track. But hey, at least makes people speak Spanish in Trump's era.

The song that your Summer of 2017 really needed: Lorde - Green light

16. Usher - U remind me (2001)

Not in the good side of Usher songs, but slightly better than the media of his first tracks. Like the wines, he only got most interesting with time.

The song that your Summer of 2001 really needed: Kylie Minogue - Can't get you out of my head

15. Christina Aguilera - Genie in a bottle (1999)

No one will deny her amazing vocal abilities, but all the magic metaphors are rather forced in a silly way.

The song that your Summer of 1999 really needed: Eminem - My name is

14. Matchbox Twenty - Bent (2000)

Not the most sophisticated rock track, but at least is one of the few entries that aren't teen-pop.

The song that your Summer of 2000 really needed: Daft Punk - One more time

13. Katy Perry - California gurls (2010)

We'll almost forgive her spelling because for her standards it's an achievement to make something that is tolerable to listen and almost fun.

The song that your Summer of 2010 really needed: Robyn - Dancing on my own

12. Mariah Carey - We belong together (2005)

It doesn't scream "Summer time" and it's also not ground-breaking in any way, but at least we're treated to an amazing vocal work.

The song that your Summer of 2005 really needed: The Killers - Mr. Brightside

11. Black Eyed Peas - I gotta feeling (2009)

There was a time (pre-Fergie) when the Peas were a well respected band. Nowadays, saying that we kinda like this song is very embarrassing.

The song that your Summer of 2009 really needed: Phoenix - 1901

10. Iggy Azalea - Fancy (2014)

Even if nobody buys her "white rapper" persona, when she commits to pop, she can do very interesting things.

The song that your Summer of 2014 really needed: Beyoncé - Drunk in love

9. Nelly Furtado - Promiscuous (2006)

Her transformation from hippy girl to sassy diva raised a few brows, but she certainly knew what she was aiming for.

The song that your Summer of 2006 really needed: Justin Timberlake - My love

8. Nelly - Hot in herre (2002)

It might have a few defects in its manufacture and formula, but it's so fun and energetic that no one can resist dancing to it.

The song that your Summer of 2002 really needed: The Rapture - House of jealous lovers

7. Drake - One dance (2016)

An intimate and smooth afrobeat that invites for a close dance with a special (or not) somebody. Multicultural mix and samples done right.

The song that your Summer of 2016 really needed: Rihanna - Work

6. Robin Thicke - Blurred lines (2013)

It's good to the point that even with the deducted points from the atrocious sexist lyrics and the copyright lawsuits, it still made it to number 6.

The song that your Summer of 2013 really needed: Disclosure - Latch

5. Brandy & Monica - The boy is mine (1998)

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney did a song together called "The girls is mine"; this one is a sort-of-response, and was much better than the male legends' one. Enough said.

The song that your Summer of 1998 really needed: Aaliyah - Are you that somebody?

4. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call me maybe (2012)

In 2012 it got so overplayed that it became an instant hated one, but time let people get the real value behind this pop gem and now it's almost a cult track

The song that your Summer of 2012 really needed: Grimes - Oblivion

3. TLC - Waterfalls (1995)

With its broken beat and unusual R&B structure, it was a true refreshment in the commercial music scene.

The song that your Summer of 1995 really needed: Pulp - Disco 2000

2. Rihanna - Umbrella (2007)

It was Rihanna's real breakthrough hit that gained her both the public's applause and the critics' respect. R&B on steroids.

The song that your Summer of 2007 really needed: M.I.A. - Paper planes

1. Beyoncé - Crazy in love (2003)

One of the most perfect pop songs ever made, it was the first glimpse we had of the biggest pop diva (nowadays) but it was grandiloquent, fun and thrilling. If you don't dance as soon as it starts playing is because you're dead inside.

The song that your Summer of 2003 really needed: Crazy in Love is the song that every summer of our life needed, but let's say that a runner-up for that year could have been Kelis - Milkshake.