Summer 2024 was certainly a summer to remember. So many pop culture moments came through during this summer and they certainly are what is going to make it so memorable. 

Music

There were many contenders for the title of “song of the summer” this year and that, mainly, has to do with the pop girls: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, and Billie Eilish. A little before summer officially began, Sabrina Carpenter released “Espresso,” the lead single to her album, “Short n’ Sweet.” This song perfectly encapsulates the summer vibe and it is not hard to see why people loved it. The love for Sabrina continued with “Please, Please, Please.” These two songs absolutely took over social media and the pop music scene. Sabrina Carpenter was already a pretty popular artist, but she was just catapulted into major fame this year. Another artist who fits the description is Chappell Roan. She started out the year as an underrated pop artist that was still considered pretty niche, but then she just erupted into so much fame throughout the year, especially after her release of “Good Luck, Babe!” Even though her album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” came out in 2023, it became extremely popular in 2024. Certain songs such as “HOT TO GO!,” “Femininomenon,” and “Casual” have become staples for current pop music fans. With her unique style and powerful vocals, she has certainly made her mark. Brat summer was such a huge trend and that was due to Charli xcx’s album, “Brat,” which has received so much praise since its release. The album started so many trends on social media and many people believe it is Charli’s best. Billie Eilish also dropped her highly influential album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” It is certainly her most mature album and it really shows a shift in her music, tonally. Kesha released a new single, “JOYRIDE,” which is extremely reminsicent of her earlier work. She has finally been freed from her old record label and she is releasing the music she wants to release again. I cannot wait for Kesha’s free era! 

And, of course, I absolutely have to mention the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud. The rappers went back and forth with releasing diss tracks for a while, with the most popular being Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” The music world during this summer will certainly be memorable and nostalgic to reminisce on in future years. 

Movies

The summer did not have anything on the same level as Barbenheimer this year, but there were a lot of popular movies that became big moments in pop culture. “Challengers” really kicked off the summer movie season and it was a film that everyone was talking about. Zendaya really showed her versatility in her acting career and we got to see her portray a character so different from anyone else she’s ever played. I really hope this movie gets all of the praise it deserves for the Oscars. Especially for cinematography!! On the animation side, “Inside Out 2” was finally released and it certainly lived up to expectations. It was emotional, relatable, and heartwarming- all of the things that made the first movie so great. I did not see this movie, but “Twisters” became a cultural phenomenon during the summer. A lot of people were discovering their crush on Glen Powell. The most popular and anticipated movie that came out this summer, however, was “Deadpool and Wolverine.” Hugh Jackman made his return as Wolverine after the last time he played the character was in “Logan” in 2017. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman had so much on-screen chemistry and the fans loved seeing them together. 

Olympics

The 2024 Summer Olympics were held in Paris this year and they were highly anticipated worldwide. Of course, the first thing I have to mention is thay Simone Biles has still got it. She proves time and time again that she is absolutely a force to be reckoned with and that she is one of the greatest gymnasts to ever compete. Katie Ledecky is another one of these types of competitors, but in the swimming category. She is the most decorated female Olympian with 14 medals in total. She won her ninth gold medal at this year’s Olympics in the 800 meter freestyle event. One thing that everyone was talking about during the Olympics, was breakdancing. And it was not in a positive way. Audiences were making fun of it and it was blowing up on social media. It will not be returning for the next Olympics in 2028. This was decided before the backlash. 

Politics 

Everyone knew it would be an eventful year in American politics since it is an election year, but no one could have guessed how crazy everything would really be. During a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, chaos struck the country when Trump was shot. This sent the United States into a major frenzy and it was not a day to be celebrated. President Joe Biden officially backed out of the presidential race and Kamala Harris stepped in to run for the democratic party. She chose Tim Walz to be her running mate, while Donald Trump chose JD Vance to be his.