9 tunes in running for Song of Summer 2020

This summer has been unlike any other, as concerns over the coronavirus pandemic impact just about everything we love to do during the warm weather months.

Trips to the beach, backyard barbecues with friends, church services, vacations, hikes in the mountains — none of it has been the same in 2020.

Yet, we still have music, even though we probably aren’t enjoying it in the same ways that we are accustomed to during the season. And music still bonds us together even in this time of social distancing.

That’s what the Song of Summer is all about. It’s the track that unites millions, as it’s played countless times, while creating just as many memories, from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend.

Past Songs of Summer have included such tuneful timestamps as “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus (2019), “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen (2012) and “Hot in Herre” by Nelly (2002).

What will be the song that ends up defining this unprecedented season? Here are the top nominees for Song of Summer 2020.

(Note: Some of these songs may contain explicit language and sexual references.)

• “Savage (Remix),” Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyonce

The original version of this hot hip-hop number was already a viral sensation on TikTok, as millions tuned in to watch folks participate in the cool “Savage” dance challenge. Yet, the song would reach a whole new level once fellow Houston native Beyonce joined forces with Megan Thee Stallion for the chart-topping remix.

• “Rain on Me,” Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande

Two of music’s biggest stars combine forces on this disco-pop retro-’90s gem, which, in normal times, would be dominating dance floors from Miami to Ibiza all summer long. It’s no wonder that this tune debuted at No. 1 in multiple countries, given the amount of star power behind it. “Rain on Me” is Lady Gaga’s second single to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 and Grande’s fourth — which is reportedly an all-time record.

• “Stuck With U,” Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber

If Grande doesn’t take the Song of Summer title with Gaga, perhaps she will with Justin Bieber on this warmly romantic, and COVID-19 inspired, ballad. The voices of these two megastars mesh very well on what is one of the best pop-music slow jams to come around in quite some time.

• “Say So (Remix),” Doja Cat featuring Nicki Minaj

The original model, delivered as the lead single from the sophomore effort “Hot Pink,” was an amazing enough slice of disco-pop-rap. Then Nicki Minaj was added to the equation, bringing along some of the hottest hip-hop of the year, and the result was an instant classic.

• “Blinding Lights,” the Weeknd

This single from the artist’s fourth studio album, “After Hours,” came out way back in November, which would seem to knock it out of contention for the Song of Summer. But the groovy, driving electro-soul-pop song took its time getting to the top, eventually hitting No. 1 in mid-April, and has remained red hot to this date.

• “Watermelon Sugar,” Harry Styles

“Watermelon Sugar” feels like an unabashed attempt to write a summer song, one that could someday make it onto the same seasonal playlist as “Under the Boardwalk” and “Summertime Blues” (kids, ask your parents). It’s sunny, upbeat and uncomplicated, with a video shot at the beach and “dedicated to touching.”

• “Toosie Slide,” Drake

This chart-topper is another viral sensation, with millions of homemade videos — usually showing folks dancing to bits of “Toosie Slide” — being viewed billions of times on TikTok. Drake is certainly no stranger to the Song of Summer race, having been at the forefront of the conversation several times since releasing the debut album “Thank Me Later” in 2010.

• “Break My Heart,” Dua Lipa

This one hasn’t experienced the kind of commercial success as the others on this list — at least not yet. But it’s such a terrific dance-pop offering, with a fun retro tilt to the ’80s and ’90s, that it deserves to be in the running. Chalk it up as further proof that Dua Lipa appears well on her way to becoming one of music’s biggest stars.

• “Rockstar (BLM Remix),” DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch

The original version of the song came out in late April and first hit No. 1 in mid-June, about the same time that these two rising star rappers released an even more poignant remix version that was inspired by the death of George Floyd. It’s anything but the ordinary Song of Summer fare, but it’s also a number that truly resonates in 2020.