Alex Warren’s ballad Ordinary dominates Billboard’s Song of the Summer chart, reflecting nostalgia and shifting listener habits in 2025.
Published Time: 09-06-2025, 15:45 U.S.
This summer, the traditional upbeat “song of the summer” has been replaced by a slower, introspective ballad. Alex Warren’s Ordinary has held the top spot on Billboard’s chart for 14 weeks, suggesting that listeners are favoring nostalgia, emotional resonance, and familiar tunes over energetic, new releases.
Alex Warren’s Ballad Tops Summer Charts
Every summer, music traditionally bursts with energetic hits designed for beaches, barbecues, and road trips. However, in 2025, the vibe has shifted. Alex Warren’s Ordinary, a heartfelt love ballad released in February, has dominated Billboard’s Song of the Summer chart, tracking streaming, airplay, and sales between Memorial Day and Labor Day in the U.S.
Joe Bennett, a Berklee College of Music professor and forensic musicologist, noted:
“It’s a fair bit slower than the mean average for the Hot 100 or for a historical song of the summer.”
Despite this, Ordinary has resonated deeply with listeners, holding its top position for more than three months.
Listener Trends Favor Familiar Hits
One factor behind Warren’s sustained success is the relative scarcity of breakout hits this year. Traditionally, songs of the summer are released well before the solstice to dominate playlists and radio airplay. Yet, even new releases from artists like Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter have struggled to reach the same level of attention as Ordinary.
Luminate, the company behind Billboard chart data, reported a 3.3% decline in streaming of new tracks during the first half of 2025 compared to 2024. Only three of the top ten most-streamed songs in the U.S. were released this year. Many tracks on the charts, such as Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club, have remained popular for over a year, reflecting listeners’ preference for long-lasting hits.
Jaime Marconette, vice president of music insights at Luminate, explains that nostalgia plays a key role:
“We’re seeing pop music from the late 2000s outpace the growth of the industry at large. It highlights a sense of nostalgia and potentially bigger themes of escapism.”
The Rise of “Recession Pop” and Nostalgia
Marconette refers to this trend as “recession pop,” where listeners gravitate toward songs originally released around the 2008 financial crisis. The longevity of these tracks, combined with carryover hits from 2024, has crowded the market, leaving limited space for new, upbeat songs to break through.
Paula Harper, musicologist and assistant professor at the University of Chicago, noted:
“When I’ve talked to folks about the 2025 song of the summer, it’s not uncommon for them to cite a song from 2024—and then they’re surprised at how old it actually is. Platforms like TikTok keep these tracks alive in listeners’ minds.”
What Warren’s Popularity Reveals About Listeners
Although ballads have historically become summer hits occasionally—Olivia Rodrigo’s Driver’s License is one example—they typically do not dominate the season. Ordinary challenges that norm.
“It’s not going to pep up the pool party or the barbecue,” Harper said. “Ultimately, it’s engineered for something other than song of the summer status.”
Ethan Hein, adjunct professor of music at NYU and The New School, believes the song’s success reflects wider cultural attitudes:
“This year, young listeners show less enthusiasm for fun pop bangers. It signals a sense of disinterest in the present and future, and a preference for introspection.”
Music psychologist Ray Leone adds that the song’s appeal may stem from the chaotic state of the world:
“People are looking inward. They want something personal to connect to, not just collective excitement. Ordinary provides that connection.”
The Emotional Core of Ordinary
Warren’s song, written about his wife, has struck a chord during challenging times. Bennett points out:
“Songs of love and devotion are a constant in our world. Regardless of circumstances, someone will always resonate with a timeless love song.”
Its gentle tempo, heartfelt lyrics, and relatable theme distinguish it from typical summer anthems, highlighting a shift in how audiences engage with music today.
Conclusion
The dominance of Ordinary underscores a broader transformation in listener behavior. Nostalgia, emotional resonance, and a desire for personal connection are redefining what it means to have a “song of the summer.” As streaming habits evolve and upbeat pop takes a backseat, Warren’s ballad demonstrates that even slower, introspective tracks can capture the collective mood of a season.
Source: AP News – This year’s song of the summer is a ballad, not a banger. Here’s what that says about us
