Song of the Day 6/24: Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

H/t Jason, who posted this in the comments the other day. It was among the songs featured in this this article about the contenders for the Song of the Summer. It cites a bunch of songs that have sold well, which isn’t enough to crown a tune the Song of the Summer.

Beyond popularity, the Song of the Summer has to have a lyrical hook that everyone can remember and sing along to, the way the boys of LFO crushed on the girl who wore Abercrombie & Fitch. It has to stand up to repeat listening, because you’re going to hear it a lot when you scroll social media. And it has to have at least a moderate tempo – no ballads. “Margaritaville” is as slow as it’s allowed to go.

Of the songs in the article, only Shaboozey’s fits the bill, plus it’s a catchy example of the growing country/hip-hop hybridization trend pioneered by Lil Nas X. Like his “Old Town Road,” “A Bar Song” has hit No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart (and No. 3 on the Hot 100), while the video has already racked up 55 million YouTube views. Sorry, El Som, I’m calling it: This is the Song of the Summer.

Shaboozey is one of those 10-year overnight successes. Born Collins Obinna Chibueze in northern Virginia to Nigerian immigrant parents, he cites a lot of classic rock bands as influences, along with the hip-hop sound that dominated his earlier records. “A Bar Song” is the lead single from his third album and major-label debut, “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going,” released last month.