2026: The 2nd Quarter - The Singles
Updated: Aug 10
INTRO:
I had seen a pattern that the first quarter of the year in the world of pop music is slow these days. However, this seems to have extended well into the 2nd quarter this year. The chart is still largely made up of residuals from 2025, old hits with significant anniversaries, classics bouncing back for one reason or another (often use in film or TV), and even old stuff bouncing back seemingly inexplicably. I can only really comment on this as an ‘active member of the community’ (if you will) since 2024. This is only year 3. But its definitely the slowest year yet.
THE SINGLES:
Taylor Swift “Opalite” (#1)
I actually was convinced this was not an actual single when I wrote about the first quarter of 2026 so didn’t include it. It was. I really like this one. I doesn’t sound like much at first but then you find yourself humming it to yourself as you walk along thinking ‘what’s that one again?’ – thinking it was from about 20-30 years ago. It uses a lot of very well-used unoriginal and predictable compositional techniques to achieve this. But that is actually a kind of genius in itself.
Katseye “Pinky Up”
It turns out that I’m quite the fan of these girls and their fun, boisterous and edgy K-Pop. Everything I’ve heard from them so far is winning stuff.
Tyla & Zara Larsson “She Did It Again”
Its OK.
Olivia Rodrigo “Drop Dead” (#1)
I wasn't overly impressed with this one at first but........ man it really grows on you. And its grown on me to the point that its a contender for my favourite of the year so far.
Alex Warren “Fine Place To Die”
I like him and he’s becoming a “go-to” when I’m in a specific mood but there’s an element of “one-trick pony”-ism creeping in.
Charlie XCX “SS26”
I don’t like to use the word ‘nice’ but this is very straightforward and nice. Its a little underwhelming compared to anything on “Brat” (2024) or “Wuthering Heights” (2026) but still good. She’s supposedly having a go at rock. I don’t know that its a massively leap in style from her however. We’ll see.
Olivia Rodrigo “The Cure”
An excellent track – although I feel like she has taken the acclaim she had for “vampire” (2023) and tried to turn the structure of that track into a formula. Clever? Or tiresome? Time will tell. Brilliant track, however.
Lola Young “From Down Here”
At this point its safe to say that I am a fan of Young. This is no “Messy” or “D£aler” but its still very good. I like the uae of a large downward interval leap in the melody for every statement of the words ‘from down here’.
Eartheater “Paradise Rains”
Definitely a contender for my favourite of the year so far which means that Eartheater could hold my single of the year 2 years in a row. I love the delightful almost child-like vocal against the backdrop of a darker tone. It details returning to a place from the past where there are great memories, but clearly also something darker hidden away trying to surface. A thudding/grinding sound effect crescendos over the music threatening to drown it out before it is suddenly cut off. The awful memory remains repressed.
RIP Magic “Screwdark”
There’s not been loads from this act yet but I’m really liking them so far. Judging by this they’ve listening to a lot of Beck........ but that’s OK.
Ariana Grande “hate that i made you love me” (#1)
Its the best I’ve heard from her post-2020 (approx) but I’d still say ‘its alright’ at best.
Taylor Swift “I Knew It, I Knew You” (#1)
Its alright.
Alex Warren “PASSENGER”
I really like it but stand by my comment above.
Charlie XCX “Rock Music”
We’ll wait for the album to weigh up the claim that she’s moved to from ‘dance’ to ‘rock music’. This particular track is rock music in the way that Avril Lavigne or Olivia Rodgrigo are rock music...... so it depends what your view on that is, I guess.
Martin Garrix & Ed Sheeran “Repeat It”
M'eh
Olivia Rodrigo “stupid song”
Another good one from her.
Prospa, Cloonee & Sybil “Free Your Mind”
M'eh
Sienna Spiro “Material Lover”
And another good one from Spiro although I’m slightly less bothered by this one than many of the others.
Shakira & Bruna Boy “Dai Dai”
The Official FIFA World Cup 2026 song. I’ve never really understood why we need that. That said, its good enough.
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