Successor to “Bauch Beine Po” wanted: The official summer hit is still taking its time.

A hot candidate for the 2025 summer hit is still a long way off this year. There's no clear favorite yet, but there are already a few possible contenders, says Hans Schmucker of the market research firm Gfk Entertainment, which compiles the Official German Charts. "The summer hit will definitely take its time. Summer is also taking a bit of a break right now."

It was a similar story in 2024: Singer Shirin David's "Bauch Beine Po" (Bum Legs Butt) wasn't officially confirmed as a summer hit until the end of August. The track ("Go to the gym, get skinny") stayed at the top of the German charts for six weeks. Who could make the shortlist this year?

According to Gfk Entertainment, this includes "Ordinary" by US singer Alex Warren, who celebrated his breakthrough with the emotionally charged pop-rock song. It has been at number 1 for seven weeks and is performing well both on radio and via streaming, according to Schmucker.

Also among the candidates: South Korean K-pop band Blackpink, who are returning from a long musical hiatus with their new song "Jump." Singers Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa are adored by millions of fans around the world. "The song is super energetic and a total earworm. And a K-pop song as a summer hit would be a bit fitting, especially since the genre is becoming increasingly popular," says the expert.

"Show Me Love" (WizTheMc x bees & honey), a mix of Afrobeat, R&B, and pop, could also be a good fit. Schmucker: "The song definitely exudes summer vibes." And: The track by German-South African rapper WizTheMc has been holding steady in the charts for some time.

Other contenders could include the pop song "Be Mine" by German singer-songwriter Kamrad or "Shake It To The Max (FLY)" by Moliy & Silent Addy. The dancehall Afrobeat number went viral thanks to a dance challenge on TikTok.

A Ballermann hit wave isn't in sight yet. "The summer hit often spills over from the holiday regions to Germany. It often has to build up and gain widespread popularity first. That's why it's usually the case that it's finally confirmed by the middle or sometimes the end of summer," says Schmucker. So it's quite possible that a completely different song will ultimately win the race.

Criteria for a summer hit include a catchy melody, easy-to-remember lyrics, and a rhythm that invites you to dance. The viral effect also plays a major role. The experts also ensure that the song reaches number 1 in the charts, if possible.

It's also traditional for the song to be performed by relatively unknown artists—or those who haven't had a major hit yet, at least in Germany. However, there are exceptions every now and then—for example, in 2024 with Shirin David, in 2021 with Ed Sheeran ("Bad Habits"), or in 2019 with Shawn Mendes ("Señorita," together with Camila Cabello).

Other famous summer hits in German pop history include “I Kissed A Girl” by Katy Perry (2008), “I Follow Rivers (Magician Remix)” by Lykke Li (2012), “Wake Me Up” by Avicii (2013), and “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee (2017).