Top 20 Most Played Songs

1. “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)” – Taylor Swift

• The Phenomenon: Taylor Swift opens her The Tortured Poets Department era with a record-shattering debut. This melancholic, synth-pop duet with Post Malone isn’t just a song; it’s an event. Its lyrical density, discussing claustrophobia and fleeting romance, has spawned countless theories, while the stark, cinematic music video has broken viewership records. It sits atop the chart through a combination of furious fan engagement, critical analysis, and sheer streaming power, proving Swift’s album release strategy remains unparalleled.

2. “Like That” – Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar

• The Shockwave: The explosive centerpiece of the hip-hop juggernaut album WE DON’T TRUST YOU, this track’s placement is fueled by Kendrick Lamar’s now-legendary verse. A direct, blistering diss aimed at Drake and J. Cole, it ignited the hip-hop world, turning the song into a must-listen news event. Beyond the drama, Metro Boomin’s haunting, minimalist production and Future’s menacing hook make it irresistibly replayable, dominating playlists and social media clips.

3. “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter

• The Smash Hit: Carpenter’s sleeper hit has brewed into a global anthem. Its ingenious, coffee-themed metaphor for addictive charm is wrapped in a perfect, disco-tinged pop package. The song’s rise has been organic and steady, climbing on the back of TikTok dance challenges, its undeniable catchiness, and Carpenter’s charismatic performances on her tour and TV appearances. It’s the pure, unadulterated pop song of the moment.

4. “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” – Taylor Swift

• The Anthem: Another immediate standout from The Tortured Poets Department, this track showcases Swift’s genius for contrasting lyrical content with musical style. Over a pulsating, 80s-inspired synth-pop beat, she sings about performing through profound personal sadness. The dissonance between the upbeat production and the weary lyrics has resonated massively with listeners, making it a relatable anthem for anyone who’s ever had to “fake it till they make it.”

5. “Too Sweet” – Hozier

• The Dark Horse Resurgence: In a stunning display of music’s new lifecycle, Hozier’s 2023 album cut from Unreal Unearth has exploded months later. The song’s gritty, blues-rock riff and Hozier’s growled vocals became the soundtrack to a viral “menacing stride” trend on TikTok, particularly among figures in the film and MMA worlds. It’s a prime example of how a platform can re-contextualize a song, introducing it to a massive new audience who have propelled it back up the charts.

6. “Beautiful Things” – Benson Boone

• The Ballad Breakthrough: Boone’s powerful piano-driven ballad continues its remarkable staying power. His raw, emotional vocal performance about clinging to love in fear of loss hits a universal nerve. The song’s trajectory—from a viral snippet to a radio mainstay and now a streaming giant—showcases the enduring power of a well-sung, emotionally direct song in a pop landscape often dominated by production.

7. “Down Bad” – Taylor Swift

• The Fan Favorite: From The Tortured Poets Department, “Down Bad” hits with a different energy. Its more alternative, electronic production and lyrics about being “crashed down” and alienated after a relationship have made it an instant fan favorite for its specific, gut-punch emotionality. Its high debut signifies the album’s dominance, as fans explore and elevate its deeper cuts alongside the singles.

8. “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Beyoncé

• The Genre Revolution: Beyoncé’s foray into country music continues to captivate the world. While it initially debuted at #1, its sustained presence in the Top 10 is a testament to its cultural impact. The song’s banjo-driven melody, line-dance rhythm, and Beyoncé’s flawless vocal have sparked conversations about genre, history, and inclusion, ensuring it remains a talked-about and played staple.

9. “Lose Control” – Teddy Swims

• The Soulful Staple: Teddy Swims’ velvet-voiced ode to infatuation is a lesson in slow-burn success. Its blend of soul, R&B, and pop has given it incredible crossover appeal, finding homes on adult contemporary, pop, and R&B radio formats simultaneously. The song’s emotional authenticity and Swims’ undeniable vocal talent have created a timeless feel, making it a consistent play across demographics.

10. “Carnival” – Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign (feat. Rich the Kid & Playboi Carti)

• The Arena Banger: The most bombastic track from VULTURES 1, “Carnival” dominates through sheer sonic force. Its aggressive, industrial beat and anthemic “I’m on the stage right now” hook make it tailor-made for sports highlights, gym playlists, and viral edits. Despite—or perhaps because of—its controversies, the track’s energy is undeniable, securing its place as a heavy-rotation hit.

11. “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” – Ariana Grande

• The Synth-Pop Heartbreaker: From Grande’s triumphant eternal sunshine, this track embodies 80s-inspired heartbreak pop. Its poignant lyrics about the painful politeness of a post-breakup interaction, combined with a soaring Robyn-esque chorus, have struck a deep chord. Its high replay value comes from both its emotional catharsis and its impeccably crafted, shimmering production.

12. “Lunch” – Dua Lipa

• The Funky Teaser: Dropped as the first taste of her upcoming era, “Lunch” is a masterclass in confident, playful pop. Its funky bassline, infectious groove, and Lipa’s suggestive, witty lyrics (“I could eat you for lunch”) signal a shift towards a more organic, 70s-inspired sound. The excitement for her new chapter has made this an instant add to summer-ready playlists everywhere.

13. “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” – Taylor Swift

• The Deep-Cut Storyteller: Another Tortured Poets entry, this track showcases Swift’s narrative lyricism. The metaphor of being a broken toy is classic Swiftian storytelling, set against a moody, atmospheric production. Its popularity highlights how Swift’s dedicated fanbase treats an album release as a collective archaeological dig, elevating nuanced tracks that might be overlooked on other artists’ records.

14. “Stick Season” – Noah Kahan

• The Folk-Pop Standard: Kahan’s breakthrough hit has become a modern folk standard. Its specific, rustic New England imagery and anthemic, scream-along chorus about seasonal depression have created a massive, enduring connection. Its journey from a viral moment to a constant on pop and alternative radio underscores the mainstream’s renewed appetite for authentic, lyric-driven songwriting.

15. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey

• The Country-Crossover Curveball: Shaboozey’s clever rework of J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy” into a honky-tonk country anthem is the summer’s surprise smash. Its relatable theme of drinking away problems, combined with fiddle, banjo, and a instantly recognizable hook, has made it a party staple. It represents the continued blurring of lines between country, hip-hop, and pop in the current scene.

16. “Peaches” – Jack Black (from The Super Mario Bros. Movie)

• The Family-Friendly Juggernaut: A true testament to longevity and cross-generational appeal. Jack Black’s power ballad as Bowser is a perfect storm of memeability, genuine musical quality, and attachment to a globally beloved franchise. It remains a constant in family car rides and streaming playlists, proving that a great, funny song from a major film can have chart legs measured in years, not weeks.

17. “Flowers” – Miley Cyrus

• The Enduring Empowerment Anthem: Over a year after its release, “Flowers” persists. Its message of self-love and independence, coupled with its undeniable disco-pop groove, has cemented it as a modern classic. It’s a radio workhorse and a go-to streaming choice, showing that when a song captures a universal sentiment with a perfect melody, its shelf life is virtually unlimited.

18. “Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

• The Power Duet: This late-summer release from two of pop’s most formidable vocalists has shown remarkable staying power. Its 80s power-ballad aesthetic, complete with soaring vocals and a synth-driven crescendo, offers a dose of grand, theatrical romance that stands out in the current landscape. Its play count is sustained by both artists’ massive fanbases and its appeal to listeners craving a more traditional, vocal-centric spectacle.

19. “Greedy” – Tate McRae

• The Resurgent Sleeper: Initially from McRae’s 2023 album, “Greedy” found its moment months later. Its slinky, confident bassline and McRae’s sharp, performative choreography in its video sparked a major TikTok trend. The song is a case study in how a track can lie in wait, only to explode when the cultural moment and the right viral hook align, proving that a hit’s timeline is no longer linear.

20. “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar

• The Culture-Defining Diss: The most recent and perhaps most devastating entry in the hip-hop feud, Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” landed like a seismic event. Over a West Coast, DJ Mustard-inspired beat, Lamar’s accusations are delivered with a mocking, danceable energy that has made the song inescapable. Its rapid ascent into the Top 20 based on streams and cultural buzz alone—without being on a major album or traditional radio campaign—demonstrates the raw power of a moment in hip-hop.

Decoding the Trends: What This Week’s Chart Tells Us

1. The Album Event is Alive and Well: Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a monolithic cultural event. Its ability to place four songs in the Top 20, including three in the Top 10, shows that a dedicated fanbase, combined with strategic mystery and lyrical depth, can still dominate the conversation in an era of single-driven releases.

2. Hip-Hop’s War of Words Drives Engagement: The Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake feud has been the most significant music story of the year, and the charts reflect it. Both “Like That” and “Not Like Us” are directly fueled by the lyrical warfare, proving that hip-hop’s competitive core, when activated at the highest level, translates into massive streaming numbers and global attention.

3. The Long Tail of Virality: This week’s chart is notable for songs at various stages of their viral lifecycles. “Too Sweet” and “Greedy” are enjoying second-wind resurgences months after release, while “Espresso” is peaking now from a slower build. This shows that a song’s journey to becoming “most played” is no longer a straight shot but can involve multiple peaks fueled by social media trends.

4. Genre Fluidity is the New Normal: The chart is a genre-blurred paradise. Country (Beyoncé, Shaboozey), folk-pop (Noah Kahan), soul (Teddy Swims), synth-pop (Ariana Grande, early Taylor Swift), and hardcore hip-hop (Kendrick, Future) all coexist. Listeners’ playlists are increasingly eclectic, and hits are defined more by feeling and memeability than by rigid radio format.

5. The Power of the Chorus and the “Moment”: Whether it’s the sing-along release of “Stick Season,” the danceable shock of “Not Like Us,” or the witty hook of “Espresso,” each song in the Top 20 owns a definitive, shareable moment. In the age of clips and snippets, that 15-second section is often the key to unlocking millions of plays.

Conclusion: The Ever-Pulsing Playlist

This week’s Top 20 is more than a ranking; it’s a vibrant, noisy, and emotional cross-section of our collective consciousness. It holds space for heartbreak and bravado, for nostalgia and novelty, for intimate confessions and stadium-sized declarations. It reminds us that music’s power lies in its diversity—its ability to soundtrack our workouts, our heartaches, our parties, and our quiet moments all at once.

As you scroll through this list, you’re not just seeing song titles and artists; you’re reading a living document of what moved us, what made us dance, what made us think, and what made us press “repeat” in a single, fleeting week. The pulse will shift again next week, bringing new stories to the fore, but for now, this is the sound of the world listening.