Spotify releases most streamed SA summer songs

Spotify's Summer hub features some 30 playlists with music from around the world. South African music is well represented in the Summer Sounds Like playlist, which mostly comprises amapiano songs from artists such as DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, DJ Zinhle and Samthing Soweto.

“KeDezemba [December] is fast approaching and South Africans are already starting to get into the summer mood,” Spotify said. “There are no guesses needed as to which genre is dominating the dance floor at the moment. Amapiano is certainly going to feature prominently in the upcoming festive months.”

The current SA hot songs on Spotify are as follows, in no particular order:

• ‘Nana Thula’ – Kabza De Small featuring DJ Maphorisa.
• ‘Alalahi’ – Kabza De Small featuring DJ Maphorisa
• ‘Akulaleki’ – ‘Samthing Soweto featuring DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small.
• ‘Umlilo’ – DJ Zinhle.
• ‘Labantwana Ama Uber’ – Semi Tee featuring Miano and Kammu Dee.

“The singles by Kabza De Small featuring DJ Maphorisa were only recently released but are already gaining momentum," Spotify said. "Samthing Soweto and DJ Zinhle are also currently proving popular and, of course, no list would be complete without South Africa’s latest craze, 'Labantwana Ama Uber', which has taken the country by storm.

“These tracks, among many others, are also featured on Spotify’s recently released Summer Sounds Like playlist. Just in time for the party season, Summer Sounds Like is one of the many local playlists curated specifically for South African audiences and contains a mix of international and local hits that locals know and love."

Spotify has also released the most streamed songs of the 2019 summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The top four spots, Spotify says, align with what was most streamed by the South African audience between June and August, suggesting that local tastes follow global trends quite closely.

The most streamed songs of the summer globally during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months (1 June to 20 August) are as follows:

• ‘Señorita’ – Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes.
• ‘I Don't Care’ – Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber.
• ‘Bad Guy’ – Billie Eilish.
• ‘Old Town Road’ – Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X.
• ‘Callaita’ – Bad Bunny and Tainy.
• ‘Beautiful People’ – Ed Sheeran and Khalid.
• ‘Otro Trago’ – Darell and Sech.
• ‘Someone You Loved’ – Lewis Capaldi.
• ‘Goodbyes’ – Post Malone and Young Thug.
• ‘Sunflower’ – Post Malone and Swae Lee