Pochette de « the cure » — Olivia Rodrigo
As every Friday, we sort through the flood of releases and current hits. This week, American pop rules — Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga — but the French scene is never far behind, led by Aya Nakamura, disiz and DJ HUGEL. Add BTS’s K-pop and a surprise Katy Perry resurgence, and here are the ten tracks to keep in your ears. For last week’s picks, see our previous edition.
For this selection, we cross-checked several sources rather than copying a single chart: France’s SNEP Top Singles, the Spotify Top 50 in France and worldwide, plus what is trending on social media. The result blends red-hot new releases, established hits and old classics pushed back into the spotlight by a fresh wave of buzz. Ten songs, ten worlds, to play in order or at random.
the cure — Olivia Rodrigo
The second single from “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” “the cure” is still climbing this week. Olivia Rodrigo runs her foolproof formula: jittery guitars, a hook that lodges instantly and perfectly calibrated teenage angst. Beneath the pop-rock crunch lies real melancholy — the ache of doubt and emotional isolation. The one to keep for the new season.
back to friends — sombr
A TikTok discovery, New Yorker sombr keeps building his melancholic alt-pop. “back to friends,” the hit that turned into a phenomenon, clings to the top of global playlists: a lo-fi ballad with fragile guitar, about the fallback friendship that never truly replaces love. Confirmation of one of the year’s finest breakthroughs.
Die With A Smile — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Unkillable. More than a year after release, the Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars duet is rising again, carried by word of mouth that refuses to fade. A retro power ballad built for stadiums, with a chorus everyone sings along to. Proof that a well-written hit can live a very long life.
Earrings — Malcolm Todd
The week’s breakout. After going viral online, young Californian Malcolm Todd asserts his laid-back pop-soul with “Earrings,” a bittersweet chronicle of a breakup. Nonchalant vocals, hushed groove, clever writing: everything points to an artist to watch very closely in the months ahead. Picked up by pop radio after its viral run, the song bridges bedroom-pop intimacy and mainstream appeal. A name to remember.
hate that i made you love me — Ariana Grande
The first single from the album “Petal,” “hate that i made you love me” confirms Ariana Grande’s return. Between polished pop and a horror-movie-inspired video, the singer plays the contrast card, but the voice remains untouchable. An ambitious comeback that already sets up one of the most anticipated pop albums of the year’s end.
Sexy Nana — Aya Nakamura & La Rvfleuze
Untouchable in France. Topping the sales chart, “Sexy Nana” earned the fastest diamond certification of the year. Aya Nakamura, teaming with rising star La Rvfleuze, delivers yet another unstoppable urban-pop anthem, built for the dancefloor and the late-summer nights. France’s number one star confirms her status once again.
melodrama — disiz & Theodora
A meeting of two generations. disiz joins forces with Theodora on “melodrama,” a track full of tension and tenderness that reaches far beyond rap fans. The veteran and the afro-pop revelation strike a rare balance between gravity and lightness, proving that French rap can be as melodic as it is sharp. One of the finest French collaborations of the moment, and a fixture on this side of the charts.
SWIM — BTS
Taken from the album “Arirang,” “SWIM” became the first K-pop video of 2026 to pass 100 million views. BTS confirms its global dominance with a luminous track, carried by a Tanu Muiño-directed clip. Proof that the South Korean group has lost none of its planetary firepower.
Jamaican (Bam Bam) — HUGEL & SOLTO
French DJ HUGEL turns Sister Nancy’s dancehall classic into a summer house hit. “Jamaican (Bam Bam),” with SOLTO, keeps clubs and playlists moving well past the end of summer. A ruthlessly effective track that confirms a strong year for French house on the international stage.
The One That Got Away — Katy Perry
The week’s surprise resurgence. Fifteen years after its release, this “Teenage Dream” classic is resurfacing, driven by a wave of online nostalgia and by the singer’s recent tour. Proof that a great chorus never really ages, and that the 2026 charts still love digging into their memories. Between eighties synths and a tale of lost love, the track has lost none of its evocative power. Well worth rediscovering.
That is it for this week: a faithful snapshot of what is on repeat, from French turntables to global playlists. This late-summer chart shows just how porous borders have become, with French, Korean and American acts sharing the same top spots. See you next Friday for another round-up of the tracks that matter — and, who knows, a few new surprises.
