Wasted Summers
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Short description|2023 pop rock song}}
{{orphan|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Wasted Summers
| cover = Wasted Summers Juju song.jpg
| type = single
| artist = Juju <3
| released = {{Start date|2023|07|12}}
| recorded = 2023
| genre = * Pop rock
| length = 2:10
| label = Not Fit for Society
| writer = * Julian Perez
- Lailah Sandoval
| producer = Dan Darmawan
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|wd5-Y4lrhks?|"Wasted Summers"}}}}
}}
"Wasted Summers" is a song by American singer Juju <3. It was released on July 12, 2023, as a standalone single through Not Fit for Society. The song features vocals by his 10-year-old sister Lailah and was produced by Dan Darmawan. It went viral on TikTok and topped Spotify's Viral 50 US chart. A visualizer was released for the song in September 2023. The official music video premiered on January 26, 2024.
Background
Both Julian Perez and his sister Lailah Sandoval wrote the song and posted it to TikTok in May 2023. It went viral with many users using the Lailah assisted portion of the track in their videos.{{cite magazine |date=2023-08-10 |title='Wasted Summers' Goes Viral Thanks to Little Sister Sing-Along |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/doja-cats-paint-the-town-red-streaming-trending-up/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810023043/https://www.billboard.com/pro/doja-cats-paint-the-town-red-streaming-trending-up/ |archive-date=2023-08-10 |access-date=2023-10-02 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} This resulted in the duo releasing the song officially on July 12, 2023, through Not Fit for Society.{{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/43MifzVnh8W3jJN0xqU9jR|title=Wasted Summers|date=July 12, 2023|via=open.spotify.com}}{{Cite web |title=Not Fit For Society - MusicBrainz |url=https://musicbrainz.org/label/b315e518-a4ce-4a37-aeac-d962e4d28124 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231205110721/https://musicbrainz.org/label/b315e518-a4ce-4a37-aeac-d962e4d28124 |archive-date=2023-12-05 |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=musicbrainz.org}}
A visualizer was released for the song on September 11, 2023{{Citation |title=Wasted Summers - juju (Visualizer) |date=2023-09-11 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsZd_UuhrfE |access-date=2023-12-05 |language=en}} and a music video on January 26, 2024.{{Citation |title=juju - Wasted Summers (Official Music Video) |date=2024-01-26 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd5-Y4lrhks |access-date=2024-03-26 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/wd5-Y4lrhks |archive-date=2024-07-14 |language=en}}
Composition
The track has a tempo of 104 BPM. It runs 2 minutes and 10 seconds long with a C key and a major mode.{{Cite web |title=BPM and key for Wasted Summers by juju |url=https://songbpm.com/@juju-3/wasted-summers-x9j0qDhNlb |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=SongBPM |language=en}} The song was produced by Dan Darmawan and features vocals from his sister Lailah Sandoval as well.{{Cite magazine |title=10 First-Timers on Billboard's Charts This Week: Buck Meek, Juju<3, säje, Peakboy & More |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/billboard-charts-first-timers-buck-meek-saje-peakboy-1235407434/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} It is predominantly a melancholy pop-rock track with elements of bedroom pop.
Music video
Directed by Mitch DiNello, the music video was filmed in October 2023{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CyPCFCCPPFJ/?igsh=YzljYTk1ODg3Zg== |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=www.instagram.com}} and premiered on January 26, 2024. The video begins with Perez sad and alone at a train station and alone in a field. As the video continues Perez is joined by his sister Sandoval and they are seen running around and dancing in the fields.
Reception
The song reminded many of its listeners of the 2017 film The Florida Project mostly due to his sister joining him singing reminding listeners of the character Moonee, it was also compared to the likes of Alex G and Current Joys.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-28 |title=Trending Tracks: Tee Grizzley and Skilla Baby, juju |url=https://hmc.chartmetric.com/trending-tracks-tee-grizzley-skilla-baby-juju-3-the-cardigans-victoria-monet-infinity-song/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=How Music Charts |language=en}}
After its release on July 12, 2023, following its use on over 230,000 TikTok videos, it went to number 1 on Spotify's Viral 50 U.S. Chart. It debuted at No. 13 on Billboard Hot Alternative Songs, No. 25 on Hot Rock Songs, and No. 32 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs with 2.8 million U.S. streams on September 9, 2023.{{Cite magazine |last=|date=2013-01-02 |title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-songs/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite magazine |last=Cusson |first=Michael |date=2022-06-28 |title=Hot Rock Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-rock-songs/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite magazine |last=Cabral |first=R. J. |date=2020-06-09 |title=Hot Alternative Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-alternative-songs/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US|url-access=subscription}}
Track listings
- Streaming/digital download{{Cite web|date=July 12, 2023|title=Wasted Summers|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5SrN0SPOdmdCBe0dyDcpsY|access-date=October 19, 2023|website=Spotify}}
- "Wasted Summers" – 2:10
- Streaming/digital download – versions EP{{Cite web|date=October 11, 2023|title=Wasted Summers (Sped Up)|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/4P0oxvMiZmCAnbkb6iWxLx|access-date=October 19, 2023|website=Spotify}}
- "Wasted Summers" (sped up) – 1:58
- "Wasted Summers" (slowed down) – 2:35
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Wasted Summers"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Juju<3|title=Wasted Summers|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=August 9, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}