All the young girls have songs out this summer.

Gracie Abrams’ new album will be number 1 by Friday, and much deserved.

But the catchiest pop song by a female singer songwriter this summer isn’t from Gracie, or Taylor, or Sabrina, or Billie, or any of the other powerhouse pop stars of 2026.

It’s by the OG confessional pop singer-songwriter, Carly Simon.

Long before any of today’s stars were a gleam in anyone’s eyes, Simon broke onto the scene with the ethereal “That’s the Way I Always Heard it Should Be.” The whole nature of the song — so personal and relatable — launched Carly into the stratosphere.

She followed that one quickly with “Anticipation,” another radio hit that has also lasted for eons in the canon of pop music.

Within a year came “You’re So Vain,” the Richard Perry-produced blockbuster that featured Mick Jagger on background vocals. The fight over who the song’s subject is remains to this day. (It could easily be about a contemporary star, from Timothee Chalamet to Leonardo Di Caprio to Harry Styles.)

Now comes “Howl,” which is so catchy that two listens and you’re in. Carly sounds as contemporary as any singer out there. “Howl” should be added to every Adult Contemporary playlist ASAP. It’s a perfectly shaped piece of pop. The refrain, “Call Love a Liar,” should be on T shirts.

Next Friday, Simon releases another single, called “Peaches,” which is right in season. The samba like effect is mesmerizing.

Then on the 14th comes her first new album of original material in 18 years. “Comes in Waves,” is a knockout, and some of the songs will have fans guessing about the subjects like crazy.

Madonna’s bizarre appearance on the World Cup half time show did nothing to help her sales.

Madonna sang a weird pre-taped version of new song “Danceteria” and old song, “Music.” The latter was mixed with the Trammps’ “Disco Inferno.”

Part of her performance was filmed prior and set in the vomitorium of the MetLife Stadium.

The whole thing last a couple of minutes at most and was weirdly off kilter.

Today, no Madonna singles are in the iTunes top 100. The performance was a strike out.

On the other hand, singles from Shakira, BTS, and even Justin Bieber have risen into the top 10 on the strength of the half time show. In Bieber’s case, his song, “Everything Hallelujah,” seemed out of place among the upbeat dance numbers. Some people may be confusing it with Jeff Buckley’s memorable take on Leonard Cohen’s song, “Hallelujah.”

Madonna never used to be so artistically tone deaf. She should have demanded to be the closing number, and sung “Like a Prayer,” as planned. Something went wrong, definitely. In “Music,” she sings about the “bourgeoisie,” which was hilarious considering the lemmings who’d spent thousands of dollars to see the last World Cup game. I doubt they even heard her lipsyncing that word!

PS Strange stuff re Madonna and the actress Julia Garner, who Madonna thinks will play her in a miniseries. Garner, who’s really talented, seems to be enmeshed now with all things Madonna. She posted from the game that she was there with her sister, and being lavished by Casamigos Tequila, the company started by George Clooney. It’s not like Madonna is actually important. Maybe time for some separation so Garner can back to her career!