The 25 best songs of 2025

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As a lifelong music fan, I have to say 2025 felt like a real battle against the rise of AI-generated music. It felt like everything was being simplified and mass-produced. But thankfully, amazing songs still emerged – songs genuinely written, played, and enjoyed by real people. That gave me hope! Here are my picks for the 25 best tracks of the year.

Bad Bunny’s song “Baile Inolvidable” is a love letter to his Puerto Rican heritage. He’s created a modern take on classic salsa, featuring a blend of traditional instruments like congas and trumpets with synthesizers and piano. The six-minute track celebrates the island’s musical roots and is helping to revitalize the salsa genre, making it popular with a new audience. As Bad Bunny says, everything he does is connected to Puerto Rico, and this song is no exception. — Cerys Davies

Karol G’s album “Tropicoqueta” beautifully explores the rich history of Latin music that has shaped her career. The song “Ivonny Bonita” blends classic bachata with modern sounds, featuring bass production by Pharrell Williams. – August Brown

3. Chappell Roan, “The Subway”
The vocal performance of the year. — Mikael Wood

Awards

Following a frightening experience, the Colombian artist created ‘Tropicoqueta,’ a tribute to her heritage that also helped her connect with a wider audience around the world.

Justin Bieber’s distinctive, high-pitched voice remains a defining characteristic of his music, even when he’s singing about something as simple as his favorite SUV, as he does in the song “Yukon.” This track, released when he was 31, showcases this enduring quality of his sound. — C.D.

Doja Cat’s “Jealous Type” sounds like a perfect ’80s pop song, so good that it feels like it should have been a hit back then. Some listeners even feel it was ahead of its time! — M.W.

Dijon’s track, “Higher!,” was created by starting with a really energetic R&B song and then playfully letting a cat accidentally trigger effects on the mixing board – a happy accident, according to A.B.

Addison Rae’s memoir, “Fame Is a Gun,” details her rapid rise to internet stardom. According to reviewer C.D., it’s a candid account of becoming a pop culture sensation.

Rosalía’s album, “Lux,” is a powerful and dramatic work, reminiscent of the film “The Devils.” It portrays a supremely talented woman grappling with a sense of abandonment by a higher power. Like the complex albums of artists such as Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, Rosalía skillfully blends classical musical elements with deeply personal themes, and this song perfectly captures her artistic vision. — A.B.

9. Miley Cyrus, “End of the World”
A disco queen shoegazes into the void. — M.W.

10. Olivia Dean, “Man I Need”
She wants to dance with somebody (who satisfies her). — M.W.

In Sofia Isella’s poem, “Out in the Garden,” the lines “Evil’s genetics will trap you in flesh … Blood escaping like it hates being inside me” – attributed to A.B. – create a vivid and unsettling image.

Music

Sofia Isella took the stage as an opening act for Taylor Swift’s Australian Eras tour, choosing to perform intense, atmospheric electronic music for crowds who weren’t familiar with her style.

12. Kehlani, “Folded”
The best R&B is always rooted in the art of yearning. — C.D.

13. Charlie Puth, “Changes”
The long tail of “Sob Rock.” — M.W.

Drake and PartyNextDoor’s song “Die Trying,” featuring Yebba, has already sparked fan remixes – a mash-up with Morgan Wallen’s “Heartless” is a great example of its potential. — M.W.

Usually, sequels don’t live up to the original, but Amaarae and PinkPantheress prove that isn’t always the case with their nostalgic and energetic track, “Kiss Me Thru The Phone pt 2,” which pays tribute to the sounds of early 2000s club music. — C.D.

Tate McRae’s new song, “Sports Car,” has a cool, energetic vibe reminiscent of Timbaland’s popular tracks from 2006, especially considering Timbaland is currently experimenting with AI. – A.B.

17. Huntr/x, “Golden”
Says it goes up, and that’s what it does. — M.W.

As a lifelong movie and music fan, I’ve always appreciated a good dose of angst, and Hayley Williams absolutely delivers with “Parachute.” It’s a really powerful song – a furious story about being betrayed, and honestly, it just feels cool. It’s one of those tracks that perfectly captures that raw, emotional energy.

19. Taylor Swift, “Ruin the Friendship”
The storyteller lives. — M.W.

Music

After releasing the somewhat chaotic album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ last year, the pop star has teamed up with Max Martin and Shellback for a more polished new project.

Maruja’s track, “Look Down on Us,” is a ten-minute musical journey that shifts dramatically from harsh, distorted bass and energetic hardcore sounds to beautiful, expansive jazz. It evokes a fragile sense of hope amidst a bleak outlook on the current state of the world. — A.B.

The line “Calabasas took your b— and your pride in front of me” from Clipse’s “So Be It” is considered a legendary insult specific to Los Angeles, according to A.B.

FKA Twigs’ new song, “Hard,” is a high-energy, electronic track perfect for dancing – imagine hearing it at a rave under the 6th Street Bridge in Los Angeles! – C.D.

23. Sombr, “12 to 12”
The zoomer wedding dance-floor anthem of 2035. — A.B.

Ella Langley’s song, “Choosin’ Texas,” features the lines: “He always loved ‘Amarillo by Morning’ / I should’ve taken that as a warning.” These lyrics are attributed to M.W.

The song “Cross Your Mind” by Shelly, a previous band of Clairo’s, shows that the dreamy, intimate style of “bedroom pop” music continues to thrive. It’s a nostalgic look back at the experience of being a teenager, proving the genre’s lasting appeal. — C.D.

https://open.spotify.com/watch?v=playlist/5uNEqNgw4cGGl2elx0sUKl

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2025-12-04 14:32