The 20 Best Songs of 2025: A Soundtrack for a Year of Big Feelings
- Joao Nsita
- 6 hours ago
- 8 min read
Introduction
If 2024 was the year music found its footing again, 2025 was the year it learned to sprint, dance, and weep all at the same time. The sonic landscape of the last twelve months has been a kaleidoscope of raw emotion and genre-bending experimentation. We've seen pop stars trade polish for grit, rappers embracing punk aesthetics, and a global resurgence of regional sounds—from Puerto Rican salsa to Celtic-infused ballads—dominating the charts.
On platforms like TikTok, the "Sad Girl" aesthetic evolved into something fiercer, a "Rage and Recovery" vibe that resonated with a generation tired of just surviving. Pinterest boards were flooded with visuals inspired by the gothic grandeur of Rosalía and the retro-futuristic cool of PinkPantheress. Music this year wasn't just background noise; it was a lifeline, a mirror, and a weapon.
In this comprehensive guide, we are counting down the 20 tracks that defined 2025. These are the songs that broke the internet, topped the charts, and, most importantly, made us feel something profound.
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20. Little Simz – Flood (ft. Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly)
Genre: Hip-Hop / Afrobeat Vibe: A warrior’s manifesto for the modern age.
Little Simz continues her reign as one of the most vital voices in hip-hop with Flood. Over a pared-back post-punk beat that feels like a marching order, Simz lays out her "genius plan" for navigating a world full of "hyenas."
The track is a masterclass in flow and philosophy, offering life lessons ("Don't get caught in your own trap") with the confidence of a veteran general. Features from Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly add a rich, textured layer to this anthem of self-preservation and triumph.
19. Bad Bunny – Nuevayol
Genre: Salsa / Dembow Vibe: A love letter to the Puerto Rican diaspora.
Opening his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, Nuevayol is a sonic bridge between the island and New York City. Sampling El Gran Combo’s 1975 classic, Bad Bunny weaves a tapestry of displacement, identity, and joy. It’s a track that refuses to be boxed in, celebrating the resilience of Puerto Rican culture in the face of gentrification and political struggle. It’s not just a song; it’s a history lesson you can dance to.
18. Wednesday – Elderberry Wine
Genre: Indie Rock / Country Shoegaze Vibe: The crushing silence of a dying relationship.
Stepping away from their usual wall of noise, Wednesday delivered the year's most devastating quiet moment. Elderberry Wine captures the excruciating distance between two people who are physically close but emotionally lightyears apart. It’s a song about the mundane tragedy of falling out of love—the silent car rides, the niche references that no longer land, and the overwhelming desire to just give up.
17. Raye – Where Is My Husband!
Genre: Jazz Pop / Soul Vibe: A screwball comedy in song form.
Raye channels the spirit of 60s soul greats with a modern, frantic twist. This track is a hilarious, foot-stomping tantrum about the elusive nature of "The One." Against a backdrop of brassy horns, Raye gabbles and belts her way through the indignity of modern dating. It’s the perfect anthem for anyone who has ever stared at a dating app and wanted to scream.
16. Wet Leg – Catch These Fists
Genre: Indie Rock Vibe: A ketamine-fueled night out gone wrong.
Wet Leg returned to silence the "one-hit wonder" critics with a boot to the door. Catch These Fists is aggressive, hilarious, and perfectly observational. Rhian Teasdale sketches a night out that descends into chaos, culminating in a showdown with a "bozo" drinking Strongbow Dark Fruit. It’s a jagged, fun, and totally unpretentious rock banger.
15. Geese – Taxes
Genre: Post-Punk / Indie Vibe: The cost of emotional baggage.
New York rockers Geese prove that wisdom doesn't always come with age. In Taxes, frontman Cameron Winter uses the metaphor of taxes to describe the emotional debts we hold onto—apologies never given, closures never received. It’s a howling, melodramatic, and deeply relatable track about the way heartbreak turns us all into irrational teenagers.
14. Aya – Off to the Esso
Genre: Experimental Electronic / Donk Vibe: The disorientation of a 4 AM commute.
Aya captures the specific, skull-rattling experience of being too drunk on public transport in this dizzying track. Riding a "pranged-out donk beat," her inner monologue spills out in a stream of consciousness that is both hilarious and terrifying. It’s a sonic snapshot of British nightlife in all its messy glory.
13. Olivia Dean – Man I Need
Genre: Neo-Soul / Pop Vibe: The thrill of the chase.
Olivia Dean scored her first UK No. 1 with this infectious track about coaxing a dithering partner into commitment. It captures the modern dating conundrum—is having a boyfriend embarrassing?—while admitting that, sometimes, you just want to be swept off your feet. Her voice sweeps over soft surges of adrenaline, making the anxiety of the "talking stage" sound sweet.
12. Blood Orange – The Field
Genre: Alternative R&B / Classical Vibe: Grief as a shimmering, altered reality.
Dev Hynes constructs a delicate web of sound in The Field, interpolating Spanish guitar and mixing it with breakbeats and cello rips. Written after the death of his mother, the song feels fragile yet resilient. Features from Caroline Polachek and Daniel Caesar add to the ethereal quality, creating a soundscape that feels like a world forever changed by loss.
11. CMAT – The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station
Genre: Country Pop / Indie Vibe: Existential dread at the service station.
Irish singer-songwriter CMAT had a breakout year, and this track perfectly encapsulates her unique blend of humor and pathos. It’s a song about having a mental breakdown while staring at a poster of a celebrity chef. It explores body image, self-worth, and the absurdity of modern life with a catchy, fiddle-fringed country beat.
10. Smerz – You Got Time and I Got Money
Genre: Experimental Pop Vibe: Love as a transformative, woozy drug.
Norwegian duo Smerz dropped their ironic distance for this ardently romantic ballad. The looping hook feels timeless, like a lost girl-group classic from another dimension. It captures the feeling of love exceeding all expectations, dissolving the listener in a haze of strings and desire.
9. Alex G – Afterlife
Genre: Indie Folk Vibe: A two-pint buzz on a summer afternoon.
With a mandolin backing that strides easily along, Alex G sings about the "second-to-second business of being alive." The song feels like a fresh start, a reminder that we can mark out our own paths. It’s simple, wondrous, and deceptively profound.
8. Lily Allen – Pussy Palace
Genre: Synth-Pop Vibe: Sweet melodies, sour truths.
Lily Allen returns with a track that mingles her trademark sweet vocals with grim, tongue-curlingly sour lyrics. Detailing the discovery of a cheating husband's secret life, every detail cuts like a knife. It’s a grim but spellbindingly beautiful song that proves Allen hasn't lost her edge.
7. Pulp – Spike Island
Genre: Britpop / Disco Vibe: A triumphant victory lap.
Jarvis Cocker and crew returned with an anthem that matches the occasion. With a disco rhythm and soaring vocals, Spike Island is a celebration of performance and existence. It’s a defiant statement that they—and we—are still here, still shouting, and still pointing.
6. Jade – Plastic Box
Genre: Synth-Pop / Dance Vibe: Crying in the club.
From her debut album, Jade delivers a stomping synth weepie that perfectly captures the irrational insecurity of retro-active jealousy. It’s about torturing yourself by reading old love letters and feeling small. Crushingly well-observed and danceable, it’s a cathartic release for the insecure heart.
5. Addison Rae – Headphones On
Genre: Bubblegum Pop / Electronica Vibe: Dissociating in the best way possible.
Addison Rae proves she’s more than an influencer with this glassy, Möbius strip of a song. It’s about music’s ability to tranquilize pain, untethering the listener from earthly concerns. With vocals that channel a sadder, wiser Britney Spears, it’s a perfect loop of sugary numbness.
4. Lady Gaga – Abracadabra
Genre: House / Pop Vibe: A double dose of Mother Monster.
Gaga solidified her return to the center of pop culture with this banger from her album Mayhem. Featuring two house beats—one piano, one acid—and two choruses full of nonsense syllables, it’s pure, hammy, glorious fun. It’s the sound of a superstar giving the people exactly what they want.
3. Chappell Roan – The Subway
Genre: Celtic Pop / Ballad Vibe: Haunting heartbreak on public transit.
Chappell Roan pivoted from country camp to lovelorn Celtic rage with this epic track. Channeling the spirit of The Cranberries, she wails about the impossibility of shaking off a ghost. It’s a snarling, choral masterpiece that proves her versatility and staying power.
2. PinkPantheress – Illegal
Genre: Drum & Bass / Pop Vibe: The sugar rush of a bad decision.
Sampling Underworld’s Born Slippy, PinkPantheress captures the paranoia and delight of a illicit encounter. The song throbs with the disorientation of a THC-addled brain, rushing towards a breathless conclusion. It’s sugary, allure-filled, and dangerous—a perfect encapsulation of her unique sound.
1. Rosalía – Berghain
Genre: Experimental / Opera / Reggaeton Vibe: A gothic cathedral made of bass and blood.
Taking the top spot is Rosalía’s genre-shattering masterpiece Berghain. Smashing together the dramatic thrusts of the London Symphony Orchestra with reggaeton beats and lyrics in German and Spanish, it is a towering achievement.
The song captures the overwhelming nature of a doomed relationship—the fear, the anger, the love—all consuming the listener like the famous Berlin nightclub it’s named after. With cameos from Björk and Yves Tumor, it is a virtuoso display of power and vulnerability. It leaves you trembling, reminding us that music in 2025 knows no borders and no limits.
Conclusion
From the intimate whispers of Wednesday to the operatic grandeur of Rosalía, the best songs of 2025 were united by their refusal to compromise. They embraced messiness, celebrated resilience, and found new ways to articulate the oldest human emotions.
As we move into 2026, these tracks will remain as the soundtrack to a year where we felt everything, all at once.
FAQs
What is the number one song of 2025? Rosalía’s Berghain takes the top spot for its audacious blend of genres and sheer emotional power.
Did Bad Bunny release an album in 2025? Yes, he released Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which features the hit track Nuevayol.
Is Chappell Roan releasing a new album soon? Chappell has stated she is taking her time with her next album, possibly taking up to five years, but she continues to release standout singles like The Subway.
What genre is trending on TikTok in 2025? "Rage and Recovery" and "Cozy Horror" aesthetics are huge, driving the popularity of artists like Chappell Roan and The Last Dinner Party.
Where can I listen to these songs? All songs are available on major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal.
Who is the breakout artist of 2025? While many new artists shined, Olivia Dean’s rise to UK No. 1 solidified her status as a major breakout star.
Is Lady Gaga’s Mayhem a pop album? Yes, Mayhem sees Gaga returning to her dance-pop roots with tracks like Abracadabra.
What is the "Sad Girl" aesthetic? It’s a trend popularized on social media focusing on melancholic, introspective music and visuals, exemplified by artists like Lana Del Rey and now Wednesday.
Did Little Simz win any awards in 2025? Her track Flood and the accompanying album have been critical darlings, likely positioning her for major award season wins.
Where can I find more music recommendations? Check out our Music Hub for more curated playlists and reviews.
External Links
Call to Action: Ready to update your playlist? Stream these hits on Spotify or Apple Music today! And for stories that hit just as hard as these songs, listen to That Love Podcast.
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