Top 100 Favourite Songs of 2025 (60 – 51)

If you want to check out my rankings for other years:

The only rules and guidelines for this countdown:

This is all just my opinion. There is much bias to be found and if you’re unhappy with any of the placements, just remember that this is not meant to be a purely objective list.
Songs must released between the 1st of January to 20th of December 2025.

2025 Countdown

Honourable Mentions // 100 – 91 // 90 – 81 // 80 – 71 // 70 – 61

60. LISA – Born Again (feat. Doja Cat and RAYE)

LISA’s music has never really been my cup of tea and much of her first full length album “Alter Ego” helped cement that feeling. But in the midst of much muck, there gleamed a shining pearl. One that opened the album with such promise that it genuinely filled me with a newfound sense of hope on my first run through of the album. Alas, while the rest of the album didn’t come close to the dramatic dance pop of Born Again, its existence alone stands as an utter marvel. A collaboration between some of the biggest pop stars in the world that feels just as momentous as its initial promise.

59. Lorde – What Was That

A dramatic EDM anthem that recalled the sounds of her most successive era, What Was That heralded Lorde’s return with a track fit for the occasion. And while some lamented at the fact that its melody and instrumental turns were too in line with much of her work from “Melodrama”, I fail to understand why that would ever be a bad thing. Much like my comments about Golden, if you’re going to pull from an existing song or album, might as well pull from something legendary! Also if you’re going to reheat your nachos, this is an A+ example on how you do it.

58. Kickflip – My First Love Song

Kickflip’s sound grew more and more enticing over the course of their debut year and it all culminated in the rousing pop-rock of My First Love Song. By taking the rousing energy of Band-aid‘s chorus and leveraging it across the entire track, the group delivered one of the year’s most potent anthems. One that much like its predecessor hinged on the magic and mystery of youth. But while Band-aid veered more towards angst, My First Love Song pulses with unbridled optimism, bolstered by a chorus of vocals and a persistent wall of guitar. It’s sound that feels quite cinematic in scale and one that gives me so much hope for the future of this group.

57. Close Your Eyes – Who’s Dat? (Jane Doe)

Close Your Eyes were ever-present on my playlists throughout the year and while I was a huge fan of their singles, I think the gorgeous RnB of Who’s Dat? (Jane Doe) takes the crown for my favourite Close Your Eyes song yet. The performance here is just stunning, striking the perfect balance between nonchalant and impassioned, seamlessly transitioning between them as the track slides from verse to chorus. Not to mention just how gorgeous the groups vocal blend is. The interplay between during the chorus is one of the most inspired things I’ve heard all year and stands an utter revelation. Easily the most convincing rendition of this sound I’ve heard in years.

56. H1-Key – Summer Was You

K-pop summer isn’t complete without a girl group smash and while they have been in short supply the past few years, H1-Key were more than up for the task this year with the the propulsive rock tinged Summer Was You. It’s a song that works as a perfect mix between energetic and nostalgic, conjuring an instantly memorable melody that’s tinged with a hint of melancholy that works as the perfect backdrop for an otherwise propulsive guitar laced dance track. The chorus here is what dreams are made of.

55. RIIZE – Ember to Solar

RIIZE explored many sounds throughout the year but few felt as massive as the SMP style bombast of Ember to Solar. Like the best of its style, it opens with a confronting first verse that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go, whisking you away into a thrilling wonderland of soaring melodies and relentless energy. It’s the group at their most grandiose, recalling the sounds that made predecessors like TXVQ and Super Junior such forces within the industry. K-pop used to thrive on its sense of excess and while many have forgotten what can only now be referred to as the secret sauce, Ember to Solar is clear indication that some still know how to cook up a real feast.

54. Yeji – Air

Channeling ‘Crash’ era Charli xcx in all the right ways, ITZY’s Yeji proved she had the makings of a solo superstar with the dynamic dance pop of Air. It’s dance pop at its most sleek, bursting forward with a persistent electronic pulse that keeps the energy high and the vibes flowing. The production works as the perfect playground for Yeji’s unique vocal tone and performance, one that elevates some otherwise standard melodies into an undeniably catchy set of hooks. And by the time the electric guitar comes in during the track’s fantastic final moments, it’s already go you in it’s spell.

53. CRAVITY – Lemonade Fever

Buoyed by an immense sugar rush a hook that generates a real sense of lift, Lemonade Fever continued Gravity’s incredible singles run with utter panache. It’s the definition of lighting in a bottle, bursting at the seams with hooks that not only hit instantly but remain lodged in your head long after the track reaches its end. And while many bright pop tracks rely heavily on the strength of their chorus, Lemonade Fever succeeds blossoms thanks to its sense of variety From the gritty scuzz of it’s post-chorus to the melodic bliss of its bridge, it’s a treat in every sense of the word.

52. ALLDAY PROJECT – One More Time

One of the most YG sounding track’s we’ve gotten in years, One More Time melded the modern drum’n’bass soundscape with the melodies and electronic dance pop of years past to craft a genuine end of year highlight. In many way’s it’s the YG equivalent to RIIZE’s Ember to Solar, a track that manages to effortlessly meld modern sensibilities with an agency’s signature sound to deliver song that feel distinctly K-pop in nature. And while the execution may seem a little all over the place (especially that second verse), it nonetheless generates a sense of euphoria that only the best K-pop can.

51. JUSTB – Chest / Snow Angel

JUSTB had one of the most interesting musical arcs of the year, shifting from the (genuinely amazing) pop rock of songs like Daddy’s Girl in 2024 to pure electronica in 2025. It was sonic reinvention that began with the thrilling Chest and culminated with the immense Snow Angel. And while I might be breaking the rules by having both these songs share a position, I just cant seem to seperate them. I played Chest to death when it came out and I do think it’s got the strongest mix between melody and synth textures. In contrast Snow Angel feels like they just took Chest and cranked up every element to 100 while giving it a more aggressive hyper-pop makeover. I adore them both so much and just hope JUSTB continue down this sonic direction for the foreseeable future.