Top 100 Favourite Songs of 2025 (40 – 31)

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 – 51 // 50 – 41

40. TWS – Overdrive

Continuing their run of pitch perfect pop tracks, TWS reinvigorated their sound with a healthy dose of guitar for the buoyant Overdrive. It’s the rare track that gets almost everything right despite its sub 3 minute run time, delivering an experience that feels packed to the brim with goodies. From the explosive hook to the freewheeling verses, it’s hard to not find yourself cracking a smile by the end.

39. Lady Gaga – How Bad Do U Want Me

A song that can best be described as Lady Gaga channelling her inner Swiftie, How Bad Do U Want Me captures the sound of 1989 era Taylor and repackages its absolute best elements into an all killer no filler shot of pure pop magic. And while its more laid back melodic approach may not feel as instant as many of the other more dramatic efforts on “Mayhem”, that multi-pronged chorus glistens with a kind of addictive energy that’s bound to have you coming back for more. It’s a wonderful mid album b-side and an even better concert closer.

38. NAPA – Deslocado

Nostalgia and music often go hand in hand and can—in many cases—improve the perception of a song despite its weaknesses. Such is the case with Deslocado, which crests on a melody so gorgeous that it instantly floods me with a wave of nostalgia for the time I had it on rotation. It conjures a sense of genuine longing, not for a person, but rather a place. A sentiment befitting the lyrics and one that transcends the language barrier to deliver a standout effort that continued to charm in-spite of the downsides that come with incessant TikTok virality.

37. Metteson – Hunger

Built around its hypnotic, cyclical hook, Hunger pulses with a kind of provocative sensual energy only found in the best European dance tracks. It’s an absorbing listening experience, unveiling an unparalleled depth of sound that feels utterly transformative. And just when you think it might get a little too lost in its own soundscape, Metteson cuts through the noise with a killer shot of melody that feels like a high in the middle of compressed, sweaty dance floor.

36. The Wind – Only One

The Wind have been this generations most consistent purveyors of “christian horse *boy*” music, delivering, ultra rich melodic gems since their debut back in 2023. Only One continued that streak in wonderful fashion, reaching even further into the trope to give use their most convincing effort yet. The chorus blossoms in the most satisfying of ways and yes, it does little to re-invent the wheel, but honestly, why break an already perfect formula?

35. ILLIT – Billyeoon Goyangi (Do the Dance)

I love a good interpolation or sample and while I wouldn’t consider myself a fully fledged fan just yet, Do the Dance finally got me on the Illit train big time. It’s the best realisation of the groups more mystical concept yet, building a deliriously catchy pop trifle around the years strongest sample, one that harnesses a remixed string section off an old Japanese video game OST to incredible effect. There were hookier songs this year but few had me coming back as much as this one.

34. Rebecca Black – Twist the Knife

An utterly magnetic reinvention for who is now one of the most promising pop stars in the world, Rebecca Black captivated me for much of the early months with her fantastic EP “Salvation”. And while I could have easily featured the euphoric title track or the dynamic Do You Think About Me?, it was the pure pop magic of Twist the Knife that stole the show for me. From the percolating house beat to the majestic melodic hinge, the track strikes the perfect balance between dramatic pop persona and fluid fun, delivering an endlessly addictive package that feels the birth of a true star. If anything, I just wish she repeated the hook one more time during the climax.

33. RIIZE – Another life

With songs getting shorter and shorter these days, it often feels as though we’ve lost the art of a great climax. In an effort to chase higher streaming numbers, many tracks seem to omit key builds or deliver truncated finales that feel more like whimpers than celebrations. Then, ever so often, we get a song like Another life which blows that sort of notion out of the water. For what is an otherwise (very) strong pop song, Another life becomes utterly transcendent in its final minute, delivering a tower arrangement of sky high vocals and electric guitar reminiscent of the golden days of SM entertainment. It’s one of the most satisfying K-pop moments of the year and one that really should have been promoted further.

32. fromis_9 – Like You Better

Propulsion and momentum are two terms I love throwing around when it comes to my idea of great pop music. A great pop song should feel as though it has a sense of momentum, as if it is being driven forward by some force. This could be through a killer melodic through line, a propulsive production or even a set of addictive melodies. And while sometimes these can be subtle, it’s incredibly refreshing when a song in the vein of Like You Better comes around and delivers on those ideals in the most in your face way possible. This is a song in constant motion, propelled by a driving production and vocal arrangement that delivers every melodic punch at full force. A dynamite single.

31. PinkPantheress – Romeo

As much as I like to complain about bite sized pop music, I find it quite ironic that I’m a huge fan of the artist that essentially helped popularise the trend itself. PinkPantheress won me over big time with her latest project, delivering a solid set of quirky pop tracks with some fantastic production choices. Romeo stands as one of its most enticing efforts, melding an addictive call and response chorus with an invigorating string infused electronic beat. It’s an absolute treasure trove of hooks, zigging when you expect it to zag but still pulling it all back to the immense calling card at its centre. If you’re going to make a track maximised for streaming, might as well pack it with as many goods as possible.