2025: The Year In Music

2025 – Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV, the first North American pope. 17-year-old English darts prodigy Luke Littler becomes the younger ever world champion. SNL celebrates its fiftieth year on air. Lady Gaga performs at Copacabana Beach in Brazil to a crowd estimated at 2.5 million attendees, the largest concert in history for a female artist. Oasis begin their reunion tour at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Ozzy Osbourne’s “Back to the Beginning” concert in Birmingham includes acts like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. CBS cancels Stephen Colbert’s late night talk show and Disney suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s. A busy year for news … so let’s see if the music scene was just as bustling!

I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums of the year, giving my opinions on their musicality and longevity as well as an overall verdict for the year as a whole.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

2024: The Year In Music

“Getting Killed” (Geese) – Every Song Ranked

“Ants From Up There” Songs Ranked

“Selected Ambient Works Volume II” (Aphex Twin) – Songs Ranked

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Pink Pony Club (Chappell Roan)

“Pink Pony Club” apparently released in 2023, so I have no idea what it’s doing in 2025’s list. Maybe it had a sudden surge of popularity?

Chappell Roan is one of the freshest voices in modern Pop. “Good Luck, Babe!” is my favourite of hers, but “Pink Pony Club” is also an excellent showing. Those synths have just the right amount of 80’s nostalgia stitched into them, and the chorus is incredibly catchy.

I would call this my favourite hit song of 2025 … but I’d feel weird giving that accolade to a song from 2023. Just know that I like it.

9 – APT. (Rosé and Bruno Mars)

Ohhhh that’s where the “ah pah tah pah tay” (or however you say it) refrain comes from. That makes sense.

I actually quite liked “APT.” The aforementioned refrain gets a little annoying, but the pre-chorus – and Bruno Mars’s feature – work well.

8 – I Had Some Help (Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen)

I already talked about “I Had Some Help” in 2024‘s list, so I wont go over the same points again.

7 – Ordinary (Alex Warren)

I’m surprised “Ordinary” is only at seventh. I was under the impression it was the biggest song of 2025.

It starts off intriguing enough, but it becomes too big, broad and Imagine Dragons-y for my tastes.

6 – Beautiful Things (Benson Boone)

Again, I’ve already talked about “Beautiful Things” as it featured in 2024’s top ten. Next.

5 – Birds of a Feather (Billie Eilish)

Billie and Finneas are quite the powerful duo. If nothing else, their songs always sound crisp and fresh.

I find “Birds of a Feather” to be quite boring, however. The chorus doesn’t stick with me.

4 – Lose Control (Teddy Swims)

… Yet again, a song from 2024’s Billboard top ten has weaseled its way into 2025’s list. Does 2025 not have any fresh ideas?

3 – A Bar Song [Tipsy] (Shaboozey)

Okay, this is ridiculous. This is the fourth song to have carried over from 2024’s list.

Did no new music release in 2025 or something? Why were people playing so many of 2024’s hits instead of the new stuff? Is music dying all of a sudden? SHOULD WE BE PANICKING?!?

2 – Luther (Kendrick Lamar and SZA)

It’s great to see a song from “GNX” in the Billboard top ten.

“Luther” is on the simpler side, but I like the parts when Kendrick’s and SZA’s vocals overlap.

1 – Die with a Smile (Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars)

Another Bruno Mars feature, but sadly not as interesting as “APT.”.

“Die with a Smile” has some nice ideas, and Lady Gaga is always a win, but this is quite a mundane duet.

FAVOURITE – “APT.” (Rosé and Bruno Mars)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “Ordinary” (Alex Warren)

If I disqualify the four songs from 2024 as well as the 2023 Chappell Roan song, there weren’t that many eligible songs to pick from. 2025 has gotten off to a bland start.

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

10 – Free (Little Simz)

“Free” actually ranked 11th on the website’s list, but since “Echoes – Live in Pompeii” by Pink Floyd ranked in the top ten I decided to disqualify that and promote Lil Simz. I’d rather talk about new, fresh songs.

I’ll be honest, I’m a little surprised that “Free” made the top ten over other songs from the album like “Thief” or “Lion”. It’s still great, though, and I love how Little Simz constructs her songs.

9 – Au Pays Du Cocaine (Geese)

I remember not liking “Au Pays Du Cocaine” the first time I heard it. It was much slower and moodier than other Geese songs I’d heard … but on the second listen it finally clicked.

It’s such a heart-breaking track, and even though it’s lyrically thin those few lyrics really hit hard. Cameron’s strained voice on “Baby you can change and still choose me” gets me every time.

8 – F.I.C.O. (Clipse feat. Stove God Cooks)

“F.I.C.O.” has a laid back groove and lyrical flow which I can get behind. It’s not the best song on the album by any means, but it serves its purpose.

7 – Could’ve Been Different (McKinley Dixon feat. Blu & Shamir)

This is my favourite kind of modern Rap music – solid bars with a jazzy backdrop.

The chorus of “Could’ve Been Different” isn’t anything crazy but I appreciate what they were going for.

6 – Funny Papers (Mac Miller)

Despite passing in 2018, Mac Miller released a couple of solid posthumous albums. It’s amazing how much material he recorded before his death.

“Funny Papers” is another Mac Miller success. His Rap songs are always low-key and with a solid, vibe-focused production which I enjoy.

5 – P.O.V. (Clipse feat. Tyler, The Creator)

One of the better songs on “Let God Sort Em Out”. “P.O.V.” is a solid Rap song – I liked the Tyler feature.

The bridge switch-up is easily my favourite part of it.

4 – Reliquia (ROSALÍA)

“Reliquia” is unlike any Pop song I’ve ever heard. ROSALÍA is just doing things differently to everybody else.

The orchestration makes the song very dramatic, and her tender vocals make me believe her words whole-heartedly. Even if I have no idea what she’s really saying.

3 – The Birds Don’t Sing (Clipse feat. John Legend & Voices Of Fire)

There’s something nostalgic about “The Birds Don’t Sing”. It’s the kind of Rap / Pop hybrid I used to hear on radios about a decade ago.

Which is to say, I suppose, that I don’t find it particularly interesting or fresh. It’s produced well but that’s about it.

2 – Berghain (ROSALÍA feat. Bjork & Yves Tumor)

Whoa. The intro wastes no time at all creating an intense atmosphere.

I’ve never heard Classical music infused with Pop so effectively. The only thing holding it back is that the last thirty seconds are a bit weird.

1 – Chains & Whips (Clipse feat. Kendrick Lamar)

“Chains & Whips” is the best song on “Let God Sort Em Out” by far. It helps that Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams are both involved.

It has a sinister, spooky sound which I love, and the lyrical flow is immaculate. One of the best songs of 2025 for sure.

BEST SONG OF 2025 – “Chains & Whips” (Clipse feat. Kendrick Lamar)

My favourite song would’ve probably been “Trinidad” by Geese … but that didn’t make the cut for some reason. I guess it was too aggressive / chaotic for general critics.

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

5 – Forever Howlong (Black Country, New Road)

Black Country, New Road have the sauce. Every song I’ve ever heard of theirs is great or more. They have such a crop of talent it’s astounding.

“Forever Howlong” is yet another success to add to the collection. I was already sold by the fantastic opener “Besties”, and then the rest of the album has that jaunty, full sound I’ve come to love.

It took an album or two but I’m finally sold on a new singer!

4 – Lotus (Little Simz)

Little Simz made one of my favourite albums of this decade with “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert”, and “Lotus” is a heater yet again.

Every song is fresh and fun, and tracks like “Thief”, “Free” and “Lion” have gone straight into my playlist. The overall package isn’t necessarily as strong and memorable as “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” but I still had a good time.

It makes me so happy knowing that artists are still brave enough to make the music they want to make.

3 – Let God Sort Em Out (Clipse)

I got the wrong impression of “Let God Sort Em Out” when I played the opening track “The Birds Don’t Sing”. I was led to believe it would be a generic Pop / Rap hybrid, but the rest of the album was so much more.

Clipse (comprising of Pusha T and Malice) bring together an exceptional group of features, and they made some really interesting and well-produced Rap music.

2 – Lux (ROSALÍA)

I’ve heard some really interesting Pop in the last couple of years – Magdalena Bay, Charli XCX and Caroline Polachek are all artists who surprised me with their unorthodox and progressive sounds. “Lux” by ROSALÍA is yet another album which proves that modern Pop is in safe hands.

It’s a fusion of many different musical styles, all of which use their orchestration to their fullest. Very impressive stuff.

1 – Getting Killed (Geese)

From the moment I first heard “Getting Killed”, I knew it was one of my favourite albums of the decade. My multiple re-listens since have only reinforced that opinion.

Songs like “Trinidad”, “Cobra”, “Au Pays Du Cocaine”, “Bow Down” and “Taxes” have all becomes instant classics. I absolutely love Cameron Winter’s voice on every song, and the rest of the band play exactly what they need to, where and when it’s needed.

Geese are such a tight, unapologetic band. I expect great things in their future.

BEST ALBUM OF 2025 – “Getting Killed” (Geese)

Final Thoughts

If this is the last music retrospective I’ll ever do, we’ve gone out on a distinctly average year. The hits were mostly repeats from 2024, but the high-rated songs and albums were enjoyable.

Overall Grade: C+

Aaaand that’s my list! If you liked this post and want to support me, please consider giving me a one-time donation. Even a few pence (or whatever currency you use) is fantastic! I’ve never monetized this blog before, but it would be great if I could do this comfortably and not have to worry about the yearly website domain costs. Thank you so much!