Pop music was in no way secure this 12 months from the encroachments of an AI business decided to slop-ify the whole lot it might probably. But the proliferation of nice songs — written, carried out and savored by folks — raised the hope that every one will not be misplaced. Listed here are the 25 better of 2025.
Our picks for this 12 months’s greatest in arts and leisure.
1. Unhealthy Bunny, “Baile Inolvidable”
Unhealthy Bunny has made it clear: All the things he does is tied to Puerto Rico. Right here, in what he’s dubbed “Benito’s tackle salsa,” he sings in regards to the dance of a lifetime over an orchestra of synthesizers, congas, trumpets and an remoted piano — a six-minute ode to the island’s roots and affect on the style. And identical to that, salsa has develop into cool as soon as once more. — Cerys Davies
2. Karol G, “Ivonny Bonita”
Karol’s history-minded, history-making “Tropicoqueta” LP lovingly combs by the generations of Latin music that made her a world celebrity. “Ivonny Bonita” splits the distinction between previous and current, with a come-hither bachata swish over Pharrell-produced bass hums. — August Brown
3. Chappell Roan, “The Subway”
The vocal efficiency of the 12 months. — Mikael Wooden
4. Justin Bieber, “Yukon”
Bieber won’t ever escape the facility of his high-pitched voice, whether or not he’s 15 years previous singing “One Time” or 31 on this meditation on his favourite SUV. — C.D.
5. Doja Cat, “Jealous Sort”
’80s-pop cosplay so convincing that folk in 2025 forgot to make it an actual hit. — M.W.
6. Dijon, “Larger!”
Take a fully exultant R&B monitor, then let a cat stroll all around the punch-in triggers on the combo console. — A.B.
7. Addison Rae, “Fame Is a Gun”
Need to understand how this TikToker turned an web It woman in a single day? She spells it out clearly on this pop-star manifesto. — C.D.
8. Rosalía, “La Rumba del Perdón”
Rosalía’s album “Lux” looks like Ken Russell’s “The Devils”: A girl possessed of celestial skills fights it out with the god who deserted her. It’ll go down with knotty LPs by Tori Amos and Fiona Apple that contort classical traditions to tangled, private ends, and this monitor sums up her mission fantastically. — A.B.
9. Miley Cyrus, “Finish of the World”
A disco queen shoegazes into the void. — M.W.
10. Olivia Dean, “Man I Want”
She desires to bop with any person (who satisfies her). — M.W.
11. Sofia Isella, “Out within the Backyard”
“Evil’s genetics will entice you in flesh … Blood escaping prefer it hates being inside me.” — A.B.
12. Kehlani, “Folded”
The most effective R&B is all the time rooted within the artwork of craving. — C.D.
13. Charlie Puth, “Modifications”
The lengthy tail of “Sob Rock.” — M.W.
14. Drake and PartyNextDoor that includes Yebba, “Die Making an attempt”
For proof of idea, examine the unauthorized SoundCloud mash-up with Morgan Wallen’s “Heartless.” — M.W.
15. Amaarae that includes PinkPantheress, “Kiss Me Via The Telephone pt 2”
They all the time say the sequel isn’t pretty much as good as the primary one. On this homage to Y2K membership music, Amaarae and PinkPantheress beg to vary. — C.D.
16. Tate McRae, “Sports activities Automobile”
Whereas Timbaland is off making AI nonsense, McRae’s sultry single clatters like his greatest 2006 work. — A.B.
17. Huntr/x, “Golden”
Says it goes up, and that’s what it does. — M.W.
18. Hayley Williams, “Parachute”
Being angsty has by no means not been cool. If there have been any doubt, although, Williams clears it up with this infuriated story of betrayal. — C.D.
19. Taylor Swift, “Wreck the Friendship”
The storyteller lives. — M.W.
20. Maruja, “Look Down on Us”
Ten virtuosic minutes that veer from filthy, noise-decayed bass and hardcore circle-pitting to exalted cosmic jazz and a gasping sentiment that nearly, possibly resembles hope for our dismal current. — A.B.
21. Clipse, “So Be It”
“Calabasas took your b— and your delight in entrance of me” is a hall-of-fame L.A. insult. — A.B.
22. FKA Twigs, “Laborious”
Can’t wait to listen to this sweaty electro earworm at a rave below L.A.’s sixth Avenue Bridge. — C.D.
23. Sombr, “12 to 12”
The zoomer marriage ceremony dance-floor anthem of 2035. — A.B.
24. Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
“He all the time beloved ‘Amarillo by Morning’ / I ought to’ve taken that as a warning.” — M.W.
25. Shelly, “Cross Your Thoughts”
To listen to that Clairo too is chasing the glory days of being a 17-year-old in suburbia — as heard on this single by her previous band Shelly — is proof that bed room pop won’t ever die. — C.D.
