Artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift continued to climb music charts in 2025.
The year had many 2024 hits still at the top, making it one of the most stagnant years for pop music. Although it was a stagnant year for pop music, many songs still left their mark.
1. “Sports Car” – Tate McRae
Mcrae included “Sports Car” in her third studio album, which she released in Feb. She released the song, along with its music video, on Jan. 24.
“The song is okay, I am not crazy about Tate McRae. I usually listen to it with my sister because she’s a huge fan!” Said Sophia Montesinos, a student at Colonia High School.
It peaked at number 16 on Billboard Hot 100 and spent 20 weeks there. Mcrea’s song explores themes of the excitement and adrenaline of love and desire.
2. “Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga
Gaga included “Abracadabra” on her seventh studio album, “Mayhem,” which she released in March. She released it on Feb 3 and it reached the top of the Billboard Hot Dance/Pop Songs chart on Feb 15.
The song explores themes of resilience, overcoming darkness within, and discovering the magic in life. The song marked a return to fame for Gaga’s Monster era.
3. “Ordinary” – Alex Warren
“Ordinary” is a single from Warren’s debut album, “You’ll Be Alright Kid”. He released the album in June.
It topped multiple charts, including Billboard Hot 100. It stayed there for 10 consecutive weeks and critics named it the song of the summer.
“I don’t mind the song; Alex Warren has really good vocals.” Said Montesinos
His relationship with his wife inspired the song, and it explores themes of love.
4. “What Was That” – Lorde
Lorde released “What Was That” as a single on April 25. This song comes from Lorde’s fourth studio album, which she released in June. It debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May.
The song explores themes of heartbreak, nostalgia, memory, and confusion. The song also dives into the pain of moving on from a relationship.
5. “Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter
Carpenter released her song “Manchild” on June 5 and it served as the lead single on her album “Man’s Best Friend”. She released the album in Aug.
“Sabrina is the new Taylor Swift and I think that her music is really fun and easy to listen to.” Said Sophia Vitale, a student at Colonia High School.
Her song jumped to number one on Billboard Hot 100 on June 16. It stayed there for four weeks before dropping to number seven. It also topped the UK Official Charts and held that spot for 1 week.
The song explores themes of immaturity vs adulthood, relationship dynamics and desire for growth.
6. “Golden” – HUNTRIX (K-Pop Demon Hunters)
“Golden” is an uplifting pop song from the movie “K-Pop Demon Hunters”. The music, along with the movie, was released on June 20. Later in July, the song was released on a standalone single. The song debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-July and slowly climbed its way to number one. It stayed here for eight nonconsecutive weeks.
In the movie, the song highlights Rumi’s wish to stop hiding her true self. The song reveals a shift from Rumi living her fear to living her reality. This theme also relates to the real world and what people face.
7. “The Subway” – Chappel Roan
“The Subway” is a song by Chappel Roan, which was released on July 31. It debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
“This song was one of my top-played songs from 2025 and I love Chappel Roan. I’ve been waiting for this song since 2024 and I was screaming when it was released.” Said Vitale
The song delves into the themes of heartbreak, yearning, inability to move on, and queer identity.
8. “Where Is My Husband!” – Raye
Raye’s song “Where Is My Husband!” was released on Sep 19. The song performed well on Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 13 by the end of 2025. It is a catchy, soulful track that explores the themes of love, societal expectations, and self-worth.
What to expect in 2026
After a complex year of music, listeners can expect major comebacks from artists, new rising K-pop stars and genre blending.
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