Best songs released in 2025

Grammy.com

Editors: Kate Freitas, Ellie Mann, Sophie Centurelli, Rosie Thigpen

Introduction: 2025 was filled with song releases by many different artists. After reviewing the most popular tracks, we collected the top 10 songs for this year. From Bad Bunny’s “Baile Inolvidable,” to Tate McRae’s “Tit for Tat,” we cover various genres that our students at WHS love.

“Tit for Tat” – Tate McRae
​2025 was a big year for Tate McRae. Following her album release of “So Close to What” and the Miss Possessive Tour, she came out with a surprise release of the song “Tit for Tat”. This was her response to her breakup with The Kid Laroi after he released the song “A Cold Play”. This track, co-written with Julia Michaels, climbed the Spotify charts and was a huge streaming hit. This song highlights her strong songwriting, taking back control after her public breakup. This song is No. 1 because of the sharp lyrics that claim control over her narrative. It also makes revenge feel powerful and fun and is a relatable “revenge track.” — Kate Freitas ’26


“Nokia” – Drake
The well-known Canadian artist Drake released a top hit song titled “Nokia”. It was released with the 2025 album called “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U,” on which he collaborated with PARTYNEXTDOOR. This particular track proved that he can blend a nostalgic feeling with new music. Drake includes the iconic Nokia phone ringer in the song, a part that really captivated listeners. Drake says, “I wish we went back to the 3310,” which became an instant social media catchphrase since it discusses simpler pre-internet relationships.

This song broke many records and proved his dominance on the Billboard charts by becoming his 80th top 10 hit and securing his 24th top two hit. The track also saw massive streaming success, hitting No. 1 on U.S. Apple Music and Spotify and breaking streaming records for an R&B/soul album. This song also reached No. 8 on the Billboard Global 20.

It became No. 1 faster than any other album in the U.S. on Apple Music in 2025. It also dominated the U.S. Spotify charts for over two weeks. This song was a huge hit in other countries as well, hitting No. 1 on the UK Hip-Hop/R&B Singles Chart and No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart, marking his 40th No. 1 there. “Nokia” was a much-needed hit for this year. — Sophie Centurelli ’26​
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“Baile Inolvidable” – Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny, a world-renowned Puerto Rican artist, released the album “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” in 2025. Bad Bunny’s “Baile Inolvidable” is a chill but emotional song about a moment you can’t forget. The title means “unforgettable dance,” and the song uses that dance as a way to talk about a past relationship that still sticks with you.


The genre is Latin pop with a slower, romantic vibe rather than one of his super-hype party songs. Instead, it’s more laid-back, showing the artist’s vulnerable side. The beat is smooth and easy to listen to, and the lyrics feel personal. Overall, “Baile Inolvidable” is the type of song you’d play late at night when you’re in your feelings. — Rosie Thigpen ’26

“Man I Need” – Olivia Dean
Over the last four months of 2025, Olivia Dean became a well-known pop artist. Her popularity began with the song “Man I Need,” written about knowing your self-worth and clear communication in a relationship. “Man I Need” became very successful and led to her performing on "Saturday Night Live," and she was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for 2026. Olivia is originally from the UK and has been writing songs since 2017. She plans on touring in the summer of 2026, starting July 10 in San Francisco, California, and concluding at the Moody Center in Austin on Aug. 28. — Elizabeth Mann ’26


“6 Months Later” – Megan Moroney
“6 Months Later,” written by country artist Megan Moroney, was released June 20, 2025. This was the promotional single for her upcoming third album, “Cloud 9”. The song was written by Moroney, Ben Williams, and David Mescon and produced by Kristian Bush. At the start of the song, she feels devastated that her relationship ended, but through her dark humor, she realizes she is better off without him. On July 16, 2025, she released the music video. She hit No. 8 on the U.S. Hot Country Songs (Billboard) with this song, but also hit 30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. — Kate Freitas ’25


“Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter
“Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter was a top hit for 2025. It was released June 5, 2025, through Island Records, with the music video following June 6. Sabrina used the song to demolish her ex-boyfriend, famously describing him as “stupid, slow, useless, and incompetent,” which caught fans’ attention. Another lyric, “Why so sexy if so dumb?” became the unofficial rallying cry of the summer.


This song achieved many awards. It was the biggest debut of 2025 by a female artist, achieving 8.05 million streams on day one. It appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 by debuting at the No. 1 slot in the U.S.. In the UK Singles Chart, it hit No. 1, which became her fourth UK No. 1 and second debut No. 1. For the Pop Airplay Chart, it became her first Pop Airplay No. 1 she co-produced. This song became one of the most important features on her album “Man’s Best Friend,” which also broke album streaming records for a female artist in 2025. — Sophie Centurelli ’26

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“The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift
​“The Fate of Ophelia” has emerged as one of Taylor Swift’s most talked-about releases of 2025. The song explores fragile love and quiet unraveling. Centered on themes of self-preservation and vulnerability, it rose to a top five position on global charts. As this was the year Taylor Swift got engaged to her boyfriend of about two years, Travis Kelce, fans were excited to listen to her newly released album, “The Life of a Showgirl”. — Elizabeth Mann ’26


“Call Me When You Break Up” – Selena Gomez and Gracie Abrams
“Call Me When You Break Up” was the lead single from the album “Said I Love You First,” released in 2025. The tease for this song began Feb. 17, when Benny Blanco posted a video on Instagram. On Feb. 20, the song was released and made it to the pop radio top 40. This song captures the feeling of waiting for someone else's relationship to fail to get a chance with them. — Kate Freitas ’26


“Free Promo” – Lil Baby
“Free Promo,” by Lil Baby, was released in 2025 off the album “WHAM”. The lyricists are Zeus Negrete, Dominique Jones, Peter Gogla, and Marko Andrej. This song stands out because it blends a catchy hook with confident lyrics. The track blew up on social media, turning into a viral sound that moved it to the top of playlists everywhere. All of these factors make “Free Promo” one of this year's biggest songs. — Mevlad Delic ’26


“A Pure Expression” – I Promised the World
I Promised the World has been tearing up the hardcore and metalcore scene since releasing the 2024 debut album, “Fear of the Fall”. Their newest release, “A Pure Expression,” follows the same nostalgic 2000s metalcore style as their previous music. With complex guitar work and melodic clean vocals, this new single’s sound is very reminiscent of early Parkway Drive. — Hayden Raccagni ’26

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