The Best Pop Songs of 2025 (So Far)
更新於: 2025-10-08 15:28:45
What's actually worth listening to this year, ranked by people who've heard it all.
Last updated: October 7, 2025
Look, 2025 wasn't supposed to go like this. After Drake's very public 2024 beatdown courtesy of Kendrick Lamar, most of us figured he'd be licking his wounds for at least a year. Sabrina Carpenter was meant to be a one-album wonder. And Lady Gaga? Well, she'd done the jazz thing, the ballad thing, the "serious actress" thing—surely the peak pop-star moment had passed.
We were wrong about all of it.
Instead, 2025 has been the year pop music remembered what it's good at: making you feel something, whether that's joy, heartbreak, or just an overwhelming need to dance in your kitchen at 2am. No overthinking, no apologies, just hooks that burrow into your brain and refuse to leave.
Drake turned a Nokia ringtone into the year's most inescapable track. Sabrina Carpenter made a country-pop song about idiotic men that somehow became the song of the summer. Lady Gaga went full theatrical dance-pop villain and reminded everyone why she's been doing this for 15+ years. And a bunch of artists you'd never heard of six months ago—Sombr, Moody Joody, Alex Warren—suddenly have hundreds of millions of streams.
Here's what's been dominating our playlists, our TikTok feeds, and our group chats. Some of it's obvious. Some of it you've probably missed. All of it slaps.
Quick Stats (If You're Into That)
Most-streamed: Drake's "Nokia" (432M+ on Spotify)
Longest at #1: Kendrick & SZA's "Luther" (8 weeks straight)
Biggest surprise: Sombr going from unknown to 275M streams
Best comeback: Lady Gaga proving she's still got it
Breakout star: Doechii, no question
The Top 10
1."Nokia" – Drake
Peak: #2 Hot 100 | Streams: 432M+ Spotify | Released: February 14, 2025Listen on Spotify | Apple Music
Here's the thing about Drake: you can beat him in a rap battle, you can drag him on social media, you can write think pieces about his cultural relevance and then he'll just drop something so stupidly catchy that none of it matters anymore.
"Nokia" samples that old-school Nokia ringtone over a sweaty Atlanta bass beat peppered with flashy synths, with producer Elkan adding these androgynous vocals that shouldn't work but absolutely do. Halfway through, the beat stutters and slows into this crunchy groove where Drake starts flowing like it's 1984 and he's in Whodini.
The result? The most-streamed rap song released in 2025, with 432 million Spotify plays and counting, surpassing even Doechii's "Anxiety." It became the official theme song for WWE's Wrestlepalooza, which tells you everything about how far beyond hip-hop heads this thing traveled.
Is it Drake's best song? Hell no. Is it proof that he can still make hits in his sleep while everyone else is trying way too hard? Absolutely. The man sampled a phone from 2002 and made it work in 2025. That's not luck—that's craft.
2."Manchild" – Sabrina Carpenter
Peak: #1 Hot 100 (debut) | Streams: 200M+ (est.) | Released: June 5, 2025Official Link
Sabrina Carpenter just got her second #1 on the Hot 100 with "Manchild," which debuted at the top of the chart. Released exactly one year after "Please Please Please" gave her that first chart-topper, this is the sound of an artist who's figured out her lane and is now just having fun with it.
It's a country-influenced pop song where she playfully tears apart immature male behavior, complete with lines like "why so sexy if so dumb" that are both hilarious and devastatingly accurate. She co-wrote it with Amy Allen and Jack Antonoff—the same team behind her 2024 breakout—which means the pop songwriting machinery is firing on all cylinders.
The video is where things get weird in the best way. Directed by the duo behind those fast-cut movie trailers, it shows Carpenter hitchhiking across the American West with various idiots using transportation like jet skis, shopping carts attached to motorcycles, and motorized recliners, getting into increasingly ridiculous scenarios including wielding a shotgun and encountering an orca.
NPR called it an "honest-to-goodness pop jam" and an "unalloyed delight," noting how rare playful bangers had become on the charts. They're not wrong. This is the kind of song that reminds you pop music doesn't have to be deep to be good—sometimes it just needs to make you smile and move.
3."Abracadabra" – Lady Gaga
Peak: #13 Hot 100, #5 Global 200 | Streams: 150M+ (est.) | Released: February 3, 2025Listen on Spotify | Apple Music
Remember when everyone kept asking when Lady Gaga would "go back" to her old sound? Well, she did—sort of. "Abracadabra" feels like stepping back into 2009, but with production that's been refined for today's era. Pitchfork said she hadn't released a single this good since 2013's "G.U.Y.," calling it a "latex-tight hook in true Born This Way fashion" while noting traces of over a decade of artistic reinvention.
The song interpolates "Spellbound" by Siouxsie and the Banshees, which is extremely on-brand for Gaga's goth-pop sensibilities. The video—which she co-directed herself alongside choreographer Parris Goebel—is a dance battle between two versions of herself, and it's as theatrical as you'd expect.
What's remarkable is that the whole Mayhem album became her highest-rated release on Metacritic, with critics praising influences from everyone from David Bowie to Nine Inch Nails. Turns out when Gaga commits to something, she doesn't half-ass it.
4."luther" – Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA
Peak: #1 Hot 100 (8 weeks) | Streams: 300M+ (est.) | Released: November 2024Listen on Spotify | Apple Music
While everyone was obsessing over Drake's comeback, Kendrick and SZA quietly dominated the Billboard 100 for eight straight weeks with "luther." Eight weeks. In 2025's TikTok-fried attention economy, that's basically an eternity.
This isn't a banger. It's not trying to be. It's a slow-burning R&B track where two of the decade's best artists just... vibe together. The chemistry is undeniable, the production is gorgeous, and it turns out that sometimes all you need is two supremely talented people making music that feels effortless.
5."DENIAL IS A RIVER" – Doechii
Peak: #21 Hot 100 | Streams: 120M+ (est.) | Released: August 2024 (peaked Feb 2025)Listen on Spotify | Music Video
Doechii's "DENIAL IS A RIVER" hit #21 on the Hot 100 this February, which might not sound massive until you realize she was an underground favorite six months ago and now she's got a mainstream hit.
The Florida rapper spends the whole song arguing with the personification of her own inner conscience, and somehow turns a heavy-breathing exercise into a quotable tagline. It's weird, it's inventive, and it's exactly the kind of thing that shouldn't work commercially but does anyway because Doechii is just that good.
Her late-night and award show performances turned heads. Her ability to blend sharp lyricism with pop accessibility without dumbing anything down has made her one of 2025's most exciting stories.
6."Ordinary" – Alex Warren
Peak: #1 Hot 100 (multiple weeks) | Streams: 180M+ (est.) | Released: February 7, 2025Listen on Spotify | Apple Music | Music Video
Alex Warren's got this rich, soulful voice that grabs you immediately. Throw in a background choir, a plucky guitar riff, and genuinely powerful vocal delivery, and you've got an instant hit.
The song was doing well, then he performed it on Netflix's Love Is Blind and it exploded. It held at #1 for multiple weeks. Sometimes that's how it works—right song, right moment, right platform.
It's a classic pop ballad done right: emotional without being manipulative, big without being bombastic. Warren's got the kind of voice that works in arenas but still feels intimate in headphones.
7."Undressed" – Sombr
Peak: Top 20 (various charts) | Streams: 275M+ all platforms | Released: Early 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
Who the hell is Sombr? That was the question everyone asked in early 2025. Turns out he's a Radiohead fan who also loves The 1975 and Phoebe Bridgers, and he's figured out how to make guitar-driven pop that actually works on streaming platforms.
"Undressed" combines guitar lines and pop hooks in a way that feels both nostalgic and fresh, racking up hundreds of millions of streams. Along with "Back to Friends," Sombr's basically proven that indie-pop isn't dead—it just needed someone with actual songs.
8."Tears" – Sabrina Carpenter
Peak: Top 15 (est.) | Streams: 90M+ (est.) | Released: August 29, 2025Official Link
Sabrina gets two spots in the top 10 because she's having that kind of year. "Tears" is a Donna Summer-esque disco track where Carpenter jokes that basic male competence is enough to turn her on. It's funny, it's catchy, and it's got a disco-funk groove that belongs in a roller rink.
The video—featuring drag queen legend Colman Domingo as her dance instructor—has been compared to Rocky Horror Picture Show. She performed it at the VMAs and it became an instant fan favorite.
9."The Louvre" – Chappell Roan
Peak: Top 20 (est.) | Streams: 85M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
Chappell Roan made a lesbian version of "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" with hints of the Chicks and Shania Twain. That sentence alone should tell you everything you need to know.
She's said it's a tribute to her Missouri roots, not the direction of her next album, which is probably smart—but damn if this isn't a fun detour. After her 2024 breakthrough, Roan could've played it safe. Instead she made a queer country-pop banger. Respect.
10."Diet Pepsi" – Addison Rae
Peak: Top 30 (est.) | Streams: 75M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
Yes, that Addison Rae. The TikTok star. And yes, it's actually good.
"Diet Pepsi" nails that specific atmospheric, driving-with-the-windows-down-in-summer vibe. It's synth-heavy, dreamy, and honestly better than it has any right to be from someone who started as an influencer.
The album Addison was one of the year's most anticipated releases, and "Diet Pepsi" proved the hype was justified. She's not dabbling in music anymore—she's making actual pop records.
The Next Tier: Songs 11-25
11."Scorsese Baby Daddy" – SZA
Peak: Top 40 (est.) | Streams: 65M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
SZA spends the whole track crashing out over guitar riffs, calling up someone who'll help her avoid her problems rather than solving them.It's peak SZA—emotionally raw, brutally honest, and wrapped in production that makes dysfunction sound beautiful.
The guitar-driven sound marks a slight departure from her usual R&B approach, but the subject matter is vintage SZA: messy decisions, questionable coping mechanisms, and the kind of self-awareness that comes just a bit too late. The track showcases why she's remained one of R&B's most compelling voices—she makes bad decisions sound so good you almost want to make them yourself.
The verdict: SZA's best crash-out anthem yet. We've all been there, just not with production this good.
12."The Dead Dance" – Lady Gaga
Peak: Top 25 (est.) | Streams: 60M+ (est.) | Released: September 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
Gaga wrote "The Dead Dance" for Season 2 of Wednesday, where she plays a legendary Nevermore teacher. It was made with the same team from Mayhem—Andrew Watt and Cirkut which means it's got that same dark-pop theatrical energy that made the album a critical hit.
The song fits perfectly into both the Wednesday universe and Gaga's own aesthetic—it's spooky without being campy, theatrical without being overwrought. She performed it alongside "Abracadabra" at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards in a pre-recorded segment filmed at Madison Square Garden, and it immediately became a fan favorite.
For a TV tie-in, it's surprisingly substantial this isn't just a throwaway promotional single. It's a full-fledged Gaga banger that happens to work perfectly for a gothic Netflix series.
The verdict: Gaga and Tim Burton were always meant to collaborate. This is exactly as good as you'd hope.
13."Disease" – Lady Gaga
Peak: Top 30 (multiple countries) | Streams: 80M+ (est.) | Released: October 25, 2024Listen on Spotify | Apple Music
The dark-pop lead single from Mayhem that set the tone for Gaga's return to her theatrical roots. "Disease" is moody, electronic, and features Gaga's vocals at their most haunting. It's the kind of song that reminded everyone why she became a superstar in the first place.
As the first taste of Mayhem, "Disease" worked perfectly—it signaled that Gaga was done with the jazz standards and movie ballads and was returning to the dance-pop darkness that made her iconic. The production is layered and complex, building tension throughout before releasing into a chorus that's both catchy and unsettling.
Critics praised it as a return to form, and fans agreed. It might not have been the biggest hit of the Mayhem era, but it was the most important—it announced Gaga was back, and she meant business.
The verdict: The perfect lead single. Set expectations and delivered on every one of them.
14."What Did I Miss?" – Drake
Peak: Top 15 (est.) | Streams: 92M+ Spotify | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
The lead single from Drake's upcoming Iceman album, already pulling in over 92 million Spotify streams. If "Nokia" was Drake proving he could still make hits, "What Did I Miss?" is him showing he can still make statements.
The track finds Drake in a more introspective mode than "Nokia," reflecting on everything that's happened in the past few years—the Kendrick beef, the commercial comeback, the constant scrutiny. It's not quite as catchy as "Nokia," but it's more substantive, which suggests Iceman might be a more well-rounded project than some expected.
Early reactions have been strong, with Drake continuing his dominance of rhythmic airplay throughout 2025. If this is any indication, Iceman could be one of the year's biggest releases when it finally drops.
The verdict: Drake's not just making comeback hits—he's building toward something bigger with Iceman.
15."DIE TRYING" – PARTYNEXTDOOR (feat. Drake)
Peak: Top 30 (est.) | Streams: 211M+ | Released: February 14, 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
One of the deeper cuts from $ome $exy $ongs 4 U that hit 211+ million streams.That's not a deep cut by normal standards that's a hit most artists would kill for as a single.
"DIE TRYING" showcases the Drake-PND chemistry at its best: slow-burning R&B with melancholic melodies and just enough Drake presence to elevate it without overwhelming PND's vibe. It's the kind of track that works best late at night, probably after a few drinks, definitely in your feelings.
The song's longevity is impressive. While "Nokia" grabbed headlines, "DIE TRYING" has been quietly racking up streams for months, becoming a fan favorite from an album full of potential singles. It's proof that sometimes the album tracks have just as much staying power as the promoted singles.
The verdict: The best Drake-PND collaboration since... well, their last one. These two just work.
16."SOMEBODY LOVES ME" – Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR
Peak: Top 40 (est.) | Streams: 111M+ | Released: February 14, 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
Another $ome $exy $ongs 4 U track that crossed 111 million streams. At this point, it's clear the entire album is a hit factory. Drake and PND could've released half these songs as singles and they'd have performed.
"SOMEBODY LOVES ME" is more upbeat than "DIE TRYING," with a bounce that makes it more suited for daytime listening than late-night contemplation. It's got that confident-but-not-cocky energy that Drake does so well, and PND's melodic sensibilities keep it from veering into typical brag-rap territory.
The whole $ome $exy $ongs 4 U project has aged remarkably well. What could've been a quick cash-grab collaboration album has turned into one of 2025's most durable releases, with multiple tracks still getting consistent streaming months after release.
The verdict: Drake and PND's collaborative album isn't just good—it's one of 2025's most surprisingly resilient releases.
17."Hush" – Charlotte Sands
Peak: Rock/Alternative charts | Streams: 40M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
A two-minute pop-punk banger with stadium-ready choruses and crunchy guitars. Charlotte Sands is part of a small but growing movement of artists proving pop-punk isn't dead—it's just been waiting for the right moment to come back.
At just over two minutes, "Hush" doesn't waste a second. The chorus is ready to scream out at a stadium, featuring crunchy guitars that rise above the mix, and Charlotte's voice flipping in and out of registers effortlessly. It's the kind of song that makes you want to jump in a mosh pit even if you're just sitting at your desk.
Her debut album Somewhere dropped in June, and "Hush" has been one of its standout tracks. For anyone who grew up on Paramore and early Avril Lavigne, this scratches that exact itch while still sounding contemporary.
The verdict: Pop-punk isn't having a revival, but Charlotte Sands is making a strong case that it should be.
18."Last Night's Mascara (Stripped)" – Griff
Peak: UK charts | Streams: 35M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
Griff's stripped-back version of her synth-heavy original somehow sounds better than the original. That's a tough thing to pull off—usually the big production version wins—but Griff's self-taught skills shine through on this acoustic reimagining.
The original is layered with synths and background vocals, but the stripped version gives the song a brand-new feel and is like listening to an entirely different track. It's rare for a song to sound even better live than in the studio, but her performance on The Kelly Clarkson Show proved this version hits harder than the polished original.
Griff has that rare ability to make smart production choices while keeping emotion at the forefront. She's been building a catalog of songs that work equally well at festivals and in bedrooms, which is harder than it sounds.
The verdict: Griff is one of those artists who'll be headlining festivals in a few years. Mark it down.
19."¿Quién Diría?" – Ela Taubert
Peak: Latin charts Top 10 | Streams: 50M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
The Latin Grammy-winning Colombian singer made a heartbreak song that sounds euphoric. That's a hell of a trick—taking crushing emotional pain and wrapping it in production so bright and hooks so catchy that you're singing along before you realize how sad the lyrics actually are.
The cut from her album Preguntas a Las 11:11 is built on bright hooks and belting choruses, creating an effect that's euphoric even when describing trying to get over heartbreak. Taubert's confessional pop style resonated so much that she landed last year's Latin Grammy for Best New Artist, and "¿Quién Diría?" shows exactly why.
The song has crossover appeal beyond Latin pop circles—it's the kind of track that transcends language barriers because the emotion is so universal. Plus, that chorus is undeniable in any language.
The verdict: Latin pop's crossover to mainstream isn't slowing down, and Ela Taubert is leading the charge.
20."Waters" – Girl Named Tom
Peak: Adult Contemporary charts | Streams: 25M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
The Voice-winning siblings went back to basics with acoustic guitars and harmonies that only siblings can create. There's something about sibling harmonies—whether it's the Bee Gees, HAIM, or Girl Named Tom—that just hits different. It's chemistry you can't fake.
"Waters" is gentle, soothing, and features the kind of vocal blending that made them win The Voice in season 21. The music video might inspire you to get up and take a walk in the woods, which is both the vibe and the entire point. In a year full of high-energy bangers and dramatic productions, sometimes you just need something that feels like a deep breath.
The trio has managed to carve out a lane for themselves that's neither too mainstream nor too niche—it's folk-pop that works on adult contemporary radio but doesn't feel watered down or pandering.
The verdict: Sometimes the most impactful songs are the quietest ones. This is one of them.
21."Back to Friends" – Sombr
Peak: Top 30 (est.) | Streams: 100M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
Sombr's second massive hit proved "Undressed" wasn't a fluke. If anything, "Back to Friends" shows even more range it's slightly more upbeat, a bit more radio-friendly, but still maintains that indie-pop authenticity that made "Undressed" work so well.
Along with "Undressed," "Back to Friends" immediately established Sombr as one of the more exciting new voices in the mainstream. The fact that he's got two songs with this much traction proves he's not a one-hit wonder. He's building something sustainable here.
The song's about that complicated space between romantic relationship and friendship—wanting to preserve the connection even if the romance is over. It's relatable without being cliché, which is exactly what Sombr does best.
The verdict: Two hits in one year from a complete unknown? Sombr is the real deal.
22."El Camino High" – Moody Joody
Peak: Viral charts | Streams: 45M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
Infectious synth-pop with speak-singing that burrows into your brain. Moody Joody came out of nowhere—literally. Spotify's algorithm recommended "El Camino High" to listeners, it started popping off on TikTok, and suddenly this unknown artist had millions of streams.
The song's got that specific quality where you're not quite sure if you like it at first, but three days later you're still humming it. The speak-singing style in the verses gives way to an actual melodic chorus that hits way harder because of the contrast. It's smart songwriting disguised as casual indie-pop.
Moody Joody's whole aesthetic is "discovered by the algorithm," which could've been a liability but has instead become part of the appeal. This is what organic discovery looks like in 2025.
The verdict: The algorithm finally got one right. Moody Joody deserves the hype.
23."Talk Me Down" – Moody Joody
Peak: Viral charts | Streams: 30M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
The follow-up contains the same speak-singing throughout verses and bridges that adds unique texture to Moody Joody's synth-pop formula. If it ain't broke, don't fix it—and Moody Joody is smart enough to know they've got a sound that works.
"Talk Me Down" is slightly more subdued than "El Camino High," making it better suited for those 2am drives when you're processing your feelings but don't want to get too emotional about it. It's introspective without being depressing, which is a tough balance.
The fact that both songs are working proves Moody Joody isn't a novelty act. They've got a formula, yes, but it's a formula that clearly resonates with people looking for that specific vibe between indie-pop accessibility and alternative credibility.
The verdict: Two viral hits means it's not luck anymore. Moody Joody has figured something out.
24."Garden of Eden" – Lady Gaga
Peak: Promo single | Streams: 40M+ (est.) | Released: March 2025Listen on Spotify | Apple Music
ESPN made this the official Formula One song for 2025, so if you watched any F1 races this year, you heard this constantly. It's got that driving, propulsive energy, that works perfectly for watching cars go 200 mph around a track.
From the Mayhem album, "Garden of Eden" is one of the more uptempo tracks it's not as dark as "Disease" or as theatrical as "Abracadabra," but it's got this relentless forward momentum that makes it perfect for ESPN's purposes. The fact that it works both in the context of the album and as a sports anthem shows Gaga's versatility.
It might not have been promoted as a proper single, but ESPN exposure gave it a life beyond the album. Sports partnerships can be hit-or-miss, but this one actually works.
The verdict: Not every song needs to be single to make an impact. Sometimes being the F1 theme is enough.
25."Love Is (Head's Version)" – Lorde
Peak: Top 40 (est.) | Streams: 55M+ (est.) | Released: 2025Search on Spotify | Search on YouTube
Lorde came back with urgent, hypnotic synth-pop that feels like waking up from a nightmare. After years away, Lorde's return was always going to be an event, and "Love Is (Head's Version)" doesn't disappoint.
The song feels like a spiritual successor to Melodrama it's got that same mix of euphoria and melancholy, that same sense of dancing through your feelings rather than away from them. With romanticized references to New York club Baby's All Right and the city's crowded streets, the track is powerful enough to flood Washington Square Park all summer—and it quite literally played a role in the viral park shutdown this summer.
Lorde's been teasing new music for a while, and if this is any indication of where she's headed, her next album is going to be special. She's one of the few pop stars who can disappear for years and come back like she never left.
The verdict: Lorde's back, and she brought that Melodrama energy with her. Welcome home.
Who Broke Through in 2025
Doechii went from underground to mainstream without compromising. That's rare.
Sombr proved guitar pop can still dominate streaming if you've got actual songs.
Alex Warren showed up with a voice and got a #1. Sometimes it really is that simple.
Moody Joody got discovered by an algorithm and it actually worked out.
How We Actually Ranked These
We looked at charts (30%), streams (25%), what critics said (20%), cultural impact—TikTok, memes, whatever (15%), and our own opinions (10%). We update this every Monday when new stuff drops or charts shift.
Our team includes former music journalists, radio programmers, and people who've worked at labels. We know what we're talking about, even if you disagree with our rankings.
Questions People Keep Asking
Why is "Nokia" #1?
Because 432 million people streamed it and it became unavoidable. Sometimes the most popular thing actually is the best.
How often do you update this?
Every Monday. New releases, chart moves, whatever.
Where's [insert artist]?
Either they haven't released anything major in 2025, or it didn't make our cutoff. Sorry.
Is Addison Rae actually good or are you being nice?
Listen to "Diet Pepsi" and decide for yourself. We're not being nice—it's legitimately good.
What about the rest of 2025?
Drake's Iceman is coming soon, Gaga's tour is extending into 2026, and there's still three months left. This list will change.
What Happens Next
We've got three months left in 2025. Drake's dropping Iceman any minute now. Awards season will tell us which of these songs get industry recognition. And there will definitely be surprises we can't predict yet.
One thing's clear: pop music in 2025 isn't dying, struggling, or fading. It's just doing what it's always done—evolving, surprising us, and occasionally making us dance in our kitchens at 2am because a song about Nokia phones or idiotic men or spellcasting is just too damn catchy to resist.
Check back every Monday. We'll keep this current.
Written by people who actually care about pop music | Updated weekly | Opinions are our own, streams don't lie