- - Listen to All the Best Songs of 2025 Before the Year Is Over

Erica Gonzales, Kayla Webley Adler, Sara Austin, Brea Cubit, Claire Stern Milch, Daniel Taroy, Burake Teshome, Samuel MaudeDecember 24, 2025 at 3:30 AM

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How do you sum up a year in music when the song of the summer was a travel commercial? If “Nothing Beats a Jet2 Holiday” proved anything, it’s that the music landscape is in unprecedented territory in 2025—so diverse and sometimes disjointed that we failed to agree on one singular, dominant anthem for the best months of the year. But on the other side of the coin, it might also mean (walk with us here) that creativity can blossom from anywhere, and that even the most unexpected sounds can resonate with wide audiences. Rosalía, for example, drew inspiration from symphonies and operas to produce a collection of “pop” songs that defy genre. Lady Gaga, on the other hand, turned her inner chaos into a theatrical pop saga of her own.

Even the artists who stuck to more familiar themes did so in ways that struck listeners as entirely new. When it comes to heartbreak, Lily Allen recounted her breakup with shocking transparency; Chappell Roan’s “The Subway” captures the pain of moving on; and Kehlani’s “Folded” describes that fresh, post-split confusion. And those searching for love made the journey sound fun, even if it’s actually exhausting—as Raye did on “Where Is My Husband!” and Olivia Dean on “Man I Need.”

No matter how surprising or familiar, how viral or under-the-radar, this year’s songs transported us, even if it wasn’t via a budget airline. Read through ELLE editors’ picks for the best songs of 2025 and add our playlist on Spotify below.

“Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of February 2025: “Whatever witchcraft Lady Gaga put in ‘Abracadabra,’ it’s working, and I want more. Ever since the song debuted in a (checks notes) Mastercard commercial at the Grammys, I have been under its spell, unable to go about my day without chanting a little ‘ooh nana’ and ‘morta-ooh-Gaga’ under my breath. Its hypnotic quality is so Gaga: the made-up language, the gothic folklore themes, the sublime melody. It’s the Mother Monster you know and love, but also evolved, making this the perfect lead-up to Mayhem. Everyone’s saying Gaga is so back, but in my house? She never left.”—Erica Gonzales, deputy editor, digital content

“Berghain” by Rosalía, featuring Björk and Yves Tumor

“‘Berghain’ feels like a beautifully frenzied fever dream. Rosalía taps Björk and Yves Tumor as collaborators, creating a track that’s sensual, gothic, poignant, and slightly unhinged. Its haunting, operatic flourishes and shifting languages—moving fluidly between German, Spanish, and English—give the song a theatrical, almost sacred quality. It pulses with themes of love and heartache, complete with dramatic arrangements and gorgeous orchestral strings that move me every time I listen. This song is high art.”—Brea Cubit, contributor

“Baile Inolvidable” by Bad Bunny

“There are so many standouts on Bad Bunny’s DTMF, but this one is probably, as the title suggests, the most memorable. Presenting his take on salsa music, the singer harps on a relationship that is no more, a dance that ended too soon. It’s melancholy, but glows with warm instrumentation and harmonies.”—EG

“Folded” by Kehlani

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of June 2025: “I don’t remember where I was when I first heard ‘Folded’ by Kehlani, but it didn’t feel like I was in 2025. ‘Folded’ exists somewhere in the mid-2000s. This is the kind of honeyed, sensual summertime R&B banger that would’ve been a strong contender for the No. 1 spot on BET’s now-defunct 106 & Park (did you catch the 3LW interpolation?), or one you’d reluctantly send to a crush over AIM. This song is meant for girls like me, who have too much pride to openly admit when they miss someone. Instead, they send Da Vinci Code–like messages or, in Kehlani’s case, a flood of double entendres, to get the point across. ‘Meet me at the door while it’s still open’ and ‘I know it’s getting cold out, but it’s not frozen’ show the tug-of-war that the heart plays when love has ended, but you’re still holding out hope. Kehlani’s vocal acrobatics and shimmering backing melody made ‘Folded’ the top spot on my summer Spotify playlist.”—Nerisha Penrose, beauty commerce editor

“Sports Car” by Tate McRae

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of January 2025: “I have been evangelizing Tate McRae to my friends, and this track, off her album So Close to What, made one skeptic a McRae follower. He called the song a ‘sexy bop,’ to which I replied, ‘I want to be sprayed by a hose while listening.’ He then said, ‘Stand outside a fire station with a speaker.’ He’s right. New York Fire Department, beware: Tate McRae and I are coming for you.”—Samuel Maude, content strategy manager

“Ruminating” by Lily Allen

“Lily Allen dropped what is quite possibly the most scorching breakup album of all time in October. West End Girl, her first album in seven years, is a raw, diaristic account written and produced in 10 days during the end of her marriage to actor David Harbour, whom she divorced earlier this year after learning he had been cheating on her. (As she divulges in the album, he talks her into opening their marriage when she’s away for work, but then goes on to break the rules they set; he also kept a secret apartment, despite owning an insanely beautiful brownstone.) It’s hard to pick a favorite song, especially as Allen designed the album to be consumed beginning to end like a storybook, but the one that’s been stuck in my head is the aptly named ‘Ruminating,’ an earworm that perfectly captures that wide-awake, obsessing-over-every-detail feeling we all know too well. Allen’s marriage may have crashed and burned, but as she said, ‘Heartbreak is also a fucking gift,’ especially when it results in music like this.”—Kayla Webley Adler, deputy editor and features director

“Where Is My Husband!” by RAYE

“RAYE’s brain works in mysterious, beautiful ways. Somehow, she turned a song about a desperate search for a spouse into a raucous, joyous jazz fest, one that reveals the depths of her songwriting ability and her vocal prowess—her voice flits and flicks through that wordy bridge with laser-sharp precision. On one hand, I want the British singer to find the man of her dreams, but on the other, I never want her to stop singing this song. All together now: ‘I WOULD LIKE A RING, I WOULD LIKE A RING…’”—EG

“Past Life” by Ariana Grande

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of March 2025: “On eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead, Ariana Grande dives deeper into the world she began creating last year. All six additional tracks scratch a different Grande itch. The strings on ‘Past Life’ make it a particularly enticing song, quickly propelling the track into this editor’s Ariana top five. She’s done it again.”—SM

“What Was That” by Lorde

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of April 2025: “Ever since Lorde teased this song with a video of herself stomping through the grounds of Washington Square Park, I knew we were in for an awakening. The first single off her album Virgin, ‘What Was That’ is electric and poetic, harkening back to her Melodrama days but also capturing the next stage of her evolution.”—EG

“So Be It” by Clipse

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of June 2025: “Clipse dropped their first album in over 15 years, and they set the bar high with this single. Over a sickening (celebratory) sampled beat by Pharrell, who produced the whole album, brothers Pusha T and Malice prove they only get better with time. Mentally, I’m still not over the ‘draw when it’s sketchy’ line.”—EG

“Relationships” by HAIM

“HAIM doesn’t miss when it comes to lead singles, and ‘Relationships’ proves it once again. With a bass line that lends itself perfectly to a sidewalk strut, it was the ideal kickoff to their unofficially trademarked ‘single summer.’ Complete with a music video starring none other than beloved internet Adonis Drew Starkey, it’s almost like this song was tailor-made for me. Released the day after I went through a breakup of my own, it couldn’t have arrived at a better time—and I highly recommend it.”—Burake Teshome, senior social media editor

“The Subway” by Chappell Roan

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of August 2025: “Finally, ‘The Subway’ is out in the world! Chappell Roan dropped her long-awaited single, about struggling to move on from an ex, after about a year of teasing it and even performing it on festival stages. It’s got a dreamy ’90s pop-rock feel, reminiscent of The Cranberries. Roan’s got a way of making the vintage sound modern and the heartbreaking sound romantic.”—EG

“Man I Need” by Olivia Dean

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of August 2025: “This is your monthly reminder that Olivia Dean is the next big thing. Her single ‘Man I Need’ was probably the best tease of her album The Art of Loving. The soft but bouncy rhythm makes you want to step and snap like it’s an old-school soul classic, and her buttery vocals are cozy like an easy Sunday morning.”—EG

“Sex and the City” by Audrey Hobert

“In ‘Sex and the City,’ Hobert fights against the romance of a Carrie Bradshaw-esque lifestyle while immortalizing the single female experience with a candor and humor that’s as cutting as it is relatable. An incredible recounting of what it’s like to put yourself out there to no avail, then going home with a lackluster man for the sake of saying you did, all while battling your own insecurities, Hobert’s diaristic lyricism is everything and more.”—BT

“Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter

“If my romantic life had a theme song, it would be ‘Manchild.’ Sabrina Carpenter’s first single post-Short ’n Sweet acts as a thesis statement for both the Grammy-winning album and this year’s Grammy-nominated Man’s Best Friend. An anthem for any person who’s ever dared to romantically engage with a man, Carpenter humorously illustrates the frustration that comes with dating in the modern age, all while ruminating on the role she plays in her own heartbreak.”—BT

“Money Is Everything” by Addison Rae

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of June 2025: “Addison Rae is asking the right question on ‘Money Is Everything’: ‘Can’t a girl have fun?’ She can, apparently, and does throughout her star-making debut album, Addison. If you’ve got it, you better flaunt it.”—SM

“Audrey Hepburn” by Maisie Peters

“British pop girly Maisie Peters, queen of the breakup bop, ventured into a more mature, folk-tinged sound this year on three singles from her upcoming third album. The biggest surprise of ‘Audrey Hepburn’ is not Peters’s stellar songwriting—her ability to craft specific lyrics around universal emotions has always been top-tier—but her sweet sense of contentment. ‘Love was a myth, now it’s my morning coffee,’ she sings, ‘the one you leave me by my bed.’ Try not to sigh.”—Sara Austin, executive editor

“Devotion” by Justin Bieber and Dijon

“‘Devotion’ topped my Spotify Wrapped with an embarrassing number of plays. The collab with the insanely talented Dijon is a swooning ode to true love that’ll make you ask yourself, ‘Me and who?’”—Claire Stern Milch, digital director

“El Cuco 0.0” by Rauw Alejandro and Jey One

“This song is addictively perfect. From Rauw Alejandro’s newest project, Cosa Nuestra: Capítulo 0, it’s a club, reggaeton, and pop track all in one. Consider me absolutely hooked on one of Puerto Rico’s finest.”—SM

“Starkilla” by Amaarae featuring Bree Runway and Starkillers

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of August 2025: “Amaarae has one of my favorite projects this year with her new album BLACK STAR, and while there are many standout tracks, the most intoxicating one comes early with ‘Starkilla.’ Amaarae may mention a trio of illicit substances, but this song is a drug in and of itself.”—SM

“#Tetas” by CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

“I know the title might be a little off-putting, but that’s the point. On this track from their latest album Papota, the Argentinean duo unleashes a cheeky commentary on the pressures of being an artist in the age of social media, when clicks and likes often outshine creativity. But as they point out the outrageousness of optimizing their #engagement, they also produce a smooth R&B-inspired tune that eschews structure and switches things up halfway through.”—EG

“Nosebleeds” by Doechii

“‘Nosebleeds’ dropped the day after Doechii won her first Grammy, and you can feel that confidence radiate here. Sure, her viral track ‘Anxiety’ was wildly popular this year—and rightfully so—but in terms of the artist staking her claim as one of the sharpest voices in rap right now, I’d venture to say that ‘Nosebleeds’ made a bigger statement. Its bold flow and unshakable triumph helped capture a rapper and singer who’s fully owning her moment.”—BC

“Girl Feels Good” by FKA Twigs

“‘Girl Feels Good’ captures FKA Twigs at her most tender and self-possessed. The track unfurls slowly, layering soft electronics with breathy vocals that embrace self-recognition. ‘A girl feels good, and the world goes ’round / Turn your love up loud to keep the devil down,’ Twigs sings before declaring with a wink, ‘When a girl feels good, she’s gonna keep you around / When a girl feels good, you’ll know.’ It’s a sensual, introspective affirmation about inhabiting your body, pleasure, and power on your own terms. I can’t tell you how many times I listened to this while sashaying around town, feeling like the main character.”—BC

“Dopamine” by Robyn

“A Robyn comeback before the end of the year? Maybe 2025 wasn’t as terrible as it seemed. On this new single, which she produced with Klas Åhlund, her ‘Call Your Girlfriend’ collaborator, she delivers feel-good pop energy that we’ve been desperately needing.”—EG

“Picture Window” by Japanese Breakfast

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of March 2025: “Despite its sweet, inviting sound—perhaps even reminiscent of Japanese Breakfast’s Jubilee—the mesmerizing ‘Picture Window’ comes from an anxious, even dark place. Frontwoman Michelle Zauner explained in a statement, ‘When someone is running late or they’ve neglected a text or even if they’re just looking over a balcony, my mind has a tendency to run to the worst-case scenario, a reflex only exacerbated by my experience of many real deaths. It can be both a relief and a struggle to love someone who doesn’t share this same proclivity for anxiety.’ The song explores that dynamic, underlined by its video (which Zauner directed) featuring a couple pulling in two opposite directions. It’s somber yet complex feelings like these that the singer portrays with gorgeous songwriting on her latest album.”—EG

“Corazón” by Sofia Kourtesis

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of August 2025: “DJ and producer Sofia Kourtesis has a winner with her new EP Volver. ‘Corazón’ is a sublime taste of the project, serving smooth dance beats that can easily lull someone into a state of ecstasy. It feels like a quick break from the dance floor, while you’re hunched over picnic tables smoking a cigarette outside of the club.”—SM

“Kissing in Public” by Destin Conrad

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of April 2025: “Summer feels within reach on this hot and flirty Destin Conrad single that celebrates queer love. It’s seductive but also brings the party vibes with echoes of Lionel Richie’s ‘All Night Long’ in the melody.”—EG

“SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” by Tyler, the Creator

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of July 2025: “Surprise! It’s a new album from Tyler, the Creator. The rapper dropped DON’T TAP THE GLASS while still touring his last LP, Chromakopia, and he’s pivoting to ’80s and electronic influences. After all, he made clear that this album is ‘not for sitting still.’ DTTG is an exciting blend of raucous energy from opening track ‘Big Poe’ to the woozy ‘Ring Ring Ring.’ But ‘Sugar on My Tongue’ is a standout for me. It feels like a hyper candy rush in the best way.”—EG

“12 to 12” by Sombr

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of July 2025: “For a millennial like me, who loved MGMT and Phoenix in college, Sombr’s 2010s alt-rock sound hits close to home. This song even has a bit of a disco influence, making it a certain hit, following in the footsteps of his viral smash ‘Back to Friends.’ (Plus, Addison Rae stars in the music video, so how could he go wrong?)”—EG

“Yamaha” by Dijon

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of August 2025: “Fresh off working with Justin Bieber, Dijon released an album of his own, also with tributes to his partner and child. While the record remains true to his grungy sound, he takes a fun turn on the track ‘Yamaha,’ which is full of ’80s pop ballad vibes.”—EG

“Illegal” by PinkPantheress

“PinkPantheress had us shaking hands left and right on TikTok with this banger, thanks to that one viral trend, but its beat makes you want to move more than just your wrist. It pops from the very first note and has a melody that lodges deep inside your brain. Both are staples of the young British artist’s repertoire, especially as seen in her latest mixtape, Fancy That.”—EG

“Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved” by Miley Cyrus featuring Naomi Campbell

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of May 2025: “This song completely altered my brain chemistry, and rest assured, I will be posing to it for the remainder of the year. Miley Cyrus delivers a fashion anthem with Naomi Campbell, whose spoken word ignites the track. It’s a true standout on Cyrus’s Something Beautiful, and if she plays her cards right, it could be her next big hit.”—SM

“Thank You for Recording” by Oklou

“French musician Oklou (born Marylou Vanina Mayniel) made waves this year on the indie scene with her debut album Choke Enough, which is full of sounds that make your ears perk up. One of them is ‘Thank You for Recording,’ a twinkly, futuristic-sounding track that proves simple melodies can still make a big impact.”—EG

“Mangetout” by Wet Leg

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of July 2025: “Between this track and ‘Catch These Fists,’ I’m loving the get-the-fuck-away-from-me vibes of Wet Leg’s latest album, Moisturizer. ‘You’re in our way, get lost forever,’ the English duo sing in the chorus—and that’s not the only quotable lyric in this song.”—EG

“Jump” by Blackpink

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of July 2025: “Everybody say, ‘Thank you, Diplo!’ For Blackpink’s first new song together in years, the producer supplied the group with a high-octane track that might just blow the roof off the club (and the arena). It’s a great comeback single, arriving just as the girls started touring together again.”—EG

“Dead” by Sudan Archives

“From the very first note, ‘Dead’ feels like a visceral, vibrant, and hypnotic declaration. It captures Sudan Archives’ fearless blend of violin-infused exploration and dance-floor energy, making it one of the year’s most inventive tracks. It’s dynamic and emotionally charged, giving me reason to return to the song again and again.”—BC

“..THUS IS WHY (I DON’T SPRING 4 LOVE)” by Saya Gray

As featured in ELLE's best songs of February 2025: “I wish I had a better way to describe Saya Gray’s debut album, SAYA, but I just have to put it plainly: It’s really freaking cool. And it opens with this track, which puts her experimental sounds and genre-spanning sensibility—electronic, alternative, rock, and more—on full display. With layered vocals, she delivers an unexpected, buoyant melody over fuzzy guitars as she sings, ‘This is why I don’t fall in love in springtime.’”—EG

“Like Jennie” by Jennie

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of March 2025: “Who wanna rock with Jennie, you ask? ME. Especially after hearing this bombastic, addictive track from her impressive debut studio album, Ruby. The K-pop idol and Blackpink member already has millions of fans around the globe, but this song serves as the perfect (re)introduction.”—EG

“Back to Me” by The Marías

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of April 2025: “Moody and bass-y, the verses of The Marías’ latest single creep in with lead singer María Zardoya’s delicate vocals. The resulting effect is eerie, but it makes sense for a breakup song—sometimes lost loves linger and haunt you.”—EG

“Tough Luck” by Laufey

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of May 2025: “Laufey told ELLE that her next album, A Matter of Time, would have ‘more extroverted’ sounds, and this single proves it. After teasing that climactic bridge on TikTok ahead of the release, the jazz-loving artist unveiled the full song and showed her stepping out of her comfort zone while staying true to her signature, romantic sound. With rhythmic guitar strums and dreamy orchestrations and harmonies, Laufey calls out an ex’s tendency to ‘lie and cheat just like you did to the actress before me, oops, she doesn’t even know.’ Tea! Has a diss track ever sounded this beautiful?”—EG

“Delusional” by Erika de Casier

As featured in ELLE's best songs of May 2025: “Erika de Casier is like a quintessential Copenhagen It girl—stylish and cool without even trying. On her surprise EP, she’s got an enviable nonchalant flair on this particular track. ‘You can call me delusional ’cause I’m imagining things, that’s usual, I know it well,’ the Danish singer, songwriter, and producer sings. Being delulu and not caring? Inspiring.”—EG

“Midnight Sun” by Zara Larsson

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of June 2025: “When Zara Larsson swung by the ELLE offices, she described this song as having an ‘endless summer’ kind of vibe, and I couldn’t agree more. Landing just in time for beach party season, the Swedish singer will have you on your feet all night long.”—EG

“The Field” by Blood Orange

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of June 2025: “Blood Orange (a.k.a. Devonté Hynes) returned with his first new song under the stage name in three years. For the homecoming, he recruited a cool group of collaborators—Caroline Polachek, Eva Tolkin, Tariq Al-Sabir, and Daniel Caesar—who come together on an ethereal yet electric track about letting go.”—EG

“Flood” by Little Simz

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of February 2025: “The first taste of Little Simz’s album Lotus is not just promising—it’s also addicting, intoxicating, and perhaps one of the most forward-thinking tracks of the year. The song, which features Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly, is a masterclass in storytelling, showing a profound confidence from the rapper. Its drums have a fire behind them, and Simz stands among the flames as one of the best voices in rap today.”—SM

“Dracula” by Tame Impala

“A Tame Impala anthem for spooky season? Sign me up. Kevin Parker beckons us to ‘run from the sun like Dracula,’ and stay out all night partying. You don’t have to be a vampire to sink your teeth into this groove.”—EG

“Glitter” by Eli

“Get ready for Eli world domination in 2026. With a hook as catchy as any ’90s girl-group anthem, the pop princess’s latest single breaks the themes and sonic landscape of her debut album, Stage Girl, wide open. It’s a brainworm I never want to go away! Replay after replay, your insides are sure to shimmer. And in case you needed another reminder to break up with that man, just give this song a listen and ‘wash the boy right out of your clothes.’”—BT

“Savannah” by Jensen McRae

As featured in ELLE’s best songs of March 2025: “Jensen McRae blends Phoebe Bridgers-esque vocals with country-inspired storytelling on ‘Savannah,’ the kind of acoustic post-breakup ballad that’ll have you look wistfully out the window on car rides. She’s one to keep on your radar.”—EG

“I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend” by BANKS featuring Doechii

“There’s something deliciously defiant about ‘I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend.’ The bass in this track is irresistible, giving the song a swagger that perfectly matches BANKS’s sharp, witty lyricism. It’s cathartic, bitterly relatable, and instantly stuck in my head—which made it the perfect song of choice for many dance sessions I had around my apartment.”—BC

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