By Lucia Vanderhorst – 11th Grade
Music in 2025 feels like one big mash-up of vibes, emotions, and internet culture. The songs that people are talking about right now aren’t just background noise, they’re basically cultural check-ins. If you don’t know them, you might feel out of the loop when people start referencing lyrics on TikTok or when a chorus comes on at a party and everyone except you is screaming the words. So here are eight songs that I think capture what this year sounds like, with a mix of pop, rap, K-pop, R&B, and even some country influence.
One of the biggest tracks is “Ordinary” by Alex Warren, which reached number one and stayed there for weeks. It has an emotional tone that mixes melancholy with a catchy hook, and people connect with its lyrics about wanting more in life than just the average. According to Billboard’s Hot 100 data, this song has consistently charted high and represents how emotional lyrics tied to relatable feelings can still dominate mainstream pop. Another one that you literally cannot skip is “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter. Sabrina has been rising and surprising people with how much range she has. The track is playful but sharp, and according to Yahoo Entertainment, it’s one of the year’s chart-toppers that shows how pop is leaning into being both fun and self-aware.
Then there’s “Golden” by Huntr/x, which is a notable example of how media crossovers can break songs in 2025. It’s technically from the Netflix animated movie KPop Demon Hunters, but people are blasting it like it’s a real K-pop anthem. Barron’s even reported that the film’s soundtrack has boosted Netflix into direct competition with Disney when it comes to animated musicals and music popularity. This shows that even fictional groups can make a real hit now.
If you like smoother, more R&B-inspired tracks, “Love Me Not” by Ravyn Lenae is one you need to hear. It’s been featured on American Top 40 charts and sits in that sweet spot where it feels artsy but still mainstream. On the other side of the spectrum, we have “What I Want” by Morgan Wallen & Tate McRae, which proves country-pop fusion isn’t going anywhere. Even listeners who are normally not attracted to country music are streaming it because it’s catchy and modern.
Pop icons aren’t staying quiet either. “Daisies” by Justin Bieber is one of the standout singles from his new album this year. Bieber leaned into a more alternative pop sound, and while some people are divided on it, you can’t deny it’s everywhere. For global vibes, “Killin’ It Girl” by J-Hope featuring GloRilla is honestly groundbreaking. A K-pop idol teaming up with an American rapper shows how much music is blending across cultures. According to Rolling Stone, this type of collaboration is the future, where fanbases from totally different genres unite.
Lastly, I have to include “Chest Pain (I Love)” by Malcolm Todd, which technically came out late last year but fully exploded in 2025 because of TikTok. The song went viral with short video edits, proving how social media is still the ultimate hitmaker. It even entered the Billboard Hot 100 after trending for months.
To sum up the main vibes these eight songs bring:
- Genre-blending is the norm (pop x country, K-pop x rap).
- Emotional vulnerability sells, even in upbeat songs.
- Social media like TikTok can revive or launch tracks overnight.
- Media tie-ins (like with KPop Demon Hunters) are becoming actual music success stories.
Sources:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/billboard-hot-100-every-no-210316526.html
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