I don’t want to dismiss the year Tate McRae had but….really?
I’ve got my hesitations on Tate McRae being one of the biggest popstars of the moment. Like compare her to Taylor Swift or even Sabrina Carpenter, and yeah Tate’s sustained popularity just feels more artificial. Like nobody else wanted to step up and be the hot new act, so Tate just flooded the market with new singles and a high profile relationship/break-up that I admittedly don’t give a single shit about with The Kid Laroi.
I’ve seen the comparisons to her wanting to be a Britney Spears style popstar. And yeah…that is a hell of an accurate comparison. Britney wasn’t my favorite popstar, but the girl had some bops. Tate has had a handful of bops too. But you know what my personal favorite Britney song was? Go ahead and laugh at me but I loved “Lucky”. Because behind this ultra sexy all the time singer was an introspective song about a girl who despite having it all, is truly lonely and ambivalent inside.
Tate McRae released a similar introspective song this year too and I loved it.
15. “revolving door” - Tate McRae
As a singer, Tate McRae is a VERY good dancer…..I’m sorry, but I can’t talk about this song without talking about the music video. This music video is very distracting and I mean that in the good way. If she wants to be the next Britney Spears, then this is her “Womanizer”. Where I can just watch the video and not think about the song. Yeah…you dance Tate…you dance in very revealing clothing about this guy you just can’t quit…okay in all seriousness before I lose my credibility, the dancing is supposed to represent a form of relief and I like the fact that the backup dancers represent her friends who are trying to help her quit this guy; but they come and go because she pushes them away. And that perfectly timed emotional breakdown at “fuck it I need a minute”. I think Tate might be a decent actress if she ever wants to give it a shot.
But removing the very good music video aside, I like songs about this topic. Having been in a toxic relationship or two myself, I get that inner confliction over knowing someone is bad for you, but you just can’t quit. And while Tate is not the strongest singer, this producer clearly knows it and works on her strengths…which her lower register works best on a song like this. Dare I say that it is very Billie Eilish-y?
What a full circle moment for me, huh. Loathing her as a Billie Eilish ripoff all those years ago and now that she’s found her identity, my new favorite song of her is practically a Billie Eilish style introspective song. I’m still not completely sold on Tate McRae as one of the new leading names as her quality is more often than not around the 4 to 5 out of 10 range, but this one is a solid 8 to 9. Great stuff!
Also what is it with pop singers namedropping the city of Boston as of late? Is there something I’m missing?
And a very informal greetings to the Best Hit Songs of 2024 Part Two. Where we talk about how barren the hit music scene of 2025 was, which even Billboard has called one of the most stagnant years in their charts history. And boy did that ring even more hollow for their giant year end reveal stream where guest host Druski (you know…music!) pointed out that the top ten biggest hits of 2025 were all 2024 songs.
So yeah, expect a lot of 2024 repeats. That is why there are fifteen songs on the best and worst list this year. We had five repeat entries for the best list and you all know my criteria for these lists now. So let’s talk about Billboard’s biggest hit of 2025…..
14. “Die With a Smile” - Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
….yeah I know what a drop off from being fairly high last year on my best list to number fourteen. Man was that Gen Z’s “Islands in the Stream” comment just rang so incredibly true with its staying power this year. Probably one of the most spot on metaphors I’ve ever made.
But even with how absolutely tired I became of this, I still hold an infinity for what this means to me as my music reviewing career comes full circle. I don’t know how much longer I will keep doing this, but seeing two of the biggest stars of my lifetime become the elder statesmen of music gracefully truly is a blessing to witness.
….or Gaga will continue to revisit electropop and Bruno will make a clownish rehash of WAP with Sexyy Red. There’s the bad predictions I’m used to making!
So the last couple years, I’ve shared with you guys what my most listened to song of the year was as a way to get out an easy preamble because it ended up making the year end list. My most listened to song of 2025 did not make the 2025 year end list, but the artist did and we will get to that later. My second most listened to song of the year by literally one play behind my number one song was “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter…
Which is absolutely bizarre to me because I do not like that song at all. I’m going to have to have an uncomfortable conversation with my wife if she added all those streams since we have a shared family plan for streaming and….is there something she’s not telling me? Am I a “Manchild” guys? Be honest with me in the comments below as this has been on my mind more than anything else music related the past few weeks.
Anyway, here’s “Espresso” again.
13. ”Espresso” - Sabrina Carpenter
I could dedicate this entry towards my thoughts on that last album, but I think it is pretty self-explanatory how “Short n’ Sweet” is still ranked above “Man’s Best Friend” on the album charts. I could talk about how Sabrina rushing out that follow up album was not a good decision by all parties involved. But once again, self-explanatory. Instead I’m going to dedicate this entry towards a funny pop culture moment involving this song.
Just when I was starting to get tired of this song, Sabrina Carpenter got added to Fortnite. And while I have long since stopped playing Fortnite in 2025, I logged back on to play a few rounds. And I watched a bunch of Sabrina Carpenter stans practically ruin Fortnite with their dances while the shits who still shelve plenty of hours and money into this game bitched nonstop about how Sabrina Carpenter is ruining Fortnite. And as someone who wasn’t the biggest Fortnite fan to begin with, I thought this was fucking hilarious to hear “Espresso” get repeated adnauseum.
Absolutely made me fall in love with this song all over again. I will never not hate this song to begin with, but now one of the catchiest pop songs of my lifetime took on a whole other layer of admiration. Isn’t that sweet? I guess so. Next.
On my worst list, I mentioned the rise of influencers turning to music as a career being one of the identifying trends. As I said then, it makes sense. The music industry is struggling to make new stars, so why not turn to people that already know how to promote themselves so studio execs don’t have to throw nearly as much effort to promote them to the masses. Well let me add onto that statement by mentioning that there is a rise of another type of music star: theater kids.
Yeah the 2020’s have been exceptionally kind to theater kids. Many acts you can tell listened to their Lady Gaga’s and Taylor Swift’s and let them influence their music stylings from Olivia Rodrigo to Chappell Roan. And I absolutely love it. Not only does it feel like a throwback to when the popstars of yesteryear felt like larger than life characters but it helps make music in general feel more interesting. So yes. More of this please. Help make hit music interesting again and no genre needs it more than….am I reading this right, rap music?
12. “Denial is a River” - Doechii
It is increasingly becoming more apparent that 2024 was a fluke year for rap’s revitalization after a commercially down year in 2023. 2025 was an even worse year for the genre than 2023. If your name wasn’t Kendrick Lamar, you had no staying power. Carti dropped his long anticipated follow up to huge numbers opening week and completely plummeted afterwards. Drake still managed to pull off a decent sized album bomb, hell he reached number two on the Hot 100 singles twice this year. But he absolutely is no longer the big name he once was. Otherwise, crickets from the once dominant genre of my lifetime. At one point, there were no rap songs in the Top 40 for the first time in 36 years. It is insane to me how dire of a shape the genre is right now.
We have to start getting new names and stat. Enter Doechii, who I knew of her years before she became famous….
*one victory lap later*
Doechii had a huge 2025. Winning rap album of the year. Being a candidate for best new artist. Got her first top ten hit with a mixtape demo from six years ago. In a genre that badly needs new names as we’ve been relying on the same six or eight names for awhile now as any new names were either getting cancelled or are dead. And what I love about Doechii is that she is so authentically herself.
Like take this lesser hit from this year, which I fucking adore. I have never heard a mainstream rap song that basically treats itself like a therapy session with subtle laugh tracks, audience laughs and gasps….because isn’t that what life really is? A sitcom? But to me, I treat it like Doechii telling herself that she is no longer an indie darling and is becoming a major name in the industry. She loves the drugs, loves the fame, and she loves the recognition for the hard work and game she’s putting in.
And most importantly, remember to breathe. Take it away, Doechii!
Uh-uh-ooh, uh-uh-ahUh, uh, uh, ahUh, uh, uh-uh-ahUh-uh-uh-uh-ah, whoo-sah!
My thoughts on this year are….we all know where this dad joke is going, right?
11. “Messy” - Lola Young
Told you guys that this song would be a grower. Well, honestly it didn’t grow on me to the point of making my top ten officially, but hey, still being one of my favorite hits of this year deprived of them is quite the accomplishment in its own right. Especially since Lola Young’s emergence literally came the hell out of nowhere.
She had one blink and you miss it background vocals on a Tyler, the Creator sleeper hit. And then next thing you know, we declared that we should give her her own sleeper hit. This didn’t even crack the top ten because we didn’t want to push out the 2024 songs all year, but still managed to get enough points to establish itself as one of the few 2025 big hits not from the likes of Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, or social media influencers. She should be proud.
I know a lot of people are going to point out that R&B was the one genre to really have a banner year this year, but can I highlight that British popstars also had a banner year? Between Lola, RAYE, and Olivia Dean; it seems like we are having a mini-British pop girl invasion right now. And you know what, I don’t oppose. With Ariana and Selena focusing more on acting, Taylor FINALLY taking a hiatus, amongst others. We need to bring in the imports while all the new faces took the year off….except Sabrina for some reason.
Look I already did a much longer than I expected review about this song in a year where I talked about the same songs repeatedly. But I’ll just say that this song’s greatness is pretty self-explanatory. Embrace those insecurities and don’t let anyone define who they want you to be. Because you’re worth it.
We can’t do a 2024…I mean 2025 year end retrospective without talking about the biggest musical event of…okay 2025. So let’s get to it.
K-Pop Demon Hunters….the statistically most successful movie soundtrack of all time. Not Saturday Night Fever. Not Waiting to Exhale. Not anything from Walt Disney. K-Pop Demon Hunters. That is going to take some real getting used to, not gonna lie. I would not consider this soundtrack’s all time success as influential as Saturday Night Fever for example, but you know what; maybe I’m underselling it. Because sure we have had some overseas k-pop acts that have blown up stateside like BTS and Blackpink; but with the sheer volume of acts over there that try to make a name for themselves, it sure doesn’t seem like k-pop really has much of a footing in the US even after all this time as much as the rest of the world.
So who knows? Maybe the cultural phenomenon that was this movie will FINALLY help give k-pop that long awaited moment of impact and we’ll see the likes of Twice or Stray Kids become regular stateside hit makers. Because what K-Pop Demon Hunters did was make the genre more mainstream accessible to America. And for that, I think it absolutely deserved to explode the way it did. Especially with such a damn good soundtrack to boot.
For example…
10. “Your Idol” - Saja Boys
If you came to this blog to expect a full detailed breakdown of why this song is great, well you are greatly mistaken. Because the reason I mainly love this song is because it’s the villain song and villain songs are always the most fun. And amongst the villain songs of the last decade or so, this is the best one. Granted it doesn’t hold a torch to “Be Prepared” or “Poor Unfortunate Souls” for example, as classic Disney villain songs are just structured so perfectly. But “Your Idol” is structured pretty greatly in its own right.
There is a little more to this than meets the eye of the beholder here. If you dig underneath the whole movie tone as this is supposed to hypnotize the audience into allowing their souls to be fed to Gwi-Ma, there is subtext about how K-Pop stan armies are inherently evil. And as somebody who has seen some of his idols get harassed relentlessly by these stupid stan armies. And everytime their “idols” asked for them to shamelessly mass buy their singles, albums, many variants, etc. it only feeds into their corporate greed. I mean hell, Taylor and Beyonce are now billionaires. All thanks to their stan armies. Replace Gwi-Ma with your favorite and it makes you think doesn’t it?
And while all of the K-Pop Demon Hunter songs range from good to massively overplayed and I never want to hear it ever again (sorry Golden) and whatever failed concept Takedown was; this is the only one of these songs that you’ll be seeing on my best list. Saja Boys rule?
https://www.billboard.com/pro/kendrick-lamar-2025-billboard-year-end-rbhip-hop-charts/
So after having one of the biggest knockout decisions in music history in 2024 defeating the great evil, everyone was left wondering. What comes next in the story of Kendrick Lamar?
A well earned victory lap.
9. “Squabble Up” - Kendrick Lamar
We are really going to look back at this past year and a half for Kendrick as one of the biggest years for an individual artist ever like 2014-2016 and 2022-to be determined was for Taylor Swift, 2016-2018 for Drake, 1983-1985 for Michael Jackson, 1964 for The Beatles to name a few of the massive reigns. After destroying Drake’s streaming invincibility and ruling the entirety of summer 2024 with Not Like Us and being named the Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner, he surprised dropped GNX; which I can safely call it the most commercial album he has ever done. Like it puts DAMN. to shame, completely on purpose. This is meant to SELL so Kendrick can prove that he can does what Drake does.
The moment I heard “Squabble Up” it was very clear to me that this was going to be the radio hit and wouldn’t you know it; it was the first number one from that album. My buddy once told me that “Squabble Up” was the radio safe version of “Not Like Us” and a backup plan in case the NFL and the American Legal System told Kendrick that he can’t perform the latter….and I can’t unsee it.
But seriously, look at this man and tell me that Kendrick Lamar doesn’t look like the happiest man alive right now being the biggest artist in the business. “Squabble Up” may be a retread, but to me, it sounds like a well earned victory lap emphasizing that he’s the artist of the moment and fully embracing it. Nobody truly is like Kendrick….
And speaking of…might as well reveal 8.
8. “Not Like Us” - Kendrick Lamar
The fact that this went back to number one after the Super Bowl is fucking amazing. Hearing hundreds of thousands of people saying this song line for line is just a feel good story this year; especially since the world keeps rewarding the evil.
While I do think being the biggest Drake hater will have a shelf life eventually, I’m not there yet. And to be honest, I don’t think a majority of the world is ready to stop being Drake’s biggest hater. Especially with every hilariously wrong move Drake has made post beef. From supporting the shittiest of people to making another bloated misconceived album. And most hilariously, taking this all the way to court where he is bound to continue to lose to the American legal system. Yeah, Universal would be even stupider to keep you once your contract with them is over. Good luck once that is over.
Hell, while as I was writing this, Rap Genius revealed their top ten most popular verses of 2025. And outside of three of the spots being taken by Taylor Swift’s song about Travis Kelce’s “Wood”, the other seven spots were all “Not Like Us”. Timeless classic status…and Travis Kelce’s wood.
So Apple Music revealed their artist of the year. And while many expected it to be Kendrick Lamar again, or Taylor Swift again, or Morgan Wallen again….the artist that won this award truly surprised me.
What a batshit timeline that one of music’s former biggest edgelords is now considered one of the biggest names in music. Like truly, how did we get here? I do not understand it, but as someone who has ALWAYS loved Tyler’s music; to see him even qualify for a hit song list is still surreal. But alas, in 2024 and into 2025, Tyler the Creator became radio friendly…with one hell of a fucking bop.
7. “Sticky” - Tyler the Creator, GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne
What can I say? Chromakopia was a grower. I was initially underwhelmed by the album and thought it was just a retread of Call Me If You Get Lost and IGOR. But let me tell ya, when I first heard Sticky….I put it on repeat and listened to it my entire ride home from work. That is ten times for the record.
And man, let me tell ya. I was shocked when I first heard this at all those featuring credits because when I walked into this blind, it really made me mark the fuck out when each and every single one of them appeared. I’m so glad Glo Rilla has become probably the most uncontroversial female rapper alive. All she does is put out banger after banger after banger. Then Sexyy Red hops in and….she does fine. Unlike Glo Rilla, she seems to have a shelf life. Like once the moment she stops releasing bops, we will be done with her. Or maybe I’m just saying that because of her shameless Trump supporting. But for now, she has the bops. And speaking of shameless, this might be the best Lil Wayne guest verse we’ve gotten in years. Feels like he always reminds people why he is one of the biggest rap stars ever whenever he collaborates with Tyler because he always brings his A game for Tyler.
And then the horns kick in and they fucking stomp you into submission and this really is 2024’s Sicko Mode. I just fucking love it and it really encapsulates the start of what ended up becoming Tyler’s biggest year ever.
Before we wrap up here, I did not have “Like Him” in the honorable mentions for this year. I guess that can be added too. Really good song, hell great even. But I can’t say I revisited it on its own outside of the album. Just not something I can say affected me as much as it did others. But I will say if I do a 2025 albums list for the first time ever, expect Don’t Tap the Glass to be VERY high on there. It was in contention for my album of the year for the longest time. Keep on creating, Tyler….sorry for the dad joke, but you all know what you signed up for when you clicked this link. Next.
I try not to be this big of a pop music nerd, but the fact that “Juno” never became a true hit is just a fucking crime man. That is absolutely my favorite song of Sabrina’s entire discography and I thought for sure she would push it as a single the more it’s “concert favorite status” continued to be cemented. And then, she just didn’t.
Oh well…at least my second favorite song of hers became a hit instead!
6. “Bed Chem” - Sabrina Carpenter
Honestly, this song becoming a hit was nostalgic to me as the streaming era; most artists push like two, sometimes three, singles and then release their next project a year or so later. Sabrina actually had five singles from this album; which each getting their own focus…to an extent. Obviously, this wasn’t as big as the Big 3 from Short N’Sweet. But the fact that she still pushed this as a fourth single and still became a hit anyway made me happy.
“Bed Chem” just perfectly encapsulates everything that the people love about Sabrina as a performer. From the double entendres, to the suggestive lyrics, and the fact that she has a great sense of humor. She is just damn good at making pop music. Like this song is practically foreplay leading to sex itself as a listening experience. There is no distraction and just starts off as a conversation that leads to clearly going somewhere like foreplay. It doesn’t try to be anything grandeur or unheard of. It knows what vibe its going for and executes it fantastically.
…and that vibe is “3 Way (The Golden Rule)” by The Lonely Island. Genuinely the last time Justin Timberlake was actually funny. Yeah everything I said above stands true about as to why I love it, but that extra mile is the comedy. Like these lyrics are legitimately laugh out loud funny in a clearly obvious and playful way. I think that was my main issue with that rushed follow up album this year. Because needless to say, there were a handful of songs that were trying to recapture some of Sabrina’s comedy that completely missed the mark and were more frustrating than they were clever. There really is a right way and a wrong way to do this and a shelf life that I didn’t really know until now.
Just remember next time Sabrina. More of this, please and less…well, “Nobody’s Son”.
When it comes to what is my favorite moment in hit music of not just 2024, but 2025. Second place is not even fucking close to…
5. “tv off” - Kendrick Lamar (featuring Lefty Gunplay)
Yes. The meme song is my favorite Kendrick Lamar song of the past two years, Euphoria withstanding. I mean it’s very easy to forget amidst the Drake beef, all the SZA ballads, the agonizingly self serious album from 2022 that Kendrick is absolutely able to make the fun bangers with the best of them. And my god, did this fucking go off.
I hate reaction streamers. Very cheap and coy and just clearly doing this for the clicks. But if there was one song that I actually looked up the reaction stream towards, it was this. Because I wanted to see if they had the big giant “FUCK YEAH” reaction to the beat switch like I did. Best beat switch since Sicko….you know what, I’m just going to outright say it and goodbye whatever credibility I have….this beatswitch is better than Sicko Mode’s.
And can I just say even before Mustard comes in and escalates this song to a whole other level, can we give some kudos to recent punching bag Jack Antonoff??? Like sir, I am so sorry for all the Taylor/Antonoff complaining I did on my worst list last year. He actually produced a lot of GNX, including the first half of “tv off”....which is basically a warped flipped version of “Not Like Us”. Dare I say, I like it better than the original beat? Is that an even bigger hot take than saying this is better than Sicko Mode?
Well before the takes get any more spicy……MMMMUUUSSSSTTTTAAAARRRDDDD
Yeah, this song is not worth a full explanation, it just fucking goes off in the best ways possible. It is a workout set list staple and anyone who disputes this song’s greatness just doesn’t know how to have fun.
“First off, let me be perfectly clear that this is not my favorite Chappell Roan song. “Pink Pony Club” would have probably dethroned this if it qualified for my extended rules.”
….err yeah, about that…
4. “Good Luck, Babe!” - Chappell Roan
I guess I should have seen that prediction backfiring in record time. Yes, this year was so devoid of new songs that I admittedly got even the smallest bit tired of my favorite hit song from last year.
This song is still a phenomenal pop song, don’t get me wrong. And I’m still very high on Chappell Roan. But the only reason this is not higher on my best list is because of the “of 2025” part. And by 2025, this song shrunk. Which that sure is the theme of this best list. 2024 hits shrinking on me….
….however, there was ONE exception to this statement.
3. “Wildflower” - Billie Eilish
Kind of hard to get tired of a song that I barely heard at all this year. I mean it did get a light radio push that got added at such a snail’s pace that It managed to bypass the previous “52 week recurrency rule”. Recurrency seriously became such a farce, whether it be 20 or 52 weeks. This somehow lasted over 70 weeks despite never making it above 25 after that album dropped. Most people would be annoyed by this, but like I said, I thought it was hysterical. Especially since I barely heard it this year to tire out on me like “Good Luck Babe” did.
Honestly, at this point, I don’t want to talk about either of these two on my best list for a second time. This best list took forever to write and having to talk about so many repeats because of my rules and wanting to be honest and fair with my rankings due to these rules is just exhausting. If you want to know why two clearly great songs are great, go read my best of 2024 list; where these were 1 and 2 respectively; but have now flipped due to the overplay of 1. Let’s talk about something else because pointing out the obvious; we have two songs that I thought were better than these two this year. See? There was something to salvage out of this year to not make it a total lost cause.
Sigh...not today Foo Fighters...not today.....
I may be a hit music reviewer, but despite all my criticisms and eye rolls about the state of the genre; I’m still an alternative rock fan at heart. That was the genre that made me love music after growing up in such a country music heavy household and despite my laundry list of complaints about the modern scene; I still love plenty of these bands and am rooting for so many new names to emerge and make alt rock HIT again like it was the 90s and 2000s.
So it goes without saying, that when I hear a new and emerging hitmaker surge through the industry with actual guitars and a 2000s alternative rock influence to his music; then I’m all in on you being a huge fucking superstar.
2. “back to friends” - Sombr
This kid. This fucking kid grew up a fan of at least MGMT, Foster the People, and/or Radiohead. I don’t even want to know if I’m right or wrong and he says something utterly predictable, but probably true like David Bowie or Prince. Because when I hear this guy’s music, I just hear a time I absolutely loved alternative rock music before it became a car commercial core-fested genre that it has become mocked for.
What I do know is that this guy produces his own music. Which is really fucking impressive that its not polished by any of the major names out there like Jack Antonoff, Max Martin, or Shellback. And yes, he’s just one guy. Despite sounding like the name of a band; which admittedly I was fooled by at first too. And remember how I said my most listened to song of the year did not make this list? Yeah, it was by him. I’m rooting hard for “12 to 12” to become the hit it so rightfully deserves to be next year.
But what makes this the second best hit song of this year? Vibes…just supremely relatable vibes….I too have made the mistake of sleeping with a girl who was just a friend and then having to have that awkwardly uncomfortable association that we can’t go back to being friends after that. And man, does everything Sombr say here just hit so fucking true and so fucking hard. To all my readers, do not think you can simply go back to being friends with someone you had sex with. It is impossible and if you have, you are clearly lying to yourself that you have not developed feelings for someone you were intimate with that was your friend first.
And speaking of uncomfortable, I just saw Talk of the Charts very early 2026 year end list because Billboard has no concept of time anymore and guess what I’m going to have to talk about again next year? I swear to god, please just don’t make these best and worst lists more than 15 is all I’m begging for next year.
I don’t know y’all. I listen to this guy’s music and I just hear the future of popular music. Thank you for bringing the guitar back from the dead again, Sombr.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
….actually before we do that, I’m actually going to do something different with the honorable mentions this year. Normally this would be what ended up being the next ten runners up for the best list. But since this year would have honestly consisted of more repeat entries like “Taste” and “Birds of a Feather” and I seriously don’t know what else to say about those that I haven’t already said, I’m going to highlight more 2025 songs to show that this year wasn’t a total wash. Got it? Good. Let’s continue….
“Undressed” - Sombr
Like I said, I’m all fucking in on Sombr. I genuinely hope he is more than a one year wonder.
“No One Noticed” - The Marias
This is exactly how I felt last year with Mitski making my qualifications for a year end hit. Good song, but not necessarily the best song of theirs and why was this the one that sent them over the top. Still, I’m just so happy to see this group here. And with how they emerged in 2025, I really sincerely hope they stick around.
“Baile Inolvidable” - Bad Bunny
Here’s one of the real music crimes of this year. That new Bad Bunny album should have been just as big as Un Verano Sin Ti. I absolutely loved how Puerto Rican as fuck that album was in a time where Puerto Rico could use more love. This is one of the best songs from that album because of one thing and one thing only. And this is a rarity for me with modern music; especially for an awkward white male like me. It makes me want to get up and dance.
“Nuevayol” - Bad Bunny
Like I said, a true fucking travesty that the new Bad Bunny wasn’t as big as Un Verano Sin Ti. Especially with the spiritual successor to “Titi Me Pregunto” here. That 2026 Halftime Show is going to be bops for days.
“Bad Dreams” - Teddy Swims
Okay fine. I can see why Teddy Swims is sticking around. Especially since Jelly Roll can’t say no to a quick buck. Might as well have a bluesy tatted up white guy with a soulful voice that is selective with his songs and feature requests. And my god, why couldn’t this be nearly as popular as the big hit?
“Folded” - Kehlani
See? 2025 had some good things. We finally gave Kehlani her first top ten hit. Here’s to small victories!
“Dark Thoughts” - Lil Tecca
This was a fun Neptunes pastiche. Man, remember when we use to get fun summer bops? This would have taken off if it came out in a much stronger year for hip-hop.
“Amen” - Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
Shaboozey was such a miracle worker this year that he finally gave us the first good Jelly Roll guest verse quite possibly ever. Hallelujah!
“Love Me Not” - Ravyn Lenae
This was the final cut from my best list and boy what a painful cut this was.
“Soda Pop” - Saja Boys
Fine. You worked your inescapably catchy melody into my fucking skull. Just shut up.
As I mentioned on the worst list, I hate to be safe and predictable with my choice for my number one reveal. I love catching people off guard. That’s why I usually keep my cards so close to my chest. So last year when I said,
“First off, let me be perfectly clear that this is not my favorite Chappell Roan song. “Pink Pony Club” would have probably dethroned this if it qualified for my extended rules.”
I did not expect to talk about it ever again on my blog, let alone be one of the top ten biggest hits of the year.
1. “Pink Pony Club” - Chappell Roan
Not only did I not expect this to be number one on practically every single best hit song list of the past two years. But I think it is safe to say that this song is going to go down as a modern classic. And as it should because this song is going to be fucking timeless. Especially at this point in time in history where the state of the world is trying with all their power to silence the voice of the LGBTQ+ community. It only makes this song even more powerful. And that’s me saying that as a straight white male that this group of people is being marginalized and shit needs to fucking change because enough is enough.
I never had my own Pink Pony Club clearly but I liked going to my sports bar and doing karaoke when I got drunk enough. And even as a parent, I go back to that sports bar once every couple months to have a drink with friends and guess what song I heard each and every time for the past year and a half? Whether it be on the jukebox or someone proudly over singing it on karaoke. And once again, this is a fucking sports bar. This song transcended this year into a modern day classic. Hell, even my three year old boy dances to it whenever I play it at home. My wife bops to it and she hates most modern music. This song is just universally loved and adored by everyone, regardless of age, race, or orientation. But most importantly, it is for the LGBTQ+.
And let me tell ya. I feel like this song is on its way to becoming an all-time classic because of how important it is to this community that we are using it as a way to fight for the injustices out there that are becoming ever more apparent. Because if you thought 2025 was bad, 2026 is already off to even worse of a start while I’m writing this. Again, shit needs to change and anything out there that gives me hope automatically gets all my love. Whether it be someone sticking it to this administration through their platform. Or seeing a bunch of people dancing in costumes in areas that 47 claims to be dangerous. Or seeing a giant blue wave in this past year’s elections. This song is one of those signs of hope in a dark timeline and I thank it for that. I just hope that we all keep holding out to whatever hope that is out there. You are not alone and we will all get through this together. Just keep on dancing.
No comments:
Post a Comment