2025 was a monumental year for pop music, with major drops from the current big stars, alongside some incredible debut albums from new artists entering the ring ready to fight for the title of main pop girl. When compiling a list of my favorite pop releases of the year, I originally wanted to keep it at 10, but the year was so good that I had to expand it to 15, and I still feel like some of my girls were snubbed… But before getting into my official top 15, some honorable mentions:
HM #1: Girl of Your Dreams by Eli
HM #2: Busy Woman by Sabrina Carpenter
HM #3: The entirety of SALVATION by Rebecca Black
Quick disclaimer: this isn’t a ranked list, besides the top 3. All of these songs defined my year and I don’t think I could rank them with a gun to my head, but the top 3 are top 3.
15. Clothes Off by Aleksiah
This was a gift from my TikTok algorithm, which ended up quickly on my monthly rotation playlist. Aleksiah is an Australian artist who makes warm, fun pop music. Clothes Off is an introspective confessional over a MUNA-esque instrumental, with one of the catchiest pop choruses of the year.
14. Silver Jubilee by Audrey Hobert
The term “girlhood” has been overused, misunderstood, and become a capitalist trend buzzword at this point, so to say I feel that this song emulates the feeling of girlhood feels a bit reductive, but it’s true. The lyrical transition from “I’ma tell my sister she’s perfect” to “I’ma tell my sister your secrets” between the pre bridge & post bridge chorus… just incredible. A song about a night out isn’t exactly revolutionary, but Audrey brings a fresh, authentic perspective to an overused storytelling/lyricism trope.
13. I Like Ur Look by Kim Petras
I am a firm believer that Kim Petras has one of the best voices in pop right now, and has the potential to be one of the main pop girls. Finally separated from her prior (evil) producer, this song is produced by Frost Children, and it seriously makes a world of difference. This song is early 2010’s nostalgia wrapped in shiny 2025 production, and still lets Kim showcase her vocals a bit. I am crossing my fingers that her discography continues in this direction, it suits her much better than some of her previous work.
12. Tonight by PinkPantheress
One of my favorite instrumentals of the year, maybe ever. PinkPantheress has such an ear for unique sounds and samples, and her beats are always crafted to perfection. Her vocals are also underrated, in my opinion. With a light, gentle tone, her voice gives her music a signature sound that is easily identifiable from the first lyric. I love the adlibs on this track too, it adds such a fun, catchy energy to it.
11. New York by Addison Rae
It was so refreshing to experience a pop album made by just three women alone. I don’t know what magic they harnessed in that studio, but it was so difficult to choose just one track from Addison Rae’s debut to highlight. This song is unreal: the miniscule pause after the first line of the first verse, the drums on the chorus, and the way the entire song builds into the euphoric burst of the bridge/postchorus. Absolutely out of this world, and reminds me how cool pop music can be.
10. DELUSIONAL. by Kesha
Some would argue that this is not the best song on Kesha’s latest album, but to me, this chorus is just too good. I might be a bit biased as I did go to Kesha’s tour this year, and the vocals on this song specifically made me ascend. This record was her first release on her own label, and it truly just felt like a celebration after all that she has been through. The tour definitely highlighted this album in a new light for me, and it ended up becoming one of my favorites.
9. Dive Bar Opera by Meg Smith
The full, sweeping vocals on this track had me hooked from the first time I heard it on my TikTok for you page. It feels a bit early 2010’s MARINA, but inspired, not rehashing. Meg Smith is an LA based artist, and her music is fun, sparkly, and bold. With narrative, dramatic lyrics commenting on performance & romance, this track was on a handful of my monthly playlists this year.
8. DON’T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT by Blusher
Girl groups really had a big moment in 2025, and one of my favorite discoveries was Australian trio Blusher. Their aim is to create high energy, danceable pop music, and DON’T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT is the epitome. The verses & prechorus build into the euphoric release of the chorus, creating a dynamic listening experience that instantly transports you to a dancefloor. Their entire EP is phenomenal, and I definitely anticipate that we’ll be hearing more about Blusher in the coming years.
7. Vanish Into You by Lady Gaga
Of all the times I’ve listened to this song, I don’t think I’ve been able to get through it without tearing up at least a bit. It is euphoric, raw, and impactful in the way that only Gaga is able to convey in her music. Seeing this performed live at her tour, which I attended with my mom and sister, was genuinely life changing. The question “can I vanish into you?” is such a beautiful, powerful expression of love.
6. Midnight Cowboy by JADE
After the disbandment of Little Mix, JADE came out swinging. Her debut record is one of the best pop albums I’ve heard in the last 5 years, and she’s just getting started. Midnight Cowboy was the song that genuinely stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it: the announcer intro/outro, the sound of the boot spurs, the beat?! Masterpiece. It’ll be a missed opportunity if she doesn’t use this as the opening number for her tour. The visuals for this album have also been incredible, she’s an artist that is truly giving it her all. I cannot wait to see where she’ll go in these next few years.
5. Mars by TWICE
This year was the year I finally decided to dive a bit deeper into Kpop, and let me tell you, these girls do not disappoint. Mars has a driving drum beat & shimmering synth lines that shape it into pop perfection. When Jihyo and Nayeon belt out “we are alive” after each chorus… chills. If you’re into pop music but haven’t expanded your listening range to include non-western artists, this is your sign to take that leap.
4. this won’t last forever by joan
In our interview earlier in the year, Alan Benjamin Thomas mentioned that when he first played this song for his dad, he told him that it would’ve been a hit in 1987. I have to agree: it has almost a WHAM! feel to it, but the poignant lyricism cuts through the nostalgic haze. Nothing lasts forever: love, pain, breath. joan embraces this, relishing in the fleetingness of everything. It’s not quite a celebration, but it teeters on the edge of it as the song builds into the bridge. Though it may not have had a chance to be a hit in 1987, it definitely was a hit to me personally in 2025.
3. Jealous Type by Doja Cat
Doja Cat is no stranger to being a hitmaker, and one of the most interesting things about her is that she is not bound to a single genre. During the era when Say So was dominating the charts, she performed different versions of the song (the rock version still lives in my head rent free), showcasing a wide musical range. For Jealous Type, she throws it back to the 80’s, crafting a track that could slot right in between Madonna and Cyndi Lauper songs on the charts. Though Doja originally rose to stardom as a rapper, she often sings throughout her songs as well. Jealous Type mostly features her vocals, with only a short rap section on the second verse. It’s a bit of a different sound compared to the rest of her discography, but she nailed it. It’s a perfect 80’s pop song, but it’s also a perfect 2025 pop song.
2. sexonthebeat by ADÉLA
In an era where the charts are full of passive pop, we yearn for artists who are hungry for stardom, and ADÉLA has made it clear that she’s ready to work for it. After her elimination on competition show Dream Academy, she took the opportunity to be a solo artist and ran with it. Her debut EP is full of provocative (no pun intended), fresh pop music that has cemented her place as a rising star. sexonthebeat specifically is something special, an undeniably catchy beat paired with lyricism commenting on the sexualization of young women in the music industry. It’s a song that makes you dance, that makes you reflect, and makes you talk. In 2026, I predict that a lot more people will be talking about ADÉLA.
And finally, my favorite pop song of the year: Magic Clock by f5ve. J-pop girl group f5ve’s discography captures magic of early 2010’s internet nostalgia, but still feels refreshing & modern. Their debut album is flawless, but this song specifically was my defining track of the year. Sonically, it reminds me of the J-pop I grew up listening to. With twinkly alarm clock inspired synth lines and the catchiest earworm chorus ever, there was a period of like 6 weeks where I had to listen to this song at least once a day, usually multiple. It was my most streamed song of the year for a reason, it is just that good. As a group, f5ve is really interesting as well, as all of the members were members of other groups prior, and many of them are older than the usual age range for group members to debut. They also lean heavily into meme & internet culture with their social media presence, which is a unique marketing strategy for a group like this, and it has definitely helped to set them apart as a group to watch. It’s just too perfect: a J-pop group… of grown women… making catchy nostalgic pop music? I’m so seated. I’m beyond seated. Everyone please stream their album so they can tour here in the U.S. and I can astral project to Magic Clock live.
Listen to my top 15 playlist here!
