🔥 Best Songs of 2025: Kendrick, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter & More Lead a Game-Changing Year in Music
From viral TikTok sensations to Grammy-winning veterans, 2025 is overflowing with musical excellence. The first half of the year has delivered jaw-dropping singles, long-awaited comebacks, and game-changing collaborations — and fans across the world are debating: Which track deserves to be called the best song of 2025 so far?
To fuel the conversation, Billboard launched its official 2025 Readers Poll, allowing fans to choose their favorite hits. With superstar names like Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Doechii, and Alex Warren in the mix, competition is fierce.
But this isn’t just about charts. These songs represent cultural milestones, emotional touchstones, and soundtrack moments that have defined 2025 so far.
🎧 Inside the Billboard Hot 100: The Songs Shaping 2025
| Artist | Song | Peak Chart Position | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kendrick Lamar & SZA | “Luther” | #1 (13 weeks) | R&B / Conscious Rap |
| Sabrina Carpenter | “Manchild” | #1 | Synth-Pop |
| Lady Gaga | “Abracadabra” | #1 (5 weeks) | Glam Pop |
| Doechii | “Denial Is a River” | Top 5 | Alt-Rap |
| Alex Warren | “Ordinary” | #1 (4 weeks) | Pop Rock |
| Addison Rae | “Headphones On” | Top 10 | Hyperpop |
| Bad Bunny | “DtMF” | Top 5 | Reggaeton |
| Chappell Roan | “The Giver” | Viral | Indie Pop |
| Turnstile | “Never Enough” | Top 15 | Punk Rock |
| Tyla | “Push 2 Start” | Top 20 | Afro-Pop |
Want to explore more of this year’s genre trends? Dive into our Music section for deep recaps, breakdowns, and artist insights.
🏆 Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s “Luther” — A Monumental Collaboration
Released in early February, “Luther” is more than a song — it’s a sermon. It blends Lamar’s reflective storytelling with SZA’s soul-stirring vocals in a way that feels prophetic. Produced by Thundercat and Terrace Martin, it mixes jazz, gospel, and trap into a track that spent 13 straight weeks at No. 1.
“This is the kind of record that stops time,” said Rolling Stone’s year-in-review.
This duet also marks a full-circle moment after their GRAMMY-winning work on All the Stars (2018). But “Luther” carries more weight — meditating on spiritual responsibility and generational cycles. It’s being hailed as a contender for Song of the Year 2025 at every major award show.
External Reading:
💋 Sabrina Carpenter Breaks the Pop Ceiling with “Manchild”
Alt text: Sabrina Carpenter poses in red outfit during Manchild video shoot — 2025’s top pop track
Carpenter’s “Manchild” arrived in May and immediately debuted at #1 — making her the youngest female solo artist to achieve that feat in 2025. The track went viral with its bold lyrics, undeniable hook, and feminist bite.
“I made a masterpiece out of your mess.” — Sabrina Carpenter, Manchild
Why It Works:
- 🔥 TikTok Sound Used in Over 2.5M Clips
- 👠 Anthem of Independence and Female Empowerment
- 🧠 Catchy, sarcastic lyricism delivered with flawless vocal control
- 🎹 Produced by Jack Antonoff and Clairo (first time collaboration)
Carpenter is officially pop royalty, with Manchild securing her place alongside icons like Olivia Rodrigo, Charli XCX, and Dua Lipa.
Related on Explore Wonders:
📌 Olivia Rodrigo and Robert Smith Shock Glastonbury With The Cure Duet
🎤 The Rise of New Voices: Doechii, Addison Rae, Alex Warren & More
Doechii – “Denial Is a River”
A poetic, unpredictable, and genre-busting track that made Doechii a breakout GRAMMY nominee.
🎧 Watch live performance → NPR’s Tiny Desk
Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
The TikTok star’s confessional ballad has ruled charts despite critical skepticism.
📈 Now a Spotify Global Top 10 regular.
Addison Rae – “Headphones On”
Reclaims her musical career with electro-pop revivalism, winning over even harsh critics.
📹 See the MV on YouTube
📊 TikTok Trends Are Shaping the Sound of 2025
| Trending Song | TikTok Uses | Hashtag Views |
|---|---|---|
| “Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter | 2.5M+ | #Manchild (980M views) |
| “Luther” – Kendrick & SZA | 1.2M | #LutherChallenge (410M views) |
| “Push 2 Start” – Tyla | 980K | #Push2Start (250M views) |
| “Ordinary” – Alex Warren | 750K | #OrdinarySong (120M views) |
Social virality now directly affects chart positions, playlist adds, and radio pickups. It’s no longer just about talent — it’s also about shareability.
💿 Genre Fusion: What’s Dominating 2025’s Charts?
This year has obliterated the boundaries between genres. The most popular hits mix elements from multiple styles:
- 🎹 Jazz + Hip-Hop → “Luther”
- 💅 Alt-Pop + R&B → “Manchild”
- 🌀 Hyperpop + Dance → “Headphones On”
- 🎸 Rock Ballads + Emo → “Ordinary”
- 🌍 Afrobeats + House → “Push 2 Start”
Explore More:
📌 Best Albums of 2025 — Mid-Year Review
🌍 Global Artists Making Waves
🔹 Tyla – “Push 2 Start”
South African sensation Tyla blends Afro-soul and pop into a global hit.
🔹 Lorde – “What Was That”
After 4 years of silence, Lorde returns with haunting lyricism and stripped-back production.
🔹 Bon Iver – “Everything Is Peaceful Love”
An ambient journey into spiritual healing, praised by Pitchfork and NME.
🗳️ Billboard 2025 Readers Poll: Cast Your Vote
Vote now for your favorite track of 2025 (so far) on Billboard’s Official Poll.
💡 Tip: Poll closes in mid-July, and Billboard will feature fan results in their August print issue.
🎯 Don’t forget to share your pick with us by tagging @ExploreWonders!
🧠 Culture & Commentary: Why These Songs Matter
Each of the leading tracks isn’t just sonically brilliant — they speak to cultural shifts, emotional unrest, and collective desire for meaning.
- “Luther” confronts generational guilt and healing
- “Manchild” challenges gender roles and emotional immaturity
- “Denial Is a River” explores trauma and displacement
- “Ordinary” represents vulnerability in the digital age
In short, music in 2025 is personal, political, and poetic — a rare trifecta.
📲 Internal Links to Explore
- Top 10 Performances from BET Awards 2025
- Zach Bryan’s July Double Release: Tracklist + Meaning
- Coachella 2025 Weekend 2 Recap: Trippie Redd, Shakira, and More
📸 Image Prompt (for Featured Banner)
A widescreen collage showing Kendrick & SZA performing “Luther,” Sabrina Carpenter in a red dress from the “Manchild” MV, and Alex Warren under blue lights, with text: “2025’s Best Songs So Far – Vote Now!”
Alt Text: Best Songs of 2025 collage — Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, Alex Warren