Oh, 2025…
It’s a sheepish feeling, having to adjust your vision and scale back your goals. This would have been my seventh straight year of detailed year-end write-ups, but I had to phone it in this year. I simply don’t have it in me to write a full piece, recruit guest-writers, and edit something — even if most of it is swirling in my head. I started a new job in January 2025, then again in November 2025, and truthfully, I am tired. My brain is tired, my soul is tired, my heart is tired. And thus, she can’t pretend this time!
The fall was extra fruitful for the blog, mostly because I had finally settled into the job I started at the top of the year (do not start two new big boy full-time roles in one year, kids). I vow to bring that energy back once I’ve adjusted into this new one! That’ll start with some exciting pieces in Q1 2026 that look back at the entire 2020s decade so far. It’s gonna be fab 😋
In the meantime, I won’t fully leave y’all hanging - you know I got to put you on to something. So, what I have for you is a list of my 60 favorite songs released in 2025, in alphabetical order, accompanied by a Spotify playlist. Voilà!
CD Radio’s Favorite Songs of 2025 |
|---|
A Couple Minutes by Olivia Dean |
Afterbody by Jae Stephens |
All Of Me by Nao |
Archive by Arewà Basit |
back and forth by Halle |
BED STUY by DESTIN CONRAD |
be with ya by Q |
Bite The Bait by Rochelle Jordan |
Broken Glass by Lorde |
Burning Blue by Mariah The Scientist |
Bluest Flame by Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco |
Completed - A COLORS SHOW by Durand Bernarr |
Crybaby by SZA |
DELUSIONAL by DESTIN CONRAD |
DEVOTION by Justin Bieber, Dijon |
Diamond Boy (DTM) by SZA |
Dios Es Un Stalker by ROSALíA |
EAT IN SILENCE - A COLORS SHOW by Bree Runway |
Folded by Kehlani |
Fame is a Gun by Addison Rae |
FIRE! by Dijon |
FREE THE YOUTH by Amaarae |
Freak by Jai’Len Josey |
Headphones On by Addison Rae |
heartbeat 8 by MOONGA K. |
HOTBOX by Lil Nas X |
Intertwined by Fairey |
iloveu4real by Q |
IS IT by Tyla |
I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone by Reneé Rapp |
KISSING IN PUBLIC by Destin Conrad |
Kitchen by SZA |
NOT FAIR by Leon Thomas |
k.i.s.s. by keiyaA |
Midnight Sun by Zara Larsson |
New Girl by Jai’Len Josey |
Nosebleeds by Doechii |
ooo by Amber Mark |
PAPARAZZI by LSDXOXO |
POP OUT by Playboi Carti |
Pretty Idea by Amber Mark |
Ran Out by JT |
Remember (feat. Ravyn Lenae, Scrufizzer) by BAMBII |
Room Of Fools by FKA Twigs |
Seasons Changing by Kaedi Philo |
SexOnTheBeat by ADÉLA |
Sexy Soulaan by Monaleo |
Something Beautiful by Miley Cyrus |
Sports car by Tate McRae |
Stars by PinkPantheress |
Stateside by PinkPantheress |
Striptease by FKA Twigs |
Sweet Serotonin by Amber Mark |
SWEET SPOT by Justin Bieber, Sexyy Red |
Take You Down by SZA |
THE LAST TIME by Destin Conrad, Teezo Touchdown |
Unconditional by George Riley |
Useless (Without You) by Elmiene |
You by Coco Jones |