Music is a virtue: subjected to many. The year of 2025 was a year of musical surprises with artists dropping after going awol, new artists blooming, K-pop taking over, and artists who failed to leave the billboard charts. With that being said, here is the Wildcat top 10 Best Songs in 2025 courtesy of the votes from our fellow Plano students.
10th. Timeless by Playboi Carti ft the Weeknd
For number 10 on our list, is a tune that’s literally Timeless. Get it? Timeless by Playboi Carti featuring the Weeknd was a huge hit for the year with shock from fans as Playboi Carti had recently been off the grid for years. Thus, the album which this single is featured on was highly anticipated and the release date was even pushed back a couple times but ultimately, the dynamic duo did not disappoint. This single was massive, debuting at #3 on the US Billboard top 100 and hit #8 on the Billboard Global 200. As for the genre, the song hit #1 on R&B streaming songs and trended as one of the top hip hop songs released this year.
9th. Nokia by Drake
We asked for old Drake back in 2025, and he did not let us down with this drop.Most notable for the iconic lyrics “Who’s calling my phone?” or “Where’s the function?”, Nokia brings back a mix of rap, 2000’s R&B, and the beloved 2010’s pop rap genre that gets every party hyped; ultimately adding up to make a fun and catchy bop that anyone can enjoy. With that being said, the song was absolutely intense on platforms such as Tiktok, Spotify, and Apple Music. Continuously, the success reached #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and gave Drake his 42nd Top 5 Hit.
8th. Illegal by Pink Pantheress
Who said electronic dance pop would ever go out of style? Obviously not Pink Pantheress. Illegal is the definition of a bubbly, girly tune that will get stuck in anyone’s head. The lyrics are risky and self assuring matched with a fun beat, allowing listeners to feel confident when playing this bop.Not only did this song do well on Billboards and charts all over the world, the UK-pop hit was also made into a trend on Tiktok, specifically for couples where the two shake hands and look at the camera with looks of admiration.
7th. The Subway by Chappell Roan
At number 7 is one of the most highly anticipated singles of the year. Subway by Chappell Roan had been teased for months. It all started with the rising pop star singing the tune at The Governors Ball back in June of 2024 where fans fell in love as soon as the first verse played. First,the instrumentals throughout this song are dreamy with the overall vibe having a 70’s indie esque to it. On the first listen, the song sounds happy and fun and makes you feel like you’re frolicking in fields; until you give the lyrics a good listen to realize this song is actually really sad and for some, relatable. The lyrics express wanting to get over someone who’s already moved on. Roan does this by using the setting of a Subway to show how people come and go yet this one distinct person you’ve met on the subway is distinct but had to move on to their next stop without you coming along. Putting these attributes together with the addition of Roan’s effortlessly magical voice made The Subway a fan favorite hitting #1 on Spotify’s Global chart.
6th. Back To Friends by Sombr
In the year of 2025, there was a clear trend of heart breaking, gut wrenching, soul twisting lyrics paired with the best beats to dance to. That kind of weird but likeable dynamic is what kind of song Back to Friends by Sombr is. This tune is emotionally charged with a regretful and somber tone. Inspired lyrically by his emotional tie to an ex lover who aspires for a friendship after the love affair is over but he doesn’t want to be friends. This universal feeling connected the song to listeners and quickly peaked in top spots on the charts of music listening apps. When listening, the melody has a vintage vibe to it connected with the singer’s vocal cries to make this song a whole experience when you listen.
5th. Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter
Another year, another top 10 with a Sabrina Carpenter single. This year instead of place 6, she placed 5th with her trending phenomenon ‘Manchild.’ This song is exactly what it says: an ode to a man whose behavior is 10 years younger than his actual age. The instrumentals is what gives off Carpenters taste; a witty, country tinged pop single with sweet melodies combined with satirical lyrics.Once again, this song can be relatable for some. Actually many, as it debuted at #1 on the US Billboard’s hot 100, showing that her career and ability to drop catchy singles is not “Short n’ Sweet.”
4th. Gnarly by Katseye
Everyone loves a girl group, especially ones that dance and mention Tesla, Takis, and fried chicken in their songs. That’s why ‘Gnarly’ by Katseye is number 4 in the Wildcat top 10 for the year of 2025. This hit is bold; confident energy radiates off of the EDM hip hop sound that has become a Katseye classic combined with iconic dance moves. The lyrics though, absolutely make no sense but that’s the charm to the hit itself. It combines various random references that are widely admired to make the point that the song and themselves are in fact gnarly. The song blew up on Tiktok with thousands of people participating in the Gnarly dance trend. Furthermore, the song also did well on the US and Global Billboard level, making top spots and has been one of the most popular K-Pop hits released in 2025.
3rd. Dtmf by Bad Bunny
Taking number 3 is a bop that is undeniably smooth and electric to listen to. Even with no knowledge or even a drip of Spanish, this song is insanely catchy and just has a ridiculously positive vibe. ‘Dtmf’ stands for “debri tirar mas fotos”, which translates to “I should have taken more photos.” This song stands as an homage to the passing of time; of how he wishes he would have cherished the moments with his loved ones in his homeland, Puerto Rico. Lyrics of longing paired with a joyful instrumental make for a bittersweet melody that somehow inspire those listening to dance or nod along. This sensation’s success was overwhelming; as it turned into a TikTok trend, hit #1 in numerous countries, and was seen as a love letter to Puerto Rico and the fight to preserve culture.
2nd. Doot Doot 67 by Lord Skrilla
What started as a video clip of NBA player Lamelo Ball then later on became a hilarious marvel on the internet, is the term of 2025: six-seven. The hype around the phrase is out of pure stupidity and if you ever ask anyone what it means, the true answer is that no one knows. The best way to describe it is with our number 2 tune ‘Doot Doot 67’ by Lord Skrilla. This song went viral on social media apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and Tiktok where users used the sound for jokes and memes.
1st. Golden by Huntrix
Last but not least, children and K-Pop lovers came together with the triumph of this track. For the number one song of the year 2025 is a memorable favorite from one of the most successful movies released in the year named ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’. ‘Golden’ by Huntrix is a stimulating single that is fueled with the idea of hunting one’s identity; a general feeling everyone can connect with. The song is sung with an EDM pop track and has become an empowering anthem for people of all ages. With this being said, ‘Golden’ stayed at #1 on major charts like the Billboard Global 200 for 18 weeks, Global Excl. US for 20 weeks, the US Hot 100, and became the first K-Pop track to top Canada’s chart at #1. There’s no doubt that this song deserved first place on the Wildcat top 10.
All in all, 2025 was a year for various different genres and artists to showcase their musical talents and gain acclaim for their craft. Whether it was our favorite returning artists, cultural categories obtaining victories on major music charts, or multilingual singers creating eccentric tunes; the year was overloaded with music for all to enjoy. Will 2026 be the same? Or will we see new trends in the sounds of our time?
