Thirty of the Guardian's music critics have cast their votes, delivering the definitive ranking of the year's most outstanding tracks. The list for 2025 showcases a remarkable breadth of sound, from post-punk rap and indie-disco to operatic pop and soul-baring balladry, proving the vibrant health of the contemporary music scene.
Visionary Sounds and Poetic Wisdom
Topping the chart at number one is Catalan superstar Rosalía with her monumental track Berghain. A breathtaking fusion of dramatic orchestration from the London Symphony Orchestra, coloratura vocals, and guest spots from Björk and Yves Tumor, the song is a gothic, overwhelming masterpiece about a consuming relationship. It solidifies her status as a true visionary.
In the number two spot, PinkPantheress captures the dizzying paranoia and allure of a new encounter in Illegal, using a sped-up sample of Underworld's Dark & Long to thrilling effect. Meanwhile, Chappell Roan takes third place with The Subway, a Celtic-pop epic channelling the snarling rage of the Cranberries and Sinéad O'Connor to articulate inescapable heartbreak.
Further down the list, Little Simz lands at number 20 with Flood, a track built on a sparse post-punk beat. She details her life's "genius plan" for freedom, offering koan-like wisdom such as "Never eat with the hyenas / 'Cause they will look at you as bones." The Guardian notes she could write a leadership book if her rap career ever faltered.
Breakthroughs and Powerful Comebacks
The list is punctuated by significant returns. Wet Leg made a fierce comeback at number 16 with Catch These Fists, a song that immediately dismissed any notion of them being a one-album wonder. Frontwoman Rhian Teasdale is hailed as one of the UK's best rock stars, narrating a ketamine-fuelled night and a confrontation with a man who drinks Strongbow Dark Fruit.
Pulp marked their first album since 2001 with the anthemic, disco-tinged Spike Island at number seven, where Jarvis Cocker triumphantly sings, "I was born to perform, it's a calling." Lady Gaga consolidated her pop comeback at number four with Abracadabra, a double-helping of house beats designed for peak club sweatiness.
Irish singer-songwriter CMAT had a true breakthrough year, with three songs collectively taking the number 11 spot. Tracks like The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station and Take a Sexy Picture of Me showed her unique talent for blending light entertainment with deep examinations of self-worth and body image.
Intimate Stories and Cultural Anthems
Many entries offer deeply personal narratives. Olivia Dean scored her first UK number one with Man I Need at number 13, expertly articulating the modern dating dilemma of wanting a partner without the perceived embarrassment of "having a boyfriend." At number 17, North Carolina's Wednesday swapped their usual punk sound for the disarmingly pretty Elderberry Wine, a devastating account of growing distance between two people.
Bad Bunny's Nuevayol at number 19 serves as a potent cultural rallying cry. Named after New York, it encompasses Puerto Rican identity, samples a 1975 salsa hit, and gained extra resonance this year as the artist refused to play in the US to protect fans from ICE and faced racist backlash ahead of his Super Bowl headline set.
Other notable entries include Raye's foot-stamping, horn-driven Where Is My Husband! at number 17, Blood Orange's exquisitely woven grief song The Field at number 12, and Addison Rae's weightless synth-pop gem Headphones On at number five. The list concludes with a celebration of artistic ambition and emotional power, defining the musical landscape of 2025.
