I know that most people come to this blog looking for K-pop, but I’ve made it my mission to also spotlight global pop music each month. Those “global pop round-ups” culminate today with my top 50 tracks of the year. It’s been a very good year for pop music, making this list hard to cobble together (and resulting in a very long “honorable mentions” list). Part of this is by design. Unlike my K-pop and J-pop lists, any song released or promoted in 2025 is eligible here. A song doesn’t have to be a single or have a music video to show up on this list, but I do limit myself to a maximum of three songs from each artist because otherwise we run the risk of someone totally dominating with a bunch of great album tracks.
Enjoy, and I hope you discover something new that appeals to you! Warning: my taste heavily favors pop music with a capital “P”!
SONGS 50-31
SONGS 30-11
SONGS 10-1
2025 YEAR-END MASTERPOST
Honorable Mentions:
Ava Max – Lost Your Faith
Patrik Jean – Up All Night
Arwin – Spaceboy
Chrissy Chlapecka – Passionfruit
Punchbag – I’m Not Your Punchbag
Jessica Winter – All I Ever Wanted
Miley Cyrus – Walk Of Fame
ADÉLA – Machine Girl
JVG – Rehellisesti
Miley Cyrus – End Of The World
Kristy Spiteri – Heaven Sent
Nicky Doll – À mes côtés
Sophie & The Giants – Pink Champagne
Klara Hammarström – On And On And On
Costee – Sut tahtoisin
Madison Rose – Miracles
LEXXE – Stars Align (ft. Loren Allred)
Blusher – Racer
Magic Dance – Bigger, Stronger, Faster, Wilder (ft. The Runaway Wild)
Doja Cat – AAAHH MEN!
Donkeyboy – Galactical Love
Hr. Troels & Lovespeake – Paradise
Tom Grennan – Full Attention
Joe L – Mitä sä teet tääl (ft. Robin Packalen)
Marina – Cuntissimo
Michael Medrano – The Penthouse
LLL – Parasite
Slayyyter – Crank
Tom Grennan – Boys Don’t Cry
Olly Alexander – Heal You
50. Kat Brix – In Love With A Psycho
A thumping club track with plenty of paranoid pathos.
49. LEXXE – Daughters Of Chaos
LEXXE continues to impress with her massive sound. It’s like Stevie Nicks went to the dance club.
48. Leah Kate – Not To Be Dramatic
Takes many of our current, confessional pop tropes and adds a chugging beat that delivers drama.
47. IVXN – Atacama
THIS is how you frame a chorus around a chant! So addictive.
46. TPCX – Ask Me Out
Just ask her out already, or she’ll freaking kill you!
45. Miley Cyrus – Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved
One of a handful of tracks from her new album that feels like Midnight Sky‘s potential unleashed.
44. Tears & Gearz – George Michael
Another team-up of indie pop icons Zee Machine and Bentley Robles. It’s every bit as fantastic as you’d hope.
43. Leah Kate – Meltdown
The polished synth sheen on this dancefloor chugger makes a meltdown sound so good.
42. Demi Lovato – Here All Night
The pinnacle of Demi’s 2025 reinvention as a dancefloor diva.
41. DE’WAYNE – Sundays
The charismatic funk rocker gets sentimental with this big-chorused anthem.
40. Caroline Kingsbury – Shock Treatment
80s revivalism at its kitschiest with a colorful chorus and percolating beat.
39. Rebecca Black – Do You Even Think About Me?
A claustrophobic dance track with insane production.
38. Deco – Is It All In My Head?
A bouncy pop rock track that takes rhythmic influence from house music.
37. Sleigh Bells – Bunky Pop
Sleigh Bells return with their inimitable blend of hard rock guitar riffs and punky/poppy vocals tethered to bubblegum melodies.
36. Felicia – Sugar High
This one’s for those of you missing the early-2010s EDM pop wave. It fits right in!
35. Beks – I Knew A Girl
If a dancepop melody can be considered “witty,” the playful hooks here certainly fit the bill.
34. KEiiNO – End Of The Rainbow
A wholesome, life-affirming anthem from masters of the pop game.
33. IVXN – Monopol
This one tricks you into thinking its chorus will be a subdued anti-drop before clobbering you over the head with a mammoth hook.
32. Rose Gray – Lotus
Speaking of “mammoth,” Lotus‘s synth centerpiece is huge and cinematic in the most satisfying way.
31. Agnes – Ego
She’s an expert at brisk, exciting Scandipop and this is the best teaser yet from her upcoming album. Love the subtle operatic touches.