With the Grammys approaching, the Thunderbeat staff decided to share their picks for the best song of 2025. From alternative metal to country, you’ll hear it all. So, read along and see what our top songs are.
Graphics compiled by Millie Schwabe and Grace Curtis
Best Songs of 2025
"Man I Need" by Olivia Dean
“Man I Need” is by far the best song of 2025. Olivia Dean has been creating music since 2018 but skyrocketed to fame in 2025 with her song Man I Need. From a technical singing standpoint, the crazy riffs and runs in the song add a light dusting of style to the beautifully written lyrics and instrumentals. When I listen to this song, I’m encaptured by Dean’s longing for a meaningful relationship with a man. The jazzy indie tone on the song compliments all of the intense feelings and emotions.
--Ashlynn Cutinella
"How to Live" by Del Water Gap
Del Water Gap released his third studio album “Chasing the Chimera,” in early November. The first dropped single from the album, released July 28, was “How to Live.”
After hearing this song for the first time I knew that it would be a favorite. The first verse was quiet and meaningful, the chorus amped it up a bit, but the post-chorus really brought it all together. It goes from quiet melancholy to upbeat frustration. This song is relatable, catchy, and overall amazing.
--Claire Ryan
"Kick Myself" by Morgan Wallen
“Kick Myself” is the best song of 2025. This song highlights the pain and struggles that are felt when battling a bad habit or addiction. Morgan references his battle with alcohol addiction and how it affected the way people see him. Even to the point where he believes he should keep drinking. While I’ve never battled a serious addiction like this, I can relate to the struggle of not letting go. From the very first time I heard this song it really tugged at my heart in ways I couldn't describe.
--Abby Greer
"Every Living Breathing Moment" by Grant Stellar
Life is full of many challenges and struggles. Life is also full of beauty and hope, something perfectly captured by this song. It does this off of how the song builds. For coming in at 1:46, you wouldn’t expect too much. Yet, throughout the length of the song with the crescendo of the strings and percussion it truly portrays hope. It also is a perfect example of the name of the song. Every living breathing moment in life is beautiful, Stellar did an amazing job with this and is absolutely deserving of my song of the year.
--Derek Buchholz
"souvenir" by Deftones
An untraditional love song, “souvenir” is the best song from Deftones’ “private music” and my pick for the best song of 2025. Spanning a somewhat-lengthy 6:10, this song features a heavy guitar rhythm and strung-out vocals. This song’s lyrics are meaningful as well, an example being the lyric “As you drift out in space, in time we unite again.” This could be taken in different ways, but I believe it means that even after death, you will be united with the one you love. This song is amazing in so many different ways and I come back to it all the time. Souvenir… more like souvenearly flawless.
--Jackson Payne
"Oubliette" by KMFDM
An oubliette is a form of dungeon, accessible only through a ceiling hatch. The term originates from the French word “oublier”, meaning “to forget.” The song’s lyrics perfectly fit the title, with the main vocals from Lucia Cifarelli, as well as Sascha Konietzko. The track is a pre-release for their upcoming 2026 album “ENEMY.”
KMFDM has always been a political band, and Oubliette is no different; with lyrics stating “no human is illegal,” “freedom is not a reward for good behavior / It’s a human right,” “Guilty no matter the truth,” and “What nobody sees nobody knows.” The song is incredibly powerful, featuring strong percussion, vocals, and intense guitar from the newest member, Tidor Nieddu. I highly recommend those who are a fan of heavier genres, or those simply just wanting an energetic song, to listen to this track.
--Alto Cerveny
"DtMF" by Bad Bunny
"DtMF", short for debí tirar más fotos, is the best song of 2025. The song’s name means, “I should’ve taken more photos.” The meaning of this song is a memoir to his home in Puerto Rico and all the memories he left behind with him. Though I am not fluent in Spanish, the meaning of this song can transcend any language barrier. This song gave me a wave of nostalgia from my past. In this moment I experienced regret when I realized I’ve not fully appreciated those experiences. I would highly recommend this song to anyone who hasn’t yet given this song a listen.
--Steven Luers
"The Subway" by Chappell Roan
“The Subway,” co-written by Chappell Roan and Dan Nigro is an emotional ballad about the one who got away. Throughout the song, Roan sings her heart out with a powerful yet melodic manner that brings me to the floor with emotions with every listen.
Released on Jul. 31, 2025, “The Subway” starts off with a rhythmic beat that will make your body sway as you are taken on a trip led by Roan’s somber, but backed with power in her lyricism. As the song goes on you can hear the emotion fill the words. You can feel yourself slip into the hypnotizing harmony as the beat stops then resumes with a newfound fervor. The end of the song rolls around and you can’t help but sing along to “She got, she got away.”
--Benny Pendley
"The Risk" by laufey
“The Risk” was written for the soundtrack for “A Big Beautiful Journey” and was released on Sept. 19. Although not the most popular of Laufey's songs, it carries a meaningful message. Using gentle vocals and a warm, inviting tone it tells the story about growing from the past afraid of getting hurt, and taking risks. It reflects the vulnerability of new experiences as well as personal growth. Take a risk on “The Risk.”
--Clara Petrow
"Garden of Eden" by Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga makes a fantastic return to the alternative pop scene with her 2025 alternative pop album “MAYHEM.” Upon my first listen I was immediately drawn to this song with its mashup of Gaga’s lyrical genius and heavy dance pop tones. She compares a late night dance club to the biblical “Garden of Eden” to represent the paradise she’s in when surrounded by music, lights and people dancing all around her. This song is perfect for when you're getting ready or just need something to dance to.
--Noah Purganan
"White Keys" by Dominic Fike
When I first heard the song it was an immediate add to my playlist. The chorus feels so free and uplifting. It’s a perfect late night drive song. The idea of the song is that despite the love he had for this person, time, success, and change is slowly bringing them apart. The emotion of the song is portrayed perfectly in his voice and specifically in the chorus. Not only his voice but the lyrics “ The world is movin', we were never meant to stay, but I was working on the world” ruminates in the hearts of many and makes the song, not only beautiful, but the best song of 2025.
--Natalee Anderson
"Moon" by Daniel Caesar feat. Bon Iver
“Moon,” featuring Bon Iver, was released as Daniel Caesar's third single for his fourth album “Son of Spergy.” “Moon” is a vulnerable song that explores Caesar's personal struggles with finding himself, love, and his search for support. The song takes a pause with about one minute left of the song and acts as a division between two parts in the song. Caesar breaks the silence with the second part of the song, featuring a melodious and airy harmony. The harmonies add an element to the song that makes it stand out. The lyrics of the song set this song apart from others; they get his point across wonderfully. As someone who appreciates both sound and lyrics when it comes to music, this song is one of the best songs of the year.
--Millie Schwabe
"Misery" by Treaty Oak Revival
I tend to stick to my roots when it comes to music by mainly listening to older, nostalgic songs but when Treaty Oak Revival released “West Texas Degenerate,” I owed it a listen. My favorite song was “Misery”. The song revolves around staying with someone even when you know the relationship is over. Sam Canty, the lead singer and songwriter, writes about pleading for the end of a dragged out relationship. I love the emotion encased in the vocals and the overall sound of the music.
--Grace Curtis
“Kid & Leveret” by Yaelokre
“Kid & Leveret” by Yaelokre is easily the best song released in 2025. The song has over 11,960,000 streams on Spotify and four million views on YouTube. Yaelokre is a project by Keath Ósk that tells the story of four different characters, which they do by singing from their perspectives and giving each character their own voice, making it appear as if they have multiple voice actors even if they don’t. “Kid and Leveret” is from the perspective of two of those characters, Cole and Clementine. Despite the contrast between their two voices, they compliment each other and overlap perfectly to further expand the lore of the Meadowlark.
--Quinn Reyes
