This year delivered no shortage of unforgettable music, from chart-dominating singles to albums that defined entire seasons. With so much to choose from, narrowing down the year’s best felt almost impossible—but a few releases stood out so clearly that they demanded our attention. These are tracks and projects that earned our personal “Wrapped Awards” for the year. Instead of just repeating the slides that Spotify hands us every December, we wanted to break things down our own way. Wrapped may show things like minutes listened and top artists, but it doesn’t always capture the songs that actually shaped our year. So our own end-of-year picks use a simple criterion: the tracks that stayed in constant rotation, the ones we never skipped, and the songs that managed to fit every mood and moment. These are releases that genuinely earned their spots, algorithm or not.
Our pick for song of the year is the track that we kept on returning to long after its first listen. It stood out because it did more than just show up on our Wrapped; it shaped the way the year felt. “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter earned this spot through the details that made it unforgettable: the production that hits the same every time, the lyrics that stayed stuck in our heads, and the feeling it created the moment it started playing. It became the unskippable song, the one that stayed with us through every part of the year, and the one we both immediately agreed belonged at the top.
If there was one genre that defined 2025, it was house music. It showed up everywhere this year, slipping into people’s playlists whether they were looking for something low-key or something to keep the energy up. What makes house stand out right now is how adaptable it is; there are tracks for chilling, tracks for late nights, and tracks that turn any moment into a party. It has moved from a niche influence to becoming the sound that so many artists are pulling from, and it feels like the natural choice for genre of the year.
For the song that came back this year, we chose “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. It’s one of those tracks that was never really gone, but it found a new life with our generation in a way that felt inevitable. Its reflective sound and emotional depth fit perfectly with the kind of music people connected to this year, and it quietly started showing up on playlists again. What makes its return stand out is how naturally it blended into the 2025 landscape; even though it’s decades old, it still feels current. “Landslide” didn’t just come back; it reminded everyone why it never truly left.
The album of the year could go to none other than Bad Bunny’s, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. This album highlights Bad Bunny’s cultural range and how he incorporates his vibrant Spanish sounds into rap. With 17 tracks on the album, he was able to include a range of genres, from rap to slow pop songs. The most popular song from the album, and our personal favorite, is “DtMF.” Listening to “DtMF,” there is no other feeling than a strong sense of nostalgia. With the backing vocalists sounding like they’re singing along at a traditional Puerto Rican block party, the track gives a communal and familial vibe. So in the end, the album of the year can only be Bad Bunny’s.
Looking at this year as a whole, one of the most defining aspects of 2025’s music landscape was the top five standout artists. This includes artists Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, Sombr, Justin Bieber, and Sabrina Carpenter, all of whom shaped the sound of 2025 in unique ways. Whether it was crushing the charts or thriving on tour, each of these artists defined much of the year’s musical conversation.
Ultimately, 2025 showcased a year defined by innovation, bold experimentation, and unforgettable performances. We are forever indebted to the artists who create the soundtrack for our lives, giving meaning to our memories and emotions. This year reminded us once again that music will always evolve, but its influence on us remains.
