Top 40 Favorite Smiles Songs of 2025!

Here I am, already working on another year-end music blog, this time for the year of 2025! I’m always amazed at how quickly the time goes, but this year seemed especially rapid (some may also say ‘vapid’” but I won’t go there!). I lost two or three months somewhere in 2025, and I’ve been unable to locate them. If any of you locate those missing months, please return them to me. I’m happy to pay for postage, as well as any shipping and handling costs… ;-)

But, in all seriousness (if that’s possible for me!), I always look forward to presenting my annual favorite songs list of the year just gone by. As with previous years, there are some surprises, multiple appearances by artists that have graced my charts before, and a good diversity of music styles represented.

This is the 31st year where I have been tracking my favorite songs of the year. The first year I started this endeavor, in 1995, the number one song on my chart was Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? by Bryan Adams. That song spent nine weeks at number one on my charts that year! Since that inaugural year, there has yet to be a song that has spent longer than nine weeks at number one on my weekly charts (three other songs have tied the record, including Sabrina Carpenter in 2024 with Please Please Please). Perhaps that record will be broken some day? Only time will tell!

In terms of chart methodology, each song gets points that it’s on my charts, the higher the position, the more points it accumulates, so peak position is important, but so is chart longevity. Some songs entered and fell off my weekly charts fairly quickly, while other songs may have peaked lower, but spent longer on the charts, resulting in a higher year-end position.

I am all over the place when it comes to where I find new music. I don’t listen to a lot of contemporary hit radio, or even adult contemporary radio stations like I once did. I regularly review the top tunes listed on iTunes, songs/videos trending on YouTube, and I also listen to some online radio platforms like Modern Retro Radio and Retro Hit Radio out of New Zealand! These stations often feature new songs by artists that I’ve come to love and follow over the years. Long story short, there are a lot of places where I find new music, and that results in a list of songs that don’t necessarily fall into one particular category. That makes the listening more fun, and also makes blogging the specialness of these songs a lot more fun as well!

So, enough with the introduction, let’s get started with the official Top 40 Favorite Smiles Songs of 2025! And, as with any countdown, we go in reverse order, starting at number 40 and working our way to the cream of the crop, 39 songs later.

NOTE: There is a playlist of My Top 40 Songs of 2025, in addition to the song and video links embedded in the list below.

Number 40: Bed Chem Sabrina Carpenter.

• This was my number 18 song of 2024, but it carried over into 2025 for enough weeks to also make it the kick-off song of my Top 40 of 2025! Last year, I thought the title was “BAD Chem,” and so I had a MUCH different interpretation of the song then when I finally realized it was “BED Chem,” and now it all makes a lot more sense. I guess I really do need those reading glasses more often than I previously thought? Or, perhaps I need a hearing aid,… or both?  This is the first of five appearances by Sabrina on my 2025 countdown!

Number 39: The Giver Chappell Roan.

• This is the first non-2024 song on my countdown of 2025! It’s also the first of four appearances by Chappell Roan on my year-end countdown. She has a very unique singing style and seems to be having fun in a lot of her songs, and this one is no exception!

Number 38: Good Luck, Babe! Chappell Roan.

• Well, 2024 is already back again with this tune!. Just like Bed Chem, this song was still in its chart run later in 2024, continuing into the first months of 2025. It was the number eight song of 2024. This song also gets an honorable mention for including an exclamation mark. I always like a song that includes an exclamation mark, but for what it’s worth, I could be a bit biased!

Number 37: Juno Sabrina Carpenter.

• It’s starting to feel like "The Chappell and Sabrina Show,” right? This is Sabrina’s second of five appearances on my year end countdown. I really enjoy this boppy, straightforward, and fun pop tune. Sabrina’s songs always have tinges of country, pop, and new wave elements to them and that’s what really makes them resonate with me.

Number 36: Please Please Please Sabrina Carpenter.

• Well, “The Sabrina show” continues in full force with her third appearance already in my 2025 countdown. This was the number one hit of 2024, but it had enough residual chart points to give it one last hurrah in 2025 at number 36 for the year. When someone is so polite to say “please” three times in a row, I guess I feel obligated to oblige!

  
  

Number 35: Magnify Real McCoy.

• OK, FINALLY, here’s the first non-Sabrina or Chappell song on my year-end countdown for 2025! And, this is one of the surprise songs that you won’t find on all those other countdowns! The '90s are back, baby! At least they are, when Real McCoy is in the house. Try listening to this one without tapping your feet and moving and grooving along. It's not possible! When I hear songs like this, I realize I need more groovy songs like this in my life. Turn it up!

Number 34: Boy In Love Elliot James Reay.

• This tune was number 25 on my 2024 countdown and it’s 34 on my 25 countdown. We went from the '90s with the previous song right back to the 1950s in one fell swoop! I really like to do some time traveling with my music, and for what it’s worth, we will be taking a ride to the 1960s a little later in this countdown as well. There’s no time like the present for going back to the past!

Number 33: Yes, I Can Bonnie Tyler.

• Yes, she certainly can! Bonnie Tyler still sounds great with her instantly recognizable raspy voice and ability to really tell a story with that voice. If you are feeling down, defeated, or just plain tired, this tune might get you back into a positive, “yes, I can” mindset. It’s a slow burning song, but as with true success, it comes over time. 

Number 32: Love Won’t Wait Madonna.

• Madonna is back on my year and chart after a six year break, when she was in a duet with the artist, Maluma, and their song Medellin was my number 36 hit of 2019. This song is currently number two on my weekly chart, its second week at that position. Will it make it to number one? Time will tell! It’s from her 1994 album, Bedtime Stories, but this is a new remix of the song from that album, allowing it onto my 2025 year-end chart. I know, I’m truly a stickler and nerd about these things! I’m always hopeful that Madonna will get back to recording more of these kinds of songs again. But, I can live with new remixes and previously unreleased tunes if they sound as good as this one does!

Number 31: Dirty Cash (Money Talks) PAWSA & Adventures of Stevie V.

• This is yet another remix released in 2024. The original version of this tune is from 1989, and so here we are, doing more time traveling! But, time traveling is fun with a song like this. And it’s definitely another earworm! But, there’s one dubious chart statistic about this one. It’s the lowest ranking number one song on my 2025 countdown. It spent one week at number one, but only six total weeks on my weekly charts in late winter 2025. Most other number one songs spent at least 10 or more weeks on my charts during the 2025 chart period.

Number 30: Bluebird Lana Del Rey.

• Miranda Lambert had the number seven hit  on my 2020 countdown with her country song with the same title. Lana’s “bluebird” is a different tune, being an acoustic affair, featuring her plaintive and gentle vocals, describing a different type of bluebird. It’s another song by Lana that feels like it would be right home on radio stations in the 1970s, playing John Denver, Olivia Newton-John, and Anne Murray. This song yields new rewards each time you listen, with new insights and nuances becoming more evident each time. 

Number 29: I’ve Got A Broken Heart The Lemon Twigs.

• Is it 2025, or 1965? This song takes me to a time when I did not yet exist! It’s a contemporary group producing songs that evoke the wonderful sounds of the 1960s. It is less than three minutes running time, keeping with the song length requirements back in the day for radio airplay! It may be short, but it’s pure pop confection. It’s the current number one on my weekly chart, with three total weeks at number one so far. This song is evidence that good music knows no time or year constraints or boundaries!

Number 28: Connection Susanna Hoffs and Elvis Costello.

• I wasn’t familiar with The Rolling Stones version of the song before I heard this one so I figured this was a brand new song. The cover is "new," but the song is not, originally recorded by The Stones back in 1967. The 1960s are really alive on my 2025 countdown, aren't they? The pairing of Susanna Hoffs and Elvis Costello is more pure pop confection. You can just hear the fun that Susanna and Elvis are having together on this track. This song peaked at number two on my weekly charts in early 2025. 

Number 27: Say Goodbye To Mum And Dad Tears For Fears.

• Tears For Fears continued their chart dominant ways in 2025 after having the number 20 appearance in 2024 with The Girl That I Call Home. The title of this song sounds rather sad and ominous, and the lyrics and production quality deliver on that. What I always love about TFF is that they have a very distinct “sound” on each of their records, but they have also evolved over the years, creating new songs that sound fresh and contemporary, while still sounding very much like Tears For Fears songs. This song also features some wonderful whistling towards the end, and The Smiles Show (music edition) will feature songs with whistling on the first new music show of 2026 on Wednesday, January 7 of 2026 at 2 PM on KUTZ FM! This Tears for Fears tune peaked at number three for one week in early 2025.

Number 26: What If There Were No Sides At All Bryan Adams.

• It’s always nice to have a Bryan Adams appearance on my year end countdown, and as I mentioned earlier, Bryan had the very first number one on my very first year-end countdown way back in 1995. This year‘s tune is very timely with a message about rethinking our views on wars and taking sides, but it’s also an optimistic song about alternate possibilities and relationships. Maybe that possibility can even include peace? This song spent one week at number two in the summer of 2025.

Number 25: Never Too Late Elton John and Brandi Carlile.

• Sir Elton John is back on the charts and sounding as good as ever! This is his first appearance since the number 32 song in 2022 with Britney Spears on Hold Me Closer. Like that song, this one is also a duet, but this time it's with Brandi Carlile. Unlike that 2022 song though, this is a new song, not a remix of previous hits, and it’s a much more organic, gentle, and reflective song. Brandi and Elton’s voices blend so well together, and the two of them add so much to the song with the deep baritone of Elton combining with Brandi’s dynamic vocal range. This song spent one week at number one in the spring of 2025, with eight total weeks on the chart. This is Brandi’s first appearance on my 2025 YE chart with her second one coming up a bit later!

Number 24: Flying With Angels Suzanne Vega.

• Suzanne Vega is back too! This is her first of two appearances on my 2025 YE countdown. I really like the unique production quality with Suzanne’s wistful and restrained vocals creating powerful images of really flying. The listener can really picture her flying, as it sounds like she is seeing everything for the first time. This song is powerful, yet restrained. I love the duality! This song spent one week at number one in the summer of 2025, with 11 total weeks on my weekly charts.

Number 23: That’s So True Gracie Abrams.

• This is yet another 2024 holdover and only one notch lower than where it appeared on my 2024 YE countdown! That’s what happens when half your chart points are in one year, while the other half are in the other! I guess the plus is that you get more year-end appearances, but you also get a lower chart ranking each time than if the chart points were all combined into one year. And yes, “that’s so true!”

Number 22: Laredo Leon Bridges.

• It’s time to inject some smooth velvety soul into the 2025 countdown, and Leon certainly delivers! Leon paints a most vivid picture of Laredo, with his sultry vocals, and I feel like I’ve traveled there, even if I never left the confines of my music player! This is smooth and sophisticated music, but it is certainly not background music! This song peaked for two weeks at number two on my charts, with a total of 14 chart weeks during the 2025 period. 

Number 21: Rats Suzanne Vega.

• Suzanne is back with another song, but this one is just a fun romp, assuming you don’t live in a situation where the rats are truly taking over! The video is fun, too, assuming again, you aren’t rat-phobic. Perhaps it’s best watched with your feline friends? This song spent three weeks at its peak position of number three, with a total of 16 weeks on the charts in 2025.

Number 20: The Subway Chappell Roan.

• No, it’s not about the sandwich shop chain, but perhaps it will be used for that one day? Say it ain’t so! As an urban planning nerd, I am in favor of public transit, so this song checks all the boxes for me. It’s another song that paints a vivid picture with Chappell’s distinct vocal style, and it is another one of those songs that provides new insight and rewards with repeated listens. This song spent 16 weeks on my chart, with one week at its peak position of number two in the autumn of 2025.

Number 19: The Life Of A Showgirl Taylor Swift Featuring Sabrina Carpenter.

• This is the fourth of five appearances for Sabrina on my YE chart, and the first of two for Taylor. I really like the pairing of Taylor and Sabrina on this one. It’s got that unmistakable Swift sound, but Sabrina adds a touch of country twang to the mix, and it’s pure fun!  As someone who is not a showgirl (at least most of the time!), I understand that life just a bit more now, courtesy of this tune. And it’s fun to dance along to as well, since it’s hard to be a showgirl without some dancing! This song spent two weeks at number one on my weekly charts this past autumn of 2025. 

Number 18: In The End Depeche Mode.

• Depeche Mode still sound as great as they always have. Like so many of their other tunes, this is another dark, introspective journey, with this one speculating and surmising about what happens at the end of life. Here’s hoping that there is good music at the end, like that featured in this Depeche Mode tune. Ironically, In The End, spent two weeks “at the top,” (number one!) in the fall of 2025. It was their first YE appearance on my countdown since Ghosts Again was the number 25 song in 2023.

Number 17: I Love The 80s Men Without Hats.

• I just can’t not love this song! The online New Zealand Retro Hits radio station introduced me to this fantastic gem. That online station also featured an interview with Men Without Hats, about their continued popularity, and how they were inspired to pen this wonderful treat for '80s kids everywhere! Each and every year of the 1980s is fully described, celebrated, and sung about with pure glee. As someone who grew up in the 1980s, this song is spot on. If you weren’t around in the '80s, this song will give you an insight into why some of us are still so passionate about that music and culture more than 40 years later! The production quality is very much early ‘80s. When I listen, I’m 12 years old again, with hair, and everything! You can tell just how much fun Men Without Hats had producing and recording this song. The song spent two weeks at number one on my charts this past autumn 2025. Spin this one on your CD player, or better yet, put the cassingle (remember those?) in your Walkman and really celebrate appropriately! 

Number 16: Yes I Will Shania Twain And The Stylistics.

• This is the first year end appearance by Shania since Giddy Up was my number 17 song of the year 2023. This is a cool debut between the reigning country star of the 1990s, and the superstar R&B soul group from the 1970s. I love the messaging, lyrics, and gentleness in the song. Times can be tough sometimes, and we all need that proverbial shoulder to cry on. This song definitely provided said shoulder! I also really appreciate the ending high notes from The Stylistics, too! This song spent one week at number one, with 17 total weeks on my charts in spring 2025.

Number 15: Man Of The Year Lorde.

• Lorde is back! This is her first of two appearances on my 2025 year-end countdown. She was last on my YE countdown, with two songs in 2021, including Solar Power, which was my number one for the entire year of 2021! I always enjoy Lorde’s  storytelling style and vocal intimacy on her songs, including this one. There is a vulnerability and quiet strength on so many of her tunes, and this song is no exception. She sings her struggles and successes, making her songs like a peek into a musical diary. This song spent three weeks at its peak of number two and 21 total weeks on the chart in the fall of 2025.

Number 14: Your Name In Lights Simple Minds.

• This is the first appearance by Simple Minds since First You Jump was the number 22 song of 2022. This song is catchy as hell! The 1980s are back, baby! Everything about this song is perfect; the beat, the lyrics, the vocals. And, give credit where credit is due! The female vocalist, Sarah Brown, contributes significantly to the song, with her rich, soulful, and plaintive voice. It’s another song that transforms me back to the '80s. I really have a full head of hair now! Simple Minds has recorded so many definitive tunes over the years, including Don’t You (Forget About Me), and I believe this tune stands up there as one of their best. It spent three weeks at number one, with 13 total weeks on my chart in late winter and early spring of 2025.

Number 13: You Without Me Brandi Carlile.

• Boygenius weren’t on my top 40 this year, but Brandi Carlile sounds like she could easily be a part of their group. I need some fabulous folk in my musical diet each year, and this tune leaves me feeling fully satisfied. This song is one of paradoxes, sad, but hopeful, soft, but strong, quiet, but powerful. And, like Brandi’s other songs, this one pulls the listener in with its vulnerable and intimate lyrics, and very accessible and comforting musical production. This is the highest appearance for Brandi on my year-end countdown since the number two placement of Right On Time in 2021. This song spent one week at its peak position of number two, with a lengthy 18 weeks on my chart in the first half of 2025.

Number 12: Learn To Let Go The Doobie Brothers.

• This is the biggest non-number one hit on my 2025 year end countdown…such  a dubious distinction, or should I say, “doobie-us“ distinction? The Doobies are back and sounding oh so sweet, soulful, laid-back, and cool. Michael McDonald’s vocals are even huskier and deeper than before, and that adds even more layers of texture and nuance to this song. His warm vocals are reassuring, with the lyrics about learning to let go of things, that may no longer serve us or work in our lives. It sounds like he has been through everything he’s describing, and that makes this song even more powerful and resonant. Plus, in these days of auto tune, it’s so refreshing to hear a song where the vocals don’t sound like they were created by a computer! I want to be in the woods, next to the lake, in the summertime, while indulging in this fine tune! Learn To Let Go spent 17 total weeks on my chart in the spring and summer of 2025, with two weeks at its peak position of number three.

Number 11: The Fate Of Ophelia Taylor Swift.

• The bad news first, this is the first year that Taylor Swift has not made my top 10 year-end countdown since 2019 when Me! with Brandon Urie was also the number 11 song of that year. But the good news is that Taylor's streak of top 40 appearances on my year end countdowns continues intact, going all the way back to 2012 with We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. Some listeners weren’t happy that Taylor didn’t seem to be exploring “new territory” with her latest album. It seems there will always be critics, whether an artist changes their sound...or not. Personally, I feel like if an artist is true to themselves, and what they wish to express musically, that’s what’s most important. For what it’s worth, I’ve enjoyed this tune a lot. When it came out this past autumn, it kept me singing along and tapping my toes. I don’t need to ask for or expect more from a song. If it evokes an emotional response that resonates, I’m satisfied as a listener. This song debuted at number one on my weekly charts in the autumn of 2025. It was the only song to debut at number one during the 2025 chart year. It spent three weeks at its peak position of number one, with 12 total weeks on the charts.

Number 10: Abracadabra Lady Gaga.

• I was surprised that this wasn’t a much bigger hit for Lady Gaga! It only managed a number 13 peak on the Billboard Hot 100. It seemed a lot of radio stations were still smitten with her duet Die With A Smile with Bruno Mars and that may have overshadowed the possibilities with this song. That song, like this one, was also number 10 on my YE chart, but in 2024. Die With A Smile was the number one Billboard Hot 100 hit For 2025. Confused yet? Well, just say the magic, word "abracadabra," and all will make sense again! Abracadabra is a dark dance song, not as poppy and light as many of her previous tunes. There are a lot of nuances and layers to this tune, unlike some dance songs that are more style than substance. Abracadabra definitely brings style and substance together, and they become excellent dance partners! This song spent three nonconsecutive weeks at number one in the winter of 2025, with a total of 18 weeks on my chart.

Number 9: Manchild Sabrina Carpenter.

• Damn, Sabrina records very infectiously, catchy pop gems! Beware...this is another earworm. The lyrics are fun, and so is the video. It always seems like Sabrina is having fun in each of her songs, almost a bit of tongue in cheek, and that makes her songs even more enjoyable. This is Sabrina’s highest ranking song on my 2025 YE countdown. It’s also her second year in my top 10, after Please Please Please was the number one song for all of 2024! Manchild spent only one week at number one, but had a long 20 week run on my charts in the summer of 2025. And, if you’re keeping note at home, Sabrina was my third biggest artist of 2025, with her five appearances in my year-end countdown.

Number 8: Better Broken Sarah McLachlan.

• It’s like Sarah McLachlan meets Norah Jones! I love the laid-back groove, easy flowing, smooth style of this tune. It’s a song that really grows on you with repeated listens! Sarah is in top vocal form, and her warm and distinct voice make the song a true winner. Plus, her beautiful piano playing really drives this song home. It’s Sarah‘s first appearance on one of my year-end countdowns since World On Fire was the number 11 song on my 2004 countdown. Better Broken spent two weeks at number one, with a lengthy 24 total week run in 2025.

Number 7: Coming Around Again Alanis Morissette Featuring Carly Simon.

• This is the “oh wow!” song of 2025! It’s one of my favorite Carly Simon songs of all time, and as indicated by its prophetic title, it “came around again” in 2025! Alanis plays true justice to the song, slowing down the pace, and making it just as emotionally resonant as the original from 1986, almost 40 years ago! The slower pace allows the lyrics to sink in deeply, and really be felt. And as a true bonus, Carly sings along too. It’s really a homecoming of sorts, and everyone is invited to the party. It’s much more than just a cover or remake, it’s a heartfelt tribute to a song and artist that are truly timeless. Everything is always coming around again! This song spent two nonconsecutive weeks at number one, with 20 total weeks on my chart in the summer and fall of 2025.

Number 6: The New Normal Sheryl Crow.

• Sheryl is back, with not one, but two songs in my 2025 top 10! She was my second biggest artist of the year 2025. She was last on my countdown last year with her cover of Digging In The Dirt with Peter Gabriel at number 39 for 2024. The term, “the new normal” was normalized during the pandemic, and although that phrase may often be cringeworthy now, this song is certainly not! Sporting a Beatle-esque production quality, with the guitars at the beginning, this tune really describes how many of us feel in these days of the new normal! If today’s normal is sometimes overwhelming, listening to, and singing along with Sheryl certainly will help! Sheryl sounds like she’s having a blast, singing and jamming along to this jam! If we have to live in the new normal, we might as well do what we can to make the best of it, and enjoy the ride. When you’re down, this song can help bring you back up, but in a supportive and resonant way of “yes, I’ve been there too!” This song spent four weeks at number one, with another four weeks at number two, and 17 total weeks on my charts in the late summer and fall of 2025.

Number 5: I Know Sheryl Crow.

• How cool is this? Back-to-back Sheryl Crow songs in my year-end countdown! This song gets the “goosebumps generator” award!  The gentle production, lyrics of support, love, and resonance, and Sheryl’s warm and reassuring vocals get me every time! Sometimes when one is feeling down these two simple words, “I know,” can make a real positive, and lasting, difference. Being seen, understood, and listened to is so important, especially in these days, where there’s a lot of turmoil, uncertainty, and change going on throughout the world. This song is the best prescription for these times. Listen twice a day, once in the morning, and once again in the evening, for best results. Side effects may include more happiness, mindfulness, relaxation, and increased sense of purpose, too. I am so happy that songs like this are still being produced! I Know spent five weeks at number one with a total of 17 weeks on my charts in the summer and fall of 2025.

Number 4: What Was That Lorde.

• This is simply a fun, 3.5 minute dance party, courtesy of Lorde. Sometimes you just need a song in your life that is simple, fun, and with no heavy messaging, and this was that song for me in 2025. Turn it up loud, flail your arms in the air (like you just don’t care!), and have some fun. This is one of my top songs played on my 2025 walks. If you need some motivation to get moving, or to keep moving, this song will do the trick! This song might even help you keep those New Year’s resolutions! This song spent three nonconsecutive weeks at number one, four additional weeks at number two, with 23 total weeks on my charts in the spring and summer of 2025.

Number 3: In The Living Room Maggie Rogers.

• Maggie was back on my charts in dominant form in 2025, with her biggest year-end appearance yet, with her next highest appearance back in 2020 at number seven for the year with That’s Where I Am. Maggie is a singer songwriter, and her emotions and thoughts always come through loud and clear on each of her songs. Her introspective and thoughtful style harkens back to some of the classic 1970s singer songwriters. Although her style is representative of those artists, her sound is very contemporary, or in some cases takes us back to the fun times of the 1990s, as is evidenced by this fun tune! From the first guitar plucks, you know this will be a groovy jam, and then Maggie‘s fabulous vocals kick in, and it’s a rollicking good time condensed to a little over four minutes! This is a song to be turned up loud, danced to, and fully enjoyed. I had a chance to see Maggie in concert a few years ago and definitely looking forward to future concerts too! My understanding is that she is already writing and working on inspiration for her next album. Yay! This song spent a full 25 weeks on my charts in the first half of 2025, five nonconsecutive weeks at number one, and enough points to give Maggie her first top-five appearance on one of my year-end countdowns!

Number 2: Henry Come On Lana Del Rey.

• This is Lana‘s highest ever year-end appearance on my countdown. Her next highest year-end appearance was with her fabulous interpretation of Doin’ Time, the number five hit on my 2019 year-end countdown. Henry Come On is very different from that song in almost every way, except that both songs feature Lana’s exquisite vocals and ability to pull the listener into her world with the opening lines. Ethereal, magical, and otherworldly are just a few ways to describe Henry Come On. It’s one of those songs that really creates its own world, and the production quality, storytelling, and Lana’s sultry vocals gently demand attention, and the listener is more than willing to enter Lana’s world. Like Maggie Rogers, Lana is also very much a singer songwriter, and her music seems to be of a different time and place. She doesn’t create or follow trends; she creates real music that resonates deeply on both an emotional and thinking level. I have not yet seen Lana in concert, but keeping my fingers crossed I get a chance before too much longer. It seems like her music just gets ever more sophisticated, timeless, and irresistible with each new release. Henry Come On spent six weeks at number one, with total 20 weeks on my chart in the first half of 2025.

Number 1: Pink Pony Club Chappell Roan.

• This was my number one song of 2025, even if not all of its chart points occurred in 2025! It spent two nonconsecutive weeks at number one in 2025, more than half a year on my charts at 28 weeks, the longest run of any song in 2025. As a side note, this song spent two additional weeks at number one in December 2024, and two additional weeks when it first entered my chart in December 2024. But, those points actually don’t count towards its year end appearance in 2025. But don’t fear, those points didn’t go to waste, as this song was also number 32 on my 2024 YE countdown!  This is such a different kind of song, featuring Chappell’s distinct vocals, a very catchy production quality, and an intriguing and captivating storyline. This song is so damned anthemic, and each new listen yields more layers in the story of the Pink Pony Club, and the struggles and successes of those who want to be queen for a day, expressing themselves, and living out their fantasies. The song can be seen as an anthem of empowerment, and also just a fun party as well. Chappell is queen of the Pink Pony Club, and also my year-end countdown of 2025! And, not surprisingly, Chappell was my top artist for 2025, too!

And there you have it! My favorite 40 songs ranked from bottom to top. What do you think of my list? Did you find any surprises? Which ones are YOUR favorites? Are there any songs I should consider checking out, as I prepare for the 2026 chart year? Reach out anytime and let me know at jimmysmiles07@gmail.com.

Happy new year, everyone! May your new year include lots of good music, good reasons to dance, and time for friends and family, as well as self -reflection. Keep playing the music, keep creating the music, and keep on smiling!