What are your top 2025 songs?

[Eluvianii he/him]

Surely January 3rd is still a good time to post this. Well, concept is simple. For years a friend and I have had a tradition of making a list with our favorite songs of the year and share it with each other at the start of a new year. Honestly our tastes are pretty different and we're not likely to find something new to like by reading each other lists, but the process itself is fun, and so we keep doing it.

Therefore, a few years back, I decided to share that tradition on the Shard for anyone who wants to join in.

There are no rules or anything. You have one song that hasn't left your head for months? You can post it. You have a classic top 10? Perfect. You made a carefully curated list split into individual categories? Excellent. Anything works as long as it's music, there's no such thing as too much or too little.

I'm slightly on that last category so, here goes mine. Hope to see yours too.

 

List of songs I listened to in 2025, that came out in 2025:

1. What the Ripple Sees - Mili I lack context about the game this belongs to, but on its own it's the most beautiful song I've ever heard about someone dying.
2. Ready to Rock - BAND-MAID
3. Monsters in the Woods - Mili
4. Kuchisake - Utsu-P
5. Doppelganger - Phantom Siita
6. Love, Hate - Phantom Siita
7. Querida Amalia - Bruses
8. Hide and Seek With the Moon - yutori
9. bot bakka - Phantom Siita
10. Bloodlust - Dysmn

 

List of songs I listened to in 2025, that came out before that:

1. Crime and Punishment - Shiina Ringo This is amazing.
2. Mouretsu Uchuu Koukyoukyoku Dai Nana Gakushou "Mugen no Ai" - Momoiro Clover Z This one feels like an epic journey somehow.
3. A Driving Rain in Darkness - Shiina Ringo
4. Sugar - Mass of the Fermenting Dregs
5. Endroll - Mass of the Fermenting Dregs
6. Toujisha - EGOIST
7. Love is Orange - Orange Lounge
8. Yuvi's Longing - Hagali
9. Tabi no Tochuu - Natsumi Kiyoura
10. Tribute - Tenacious D

 

List of songs belonging to soundtracks. Which honestly it's pretty much all video games. And I played some good ones this year:

Monster Hunter World

Spoiler

• Succession of Light Technically heard this one years ago. But this year I officially played Iceborne, so it feels appropriate.
• Theme of Seliana
• Congregation of the Fearless
• Splendiferous Silver Sovereign
• Morning Star of the Dark Tide
• From the Rumblings Come a Song
• A Single Bloom in an Eternity
• Tales Spun Through Song

Monster Hunter Rise

Spoiler

• Clouded Skies, Approaching Twilight
• Archdemon of the Abyss
• Sunbreak

Umamusume Pretty Derby

Spoiler

• Make Debut
• Girls' Legend U
• Umapyoi Legend

Shin Sakura Wars

Spoiler

• Crazy Blooms in the Imperial City
• Aratanaru

Metaphor ReFantazio

Spoiler

• Face of the Palace
• A World Culled
• King of Destruction

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

Spoiler

• Main Theme
• Symbiosis
• Dignity

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Spoiler

• Battle -Strength-
• Battle -Origin-
• Da'at: Konan
• Battle -Marici-
• Battle -Destruction-
• Main Theme
• Battle -Beast of Bloodshed-
• Battle -Qadistu-
• Da'at: Kabukicho

Final Fantasy XIV

Spoiler

• Torn from the Heavens
• To the Sun
• Serenity
• Greenwrath
• Sultana Dreaming
• Under the Weight
• Fealty

Miscellaneous

Spoiler

• Cohen's Masterpiece - Bioshock
• In the Land of Happiness - Shadow of the Colossus
• Alapu Upala - Godzilla Singular Point
• The Cosmic Balance - Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
• Utroba Night - Pathologic
• Darkness - Pathologic 2

 

Aaand that's probably it. Honestly it was a pretty good year for music for me. There weren't like dozens of songs this time, like some previous years where several of my favorite artists decided to drop entire albums all at once, but the songs I did find were seriously good. I have a lot of new favorites. Hope your year was as good as mine in that regard. Looking forward to seeing what you listened to. Hopefully I can keep getting away with making these...

[Usseewa]

Well...my Spotify wrapped (essentially your most-listened-to songs, genres, and artists) is all Kaladin by Black Piper - at least the first 20 or so (see image for album cover)

Spoiler

I also listened to the whole soundtrack from Your Name for weeks after watching it.

My "actual" top songs are probably something like (in no particular order, since I struggle with that sort of thing):

1. Song 2 - Blur

2. Snow (Hey Oh) - Red Hot Chili Peppers (hereinafter "RHCP")

3. Can't Stop - RHCP

4. Dani California - RHCP

5. Californication - RHCP

6. Heart-Shaped Box - Nirvana

7. I'm Still Standing - Elton John

8. Starman - David Bowie

9. Two Princes - Spin Doctors

10. Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson

...

11. Would? - Alice in Chains (though I didn't listen to it much, I love it)

12. Come Out and Play - The Offspring

13. Dream On - Aerosmith

14. Chicago - Michael Jackson

15. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

16. Space Oddity - David Bowie

...and so much more

 

In the aforementioned Your Name soundtrack, my two favorites are Sparkle and Nandemonaiya.

Edited January 4 by Theory
Edited song list.

[Eluvianii he/him]

19 hours ago, Theory said:

In the aforementioned Your Name soundtrack, my two favorites are Sparkle and Nandemonaiya.

Ah, Sparkle is legendary. Was stuck in my head for a good while when I watched the movie for the first time.

[Use the Falchion]

I look forward to this thread every year! Thanks for keeping up the tradition. 

 

On 1/3/2026 at 5:23 PM, Eluvianii said:

2. Ready to Rock - BAND-MAID

SCOOOP!!! 

Ready to Rock and Sion were my favorites from that album

 

On 1/3/2026 at 5:23 PM, Eluvianii said:

6. Toujisha - EGOIST

From Egoist's final EP, right? My iTunes calls it Touzisya, but I know that's a sort of regional difference at time. ("z" vs "j" and the other things.) That EP was the main part of my Yumi & the Nightmare Painter playlist. ("All Alone With You" remix plays during the final moments of the book, while "Namae No Nai Kaibutsu" remix plays during the epilogue with Hoid.) 

As an aside, Egoist was one of my favorite J-Pop/J-Rock/J-Electronic groups. I'm sad they split ways, but I hope Reche is popular. (I haven't listened to as much of her stuff as I probably should.) 

 

In terms of my music list: 

Retro 2024 Winners

“Classical Dragon” by Marcin and Tim Henson - I didn’t appreciate it back in 2024, but I’ve been listening to it nearly every day in early January and February. 

“Empty Out Your Pockets” by Juice Wrld - It feels like it’s a Spider-Man: SpiderVerse song, specifically Miles G Morales’ theme song. I love it for that. 

 

Album of the Year - “Lo-files” by Bring Me the Horizon

A lofi album of many of BMTH’s most popular (and most recent) hits over the years. It’s a fun project that I wish more bands would consider. 

Top Songs: “canyoufeelmy<3.tmpx,” “sL33pwalking.idl,” and “Throne.GOD”

 

Runner-up Albums

“Hope EP” by Yukata Hirasaka - A great Mathrock J-Rock album! “Bright” is easily my favorite song on the EP, so much so that I’m mentioning it here and in the singles list!

 

“Scooop!” by Band-Maid - It feels more akin to Unseen World than Epic Narratives, which is nice. Slightly more variety. 

Top Songs: “Ready to Rock,” and “SION” (this song’s opening riffs remind me of “Page” from their album CONQUERER) 

 

“From Zero (Deluxe Edition)” by Linkin Park - This one’s a bit of a cheat since there are only three new songs, but it’s TECHNICALLY still a new album! (The three songs do change the flow of the album some, since now the album doesn’t circle back to the beginning.) 

 

Top Retro Buys:

A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio - I listen to it every year, and it’s one of my favorite albums to listen to every year. My family owns it on cassette AND CD. It’s a mystery why I hadn't bought it myself yet. 

 

A.I. Music - I have a slightly complex relationship with A.I. music. I don't hate it, yet it isn't the same as art to me. It's entertainment and enjoyable at times, but I'd always prefer to have some human band create and perform the same thing instead of A.I. 

A.I. Art - Funkin Park (it sounds more boy-band than Funk) by Conhuir

Ecclesiastes in Blues by Holy Groove

Classical versions of “Timeless” and “Chihiro” by This Isn’t Real

 

Secular Music Fast Singles - My church had a fast from secular music this summer. I didn't always succeed, but I did find some new songs I really enjoy. 

“Lifted Me (Live) [feat. Ashlee Young & Sean Dodson]” by Anthem Night Music & BrvndonP

“Impossible? Nothing At All” by Transformation Worship. (My Choir Rec of the year)

“STILL HOLY” by indie tribe, nobigdyl

“IN THE ROOM” by nobigdyl

“Liar” by Jon Keith

“Sinful” by Aha Gazelle

“Rendezvous” by Social Club Misfits

 

Singles

“Faker” and “ESC” by Thai McGrath - Anime-inspired Rock

“Thanatos (End of Us),” “Cut the Cord,” “Library of Alexandra,” and “The Maze” by Janani K. Jha - Greek Mythology-inspired Pop

“Sanctuary” “Honored” and “grow” by STIM - Prog Rock/Pop

“I Don’t Write About Girls" by Marcin and Ichika Nito - Prog Rock

“Imposter Syndrome” by Lew Sid

“Don’t Save Her,” “Trailer Park Alien,” and “Throw It Back” by Brandon Jamar Scott - Rap

“Run It Up” by Hanumankind - Rap

“Timeless” by The Weeknd - Rap

“Nihilist Blues (ft. Grimes) by Bring Me the Horizon (The Cover by Annisokay is here too.) - Rock

“Why you gotta kick me when I’m down?” by Bring Me the Horizon - Rock

“SLEEPWALKER” by Aries & brakence - Prog Pop

“Drum Show,” and “City Walls” by Twenty One Pilots

“Bright” by Yukata Hirasaka - One of my top singles of the year. - Mathrock

“Folded” and “(un)Folded” by Kehlani - Pop/R&B

“Mmm Good” by Scootie Wop - Rap

“Lord of Ashes,” “Elegy of the End,” and “Counter-Blade” by Lappy - J-Rock

“You Got Me!” by Able2change - Rap

“War” by Elaya Amen - R&B

“Red + Green” by Alex Jean - Rap

“Delightful” by Refeeld - Lofi

“Fractures” by Scro - DnB/Breakcore/Mathrock/Screamo

“Somewhere I Belong” and “Crawling” (Midwest Emo covers) by Loner Youth - Midwest Emo 

“I was only temporary” by my head is empty - Yes, sometimes I like Tiktok songs

“Confess your love (ft. Ola.wav)” - Yes, sometimes I like the Tiktok songs

[Eluvianii he/him]

On 1/4/2026 at 7:51 PM, Use the Falchion said:

SCOOOP!!! 

Ready to Rock and Sion were my favorites from that album

Oh my stars there was an album... And so begins the 2026 list. Yep, first impression is all the ones I was missing are great. Definitely a step up from Epic Narratives. Which is a shame because that's such a cool name for an album.

On 1/4/2026 at 7:51 PM, Use the Falchion said:

From Egoist's final EP, right? My iTunes calls it Touzisya, but I know that's a sort of regional difference at time. ("z" vs "j" and the other things.) That EP was the main part of my Yumi & the Nightmare Painter playlist. ("All Alone With You" remix plays during the final moments of the book, while "Namae No Nai Kaibutsu" remix plays during the epilogue with Hoid.) 

As an aside, Egoist was one of my favorite J-Pop/J-Rock/J-Electronic groups. I'm sad they split ways, but I hope Reche is popular. (I haven't listened to as much of her stuff as I probably should.) 

Yeah, I found both spellings and was a bit torn on which to use. In the end Toujisha just felt more like proper romaji.

While we're there, I didn't actually get to listen to much Egoist, but I did watch the latest Psycho Pass movie last year, and this song stayed with me. I do hope they can do micro reunions for future Psycho Pass projects. Whatever they're doing with that particular story, it's not done yet, and I'm always up for more Akane.

On 1/4/2026 at 7:51 PM, Use the Falchion said:

A.I. Music - I have a slightly complex relationship with A.I. music. I don't hate it, yet it isn't the same as art to me. It's entertainment and enjoyable at times, but I'd always prefer to have some human band create and perform the same thing instead of A.I. 

Boy am I going through that. For the most part, it's an instant no for me. But then I listened to Dysmn. Which made it to my list this year through Bloodshed. Problem is, the music is good. It feels kinda unique and sounds like an actual composition. And while the artist doesn't mention AI anywhere, you gotta get suspicious when he drops a song every couple days. Idk, hopefully it's only being used as a substitute for a daw while the actual composition and vocals are real, who knows.

I do enjoy a good meme song here and there. "The Customer is Always ******* Wrong" comes to mind.

On 1/4/2026 at 7:51 PM, Use the Falchion said:

“Lord of Ashes,” “Elegy of the End,” and “Counter-Blade” by Lappy - J-Rock

Ah, so Lappy dropped into your recommendations too huh. I love the stuff but I never manage to remember the song once it ends. I need to listen to the artist more.

Edited January 6 by Eluvianii