100. Sarah McLachlan - Better Broken PEAK: #15
99. Bryan Adams - Be The Reason PEAK: #2 (so far)
98. Bryan Adams - Make Up Your Mind PEAK: #13
97. Tate McRae - Sports Car PEAK: #16
96. Bon Jovi - Red, White & Jersey PEAK: #11
95. Sabrina Carpenter - Bed Chem PEAK: #1 (2 weeks)
94. Audrey Hobert - Sue Me PEAK: #12
93. Carly Rae Jepsen - Lost In Devotion PEAK: #7 (so far)
92. Kate Voegele & Tyler Hilton - Hallelujah PEAK: #1 (3 weeks so far)
91. The Paradox - Do Me Like That PEAK: #12
90. Benson Boone - Mystical Magical PEAK: #11
89. Sabrina Carpenter - Tears PEAK: #12
88. Willa Ford - Burn Burn PEAK: #9
87. Lady Gaga - The Dead Dance PEAK: #9
86. Meg Donnelly - Dancin' Around PEAK: #9
85. Eddie Money - Stay With Me PEAK: #1 (1 week)
84. Shinedown - Three Six Five PEAK: #14
83. Hilary Duff - Mature PEAK: #1 (1 week)
82. Yellowcard feat. Avril Lavigne - You Broke Me Too PEAK: #7
81. Kathleen Edwards - Save Your Soul PEAK: #14
80. Glass Tiger - Canada's Song (Free To Be) PEAK: #13
79. Taylor Acorn - Crashing Out PEAK: #7
78. Rascal Flatts & Kelly Clarkson - I'm Movin' On PEAK: #6
77. Blondshell - T&A PEAK: #11
76. Sombr - Undressed PEAK: #8
75. Shawn Hook - Lie PEAK: #7
74. Rita Ora - Joy PEAK: #8
73. Rob Thomas - Picture Perfect PEAK: #7
72. Halsey - Panic Attack PEAK: #1 (3 weeks)
71. Sombr - Back To Friends PEAK: #13
70. Jade - Before You Break My Heart PEAK: #8
69. Courtney Hadwin - Spellbound PEAK: #6
68. Benson Boone - Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else PEAK: #10
67. Tina Turner - Hot For You Baby PEAK: #9
66. Zac Brown Band feat. Dolly Parton - Butterfly PEAK: #1 (1 week)
65. Lorde - What Was That PEAK: #2
64. Bachman-Turner Overdrive - 60 Years Ago PEAK: #6
63. Taylor Swift - Opalite PEAK: #5 (so far)
62. Lady Gaga - Abracadabra PEAK: #5
61. Jerry Cantrell - Off The Rails PEAK: #8
60. Lauren Spencer-Smith - If Karma Doesn't Get You (I Will) PEAK: #4
This young Canadian starlet has had several viral hits over the past few years, and has had some decent success on my chart. However, this became her biggest hit for me upon its release becoming her first ever top 5 on my chart with a message for someone who had wronged her that she's out for revenge if karma doesn't get its way first!
59. Alanis Morissette & Carly Simon - Coming Around Again PEAK: #5
Carly Simon released her original version of "Coming Around Again" in 1986, which became her last major mainstream top 40 hit. In 2025, it came back, with Carly herself joining Alanis Morissette on this cover version. Alanis really did it justice IMO and it became yet another big hit for her - she is another artist who has kept the fans happy since the 2020 release of her album "Such Pretty Forks In The Road" with various projects since.
58. Ed Sheeran - Drive PEAK: #5
Overall, I found Ed Sheeran's stuff from his "Play" album to be very underwhelming in 2025, and the era completely flopped for me. However, this soundtrack song from the "F1" movie, which he co-wrote with John Mayer, became the easy highlight of THAT soundtrack for me - despite other artists on it underwhelming with THEIR songs! This rock-oriented track proved that Ed can do rock just as well as his normal acoustic style, and became a top 5 hit over the summer for me.
57. Chappell Roan - After Midnight PEAK: #4
Following the breakthrough Chappell Roan had with her album "The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess", her success continued into 2025. This song was one of the highlights from said album, and was a top 5 hit early in the year. Since then, she has released two one-off singles as we wait for album #2 - both of said songs reached #1 for me but how high will they rank on the year-end?
56. Agnes - Ego PEAK: #11
Swedish dance-pop singer Agnes has had several songs make my chart over her career so far, and in 2025 she released my favourite song from her so far. "Ego" will appear on her forthcoming sixth album "Beautiful Madness", and I hope it's representative of the sound that she will embody.
55. Halsey - Alice Of The Upper Class PEAK: #6
Halsey's latest concept album "The Great Impersonator" is one I felt was very well-executed and shows her potential as an artist, channeling several of her inspirations. While this song was originally left off its tracklisting, it's since been added to the digital platforms. It's been speculated that her inspiration on this song may have been either Avril Lavigne or Hayley Williams, as it has a very 2000's pop-punk sounding vibe, which she pulled off very well here.
54. Chiara Savasta - Superstar Loser PEAK: #10
Early in the year, I was exposed to this song by the Montreal-based singer-songwriter Chiara Savasta. It was the first song I heard from her and I was impressed by her talents, as this song had a catchy melody. It ended up becoming a top 10 hit on my chart and gives me hope for more great songs from her in the future.
53. Good Charlotte - I Don't Work Here Anymore PEAK: #5
One band that finally made their comeback in 2025 is Good Charlotte. They released their first album in seven years, "Motel Du Cap", and this for me was the highlight from it. Headed by Joel and Benji Madden, this song basically is a reference to stay yourself and get away from toxic situations, where this song presents as a job that they quit because it was making them feel worse. It became easily relateable and their first top 10 hit in 15 years for me. Great to have them back!
52. 38 Special - All I Haven't Said PEAK: #12
Speaking of long-awaited comebacks, here's one I didn't expect! One of the biggest Southern rock bands of the 80's, 38 Special released their album "Milestone" to commemorate 50 years in the music business. This was the lead single, which has founding member and lead singer Don Barnes co-writing with Jim Peterik, with whom he co-wrote among their early classic hits "Hold On Loosely" and "Caught Up In You", has that same energy their classics had, and while his voice definitely sounds older, it's a very welcome return from a band whose songs continue to play on classic rock radio to this day.
51. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Chasing Down A Dream PEAK: #10
2025 had many unexpected comebacks for me! Swedish sensation Eagle-Eye Cherry, best known for his 90's smash hit "Save Tonight", released his latest album "Become A Light". This song proved that his #1 comeback hit "Hate To Love" was no fluke, as "Chasing Down A Dream" chased down its predecessor's success and became his second top 10 hit in a row. How high will "Hate To Love" rank though?
50. John Oates - A Ways Away PEAK: #10
It's been a few years since Hall & Oates had a nasty breakup of their musical partnership which spanned 50 years, but John Oates of the duo wasted no time recording solo music. This song from his latest album "Oates" sounded reminiscent of the duo's 70's work, and in particular it reminded me of their song "Sara Smile". Here he kicks off my top 50 of 2025.
49. Billy Idol feat. Avril Lavigne - 77 PEAK: #6
If there's anything Avril Lavigne has been good for lately, it's keeping her name and voice in the spotlight through collaborations. In 2025, she teamed up with the likes of Simple Plan, Yellowcard, Bon Jovi, and here, with likely one of her musical "idols", of course Billy Idol himself. The spiky platinum blonde haired icon of 80's punk rock had many classic songs back in his time, and now, at age 70, is still making memorable songs like he never stopped and the two of them had such a strong chemistry on this track like it was natural.
48. The Trews - The Breakdown PEAK: #12
Over the past two decades, Nova Scotia-based rockers The Trews have had many hit singles on rock radio, and after all this time, this became my favourite from them overall. I feel they are one band that gets better with age, and this became the highest entry on the chart that didn't reach my top 10.
47. Bon Jovi - Walls of Jericho PEAK: #7
Speaking of veteran rock bands, these guys from New Jersey have been at it for over 40 years, and their latest album "Forever" felt like a victory lap for the Hall of Famers, as it summed up exactly why they are, to quote that album's #1 single from 2024, "legendary". In 2025, they re-released the album, working with a series of collaborators on each track, and this one featured Joe Elliott from Def Leppard on the revamped version.
46. Yellowcard - Better Days PEAK: #5
2025 was a big year for pop punk on my year-end chart, and here it definitely shows with Florida-based band Yellowcard scoring their first top 10 hit on my chart with this, the title track from their latest album "Better Days". They certainly haven't forgotten how to make a great song, and this year they were stronger than ever for me. This was the first of two top 10's they had this year, with the other being their Avril Lavigne collaboration.
45. Anna Graves - Hollow Bones PEAK: #5
We've seen a lot of big acts from the 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000's in the past few songs, how about a newer talent? Minnesota-based folk singer Anna Graves had a big breakthrough for me in 2025, as her first two releases to make my chart both hit my top 10. This proved that her hit "Dizzy" was no fluke, as she managed another top 10 with it; both songs made it into my top 50 for the year.
44. Sam Fender - Tyrants PEAK: #6
British singer-songwriter Sam Fender has had several of his songs make it onto my chart over the past few years, however most of them couldn't get past the 30's. This one, however, proved to be the exception, as due to positive buzz, it managed to become his first top 10 hit so far on my chart, reaching #6. Congratulations Sam, here's to many more hits in the future!
43. Nea - Boys Will Be Boys PEAK: #7
Swedish singer Nea started off writing songs for other artists, including Zara Larsson. And while she's always been a strong songwriter, this was the year that she had her personal breakthrough as a singer, as this effort managed to reach my top 10 over the summer.
42. Men Without Hats - I <3 The 80's PEAK: #10
It doesn't get more 80's than this! Among the groups that best typifies the 80's sound has to be the Canadian synthpop outfit Men Without Hats, best known for songs like "The Safety Dance" and "Pop Goes The World". Here they take us through the decade that made them, with many of the events and trends of that decade mentioned in the lyrics. This proved to be a major comeback for them, becoming their first top 10 since my chart began and scores a respectable year-end placing!
41. SZA - BMF PEAK: #4
SZA is one of those singers who took a while for me to get into, and after the success of the "SOS" album came its companion release, "LANA". This song from it became my favourite from her so far, reaching my top 5 and proving why she's one of the biggest contemporary R&B sensations.
40. JoJo - Nobody PEAK: #8
I did enjoy several of JoJo's classic era hits, including the #1 hit "Too Little Too Late". However, over the past few years, her style has drifted more towards the trap direction and I've been very disappointed in a lot of her more recent stuff. This, however, was an old-school funk influenced tune that brought her back to my top 10 for the first time since 2011. Between this and her recent collaboration with All Time Low, I hope this is a step in the right direction for her!
39. Florence & the Machine - One Of The Greats PEAK: #4
Over the years, several songs from Florence and the Machine have charted and I usually chart at least something from each album. I did anticipate the "Everybody Scream" era, and this was the song that caught my ear, with her scathing critiques about the music industry in all of its six minutes. This became her first top 5 hit to date for me, and "Sympathy Magic" looks to follow it into the top 10 shortly as well. Expect that on my top 100 of 2026!
38. Madison Beer - Bittersweet PEAK: #1 (1 week)
I've charted several songs by Madison Beer over the years, and wanted to like her more... but for a while, she just wasn't clicking, and when her songs started to get airplay... they weren't what I wanted to hear from her. "Make You Mine" last year was a step in the right direction, but this Ariana Grande-channeling song was the one that did it for her. It became her first ever #1 on my chart and hopefully her forthcoming album will have more hit singles from this Long Island-based singer!
37. After - Outbound PEAK: #5
One of my top music discoveries of 2025 is the Los Angeles-based duo After, who have made 2000's inspired indie pop music their calling. The nostalgic sounds, while still keeping a fresh sound for the present day, caught my ear with their first few releases this year, and this song became their big breakthrough for me, reaching my top 5 in the fall.
36. Aerosmith & Yungblud - My Only Angel PEAK: #5
After cancelling their farewell tour due to Steven Tyler's vocal injury, I didn't think we'd ever get new music from Aerosmith, thinking that 2012's album "Music From Another Dimension" would go down as their final work. However, he and bandmate Joe Perry performed alongside rising star Yungblud at Black Sabbath's "Back To The Beginning" farewell concert... and that inspired them to do a collaborative EP. This lead single, a collaboration between generations, proved that the old masters still have gas in their creative tanks... and it definitely helped to have some young blood 
on the track too! Any return for Aerosmith is certainly welcome in my book!
35. Lucy Chan - Into Space PEAK: #6
I don't know that much about Lucy Chan, other than that she's from Australia and has some 80's and 90's retro vibes into this music. This song sounded straight out of space, and gave me enough of an impression to reach my top 10 in the spring.
34. Sigrid - Fort Knox PEAK: #3
Over the past few years I've really gained an appreciation for Norwegian singer Sigrid. Back in 2021, her song "Burning Bridges" became one of my top songs of the decade and its parent album "How To Let Go" was an overall favourite of mine. She's managed a few more hits since, including this latest effort comparing wanting to lock her love away and safeguard it, like the military gold reserves at Fort Knox, which was a top 5 hit back in September. "There's Always More That I Could Say" is the title of her latest album and this song proves she can still make a great song!
33. Katelyn Lehner - Something I'd Like PEAK: #9
I've been supportive of Canadian artists during the 27 years I've been doing a chart so far... but one thing that's mostly eluded me is big hits from artists from my home province of Saskatchewan! Country-pop siren Katelyn Lehner is only the third artist in this 27 years to reach my top 10, with this song that gave her a national breakthrough across Canada, reaching top 30 on our hot adult contemporary chart. Sounds like something, sounds like something I'd like... and she certainly hit my ears with a catchy tune here!
32. Flowerovlove - I've Seen Ur Ex PEAK: #2
She's only 20 years old, one of the youngest artists on the entire top 100. But black British pop starlet Floweroflove got her breakthrough for me with this one, about masking insecurities and jealousy with fake confidence after a breakup. I've heard comparisons with other young pop stars such as Sabrina Carpenter and Beabadoobee and definitely feel those vibes in this one. She definitely sounds like a talent who will make many more catchy tunes over the years as she's still got plenty of years ahead of her in her music career!
31. Olivia Rodrigo - So American PEAK: #2
Olivia Rodrigo released her album "Guts" in 2023, but it really felt its biggest impact for me in 2024, as she had three of my year-end top 10 songs, including the #1 song of the entire year, "All-American Bitch". Sadly, she failed to repeat this in 2025, but this shows the legs that entire album, as well as it's "Spilled" re-release with several new tracks, such as this one, have had for me. A rare love song for her inspired by her relationship with Louis Partridge, her more rock-oriented songs are usually the ones that have caught my ear the most, and this managed to make its way up to #2 on my chart. I hope her third album is as good as what she's had recently, as she has been on a great creative kick!
30. Sabrina Carpenter - 15 Minutes PEAK: #5
Overall, the re-release of her now-modern classic album "Short n' Sweet" was successful for me, as two tracks from it made my top 5, following four #1 hits from the original album release. This song was a highlight for me, reaching the top 5 in the spring, but it's only her third highest entry this year!
29. Evanescence - Afterlife PEAK: #2
After seeing Evanescence in concert in 2024, I'd anticipated new music from them. This song, which was taken from the Netflix series "Devil May Cry", stayed true to their classic sound, and proved that they can still make a solid song over two decades after their debut and became their biggest hit in 18 years for me, matching the highs of their first two albums.
28. Taylor Swift - The Fate Of Ophelia PEAK: #1 (1 week)
Taylor Swift is one of today's most undisputed pop superstars, and on my chart it's no exception, as this is her 17th straight year with at least one song in my year-end ranking - currently a record. I honestly wasn't into her previous era, "The Tortured Poets Department", at all, and it was a major dud for me, however, "The Life Of A Showgirl" proved to get her back on track, with this lead single topping my chart upon release. I'm expecting the hit streak will continue into 2026 as several more songs from this album could become hits for me.
27. Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild PEAK: #1 (2 weeks)
While this song started off strong (debuted at #1 and stayed there for two weeks), this showed that cracks were starting to show in Sabrina's foundation. The controversy surrounding the album cover for "Man's Best Friend", as well as being rushed following her recent success and overall not as good as what she had before, didn't do her any favours, but this lead single was still able to reach into my year-end top 30.
26. Addison Rae - Headphones On PEAK: #6
I never expected a song this good from a Tiktok star like Addison Rae! The fact that her entire album was written and produced by women showed her dedication, and overall I felt it was a strong album. After "Aquamarine" broke her through for me late last year, "Headphones On" and its infectuous grooves just caught my ear enough to become a long-running top 10 smash for me.
25. Sombr - 12 To 12 PEAK: #1 (1 week)
Sombr is one of this year's biggest new stars, and after his first two singles showed modest success for me, this is his third and highest entry for me in 2025. Given the movements of the #1 songs on either side of this song's on my chart, "12 To 12", his most upbeat single to date, was extremely lucky to get #1, and honestly, I feel that was the only week he could've hit #1 for me. Still, very well deserved and I feel he'll last for quite a while.
24. Young Gun Silver Fox - Stevie & Sly PEAK: #2
I've always been a sucker for nostalgia, and Young Gun Silver Fox has really brought it, as their sound really is a throwback to yacht rock! Honestly, hearing this song takes me back to 1975, and with a video that matches its retro feel, these guys really know how to keep the yacht vibes coming!
23. Rosé - Toxic Till The End PEAK: #3
If there's any group that I think their individual pieces are stronger than the group together, it's gotta be Blackpink. I never really caught on to their material as a group as a whole, but solo, several members have achieved some success for me. And while Jennie and Lisa have had some success for me solo, Rosé is clearly the solo breakout of the K-Pop superstar group. This song, remembering a bad relationship from her past, shows off her emotions well.
22. Rosé - Number One Girl PEAK: #1 (2 weeks)
However, this song was even bigger for me! While the Bruno Mars collaboration "APT." never really made it far for me, this song from her solo album "Rosie" was the one that really caught my attention. I knew she had potential from her track "On the Ground" several years ago, but this ballad really showed she can make a great love song, and it became the first ever K-pop #1 song on my chart.
21. Kesha - Dear Me PEAK: #1 (2 weeks)
Kesha is one case where I feel a lot of her stuff is inconsistent but when she hits for me, she really does hit big. I never liked a lot of her more recent stuff, but this is a huge exception. Written by Diane Warren, it really captures the feeling, as Kesha has shown before with her vocals, she can really sing when she wants to. Despite hitting on and off since 2009, this finally gave Kesha her first ever #1 on my chart - and it couldn't have happened with a more deserving song.
20. Chappell Roan - The Giver PEAK: #1 (3 weeks)
After breaking through big time in 2024, it was time for Chappell Roan to make some experimental choices in her career. She tried a country song, "The Giver", and it really caught on for me, proving the diversity in her sound, and giving her a first (but not last) #1 song. How high did her other #1, "The Subway", rank?
19. Your Future Ghost - I'm Like Money PEAK: #1 (4 weeks)
Kate Voegele getting big hits on my chart really is a given these days, and her group Your Future Ghost has continued this streak for me. This became their fourth straight #1 for me late in 2024 as they prepared their debut album "Impatient For The Dream", and the video for this one, shot in the desert, was very memorable too. I appreciate the song more knowing what it was about, how it is "a bold declaration of self-worth, unapologetic uniqueness, and power, saying "I'm valuable, don't try to control or diminish me," often interpreted as a 'badass' anthem against industry pressures or people trying to take advantage", a song I can relate to about just staying true to myself and not giving in to unfair demands.
18. Jaclyn Reinhart - Hero Call PEAK: #1 (3 weeks)
After her 2021 EP "Sleep With Ghosts" gave her three #1 hits and the entire EP made my top 3, I knew New Brunswick-based singer-songwriter Jaclyn Reinhart had more potential to do well for me with new music. That arrived in 2025, with her latest release "Hero Call". It's about "finding courage to take chances and play your best hand in life, inspired by a tarot reading and poker analogies—it's about acting on your instincts to seize opportunities, even if you don't control the initial circumstances, to achieve a better outcome, a message of self-belief and resilience." This caught on immediately and became one of her biggest hits in the personal charts world, as well as spending three weeks at #1 on my chart. I'm anticipating her new album in 2026 and hopefully more great songs like this will be present!
17. Carly Rae Jepsen - More PEAK: #1 (1 week)
You know how Carly Rae Jepsen always spoils her fans - her albums "Emotion" and "Dedicated" both had side B albums as companions for the original albums, as well as "The Loneliest Time" and "The Loveliest Time" being two sides to the same theme. However, there was still more to be heard - particularly from the "Emotion" sessions, as Carly was saving them for this 10-year re-issue. "More" proved to be another strong track as it became her 11th overall #1 for me, continuing her hit streak and proving how unstoppable she has been.
16. Deep Blue Something - Will You Wait PEAK: #3
Hands up - who saw THIS coming? The college rock band from Texas, Deep Blue Something, broke through in 1995 with their whimsical "Breakfast At Tiffany's", which to this day remains a 90's classic. Despite failing to live up to its success and often being considered a one-hit wonder... they resurfaced in 2025 with a new album "Lunar Phase" - and amazingly enough, unlike many other bands who have been around this long, they still have all of their original members! "Will You Wait" was the standout for me, reaching #3 on my chart and proving that nobody can be counted out in getting another hit.
15. Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne & Steve Stevens - Gods Of Rock N Roll PEAK: #1 (2 weeks)
In 2025, we sadly lost a legend. At age 76, Ozzy Osbourne died, shortly after finishing his final concert with Black Sabbath, "Back to the Beginning". He created a legacy that will honestly never be equalled and will stand as one of the founding forces that created heavy metal. Shortly before his death, Ozzy recorded this song with Billy Morrison and Steve Stevens, which turned out to be a fitting final release - if anyone deserves be called a god of rock and roll, Ozzy is very fitting for it. This gave him one final #1 on my chart, and capped off a late career resurgence as I feel his two last albums are among the best he ever did.
14. Anna Graves - Dizzy PEAK: #7
One of my biggest breakthroughs of 2025 is Minnesota-based folk singer Anna Graves. This song was the first I ever heard from her, and it definitely took its time to reach its peak for me, as it was a very slow burner for me. It ended up spending 30 weeks on my chart overall - a record for 2025 - and despite only reaching #7, its longevity scores her #14 for the entire year. Given her success so far, I expect she will be one we hear from for a while on here!
13. Lucy Thomas - Don't Walk Away PEAK: #1 (1 week)
For several years now, 21-year-old starlet Lucy Thomas from Lancashire has recorded many cover songs, owing to her origins on "The Voice Kids" - and indeed, most of the songs on her 6th and most recent album, "Portrait", are cover songs, many of which had made my chart. However, this song - an original - proved that Lucy can sing just as well on original material and that her beautiful, pristine voice shines on here too. The decision to release an original track was a wise one as it gave her a #1 on my chart for the first time.
12. The Doobie Brothers - Learn To Let Go PEAK: #2
The Doobie Brothers were one of the greatest rock bands of the 1970's, scoring many classic hits during that decade. They have been on a reunion since the late 80's, however, until a few years ago, there was one missing piece that recently came back; Michael McDonald, who sang on most of their hit records from the second half of the 1970's including the #1 smash "What A Fool Believes", had not returned to the band until more recently. "Walk This Road" is the first full album that they have recorded with him since 1980, and indeed, the complete line-up including four members from their heyday, including all three lead singers, is present. "Learn To Let Go" goes back to their classic sound, and Michael's vocals are still as strong as ever at age 73. This lines up alongside their classics for me, showing there is no age limit to great music.
11. Sabrina Carpenter - Busy Woman PEAK: #1 (2 weeks)
And here is the highest of the five entries from Sabrina Carpenter on this year's chart - the most from any artist. However, unlike 2024 where she had two of that year's top 10, she falls just short here at #11. "Busy Woman" continued just as her previous four singles did, also topping my chart and being another infectuous pop tune complete with catchy hooks.
10. Chappell Roan - The Subway PEAK: #1 (3 weeks)
I saw your green hair
Beauty mark next to your mouth
There on the subway
I nearly had a breakdown
A few weeks later
Somebody wore your perfume
It almost killed me
I had to leave the room
It's just another day
And it's not over 'til it's over
Oh it's never over
It's just another day
And it's not over 'til it's over
It's never over
'Til I don't look for you on the staircase
I'll wish you still thought we were soulmates
I'm still counting down all of the days
'Til you're just another girl on the subway
Made you the villain
Evil for just moving on
I see your shadow
I see it even with the lights off
I made a promise, if in four months this feeling ain't gone
Well, f*ck this city, I'm movin' to Saskatchewan
It's just another day
And it's not over 'til it's over
It's never over
It's just another day
And it's not over 'til it's over
It's never over
'Til I can break routine during foreplay
And trust myself that I won't say your name
Yeah, I'm still counting down all of the days
'Til you're just another girl on the subway
She's got, she's got a way
She's got a way, she's got a way
She got, she got away
She got away, she got away
She's got, she's got a way
She's got a way, she's got a way
She got, she got away
She got away, she got away
She's got, she's got a way
She's got a way, she's got a way
She got, she got away
She got away, she got away
She's got, she's got a way
She's got a way, she's got a way
She got, she got away
She got away, she got away
"The Subway" is what happens when heartbreak catches the 6 train and refuses to get off. Chappell Roan's power-pop ballad turns an everyday run-in with an ex on the subway into a full-blown emotional spiral.
Chappell Roan co-wrote "The Subway" with longtime collaborator Dan Nigro (Olivia Rodrigo's producer-in-chief and Roan's creative partner since her Atlantic Records days). Nigro and Roan first started working together in 2018, shortly after she moved to Los Angeles and before we got to hear future favorites like "Pink Pony Club."
There's no definitive confirmation from Chappell Roan that "Casual" and "The Subway" were inspired by the same ill-fated romance, but if they aren't about the same person, then fate owes her an apology for sending her two heartbreaks so eerily similar. "Casual" is all sharp ache and emotional limbo, capturing the misery of pretending not to care when your heart's doing cartwheels. "The Subway" adds a new layer to the torment: the brutal randomness of bumping into an ex in a public space you used to share, and trying very hard not to fall apart in front of strangers.
Taken together, the songs form a kind of emotional sequel: first the slow death of the almost-relationship, then the ghostly aftershocks that hit you months later in a subway car. Whether or not they're about the same person, they live in the same neighborhood of heartbreak: aching, raw, and terribly relatable.
"The Subway" debuted at #1 in the UK, becoming Chappell Roan's second UK chart-topping single, following "Pink Pony Club."
In "The Subway," Chappell Roan sings, "Well, f--k this city! I'm movin' to Saskatchewan" as a way of expressing her desire to escape heartbreak, even though she has never actually visited the Canadian province. She admitted to Apple Music's Zane Lowe she "just liked that it rhymed." Once Roan discovered the capital was called Regina, she was sold.
There was no way Chappell Roan's success wasn't going to continue in 2025. This song definitely generated some buzz before its release as she'd performed it live several times, and upon its official release, it certainly didn't disappoint me, reaching #1 for three weeks. For me it definitely did help that she name-dropped my home province of Saskatchewan (she is always welcome to come perform a concert here!) and I think this might be my favourite song from her.... so far. To date, this is her first song to make my year-end top 10, so well done Chappell! And if in four months, this feeling still isn't gone... you're always welcome to come to Saskatchewan.
9. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Hate To Love PEAK: #1 (1 week)
Never wanted to be this way
Coming home and I know you'll say
Nothing I don't already know
Same shit I've heard before
Disappointed I know you are
All I know is we've come this far
Ain't no secret I'm so a lot
To take to take to take
You run me down
So why not push the blade in
Oh Tell me now
'cause this can't wait till later
Tell me baby
Well you seem so disappointed
Am I not the thing you wanted
Cause I've always been
The one you hate to love
Hey Baby
Tell me what were you expecting
Cause I'm Used to being rejected
And I've always been
The one you hate to love
Not afraid I'll break your heart
you wouldn't let me if I wanted to
And I love that part about you
Love that part
If you're all out
Out of inspiration
Then Kill me now
Don't wait to push the blade in
Baby well u seem so disappointed
Am I not the thing you wanted
Cause I've always been.. The one you hate to love
Here's another surprising comeback for me! Back in 1998-99, I really enjoyed Swedish singer-songwriter Eagle-Eye Cherry's debut "Save Tonight" and it was a big hit in the early months of my chart. While he has continued to record ever since, that additional hit eluded him, as he only had minor follow-ups. That all changed when he released his latest album, "Become A Light", this year. I really liked its lead-off single, "Hate To Love" so much to the point that it got all the way to #1 on my chart, and made it into the year-end top 10. The further success of follow-up single "Chasing Down A Dream" continued his comeback, again proving you can't keep anyone down!
8. Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey & Ariana Grande - One Heart, One Voice PEAK: #1 (2 weeks)
In countless stories since ancient time
The poets spoke of it in verse and rhyme
A woman's heart and soul can't be defined
By words and reason alone
A woman's heart lives with joy and pain
Deep as the ocean, bright as a flame
It holds the answers that can't be explained
The beauty of the unknown, unknown
A light that always shines
An answer to a prayer
Through every trial, it helps to keep us strong, so strong
With love that guides the way
A hundred thousand heartbeats a day
A reason to rejoice
Together with one heart
One voice
And when the world cries but no one hears
Sometimes we wonder who's left to care
To heal the innocent and dry their tears
Take all the sadness away
When someone's hurting and torn apart
There is a power in a woman's heart
That holds the promise of a brand-new start
You'll never wander astray
A light that always shines
A path that leads us home (A path that leads us home)
A sacred garden where we all belong (Belong)
With love that guides the way
A hundred thousand heartbeats a day (Heartbeats a day)
A reason to rejoice (Rejoice)
Together with one heart
One voice
There are no excuses left to make
The ancient rules are ours to break
Ours to break
We've got every right to make a choice (To make a choice)
With one heart (With one heart)
And one voice
A light that always shines
With every step we take (With every step we take)
We're hand-in-hand
A sisterhood of song (Of song)
Of song (Of song)
With love that guides the way
A hundred thousand heartbeats a day (Heartbeats a day)
A reason to rejoice
Together with one heart (One heart)
And one voice
One heart, one voice
In 2025, Barbra Streisand released her second duets album, "The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two". While I wasn't impressed with most of what I heard from it, the song that always intrigued me was a collaboration with fellow divas Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande. This song, which brought three generations of divas together, was also produced by Walter Afanasieff, who had previously worked with Mariah, and gave it a 90's animated movie feel as I feel it could've fit in several animated movies from that era. I was instantly impressed that these three powerful-voiced women sounded as good together as they did, and indeed, none of them outshined the others, showing mutual respect between the three. It quickly reached #1 on my chart, giving Mariah her first #1 in 20 years, a record that held until Hilary Duff recently broke it at over 22 years, and made Barbra the oldest female artist to top my chart at age 83. This song definitely shines together with one heart - and one collective voice!
7. Simple Plan - Nothing Changes PEAK: #1 (1 week)
Another night in our parent's basements
Singing every song so loud
Until the neighbors lose their patience
'Cause we never turn it down
Ain't it crazy how fast time goes
For some wild kids in baggy clothes?
Who just threw away the compass
Heading where no one knows
We grew up on stages
Say what you want, but we won't stop dreaming
We don't want to wake up
Night after night, gotta find that feeling
25 summers doesn't feel so long
A thousand miles away but we're right wherе we belong
We grеw up on stages
But somehow nothing changes
We fell apart in the miles travelled
Finding out who we are
And shedding tears over fights and battles
Leaving everlasting scars
Ain't it crazy how fast time goes?
Trying to make it through the highs and lows
But I guess this rollercoaster ride
Is all we've ever known
We grew up on stages
Say what you want, but we won't stop dreaming
We don't want to wake up
Night after night, gotta find that feeling
25 summers doesn't feel so long
A thousand miles away but we're right where we belong
We grew up on stages
But somehow nothing changes
Nothing changes
Nothing changes
On and on and on and on
It's how the story goes
On and on and on and on
We learn to let it go
On and on and on and on
It's how the story goes
On and on and on and on
We learn to let it go
We grew up on stages
Say what you want, but we won't stop dreaming
We don't want to wake up
Night after night, gotta find that feeling
25 summers doesn't feel so long (feel so long)
A thousand miles away but we're right where we belong
We grew up on stages
But somehow nothing changes
In 2025, Canadian pop-punkers Simple Plan released a documentary called "The Kids In The Crowd". This song from it definitely has their classic sound, and lyrics that are autobiographical about how long they've been around but somehow, nothing changes. It's impressive that they've been going this long (25 years now!) and are still making great music, as this became their second #1 on my chart to date. However, one thing that eluded them until this point is a position in my year-end top 10 songs - something that they do for the first time ever this year as "Nothing Changes" lands at #7 on my year-end top 100! Well done Simple Plan - may you continue to make great music for many years to come!
6. Miley Cyrus - End Of The World PEAK: #1 (3 weeks)
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Today you woke up and you told me that you wanted to cry
The sky was fallin' like a comet on the Fourth of July
Baby, you've been thinkin' 'bout the future like it's already yours
Show me how you'd hold me if tomorrow wasn't coming for sure
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Let's spend the dollars you've been savin' on a Mercedes-Benz (Ah, oh)
And throw a party like McCartney with some help from our friends
Yeah, let's go down to Malibu and watch the sun fade out once more
Show me how you'd hold me if tomorrow was comin' for sure
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)
(I can see it coming down)
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)
Ooh, let's go to Paris, I don't care if we get lost in the scene
Paint the city like Picasso would've done in his dreams
Do the things that we were way too terrified of before
Ooh, I wanna take you to Nirvana, we can't take it too far
Hit the bottom of the bottle and forget who we are
Hold me close, you know tomorrow isn't coming for sure
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world
Let's pretend, it's not the end (Let's pretend it's not the end of the world)
Let's pretend (sky is falling), it's not the end (not the end of the world)
Let's pretend, it's not the end, end, end
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)
Let's pretend it's not the end of the world (The sky is falling, falling like a comet now)
I can see it coming down
Simple. Cheery. Possibly delusional. But also, rather liberating.
"End of the World" shares similar apocalyptic themes with Prince's "1999." Both songs highlight the importance of living in the present, but while Cyrus leans into emotional intimacy and existential reflection, Prince opts for a more carefree celebration of life.
Cyrus wrote "End of The World" for her mother, Trish Cyrus, in a hard moment.
"I had never had my mom leave the country without me before," Cyrus told the New York Times. "And my mom called me and said: 'I don't know why, but I want to cry today. I'm looking out my window, and there's nothing out there for me, because you're back home.' The first lyric is, 'Today you woke up and you told me that you wanted to cry,' and that was my mom."
I feel Miley Cyrus is one artist who gets better the further in her career she goes - and I feel overall the 2020's have been her best decade so far, quality-wise. The dark lyrics about the end of the world, combined with a catchy, upbeat melody generated a great contrast that makes me feel like dancing... and pretending it's not the end of the world. This became her third, and biggest, #1 on my chart and she gets something she has never had before - a top 10 year-end ranking! This definitely isn't the end of the world for her!
5. Kelly Clarkson - Where Have You Been PEAK: #1 (5 weeks)
I like my freedom, but I'd trade some for a kiss
Little do you know how long I've been waiting for this
When it came to my hopes, well, they left scars I won't miss
I was getting so lonely, I didn't count, count on this
Where have you been?
What took so long?
I thought I'd found you
Found out I was wrong
I almost gave up
My light was so dim
And now here you are
Oh, where have you been?
I felt it from the moment you walked in the room
Nothing could keep my eyes from drifting over to you
When it came to the word "love", I wondered what it meant
And then you show up, making me believe again
Where have you been? (Where have you been?)
What took so long? (What took so long?)
I thought I'd found you (thought I'd found you)
Found out I was wrong (found out I was wrong)
I almost gave up (almost gave up)
My light was so dim (light was so dim)
And now here you are (now here you are)
Oh, where have you been? (Where have you been?)
Where have you been?
Where have you been?
What took so long?
I thought I'd found you
But I found out I was wrong
Oh yeah, yeah
Found out I was wrong, yeah
Where have you been?
Where have you been? Yeah
Oh yeah
"Where Have You Been" finds Kelly Clarkson singing romantic lyrics about finding her soul mate after years spent searching.
Rather than being inspired by her own romantic life, the song sprang from a moment in the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building featuring Martin Short and Meryl Streep. In the show, Short's character looks at Streep's character with awe and asks, "Where have you been?" - a moment that deeply resonated with Clarkson. She rewatched the scene over and over, struck by how much emotion was written on his face and how the line captured the feeling of finally finding someone you thought might never come.
"It was just a pure moment," Clarkson said, "and he was like, 'Where have you been?'... So much was said. And I was like, 'That's a song.' You have to be grown to really know what that's like."
"Where Have You Been" was released on May 2, 2025 as Clarkson's first independent release on her new label, High Road Records. Clarkson described the experience of working on the song as "freedom I've never had before."
With her new label leadership, she felt creatively unchained - able to send raw vocals, experiment with genres, and chase a feeling rather than a formula. She said that this song, in particular, had "many lives" before it reached its final form.
It's no secret that I've been a fan of Kelly Clarkson's for over two decades, so when this song was announced, I was excited to hear it. It definitely didn't disappoint - her vocal delivery and raw emotion was just as real as ever before, and I feel her voice really shines on songs like this. It's one of those songs you can relate to when you find the love that you never knew was missing from your life. It spent five weeks in my #1 spot, and became yet another top 5 year-end ranking for her - something she has become used to, however, it couldn't quite become her fourth year-end #1. Four songs managed to beat her out!
4. Lady Gaga - How Bad Do U Want Me PEAK: #2
The good girl in your dreams
Is mad you're lovin' me
I know you wish that she was me
How bad, bad do you want me?
You're not the guy that cheats (Not the guy that cheats)
And you're afraid that she might leave (That she might leave)
'Cause if I get too close, she might scream
"How bad, bad do you want me?"
'Cause you like my hair and my ripped-up jeans
You like the bad girl I got in me
She's on your mind, like, all the time
But I got a tattoo for us last week
Even good boys leave
How bad, bad do you want me? (How bad, bad do you want me?)
(How bad, bad do you want me?)
'Cause you hate the crash, but you love the rush
And I'll make your heart weak every time
You hear my name, 'cause she's in your brain
And I'm here to kiss you in real life
'Bout to cause a scene
How bad, bad do you want me?
You panic in your sleep (Panic in your sleep)
And you feel like such a creep (Feel like such a creep)
'Cause with your eyes closed, you might peek
So hot, hot that you can't speak
You're so f*cked up with your crew (f*cked up with your crew)
But when you're all alone, it's true (All alone, it's true)
You know exactly what we do
How bad, bad do you want to?
'Cause you like my hair, my ripped-up jeans
You like the bad girl I got in me
She's on your mind, like, all the time
But I got a tattoo for us last week
Even good boys leave
How bad, bad do you want me? (How bad, bad do you want me?)
(How bad, bad do you want me?)
'Cause you hate the crash, but you love the rush
And I'll make your heart weak every time
You hear my name, 'cause she's in your brain
And I'm here to kiss you in real life
'Bout to cause a scene
How bad, bad do you want me?
Uh-oh, oh, you love a good girl
Uh-oh, oh, you love a good girl bad
Uh-oh, oh, you make a bad girl
Uh-oh, oh, you make a bad girl mad
A psychotic love theme
How bad do you want me?
That girl in your head ain't real
How bad do you want me, for real? (Oh)
'Cause you like my hair, my ripped-up jeans
You like the bad girl I got in me
She's on your mind, like, all the time
But I got a tattoo for us last week
Even good boys leave
How bad, bad do you want me? (How bad, bad do you want me?)
(How bad? Tell me)
'Cause you hate the crash, but you love the rush
And I'll make your heart weak every time
You hear my name, but she's on your brain
And I'm here to kiss you in real life
'Bout to cause a scene
How bad, bad do you want me?
Uh-oh, oh, you love a good girl
Uh-oh, oh, you love a good girl bad
Uh-oh, oh, you make a bad girl
Uh-oh, oh, you make a bad girl mad
A psychotic love theme
How bad do you want me?
This track, nestled within Lady Gaga's Mayhem album, fits into the broader theme of the intense, messy emotions that love stirs up - those feelings that are never neat, never tidy, and most certainly never simple.
Produced by Gaga with Andrew Watt and Cirkut, the song has an '80s-inspired synth-pop vibe. Watt handled the electric guitar and drums, and Cirkut added synthesizers and bass programming. It was recorded at Rick Rubin's Shangri-La studio in Malibu and Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood.
The song's vocal melody and structure seemingly nods to fellow pop icon Taylor Swift. But instead of the familiar "good-girl-meets-bad-boy" narrative that Swift often explores, Gaga flips the script, embodying the role of the bad girl in a way that feels both defiant and empowering.
To me, this song from Lady Gaga's latest album "Mayhem" felt like a spiritual successor to her classic song "Bad Romance" in the "bad girl" persona she exhibited in several songs. Combined with its "dirty pop" feel, it had a groove that I just couldn't resist. I feel her latest album was one of her best to date, and this for me was the highlight song from it. And while "How Bad Do U Want Me" failed to reach #1 on my chart (Kelly Clarkson blocked her from the top), its overall longevity gives her her first ever year-end top 10 placing!
3. Kaylee Rose - It'll Always Be You PEAK: #1 (3 weeks)
They say there's someone for everyone, baby, if that's true
Looking at our history, nobody knows you like I do
I've seen your worst, and I've seen your best
Baby, we've been put through every test
Even though we'll never know what's next
It'll always be you, it'll always be us
No, it ain't always easy
But you're always the one
No matter what comes my way
Where I go, what I do
They say love is a choice
But I don't have to choose
It'll always be you
Baby, I could live a million lives, and I would still be yours
Somehow, any day, you'd find a way to open up that door and
Sweep me off my feet like you did
Looking back, it ain't coincidence
Knew it from the second you walked in
It'll always be you, it'll always be us
No, it ain't always easy
But you're always the one
No matter what comes my way
Where I go, what I do
They say love is a choice
But I don't have to choose
It'll always be you (ooh, ooh)
They say there's someone for everyone, baby, if that's true
Oh, the one thing that I'll always know
It'll always be you, it'll always be us
After all we've been through
The one thing you can trust
No matter what comes my way
Where I go, what I do
They say love is a choice
But I don't have to choose
It'll always be you (ooh)
It'll always be you (ooh)
While most of the songs I've heard from the country starlet originally from Florida, Kaylee Rose, have been about breakups and being cheated on and the problems occurring within relationships, this song was a lyrical departure from that theme as she delivered a straight-up love song instead. This proved to be a wise choice for her, as it was her breakthrough song for me; upon hearing it initially, she quickly managed to rise up to #1 on my chart and had longevity during the first half of the year. This all would help her rank as my 3rd best song of 2025! As strong as Kaylee's song was... two more songs beat her out!
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