To spherical out my mid-year countdowns, I’ve bought a highlight on a few of my favourite songs from music markets that aren’t Korea or Japan. To simplify issues, I simply name this class “pop.” It’s been a really sturdy yr for pop music to date, although you won’t realize it in case you’re solely wanting on the charts. We’re at the moment seeing a revolution of indie pop artists, providing a bit of one thing for everybody.
What had been your favourite singles and albums through the first half of 2025?
Barbara Bobak – Stan Na Dan
That is so new that I haven’t even had an opportunity to function it in a world round-up but, however Stan Na Dan does every part I like about Serbian dance-pop. The bombast of its refrain truly jogs my memory of Infinite’s The Chaser!
Comanavago – Say Much less
There are not less than 4 or 5 songs I desire on their newest album, however that is the one which was promoted in 2025 so it makes my checklist as a result of I simply love their work a lot. It’s a incredible early-2010’s membership monitor.
Erika Vikman – Ich Komme
It’s been gratifying to see Queen Erika Vikman break by way of outdoors of Finland this yr with what would possibly simply be her greatest tune. Ich Komme is wild and peculiar and fueled by pure, unadulterated star energy.
Woman Gaga – Abracadabra / Shadow Of A Man / Vanish Into You
Clearly Abracadabra is likely one of the greatest songs of the yr, however I’m additionally posting my two different favourite tracks from her nice comeback album as a result of in an ideal world there’d be like eight singles from this marketing campaign.
Madison Rose – Daydreaming
She’s experimented a bit this yr, however no sound suits Madison Rose higher than this immense EDM pop. She is aware of find out how to write complete anthems and that is one other mega-hit.
Maria Jane Smith – I Hate San Francisco
Nation music is in the midst of an enormous resurgence. It’s not my favourite style, however this Swedish tackle the sound works wonders, buoyed by an explosive, emotional refrain.
Metteson – Starvation
Choral vocals collide with icy electronics for a dense, extremely distinctive dance sound. There’s a way of scope driving this monitor we don’t hear usually in right now’s pop local weather.
Neea River – Nightmares
She’s been honing her abilities for years and all of it led as much as this excellent, glistening Eurovision dance banger. The tune is sort of a case research of this specific type.
Nelli Matula – Hitaammin hautaan
Finland’s UMK competitors completely killed it this yr and this evocative, layered dance monitor was a serious a part of that. It’s merely beautiful and builds towards a whopper of a climax.
Punchbag – Fuck It
A rambunctious burst of power melding anthemic electro with clobbering punk power, all tied to a sentiment most of us can in all probability get behind!
Rebecca Black – Twist The Knife
Rebecca Black of “Friday” fame on my mid-year checklist? I wouldn’t have believed it both, however her new EP is simply too good to not qualify. Twist The Knife does Gaga-esque pop simply in addition to the originator herself.
Sleigh Bells – This Summer season
A unusual mix of digital and rock, at instances pensive however principally in-your-face aggressive. Its melodies are so sturdy and match the chant-along power completely.
Tom Aspaul – That Woman
With so many artists persevering with to mine the 80’s for inspiration, Tom Aspaul captures a selected soft-rock/dance sound hardly ever heard as of late to forge a monitor with distinctive perspective.
TPCX – Sin.
The Parity Complicated rebranded to TPCX and delivered one in all their most intense songs but. Sin merely explodes, providing pummeling catharsis in one of the simplest ways attainable.