Top 50 of 2025: #40-36: A Showgirl, Some Pins and a Pantheress

We got 10 songs in the books and will move into the 30s. This is an interesting block with tracks that you might have expected in the top 10 and others that you may not have heard of. There are some new additions to the top 50 series and some other seasoned top 50 vets. So, let’s get into it.

40. Fly Anakin: The Times

Backed by soulful 70s strings, complete with vinyl cracks and pops, Fly Anakin seamlessly flows above it all. Fly Anakin looks at what life is like when you are reaching for your dream, but also thinking back to where you’ve come from. What have you outgrown? What is still a part of your identity? Above all else, the vibe on this song is impeccable.

39. Sharp Pins: Every Time I Hear

Kai Slater, aka Sharp Pins, has been busy in 2025 and put out 2 records. Every Time I Hear is a mesmerising concoction of Neutral Milk Hotel, the Shins and Mountain Goats…which creates a fun power pop with catchy lyrics that are both mysterious and thought provoking. This track full of great indie guitar riffs and glittery effect laden vocals is both fun and illustrative of Kai’s musical talent.

38. Pink Pantheress: Tonight

This clubby track about hooking up at a party is both what we love about Pink Pantheress and some new ground. First off, it is close to 3 minutes long! For Pink Pantheress this is a rock opera on the scale of a Miles’ Davis track. However, her sharp vocal with quick catchy hooks is still front and centre. This is a fun track that fits at the club and in the car as everyone hypes themselves up for a big night.

37. Saba and No ID ft. Raphael Saadiq and Kelly Rowland: Crash

This jazz/hip hop/R&B fusion from Saba and No ID is a smooth tale about an on again/off again relationship that he hopes will turn into more. The mix of R&B/soul star Saadiq with Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland is inspired. Everyone comes together to create a smooth groove with a feeling that everything is in the right place. I can’t picture this track without all of its parts and it shows how the jazz genre can be stretched and pulled to create something new.

36. Taylor Swift ft. Sabrina Carpenter: The Life of a Showgirl

I know…you all expected to see this in the top 10…at least the top 20…what can I say? I have to say, each time I hear this song I like it more…so maybe after a couple weeks it will be in the top 20. Everything I love about Swift is here; feminist themes of women who defy tradition, huge hooks, powerful vocals, references to “the hustle”….it’s all here. I even like Carpenter on this track and think her addition is solid and continues to prove that Swift has the best collabs in the business. The theme of stardom sucking the life out of women like some glamour obsessed vampire is well executed. It’s a solid track that shows that Swift is still the centre of the pop universe.

The next block is getting us closer to the top 20. In the next block we’ll see some sisters, a Disney Channel alum and a panda.