My Favorite Songs Of 2025

  1. Messy – Lola Young
  2. DENIAL IS A RIVER – Doechii
  3. Love Me Not – Ravyn Lenae
  4. Everyday – Celeste
  5. Young – Little Simz
  6. catch these fists – Wet Leg
  7. Pussy Palace – Lily Allen
  8. luther – Kendrick Lamar with SZA
  9. Tears – Sabrina Carpenter
  10. Pretrail (Let Her Go Home) – Fiona Apple
  11. Spike Island – Pulp
  12. squabble up – Kendrick Lamar
  13. Ring Ring Ring – Tyler, the Creator
  14. Eatin’ Big Time – Tyler Childers
  15. Anxiety – Doechii
  16. Lover Girl – Laufey
  17. Tough Luck – Laufey
  18. Chains & Whips – Clipse featuring Kendrick Lamar
  19. APT. – ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
  20. Bitin’ List – Tyler Childers
  21. Flood – Little Simz featuring Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly
  22. Don’t Leave Too Soon – Little Simz
  23. Fuck Me Eyes – Ethel Cain
  24. BMF – SZA
  25. Orlando in Love – Japanese Breakfast
  26. Sugar On My Tongue – Tyler, the Creator
  27. Sports car – Tate McRae
  28. Incomprehensible – Big Thief
  29. Free – Little Simz
  30. Rein Me In – Sam Fender with Olivia Dean
  31. mangetout – Wet Leg
  32. peekaboo – Kendrick Lamar feat. AZ Chike
  33. Everybody Scream – Florence + The Machine
  34. Catching feelings – Cerrone, Christine and the Queens
  35. Madeline – Lily Allen
  36. tv off – Kendrick Lamar
  37. Mr. Eclectic – Laufey
  38. Still Bad – Lizzo
  39. Bonnet of Pins – Matt Berninger
  40. The Subway – Chappell Roan
  41. What Is The Reason For it? – David Byrne with Ghost Town Orchestra and Hayley Williams
  42. PIRATE RADIO – Genesis Owusu
  43. Love in Real Life – Lizzo
  44. End of the World – Miley Cyrus
  45. Picture Window – Japanese Breakfast
  46. Only One Laughing – Hatchie
  47. Clean Heart – Perfume Genius
  48. Headphones On – Addison Rae
  49. i used to live in england – supermodel*
  50. Everybody Laughs – David Byrne with Ghost Train Orchestra
  51. Relationships – HAIM
  52. CPR – Wet Leg
  53. Mother, Pray For Me – The Beths
  54. What Was That – Lorde
  55. Man Of The Year – Lorde
  56. A BUG’S LIFE – Sudan Archives
  57. Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World – Destroyer
  58. Devotion – Hot Chip
  59. All Night All Day – Big Thief
  60. Illegal – Pink Pantheress
  61. Human Mind – Mavis Staples
  62. 30 For 30 – SZA with Kendrick Lamar
  63. Which One – Drake & Central Cee
  64. Wreck – Neko Case
  65. Rusty Mountain – Neko Case
  66. Drift Away – Orville Peck
  67. Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter
  68. All Over Me – HAIM
  69. Hello, Hi – Little Simz
  70. All I Can Say – Kali Uchis
  71. Pale Song – Dove Ellis
  72. Apple – Charli xcx
  73. Drive – SZA
  74. Suzanne – Mark Ronson & RAYE
  75. Run Free – Soulwax
  76. Hit My Head All Day – Dry Cleaning
  77. Sunshine & Rain… – Kali Uchis
  78. wacced out murals – Kendrick Lamar
  79. Best Guess – Lucy Dacus
  80. Stay In Your Lane – Courtney Barnett
  81. Bigger in Texas – Megan Thee Stallion
  82. HOTBOX – Lil Nas X
  83. Dream Night – Jamie xx
  84. Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend – The Waterboys feat. Fiona Apple
  85. Snow White – Laufey
  86. So Easy (To Fall In Love) – Olivia Dean
  87. Time Will Tell – Celeste
  88. When Did You Get Hot? – Sabrina Carpenter
  89. Archbishop Harold Holmes – Jack White
  90. Tie You Down – HAIM and Bon Iver
  91. Neverwannago – Shamir
  92. Childlike Things – FKA twigs with North West
  93. Perfect Stranger – FKA twigs
  94. Man I Need – Olivia Dean
  95. Oscar Winning Tears – RAYE
  96. Nice Shoes – Steve Lacy

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Tunes Du Jour Presents 2025 Thus Far

Call me old-fashioned, but I operate on a twelve-month calendar. That might be a controversial take, considering that outlets like Rolling Stone dropped their “Best of the Year So Far” lists back in June, apparently under the impression that 2025 is only ten months long. I thought I’d wait for half of the year to pass before I declare that half of the year has passed. For those of us who believe in a twelve-month cycle—not a ten-month one—here are 30 songs that have made my year in music great so far.

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My Favorite Songs Of 2024

  1. Good Luck, Babe! – Chappell Roan
  2. HOT TO GO! – Chappell Roan
  3. TEXAS HOLD ‘EM – Beyoncé
  4. Houdini – Dua Lipa
  5. I KNOW ? – Travis Scott
  6. Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
  7. girl, so confusing – Charli xcx & Lorde
  8. Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar
  9. I Guess Time Just Makes Fools Of Us All – Father John Misty
  10. Like That – Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
  11. Training Season – Dua Lipa
  12. Jerkin’ – Amyl and The Sniffers
  13. Nothing Matters – The Last Dinner Party
  14. Water – Tyla
  15. Guess – Charli xcx feat. Billie Eilish
  16. Broken Man – St. Vincent
  17. Please Please Please – Sabrina Carpenter
  18. Pink Pony Club – Chappell Roan
  19. Starburster – Fontaines D.C.
  20. Abigail – Soccer Mommy
  21. Step Into Your Power – Ray LaMontagne
  22. What About the Children? – Gary Clark Jr. feat. Stevie Wonder
  23. LUNCH – Billie Eilish
  24. WILDFLOWER – Billie Eilish
  25. MY HOUSE – Beyoncé
  26. Mamushi – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba
  27. Deeper Well – Kacey Musgraves
  28. yes, and? – Ariana Grande
  29. My Golden Years – The Lemon Twigs
  30. All In Good Time – Iron & Wine feat. Fiona Apple
  31. Taste – Sabrina Carpenter
  32. Lights Camera Action – Kylie Minogue
  33. The Architect – Kacey Musgraves
  34. That’s How I’m Feeling – Jack White
  35. Dancing in the Flames – The Weeknd
  36. BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish
  37. Femenine – Empress Of
  38. Saturn – SZA
  39. Once in a Lifetime – Joshua Idehen with the Social Singing Choir
  40. Capricorn – Vampire Weekend
  41. The Door – Teddy Swims
  42. Calling You Out – Charly Bliss
  43. Mess It Up – The Rolling Stones
  44. Eusexua – FKA twigs
  45. x-ray eyes – LCD Soundsystem
  46. Grace – IDLES
  47. Too Sweet – Hozier
  48. Young Lion – Sade Adu
  49. Baddy on the Floor – Jamie xx and Honey Dijon
  50. Euphoria – Kendrick Lamar
  51. Life – Jamie xx & Robyn
  52. Mother Nature – MGMT
  53. JOLENE – Beyoncé
  54. The Rest of Me – Michael Kiwanuka
  55. Worth It. – RAYE
  56. Dream Job – Yard Act
  57. Mood Swings – Little Simz
  58. All You Children – Jamie xx & The Avalanches
  59. The Light Nights – Camera Obscura
  60. J CHRIST – Lil Nas X
  61. Weightless – Romy
  62. 360 – Charli xcx featuring Robyn and Yung Lean
  63. LEVII’S JEANS – Beyoncé featuring Post Malone
  64. Sinner – The Last Dinner Party
  65. Sticky – Tyler, the Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
  66. Too Much – girl in red
  67. Well, Alright – Johnny Cash
  68. Peaceful Place – Leon Bridges
  69. Clams Casino – Cassandra Jenkins
  70. Sympathy Is a Knife – Charli xcx feat. Ariana Grande
  71. Take Me Home, Country Roads – Lana Del Rey
  72. Racist Piece of Shit – Fishbone
  73. While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Lucinda Williams
  74. Classical – Vampire Weekend
  75. Bells and Whistles – Bright Eyes
  76. Alimony – Miranda Lambert
  77. Genesis. – RAYE
  78. Neva Play – Megan Thee Stallion feat. RM of BTS
  79. Disease – Lady Gaga
  80.  BLACKBIIRD – Beyoncé with Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell and Tiera Kennedy
  81. Flea – St. Vincent
  82. Friend of a Friend – The Smile
  83. HIND’S HALL – Macklemore
  84. HISS – Megan Thee Stallion
  85. Timeless – The Weeknd with Playboi Carti
  86. 16 CARRIAGES – Beyoncé
  87. we can’t be friends (wait for your love) – Ariana Grande
  88. On My Mama – Victoria Monét
  89. Death Valley High – Orville Peck featuring Beck
  90. Tennessee Rise – The Tennessee Freedom Singers
  91. The Feminine Urge – The Last Dinner Party
  92. Surround Sound – JID feat. 21 Savage & Baby Tate
  93. Talk Talk – Charli xcx
  94. Cinderella – Remi Wolf
  95. Afterlife – Sharon Van Etten
  96. Real Good – Homeboy Sandman
  97. Sexy To Someone – Clairo
  98. Beaches – Beabadoobee
  99. Favourite – Fontaines D.C.

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Tunes Du Jour Presents Beyoncé

Beyoncé’s impact on music is undeniable, her influence spanning over two decades as she continually reinvents herself and her sound. From her early days as the lead singer of Destiny’s Child to her illustrious solo career, Beyoncé has pushed the boundaries of pop, R&B, and hip-hop, creating a catalog that resonates across generations. The playlist below showcases some of her most iconic tracks, such as “Crazy in Love” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” both of which exemplify her ability to craft anthems that become cultural landmarks.

Beyond the music, Beyoncé’s contributions to social issues are equally significant. Her 2016 hit “Formation” is more than just a song—it’s a statement on Black identity and resilience, with a music video that touches on themes of police brutality and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Beyoncé uses her platform not just to entertain, but to educate and inspire. The inclusion of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s feminist speech in “***Flawless” is another example of how she seamlessly weaves activism into her art, promoting messages of female empowerment and equality.

Philanthropy is another area where Beyoncé has made her mark. She has consistently used her influence to support a range of causes. In 2017, she launched the Formation Scholars program to support young women in college, specifically those studying creative arts, music, literature, or African American studies. This initiative is a testament to her commitment to uplifting marginalized communities and promoting diversity in education.

Moreover, Beyoncé’s involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement further cements her role as an advocate for social justice. Her contributions have included financial donations, raising awareness, and dedicating performances to victims of racial violence. The song “BLACK PARADE,” released on Juneteenth in 2020, is a celebration of Black culture and a call to action, with proceeds from the song going to support Black-owned small businesses.

In a career filled with accolades and achievements, what sets Beyoncé apart is her ability to use her platform for the greater good. Her music continues to evolve, and with it, her commitment to social change. Beyoncé’s legacy is one of both artistic brilliance and a deep-seated dedication to making the world a more just and inclusive place.

My Favorite Songs Of 2023

Five years after then president of The Recording Academy proclaimed that women need to step up, the ladies have responded with “How’s this, jerkface?” Women dominate this year’s Grammy nominations. More importantly, all but two of the top 20 songs on my year-end list are led by female artists (with one guy showing up to provide guest vocals). That’s a record, I think, but don’t quote me on that. I’m too lazy to check. I don’t have a deep analysis for this phenomenon, but I do have a deep appreciation for the talent and diversity of these women (not that women have ever been underrepresented in my annual tallies). The highest placing male acts on my 2023 list are none other than The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Yes, you read that right. The legends are back, and they still can show the young-uns how it’s done. With their song “Angry,” The Rolling Stones have achieved a remarkable feat: the longest span from first appearance to most recent appearance in my year-end surveys. In 1981, my first year of making such lists, the group placed with “Start Me Up.” The 80s are also well represented by Kylie Minogue and Madonna, each of whom made a triumphant return to my list after long absences. Welcome back, ladies! And last but not least, let’s give a round of applause to Megan Thee Stallion, who has been in my top five for five years in a row. That’s a record, I think, but don’t quote me on that. I’m too lazy to check. Now, without further ado, here is my list of the best songs of 2023. Enjoy!

  1. Ice Cream Man. – RAYE
  2. vampire – Olivia Rodrigo
  3. Kill Bill – SZA
  4. Bongos – Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
  5. Not Strong Enough – boygenius
  6. Flowers – Miley Cyrus
  7. Escapism. – RAYE & 070 Shake
  8. Paint the Town Red – Doja Cat
  9. Lipstick Lover – Janelle Monáe
  10. Nobody Gets Me – SZA
  11. Dance the Night – Dua Lipa
  12. Shirt – SZA
  13. AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM – Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar
  14. What Was I Made For? – Billie Eilish
  15. Padam Padam – Kylie Minogue
  16. Cobra – Megan Thee Stallion
  17. Brenda Put Your Bra On – Ashley McBryde, Caylee Hammack & Pillbox Patti
  18. Angry – The Rolling Stones
  19. Now and Then – The Beatles
  20. Cool About It – boygenius
  21. RATATA – Skrillex, Missy Elliott & Mr. Oizo
  22. Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd – Lana Del Rey
  23. Calm Down – Rema with Selena Gomez
  24. Gorilla – Little Simz
  25. Seven – Jung Kook feat. Latto
  26. My Love Mine All Mine – Mitski
  27. bad idea right? – Olivia Rodrigo
  28. Jaded – Miley Cyrus
  29. Tropic Morning News – The National
  30. Someday At Christmas – Lizzo
  31. Used To Be Young – Miley Cyrus
  32. Pretty Girls Walk – Big Boss Vette
  33. River – Miley Cyrus
  34. Light On In The Kitchen – Ashley McBryde
  35. Out Alpha the Alpha – Megan Thee Stallion
  36. Bubblegum – Dawn Richard
  37. Rush – Troye Sivan
  38. It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody – Weyes Blood
  39. Weightless – Arlo Parks
  40. Psychos – Jenny Lewis
  41. The Sea – Romy
  42. Lil Boo Thang – Paul Russell
  43. Popular – The Weeknd & Madonna feat. Playboi Carti
  44. The Narcissist – Blur
  45. (It Goes Like) Nanana – Peggy Gou
  46. Tukoh Taka – Nicki Minaj, Maluma and Myriam Fares
  47. Freak Me Now – Jessie Ware
  48. Standing Next To You – Jung Kook
  49. Eyez – The Arcs
  50. What Now – Brittany Howard
  51. Thinking About You – Beck
  52. Wall of Eyes – The Smile
  53. Good Lookin’ – Dixon Dallas
  54. Girl Like Me – Dove Cameron
  55. Wild Flower – RM with youjeen
  56. Helmet – Steve Lacy
  57. Everybody’s Got to Learn – First Aid Kit
  58. Flip a Switch. – RAYE feat. Coi Leray
  59. Nothing Left To Lose – Everything But The Girl
  60. Say Yes To Heaven – Lana Del Rey
  61. Moonlight – Kali Uchis
  62. Bending Hectic – The Smile
  63. In My Head – The Lemon Twigs
  64. Snooze – SZA
  65. Attention – Doja Cat
  66. get him back! – Olivia Rodrigo
  67. Will Anybody Ever Love Me? – Sufjan Stevens
  68. Tux (Your Body Fills Me, Boo) – US Girls
  69. Lottery – Latto feat. LU KALA
  70. Bug Like an Angel – Mitski
  71. The Hands – serpentwithfeet
  72. A day in the water – Christine & the Queens
  73. Drummer Boy – Titus Andronicus
  74. Little Things – Jorja Smith
  75. Daydreaming – Harry Styles
  76. True Love – Christine & the Queens & 070 Shake
  77. Evicted – Wilco
  78. Got Me Started – Troye Sivan
  79. Eye For An Eye – Rina Sawayama
  80. Water Slide – Janelle Monáe
  81. Single Soon – Selena Gomez
  82. Odyssey – Beck & Phoenix
  83. I Don’t Know What You See In Me – Belle & Sebastian
  84. Seem an I – PJ Harvey
  85. Begin Again – Jessie Ware
  86. One of Your Girls – Troye Sivan

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My Top Songs Of 2022

Congratulations to Megan Thee Stallion, who has placed a song in my year end top five every year since 2019. Her “Her” is my number two song of ’22, kept from number one by Beyoncé, who guested on the remix of MTS’s “Savage,” my number 4 song of 2020. 2022 was a year that left me wanting, so my top 100 has 92 songs. Here they are:

  1. BREAK MY SOUL – Beyoncé
  2. Her – Megan Thee Stallion
  3. About Damn Time – Lizzo
  4. As It Was – Harry Styles
  5. This Hell – Rina Sawayama
  6. Coconuts – Kim Petras
  7. Goodbye Mr. Blue – Father John Misty
  8. Wild – Spoon
  9. Sacrifice – The Weeknd
  10. All the Good Times – Angel Olsen
  11. BILLIE EILISH. – Armani White
  12. Measure of a Man – FKA twigs feat. Central Cee
  13. Meet Me at Our Spot – THE ANXIETY, WILLOW & Tyler Cole
  14. Burning – the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  15. CUFF IT – Beyoncé
  16. TV – Billie Eilish
  17. If I Was a Cowboy – Miranda Lambert
  18. Mistakes – Sharon Van Etten
  19. I Hate U – SZA
  20. Simulation Swarm – Big Thief
  21. Big Energy – Latto
  22. The Smoke – The Smile
  23. Bad Habit – Steve Lacy
  24. Boyfriend – Dove Cameron
  25. Hideous – Oliver Sim feat. Jimmy Somerville
  26. Gasoline – The Weeknd
  27. edamame – bbno$ feat. Rich Brown
  28. Lift Me Up – Rihanna
  29. Slide Tackle – Japanese Breakfast
  30. Don’t Let the Light Go Out – Panic! At the Disco
  31. MORE – j-hope
  32. Pressurelicious – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Future
  33. MAGIC – Vince Staples and Mustard
  34. Late Night Talking – Harry Styles
  35. Once Twice Melody – Beach House
  36. Edge of the Edge – Panda Bear and Sonic Boom
  37. Music for a Sushi Restaurant – Harry Styles
  38. Out of Time – The Weeknd
  39. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Bruce Springsteen
  40. Another day in America – Kali Uchis & Ozuna
  41. Out of My Head – First Aid Kit
  42. Lost Track – HAIM
  43. Tonight – Phoenix feat. Ezra Koenig
  44. Beach House – Carly Ray Jepsen
  45. Tomorrow – Waxahatchee
  46. Funny Girl – Father John Misty
  47. Softly – Arlo Parks
  48. EDGING – Blink-182
  49. Cash In, Cash Out – Pharrell Williams feat. 21 Savage & Tyler, The Creator
  50. Falling Apart (Right Now) – Wilco
  51. Father Time – Kendrick Lamar feat. Sampha
  52. camera roll – Kacey Musgraves
  53. My Babe – Spoon
  54. Popular – M.I.A.
  55. Silent Hill – Kendrick Lamar with Kodak Black
  56. The Lightning – Arcade Fire
  57. The 30th – Billie Eilish
  58. The Curse of the Blackened Eye – Orville Peck                                                           
  59. Fractals – Beth Orton
  60. Should’ve Been Me – Mitski
  61. Ur Mum – Wet Leg
  62. Catch Me in the Air – Rina Sawayama
  63. new body rhumba – LCD Soundsystem
  64. Megan’s Piano – Megan Thee Stallion
  65. Sweetest Pie – Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa
  66. Die Hard – Kendrick Lamar feat. Blxst and Amanda Reifer
  67. The Ick – Panic Shack
  68. Get Inspired – Genesis Owusu
  69. Cheat Codes – Danger Mouse & Black Thought
  70. Postman – Toro y Moi
  71. The Only Heartbreaker – Mitski
  72. hollaback bitch – Mura Masa with Channel Tres & Shygirl
  73. Male Fantasy – Billie Eilish
  74. Stay Soft – Mitski
  75. Fruit – Oliver Sim
  76. Run the Credits – Oliver Sim
  77. B-Side – Khruangbin & Leon Bridges
  78. Down – Hot Chip
  79. Can I Get It – Adele
  80. No Decent Shoes for Rain – Dry Cleaning
  81. Unconditional I – Arcade Fire
  82. Fleez – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  83. N95 – Kendrick Lamar
  84. Angelica – Wet Leg
  85. Rich Spirit – Kendrick Lamar
  86. 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready) – Lizzo
  87. One Right Now – Post Malone with The Weeknd
  88. Bam Bam – Camila Cabello feat. Ed Sheeran
  89. Love Me More – Mitski
  90. Change – The War on Drugs
  91. Strange – Miranda Lambert
  92. High Priestess – Santigold

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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 11-6-22

Today’s playlist celebrates the November 6 birthdays of Eagles’ Glenn Frey, Living Colour’s Corey Glover, Guy Clark, The Sir Douglas Quintet’s Doug Sahm, The Jive Five’s Eugene Pitt, Conchita Wurst, Juanita Hall, and Robert Ellis; and the November 7 birthdays of Lorde, Sloan’s Chris Murphy, The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon, Shamir, Johnny Rivers, Toro y Moi, Dee Clark, Texas’s Sharleen Spiteri, Courtney Marie Andrews, Jellybean, and David Guetta.

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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 10-20-22

Today’s playlist celebrates the October 20 birthdays of Snoop Dogg, Tom Petty, Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake, Wanda Jackson, The Cribs’ Gary & Ryan Jarman, The Tokens’ Jay Siegel, Eddie Harris, and New Vaudeville Band’s John Carter; and the October 21 birthdays of Dizzy Gillespie, The Cramps’ Lux Interior, The Go-Go’s’ Charlotte Caffey, The Teardrop Explodes’ Julian Cope, Manfred Mann, The Skyliners’ Jimmy Beaumont, Elvin Bishop, Kathy Young, Doja Cat, and Industry’s Jon Carin.

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