My Favorite Songs Of 2025

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  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 Fiona Apple

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Fiona Apple’s career reads like a masterclass in artistic evolution, beginning with the raw vulnerability that made “Criminal” a cultural phenomenon in 1996. From her debut album Tidal, tracks like “Sleep to Dream” and “Shadowboxer” established her as an artist unafraid to excavate the messier corners of human emotion. These early songs showcased a young woman wrestling with desire, anger, and self-discovery through piano-driven compositions that felt both intimate and explosive. Apple’s voice, even then, carried a weight that suggested experiences far beyond her years.

The progression from her debut through albums to its follow-ups When the Pawn… and Extraordinary Machine reveals an artist continuously refining her approach without sacrificing intensity. Songs like “Fast as You Can” and “Paper Bag” demonstrate her ability to craft complex emotional narratives that resist easy categorization.

Apple’s later work, particularly evident in tracks like “Every Single Night” from The Idler Wheel… and the entire Fetch the Bolt Cutters era, shows her pushing into increasingly experimental territory. Songs like “Shameika,” “Heavy Balloon,” and the title track “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” reveal an artist who has grown more confident in her willingness to challenge conventional song structures. The percussion-heavy, almost ritualistic quality of these newer compositions suggests someone who has found liberation in embracing chaos rather than fighting it.

What emerges from examining this collection is Apple’s consistent refusal to smooth over the jagged edges of human experience. Whether exploring themes of mental health in “Heavy Balloon,” childhood trauma in “Shameika,” or relationship dynamics in “Hot Knife” and “Valentine,” she approaches each subject with unflinching honesty. Her willingness to sit with discomfort, both musically and lyrically, has created a body of work that feels essential rather than merely entertaining.

While she is fiercely individual, the playlist also highlights her power as a collaborator and interpreter. Hearing her voice alongside Johnny Cash’s on “Bridge over Troubled Water” is a profound meeting of two artists who share a certain gravitas, and her contributions to songs by The Waterboys or Iron & Wine show how her distinct phrasing can elevate another’s work. This respect from her peers is perhaps best illustrated by an invitation from Bob Dylan to play piano on his epic “Murder Most Foul.” Apple later shared that she felt insecure about the task, but Dylan offered the perfect reassurance: “You’re not here to be perfect, you’re here to be you.” That sentiment gets to the heart of her appeal. She is a musician’s musician, valued precisely for the unique, imperfect, and wholly authentic self she brings to the table.

To listen to Fiona Apple, from the defiant teenager of “Sleep to Dream” to the liberated woman of “I Want You To Love Me,” is to witness an artist in a constant state of unfolding. Her music doesn’t offer easy answers or simple sentiments. Instead, it offers something more valuable: companionship in complexity. It’s a body of work that validates the tangled, messy, and often difficult process of knowing yourself and, when necessary, finding the courage to fetch the bolt cutters and set yourself free.

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Tunes Du Jour Presents 1985

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The year 1985 was a remarkable one for music, as it showcased a variety of genres, styles, and influences. From pop to rock, from synth to soul, from rap to reggae, the music of 1985 reflected the diversity and creativity of the artists and the listeners. Whether it was the catchy melodies, the powerful lyrics, or the innovative sounds, the music of 1985 had something for everyone.

One of the most notable trends of 1985 was the emergence of new wave and synth-pop, which dominated the charts and the airwaves. Artists like Tears for Fears, a-Ha, Simple Minds, and The Cure blended synthesizers, guitars, and drums to create catchy and memorable songs that captured the mood and the spirit of the times. Songs like “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”, “Take On Me”, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, and “Close to Me” became anthems for a generation that was looking for fun, freedom, and adventure.

Another trend of 1985 was the influence of dance and disco, which brought energy and excitement to the music scene. Artists like Madonna, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Dead Or Alive, and Sade combined dance beats, catchy hooks, and sensual vocals to create songs that made people want to move and groove. Songs like “Into the Groove”, “Relax”, “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)”, and “Smooth Operator” became hits that defined the style and the attitude of the era.

A third trend of 1985 was the resurgence of rock and roll, which showed the diversity and the versatility of the genre. Artists like Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Dire Straits, and The Smiths demonstrated their musical skills, their lyrical talents, and their artistic visions. Songs like “Born In The U.S.A.”, “Raspberry Beret”, “Money For Nothing”, and “How Soon Is Now” became classics that showcased the range and the depth of rock music.

A fourth trend of 1985 was the rise of social awareness and activism, which inspired many artists to use their music as a platform for change and charity. Artists took part in USA For Africa and Band Aid to raise funds and awareness for famine relief.

The music of 1985 was a year of diversity and innovation, as it offered a wide range of musical experiences and expressions. The playlist below features some of the best songs of 1985, which represent the different trends and influences of the year. Enjoy the music and relive the memories of 1985!

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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 12-13-22

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Today’s playlist celebrates the December 13 birthdays of Television’s Tom Verlaine, Taylor Swift, Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge, Jamie Foxx, Ted Nugent, Evanescence’s Amy Lee, The Time’s Morris Day, Steve Forbert, Dick Van Dyke, and John Anderson; and the December 14 birthdays of Jane Birkin, The Waterboys’ Mike Scott, Spike Jones, Beth Orton, The Big Pink’s Robbie Furze, Charlie Rich, The Searchers’ Frank Allen, Linda Jones, Dandy Livingstone, and The Beatnuts’ Juju.