As the new year kicks off, music lovers around the world are tuning into the latest hits that are making waves across various charts and streaming platforms. From pop anthems to breakthrough indie tracks, January 2025 has been a month full of fresh sounds and enduring classics. Here’s a rundown of the top 10 most-played songs of the month:
- APT. – Song by Rosé & Bruno Mars – October 17, 2024 – 1,112,899,757 listeners.
‘APT’ is actually my favourite Korean drinking game that I play with my friends back home. It’s so simple, puts a smile on your face, and breaks the ice at any party. One night in the studio, I taught my crew how to play the game. Everyone was fascinated, especially when I started the chant, so we played around with it, and I said we should make a song out of it… and after Bruno
joined the track, the rest became history! -Rosé
- Lose Control – Song by Teddy Swims – June 23, 2023 – 1,524,109,887 listeners.
Being in love can be like an addiction sometimes — always chasing the highs from the lows. It’s about losing yourself and losing control when it all starts to cave in and thinking that the only way out is through being with that person, chasing that feeling over and over again. -Teddy Swims
- No One Noticed – Song by The Marías – May 3, 2024 – 253,480,309 listeners.
It depicts the mental discomfort and worries from being in a relationship with a distant partner. María Zardoya pleads with her lover to stay while attempting to give reasons for a deep connection despite the remote nature of the romance. Echoing background vocals that describe her thoughts are layered throughout the song.
- DtMF – Song by Bad Bunny – January 5, 2025 – 352,737,694 listeners.
“DTMF” is a “nostalgic” track that blends “Nintendo-inspired beats”, reminiscent of his 2020 album YHLQMDLG, with “lively Plena”, a Puerto Rican “folk call-and-response” genre. On a “mellow beat” with occasional choir chants, Bad Bunny displays his emotions and regrets not having taken more pictures of loved ones or people with whom he had spent periods of time.
- Fat Juicy & Wet – Song by Sexy Redd & Bruno Mars – January 24, 2025 – 32,904,365 listeners.
Fat Juicy & Wet” is a “raunchy, upbeat party rap anthem” that finds Mars and Red flirting and flexing, while the latter takes it back to her roots by boasting about the “quality of her lady parts” mixed with romantic endeavors. Mars reciprocates her energy and admits to being unable to resist her.The song has been described as a crunk song that incorporates “’80s electro funk”, Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” and is supported by a “snappy, throwback instrumental” that has been noted to be a Bruno Mars trademark, albeit an unusually “explicit” lyrical offering compared to his previous projects.
- No Pole – Song by Don Toliver – February 28, 2023 – 265,845,547 listeners.
Maximilian Diehl of HotNewHipHop felt that Toliver’s “as the opening track on the record, one would hope for a good introduction”, but “this certainly fails at that point, and it also serves as a good signpost for the rest of the album”. In an opposite review, Regina Cho of Revolt opined that “finds Toliver in his comfort zone with a moody instrumental for his descriptive lyrics”. While performing the song live, Toliver sings new vocals over the live instrumental at the end instead of singing the second verse.
- Die With A Smile – Song by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – August 16, 2024 – 1,818,710,286 listeners.
I remember feeling that it was a song people needed to hear. I write music all the time, and sometimes you feel like you’re creating something that some people might like. But there are other times when you work on something, and you just know it’s going to speak deeply to all kinds of people. I knew it immediately. -Lady Gaga
- Indigo – Song by Sam Barber & Avery Anna – October 31, 2024 – 79,167,907 listeners.
“Indigo” is a song by American country singer Sam Barber, released on October 31, 2024 as the eighth single from his debut studio album Restless Mind, which was released the following day. It features American singer Avery Anna and is the highest charting song of both artists, peaking at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also became popular on the video-sharing app TikTok
- Luther – Song by Kendrick Lamar & SZA – November 21, 2024 – 409,968,236 listeners.
“Luther” is a “love ballad” accentuated by various string sections against 808 beats and hi-hats which was called a blend of contemporary R&B and hip-hop by Screen Rant. It features a sample of “If This World Were Mine”, written by Marvin Gaye and performed by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn, and builds on the song title from the very beginning. Lamar in a “monotone” delivery kicks off the “love story” by confessing his love for the protagonist, presumably a sex worker or a misunderstood “promiscuous woman”. SZA steps in during the choruses to reflect from the standpoint of the woman Lamar had introduced the listener to beforehand. The chorus consists of harmonizations between Lamar and SZA, while the latter’s vocals are more highlighted and layered on top of Lamar’s.
- Beautiful Things – Song by Benson Boone – January 18, 2024 – 1,817,858,435 listeners.
“Beautiful Things” is a “ballad about the meaning of life”, where Boone reflects on gratitude for life, love and the “volatility of happiness”. The song adds a “more powerful” layer to the “softness” he exhibited with previous singles like “In the Stars”, helping him bring out “all of his character” from inside and performing different “vocal turns”. Consisting of “soulful verses” paired with a “powerful chorus”, Boone showcases “raw, emotive vocals”. It is in the key of B-flat major.
SOURCES
APPLE MUSIC SPOTIFY
WIKIPEDIA
