Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello recently opened up in an interview with Shan Man (98KUPDradio) about his role as the “curator” for Black Sabbath‘s all-star farewell show, Back To The Beginning — an event that also marked Ozzy Osbourne‘s final performance.
Morello described the weight of the responsibility: “If we’re gonna do this, we have to aim to make it the greatest day in the history of heavy metal… Heavy metal is the music that made me love music. It’s in the DNA of 90% of my favorite artists. And so if we’re gonna do this, we really have to treat it with the gravity that it deserves.”
He recounted one particularly surreal moment the night before the show: witnessing Black Sabbath rehearsing “War Pigs” in an empty Birmingham stadium.
Morello, Steven Tyler, and Scott Ian were among only a dozen spectators, watching the band practice a song for the second-to-last time in history: “The red lights are on, the sirens are wailing… and then they play ‘War Pigs’ for us. At the end, they don’t even know we’re there. We go absolutely nuts. I felt, ‘Okay, this is something that could really, really matter.’”
The guitarist also shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the massive logistical effort required to bring the show together, including last-minute lineup changes. He recalled Yungblud‘s performance of “Changes”, which nearly didn’t happen just 48 hours before the show: “Things were changing… I landed at Heathrow and got a call, ‘That’s not happening.’ So I’m like, ‘Okay, let’s figure it out.’ It turned out to be one of the highlights. But that’s the gig. That’s what the gig is.”
Morello highlighted the emotional payoff when the show concluded. At the afterparty, fans and artists alike celebrated the event’s success, with Ozzy Osbourne himself in attendance. One of Morello‘s last personal interactions with Ozzy was both humorous and heartfelt: “I’m at the afterparty playing pinball with my son… Somebody’s tugging at my shirt.
“It’s Ozzy. Jack Osbourne comes back and goes, ‘Dude, that was my dad.’ I go over to him… he was appreciative of everything. I got to give him a kiss on the head one more time. The last words Ozzy said to me were, ‘Tell Sharon I wanna get the fuck outta here’ — in true Ozzy form and also sort of poetic.”
Morello‘s reflections provide an intimate window into the planning, chaos, and emotion behind a historic farewell to one of metal’s most influential bands, highlighting both the human and musical significance of the event.
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British rocker Yungblud is diving deeper into alternative rock history with a new collaboration alongside the Smashing Pumpkins. The two groups have teamed up for a reimagined version of Yungblud’s song “Zombie.” In less than two weeks, a new version of the song and a music video were completed. The new version leans darker and heavier than the original.
Inspiration and Collaboration
According to Yungblud, “Zombie” was initially inspired by the Smashing Pumpkins’ 1993 classic Siamese Dream. He said it was an album that helped shape his musical identity. While the original version of “Zombie” already carried emotional weight, Yungblud felt there was still something left to explore creatively. That curiosity led him to reach out directly to Billy Corgan. He spoke of the idea of pushing the track into more aggressive and atmospheric territory.
The collaboration came together quickly. Within just ten days of their first conversation, Yungblud flew to Chicago to record both the song and its accompanying music video with the Smashing Pumpkins. The fast turnaround speaks to the shared creative energy between the artists and their mutual respect for each other’s work.
Yungblud and The Smashing Pumpkins Darker Side of “Zombie”
The new version of “Zombie” blends Yungblud’s raw emotional intensity with the layered heaviness the Smashing Pumpkins are known for, creating a sound that bridges generations of alternative rock fans. It’s a collaboration that feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking — a reminder that rock music continues to evolve by honoring its past while pushing into new creative territory.
Yungblud’s Previous Collaboration with Aerosmith
The Smashing Pumpkins aren’t Yungblud’s first high-profile rock collaboration. He previously teamed up with Aerosmith on the track “My Only Angel,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart, further cementing his place in modern rock’s evolving landscape.
Donielle Flynn has two kids, two cats, two dogs, and a love of all things rock. She’s been in radio decades and held down top-rated day parts at Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington DC radio stations throughout her tenure. She enjoys writing about rock news, the Detroit community, and she has a series called “The Story Behind” where she researches the history of classic rock songs.
2025 felt like a year where music refused to sit still. Every week brought a new sound, a new story, a new artist stepping into their moment. The team at THP HQ went through the annual ritual of debating, defending, and passionately campaigning for our faves, and it wasn’t easy narrowing this beast of a year down to just fifty albums. But we did it… just about. So grab your headphones, a snack, and maybe some tissues; here are The Honey POP’s Top 50 Albums of 2025!
That’s Showbiz, Baby! – JADE
Jade had us waiting for a hot minute for this album, but wow, was it worth it. That’s Showbiz Baby! is easily one of the most exciting pop releases we’ve had in years; it’s pure pop perfection from beginning to end. Every step of the journey has felt unmistakably and unapologetically Jade. She made an unforgettable entrance with ‘Angel Of My Dreams,’ a moment so defining it earned her first-ever BRIT Award for Pop Act earlier this year. It left everyone wondering what her sound would be after such an eclectic debut. The answer? Bold, in-your-face, and absolutely brilliant. Her debut record is stacked with standouts, from the confident, main-character strut of ‘IT Girl’ to the fiery sass of ‘FUFN.’
And just when we thought she couldn’t top it, Jade closed the year by dropping That’s Showbiz Baby! The Encore, adding eight new tracks, including the stunningly dramatic ‘Church’ and her fierce take on Madonna’s ‘Frozen.’ The deluxe edition doesn’t just elevate the album; it extends the pop excellence she’s already delivered. Jade isn’t simply following trends… she is the trend. With this record, she cements her place as the newest it girl, carving out her space in pop history. And honestly? We’re fully strapped in for the ride. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s Song Picks:‘Angel Of My Dreams,’ ‘It Girl,’ and ‘Church’
Golden Hour Pt 3: In Your Fantasy – ATEEZ
Honestly, these men really are making all our fantasies come true with every new piece of content they release. The third installment of the Golden Hour series gave us a softer yet more mature side of ATEEZ in the best way possible, showing how the group can do anything they put their minds to. From the moment we heard the R&B and hip-hop mixture of ‘Lemon Drop,’ we knew this album was going to be completely different from what we’ve seen before in the best way. Most of all, we’d say that’s reflected in the solo songs we got from each ATEEZ member, where we can see all their talent shine in their own unique styles. From Hongjoong’s hype beats in ‘NO1’ to Jongho’s stunning vocals in ‘To Be Your Light’, it’s safe to say that, in Captain’s words, they’re “getting in our heads,” with this album. – Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Now This House Ain’t A Home,’ ‘Lemon Drop’ and ‘In Your Fantasy’
NO LABELS: Part 01 – YEONJUN
Yeonjun’s NO LABELS: PART 01 is easily in the running for the best debut album of 2025. Although, in line with its concept, perhaps we shouldn’t give it any titles? Regardless, across the six tracks, Yeonjun fully realizes a very succinct vision, whilst also proving that he’s capable of doing any genre or style he sets his mind to. Where he could’ve turned out a perfect pop album (which we also would’ve loved), Yeonjun defied expectations by releasing an album far grittier, bolder, and more daring than anticipated.
None of these facets of Yeonjun came as a surprise to MOAs, but they are more crystal clear than ever before. From the derisive nonchalance of ‘Do It’ to the earnest sensuality of ‘Let Me Tell You (with Daniela of KATSEYE),’ NO LABELS: PART 01 is both concise and eclectic. Is it too soon to predict NO LABELS: PART 02 will be on this list in 2026? – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Coma,’ ‘Do It,’ and ‘Nothin’ ‘Bout Me’
So Close To What – Tate McRae
From a career-defining single run (seriously, probably our favorite rollout ever) to new songs that make her one of the pop princesses of the year, Tate McRae’s So Close To What has to be talked about when discussing the music that we’ve loved in 2025. This album is a masterpiece from top to bottom! Not only does it have bops that make us feel confident and let our hair loose, but it also includes some of the deepest stories that Tate has told through her tracks. So Close To What has been our favorite era with her, making it even more fun with a world tour full of amazing performances and making her even more worthy of the superstar status. It’s a perfect pop album in our books!
The deluxe, SO CLOSE TO WHAT???, is also incredible. The five songs Tate has added to her Miss Possessive universe show a lot of growth, not only in her lyrics and mission for these tracks, but also in her production. We feel like this deluxe is Tate’s best music yet. It’s so hard to choose our favorites! – María Solano
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Miss possessive,’ ‘bloodonmyhands (feat. Flo Milli), and ‘No I’m not in love’
Beautiful Chaos – KATSEYE
Is it too soon to say that KATSEYE are well on their way to being the world’s biggest girl group? Because it certainly seems like they’re heading that way! The girls had their first comeback this year, first with ‘Gnarly,’ and then with their BEAUTIFUL CHAOS EP. Each and every song on this album has had a stand-out moment, not least ‘Gabriela,’ which earned KATSEYE their first GRAMMY nomination! The most underrated is the b-side ‘Mean Girls,’ which sees KATSEYE channel their girl-power energy in a less ferocious way than is typical for them. But, speaking of ferocious, it was ‘Gnarly’ that probably brought the girls the most notoriety; it was instantly divisive upon release, but it feels pretty safe to say it’s won over even the harshest of critics now. To anyone who still isn’t on board, haven’t you considered that boba tea is ‘Gnarly?’ – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Gnarly,’ ‘M.I.A,’ and ‘Gabriela’
UXLXVE – XLOV
XLOV is by far one of the most exciting up-and-coming groups around. And they lived up to that hype with UXLXVE, their first mini-album. In each of the six tracks, you get the sense that XLOV really understands their audience, a feat which many more established artists still grapple with. UXLXVE switches seamlessly between soft melodies, euphoric pop, and sensual R&B. We always love a K-Pop group that is so hands-on in the creative process, and that’s exactly what XLOV is. Their leader, Wumuti, is heavily involved in songwriting and production, and all the members contribute in one way or another, from their concept to their styling and beyond. And look, we wouldn’t admit to being totally obsessed with a song about rizz of all things if we could avoid it. But, just like Taemin got us with ‘The Rizzness,’ XLOV’s ‘Rizz’ is just that undeniably good. – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Rizz,’ ‘Scent,’ and ‘Biii:-P’
TUNNEL VISION – ITZY
The debate over whether to include Girls Will Be Girls or TUNNEL VISION as one of the best albums of 2025 could go on forever. It goes to show just how many incredible songs ITZY have delivered this year. Ultimately, the concept, the experimentation, and the cohesiveness in TUNNEL VISION make it the epitome of what ITZY are capable of. Starting with an intro track as gripping as ‘FOCUS,’ we knew TUNNEL VISION would be one of those mini-albums that leave a mark in ITZY’s career. ‘TUNNEL VISION’ is confident, assertive, empowering, and speaks to ITZY’s journey and restless ambition.
But ‘TUNNEL VISION’ is far from the only standout on this release; songs like ‘DYT’ elevate ideas from previous releases, and ‘8-BEAT HEART’ showcases ITZY’s unique, cheeky, fun yet experimental side. Yet songs like ‘Nocturne’ show a sweeter, yet more profound, side, without losing the sound that makes them so special. TUNNEL VISION showcases everything we love about ITZY, takes it to a whole new level, and opens the doors even further for what they can achieve as a group – and we’re here for every part of it. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks:‘TUNNEL VISION,’ ‘DYT,’ and ‘8-BIT HEART’
Magic Man II – Jackson Wang
Magic Man II is by far one of the best albums we’ve heard this year. It’s pure, unfiltered art in the form of 11 songs that narrate the process of overcoming hard times by allowing yourself to feel your feelings and process them in a healthy way. Jackson mentioned multiple times throughout the year how taking a year off and enjoying his time with friends and family helped create all the songs present in MM II, and it shows for sure. From opening with ‘High Alone’ to closing with ‘Made Me A Man,’ we are taken on this journey of self-reflection that resonates deeply with anyone who’s been through hard moments.
Personally, we’ve listened to ‘GBAD’ more times than we’d like to admit for its message about protecting our peace even if it makes us a villain in someone else’s story, and cried listening to Jackson’s beautiful tribute to his parents in songs like ‘Dear’ and ‘Sophy Ricky.’ And we can’t finish this without mentioning how ‘Made Me A Man’ was the perfect closer to the album, reinforcing what Jackson has been saying since the beginning: everything that happens to us, good or bad, makes us who we are, we just have to accept that and make the best of it. – Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘GBAD,’ ‘Sophy Ricky’ and ‘Made Me A Man’
Breach – Twenty One Pilots
As a direct follow-up to their 2024 album, Clancy, Twenty One Pilots released one album to tie up the lore and storylines they had been building up for over a decade. And just like Clancy last year, Breach has unsurprisingly made it into our top albums of the year! Breach is first and foremost an album that celebrates the universe Twenty One Pilots have created with every aspect of their art: from the music, to the lyrics, to the music videos. The end of Clancy announced the comeback of Blurryface, and Breach sees how they go face-to-face with this infamous character, precisely a decade after the release of Blurryface.
Breach has even more layers than the usual Twenty One Pilots release, as it includes, in the most genius and satisfying way, references to some of their most iconic and meaningful songs. From tracks like ‘City Walls, ‘ which follow Twenty One Pilots’ signature sound, to songs like ‘Days Lie Dormant,’ which offer a new element to their discography. Even as Breach reminisces on Twenty One Pilots’ journey as artists, it also expands their horizons as musicians and brings something new and refreshing to the table. Twenty One Pilots’ entire career comes down to this album, and it is a beyond-impressive one. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks: ‘City Walls,’ ‘The Contract,’ and ‘Downstairs’
Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
Call men out on their cr*p and face your problems head-on, but make it cute: the recipe for success, according to Miss Sabrina Carpenter. And let’s face it, it’s working wonders for her (and us), and Man’s Best Friend is proof of it. We can’t count how many times we’ve screamed the lyrics to ‘Manchild’ in our cars or laughed while listening to ‘Nobody’s Son’ because it reminded us of someone, but that’s the magic of Sabrina’s music: it makes serious situations lighter with her cheeky lyrics and unique voice. In our opinion, it’s only further up from here for this pop princess, and we can only hope to be along for the ride with her! – Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Manchild,’ ‘Nobody’s Son’ and ‘Never Getting Laid’
K-Pop Demon Hunters Soundtrack
Now, how could we write about our top 50 albums without including the soundtrack of the year? K-Pop Demon Hunters not only smashed it in terms of movie records, but its soundtrack album was quite the success, too. From the lightning-fast energy of anthems like ‘Golden’ and ‘How It’s Done’ to the sleek swagger of villain-boy-band bops like ‘Soda Pop’ and ‘Your Idol,’ the album takes you on a wild ride between hero-team high drama and devilish-charm chaos.
Then, when tracks like ‘What It Sounds Like’ drop for the stirring score, you feel that emotional weight, like battle scars made beautiful by music. Whether you’re rooting for the supernatural girl-group heroes or vibing with the darker side, the soundtrack never asks you to pick sides, it just demands you dance, feel, and get swept up. K-Pop Demon Hunters doesn’t just soundtrack a story; it gives you a full-on K-Pop fantasy world you might never want to leave. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s Song Picks:‘How It’s Done’, ‘Soda Pop’, and ‘Golden’
Wishbone – Conan Gray
Conan Gray only needs a guitar and his lyrics to create one of the best albums of the year. After the release of Found Heaven last year, a new Conan Gray album wasn’t in our bingo card for 2025. Yet, Wishbone arrived in our lives to take over all of our playlists. For this album, Conan went back to his roots and stripped the creation down to just him and a few trusted producers. The result was a raw album full of vulnerability and some of his best songwriting as he tells an introspective story of a failed love. And no one does that quite like Conan Gray.
The title says it all: Wishbone refers to the way someone always gets the biggest piece of a wishbone. Kicking off the album with ‘Actor,’ the song already announces where the story would end, and yet tracks like ‘This Song’ make us feel every ounce of love that was once there. Songs like ‘Nauseous’ are where Conan shines as a songwriter, opening up about himself through his music, being raw and vulnerable. Still, his use of imagery and metaphor reaches its peak in ‘Eleven Eleven.’ Conan has always been an incredible storyteller, and through this album, he showed even more growth as an artist, and yes, these songs will haunt us forever now. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Actor,’ ‘Vodka Cranberry,’ and ‘Eleven Eleven’
ORDER Chaos ORDER – Calum Hood
5 Seconds of Summer has given us so much this year, but one thing that they never lack is incredible music. As we reflect on our favorite albums of 2025, we have to mention the masterpiece by our beloved Calum: ORDER chaos ORDER.
If we were to describe this album in one word, we would use vulnerability. Mr. Calum Hood has always left us speechless with the way his music is both relatable and unique, and ORDER chaos ORDER is a rollercoaster of emotions. This project is for those who love to be connected with their deepest feelings, but also for the dreamers. Our favorite thing from this incredible album is the lyricism. Calum does a lot of introspection throughout these tracks, thinking about the “what ifs” and the “what could’ve beens” while giving us the feeling of living in a permanent summer sunset.
We’re so thankful for living in the same timeline as this genius, and we are so proud of Calum for allowing us to explore this solo musical journey!
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Streetwise,’ ‘Dark Circles,’ ‘Sunsetter’
Sidequest – Michael Clifford
Speaking of 5SOS and their 10/10 run this year, we obviously have to mention the coolness of Michael Clifford! His solo album, SIDEQUEST, gives us super fun aesthetics and a taste of pop-punk blending that has sparkled in Michael’s style since he started sharing his music with us. Eclectic colors, fuzzy shapes, and video game screens are the visual standouts of this era, but he also wanted to share how mature he has become and push his producing abilities for this release. Michael wanted to combine his alternative music lover personality with his newest electronic inspirations to make SIDEQUEST as authentic as possible. And we think he has covered all of his wishes with this release!
He has collaborated with some amazing artists for some of the tracks, but SIDEQUEST is a purely Michael Clifford creation. From writing all the lyrics to mastering the record, Michael has poured his entire soul in his solo adventure. We’re so happy that our 2025 has been blessed by his great songs!
THP’s Song Picks: ‘give me a break! (feat. waterparks)’ because we will always be PARXSOS truthers, ‘cool,’ ‘enough’
Caligo Pt.1 – PLAVE
PLAVE’sCaligo Pt.1 slinks onto your playlist like moonlight on water, moody, stylish, and full of surprises. From the rock-fuelled punch of opener ‘Dash’ to the silky R&B glow of ‘Island,’ the record shows off the group’s range without ever tipping into over-ambition. Tracks like ‘Chroma Drift’ bring retro city-pop warmth with airy saxophone lines and smooth grooves, while ‘12:32 (A to T)’ offers a quiet, tender moment that feels like a whispered late-night promise.
Even the laid-back hip-hop charm of ‘RIZZ’ adds a cheeky swagger, proving PLAVE aren’t afraid to play with tone and texture. Caligo Pt. 1 is a polished, genre-hopping mini-album that shows PLAVE knows exactly how to set a mood, whether you’re craving a punch, a slow groove, or a dreamy escape. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Chroma Drift,’ ‘Island,’ and ‘Dash’
fe304: FORWARD – NMIXX
If there’s one group we could easily add both releases of the year to the list, it would hands down be NMIXX. With the release of Blue Valentine later in the year, they made history and established themselves as the force they were always meant to be. And while Blue Valentine is the first full-length album of a lifetime and would also deserve a place in our list, it is difficult to compete against the absolute jaw-dropping masterpiece that is their Fe304: FORWARD mini-album.
Starting the era with ‘High Horse,’ we knew NMIXX weren’t here to play, as they showcased their contemporary dancing skills and their beyond-powerful vocals. ‘High Horse’ is the most unique, special, and mind-blowing release of K-Pop, not only this year. And the best song of the year could only be followed by a show-stopping title track like ‘KNOW ABOUT ME,’ which highlighted their harmonies and synergy. It doesn’t stop there, though, because every song in Fe304: FORWARD is a unique piece that showcases NMIXX’s restless love for experimenting with music, vocals, and pushing their sound beyond any barrier, leading us to K-Pop excellence in songs like ‘Papillon.’ From track 1 with ‘High Horse’ to track 6 with ‘Ocean,’ FE304: FORWARD is a masterclass in not only what K-Pop can and should be, but also in what music is all about. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks: ‘High Horse,’ ‘KNOW ABOUT ME,’ and ‘Papillon’
People Watching – Sam Fender
Sam Fender scored a hat-trick with his third studio album, People Watching. We’ve been fans of Sam for a long time, and we’re still taken by surprise every time he releases something new, and he’s somehow managed to get even better! In People Watching, Sam, once again, delves into the personal and political. And not the kind of grand, sweeping political gesturing many celebrities make, but deeply felt, nuanced commentaries on social class, capitalism, and more. This has been a keystone in Sam’s discography from the start, but it’s rare not to see this fade away once an artist reaches the levels of success that Sam has. The intricate nature of Sam’s lyricism is only amplified by the stadium-level production he puts behind it. The duality shouldn’t work, but for the third album in a row, Sam Fender has proved he’s one of the few who can make it happen. – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘People Watching,’ ‘Chin Up,’ and ‘Remember My Name’
The Star Chapter: Together – TOMORROW X TOGETHER
TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s latest full-length album, The Star Chapter: TOGETHER, feels like a kaleidoscope of sounds and emotions, all tied together by the group’s unmistakable energy and ambition. From the vibrant, ‘80s-tinged synth-pop of opener ‘Upside Down Kiss’ to the soaring, yearning melodies of lead single ‘Beautiful Strangers,’ the album draws you in with lush production and hooks that linger.
The solo songs, from the carefree falsetto glide of ‘Sunday Driver’ to the raw emotional surge of ‘Take My Half,’ let each member shine in their own lane while still feeling connected to the group’s wider universe. When tracks like ‘Bird of Night’ drift in on soft piano and gentle vocals, or when ‘Dance With You’ pulses with sultry rhythm and playful groove, TXT shows they’re unafraid to explore new moods and musical corners. The Star Chapter: TOGETHER doesn’t just showcase growth, it delivers a full-on emotional ride, blending confidence, vulnerability, and that signature “we’re all in this together” spirit that makes it impossible not to hit replay. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s Song Picks:‘Beautiful Strangers,’ ‘Ghost Girl,’ and ‘Song of the Stars’
Love & Hyperbole – Alessia Cara
With the release of ‘Dead Man’ as the lead single of Alessia Cara’s new album last summer, Love & Hyperbolewas an album that had been among our most anticipated of 2025. And ten months after its release, it has remained one of the year’s most memorable albums. Songs like ‘Subside’ and ‘Fire’ find their way back into our minds constantly. Alessia Cara’s pen has never failed, but Love & Hyperbole reveals a side of her that is even more mature, profound, and introspective, while showcasing her unique, striking vocals. From ‘Dead Man,’ she dipped her toes into a more jazzy, darker side, and it set the tone for the entirety of the album.
Released on Valentine’s Day, she created a unique atmosphere in Love & Hyperbole where she explored all the different sides of love – the sense of freedom, the beauty, the heartbreak, and the aftermath. It’s smooth and relaxing, yet all the songs are filled with nuanced emotions in the most cathartic way, including some of her most beautiful songs about love and growth. Alessia has always had a way with music that sets her apart, and no album has showcased her unique vision and way with words quite like Love & Hyperbole. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Subside,’ ‘Clearly,’ and ‘Fire.’
Übermensch – G-Dragon
The king of K-Pop returns with another album full of bangers. Truly, GD is the Übermensch of the industry. Named after Nietzsche’s concept of the new goal for humanity, translated as “beyond-man,” the album definitely reflects the notion of “an individual who transcends themselves,” as G-Dragon himself put it. After 12 years without releasing a full-length album, GD reinvented himself once again and brought us eight insane tracks that just scream “this is what K-Pop is about,” mixing genres, bringing killer collabs, and reminding us why he’s considered one of the best rappers in the industry.
If we had to choose a single lyric to highlight from this album, it would have to be, “prove ‘em all wrong, I’ve got all the receipts,” from ‘Power,’ because there’s nothing quite like feeling like you have the power to do anything, and that’s exactly the feeling this song brings out in us. Also, excuse us while we fangirl over ‘Home Sweet Home,’ where GD brings his Big Bang members, Taeyang and Daesung, along for the ride, and they make it clear that their, “golden days are still alive,” which we couldn’t be happier to hear! – Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Too Bad,’ ‘Power’ and ‘Drama’
Perrie – Perrie
After years of anticipation, our girl Perrie finally dropped her debut self-titled album… and it was worth every second of the wait. From the energetic yet bittersweet debut single ‘Forget About Us’ to the sassy, confident punch of ‘If He Wanted To He Would,’ this record delivers an irresistible mix of belting choruses and catchy hooks that practically beg you to roll the windows down and scream along. When she shifts into heart-tugging ballads like ‘Miss You’ or ‘Same Place Different View,’ her voice, crisp, emotive, and rich, turns heartbreak into something beautifully cathartic.
And then there are the groove-soaked moments like ‘Sand Dancer’ and ‘Pushing Up Daisies,’ proving Perrie is just as magnetic on the dance floor as she is behind a piano ballad. Overall, Perrie plays like the ultimate pop playlist: warm, inviting, and full of personality. It marks the official arrival of a solo star whose shine isn’t going anywhere. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s song picks: ‘Sand Dancer’, ‘Miss You’, and ‘If He Wanted To He Would’
KARMA – Stray Kids
Following world-changing releases like GO LIVE, NOEASY, and 5-STAR, the stakes and expectations were high for Stray Kids’ fourth full-length album, and KARMA met them without breaking a sweat. KARMA is an album that put Stray Kids’ success as a self-produced group in the forefront – it celebrated all sides of their artistry, their journey, their passion for music, their bond as a group, and their connection to fans. Coming right off the biggest K-Pop tour of the year, KARMA is directly inspired by the energy Stray Kids brought to the stage every night, as shown through songs like ‘Half Time.’
We also had hard-hitting songs with Stray Kids’ unique energy and undeniable rap skills, like ‘BLEEP’ and ‘CREED,’ as well as new ventures into EDM with ‘Phoenix’ and pop-punk with ‘In My Head.’ ‘MESS,’ ‘Ghost’ and ‘0801’ showed more vulnerability and introspection, giving KARMA a life on its own. It only makes sense that Stray Kids’ karma would come to fruition with this album, giving them their first MAMA daesang for Album of the Year. But more than anything, KARMA was about ‘CEREMONY’ and celebrating Stray Kids’ success despite adversity and the impact of their music. They were right: that ratio did get them worldwide. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks: ‘BLEEP,’ ‘CEREMONY,’ and ‘Phoenix’
Zara Larsson getting her flowers is long overdue, but better late than never! A long-time star across Europe, the U.S. is finally starting to take notice, thanks to the virality of Midnight Sun and Zara’s stint supporting Tate McRae on tour. Zara is by far one of pop’s most down-to-earth, relatable stars, whilst still giving us all the glitz and glam we could ever ask for! With Midnight Sun, Zara shows off her duality. The album is full of Eurodance and house-influenced tracks, underneath vocals so strong that she’s nicknamed Beyoncé’s adopted daughter. In the era of TikTok music, Zara Larsson has our vote as an artist who is doing that right, with integrity, and has our recommendation as a must-follow on social media! – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Girl’s Girl,’ ‘Midnight Sun,’ and ‘Blue Moon’
Idols – YUNGBLUD
YUNGBLUD is another artist who we’re thrilled to see finally getting their dues stateside! Idols kind of does what it says on the tin, full of references to the artists who inspire YUNGBLUD. From the offset of ‘Hello Heaven, Hello,’ YUNGBLUD is taking you on a journey, throughout musical styles but also seemingly through his own psyche, though YUNGBLUD himself has said this album came from the heart rather than the head. Since the very onset of his career, YUNGBLUD has toyed with genres with a very on-brand anarchic sensibility. Idols is no different, gifting us with stadium rock anthems featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra. “Tell me, do you wanna feel alive?” Then listen to Idols. – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Hello Heaven, Hello,’ ‘Zombie,’ and ‘Lovesick Lullaby’
Knees Up – Olly Murs
Olly Murs’ new album Knees Up feels like a full-on invitation to the ultimate party; cheeky, upbeat, and unmistakably him. From the high-energy opener ‘Save Me’ to the ska-tinged swagger of ‘Bonkers,’ the record bursts with big hooks, big horns, and that playful charm fans always fall for. But there’s still plenty of heart woven in. Tracks like ‘Love = Madness’ and ‘Honest’ slip effortlessly between the pop bangers, giving space to his softer, more vulnerable side without dimming the party lights.
When he slows things down, whether it’s a tender ballad or a mellow groove, his vocals shine with that signature warmth and sincerity. In fact, this might be the closest we’ve ever gotten to Olly’s true live sound. So many of these songs carry the “big band” energy his concerts are known for, and it gives the whole record that full-bodied, feel-good lift. Knees Up isn’t here to reinvent the wheel; it’s here to remind you exactly why Olly Murs became the soundtrack to summer nights and late-night drives in the first place. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Save Me’, ‘Run This Town,’ and ‘Honest‘
Detox – ONE OK ROCK
You can always trust that ONE OK ROCK to deliver an album that will leave its mark on our entire year. Their eleventh album, DETOX, came out back in February and has remained in our top albums of the year. After the release of Luxury Disease in 2022, ONE OK ROCK collaborated with the legendary producer Rob Cavallo to create magic once again. The main single, ‘Dystopia,’ says it all: DETOX questions the world, sees the ugliness, but also serves as a break and a necessary cathartic disconnect from the real world. While DETOX has some good pop bangers like ‘Tropical Therapy,’ it also saw ONE OK ROCK going back to their roots: it’s their heaviest album in years.
It opens with a track like ‘NASTY’ that hits hard just in the right way, and they collaborated with Paledusk and CHICO CARLITO in one of their heaviest tracks yet, ‘C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y.’ And still, it has its vulnerable and beautiful moments like ‘Tiny Pieces’ and even more so ‘This Can’t Be Us’ that push their musicality and Taka’s vocals even more. DETOX is an album that manages to package everything that makes ONE OK ROCK so special and unique, all their experimentation and experience with different genres, into 11 flawless tracks. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks:‘Nasty,’ ‘Party’s Over,’ and ‘This Can’t Be Us’
Hometown – BamBam
BamBam Thai album. That’s it, that’s the tweet. Actually, it’s not, we’re gonna talk a lot about Hometown. For the first time in 14 years since his debut, BamBam released an EP fully in Thai, and the project is all we could’ve wanted and so much more! From the dreamy vibes of ‘WONDERING’ all the way to the more modern feel of ‘Dancing By Myself,’ HOMETOWN is a beautiful and heartwarming tribute to his origins, and we can definitely hear all the love and care BamBam put into every song, once again proving his talent knows no bounds. And neither do his connections in the industry, apparently, seeing as he got some of the most popular names in Thai music to feature in HOMETOWN.
Seriously, Jeff Satur in ‘More Than Friend,’ TIMETHAI in ‘Dancing By Myself’ and INK WARUNTORN in ‘Greenlight?’ Perfection! And we can’t help but mention how finishing the EP off with ‘Angel in Disguise,’ an ethereal fantasy in song form produced by Pharrell Williams, that really evokes the feeling of coming home. More than an album, HOMETOWN is an invitation into BamBam’s world, and we’re more than happy to accept it.– Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘WONDERING,’ ‘More Than Friend’ and ‘Angel in Disguise’
The Life Of A Showgirl – Taylor Swift
The Life of a Showgirl may have been released in October, but it became one of the most talked about albums of the year in a matter of a few hours – needless to say, that even after the Eras Tour, Taylor is still taking the world by storm. Taylor Swift mixed a new and old approach when it came to the writing of this album, going back to her most-pop era collaborator Max Martin – the mastermind behind her best and most iconic albums, such as 1989 and Reputation – but also offering a new style of writing in these songs.
Opening the album with pure Taylor pop gold with ‘The Fate of Ophelia,’ there was no escaping this song or this entire album. Catchy pop songs like ‘Opalite’ and ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ explored her newfound peace and love, while delving into some of her deeper past fears, and songs like ‘Father Figure’ explored darker sides of the industry. The final and title track of the album sums up the message of the entire release, and choosing to feature Sabrina Carpenter is nothing short of genius. The Life of a Showgirl explores the pressure of the public eye, the complex relationships within the industry, but also love and change, all in the unique style of Taylor Swift. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks: ‘The Fate of Ophelia,’ ‘Elizabeth Taylor,’ and ‘Opalite’
Echo – Jin
Jin’s new solo drop, Echo, sits somewhere between a heart-shattering breakup diary and a late-night drive soundtrack, and it is deliciously dramatic. From the gut-punch ache of the lead single ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ to the smoky pop-rock moments that slide between piano-led introspection and guitar-fuelled alt-rock, this record finds Jin digging deeper into his feelings than ever. His voice? Still, that honey-soft velvet that somehow makes heartbreak sound golden.
Tracks like the tongue-in-cheek country-rock standout ‘Rope It’ add a playful, familiar charm, giving his more cinematic, melancholic moments even more room to breathe. And when he leans fully into that emotional storytelling, the album glows with the kind of star power only Jin can pull off: confident, tender, and unexpectedly bold all at once. Echo doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it polishes it so well that by the time the last track fades out, you realize it’s taken you for a ride anyway. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s Top Picks: ‘Background,’ ‘With The Clouds,’ and ‘Rope It’
This Is For – TWICE
We have to talk about TWICE every year, their music is a staple for us! Our favorite girls have celebrated their tenth anniversary this year, and that shows how unstoppable they’ve been in 2025! We feel like we’ve grown with them through this decade, and their full album from this year, THIS IS FOR, is a perfect example, celebrating their evolution as well as a new chapter for the group.
TWICE reflects and shows their talent through THIS IS FOR with songs that include the whole group, as well as amazing sub-units that were amazing surprises for us! With this album, we’ve gotten to hear new combinations and new styles that we’ve never heard before, and it’s incredible how much the members want to show new sides of themselves, even after ten years of releasing some of the most iconic K-Pop tracks. They want to show us how passionate they are, as well as deliver empowering messages to their fans. THIS IS FOR is TWICE’s most mature project, and it keeps being as fun, groovy, and legendary as the rest of their discography! Our biggest 2025 wish is to keep celebrating more decades with them!
You know we love our rookie groups, and ARrC is no exception. We knew these boys were going to be big since their debut last year with AR^C, and this year’s releases only confirmed our suspicions. Their third mini-album, HOPE, released in July, brought us five absolute bangers that showcase the group’s musical versatility, going from ‘awesome,’ which takes inspiration from 2000s hip-hop, all the way to the neo-soul influences of ‘night life.’ We also can’t help but mention the messages in their lyrics.
Staying true to their name (“Always Remember the real Connection”), the group’s focus stays on positive messages about staying optimistic even in the middle of a chaotic world and staying true to yourself, and we cannot wait to see what our boys will be up to next in their career! – Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘awesome,’ ‘night life’ and ‘vitamin I’
Only cry in the rain – CHUU
In the post-LOONA era we unfortunately have to live in, the girls continuously make it better by giving us some of the best releases K-Pop has to offer. This year, Chuu may have been booked and busy in variety shows and having her own tour, but it didn’t stop her from giving us her best mini-album yet: Only cry in the rain. Her previous flawless mini-albums established her as a soloist, and Only cry in the rain allowed her to go even deeper, offering five extremely recognizable, unique songs that fit together like a beautiful puzzle. ‘Only cry in the rain’ has a very clear concept and message: to find hope even in the darkest times while embracing all your emotions, including the pain.
Chuu used her addictive energy and positivity to create a mini-album that brings comfort and love, and doesn’t forget to have fun like in songs like ‘Back in Town’ and the viral ‘Kiss a Kitty.’ While ‘Je t’aime’ is a beautiful love song, ‘No More’ ends the release on a high note of positivity and empowerment. All tied together by Chuu’s infectious personality and stunning vocals, Only cry in the rain became a ray of light in our lives. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Only cry in the rain,’ ‘Je t’aime,’ and ‘No More’
Underwater – Big Ocean
2025 marked a huge turning point for Big Ocean. A year into their debut, they stepped confidently into a mature, sultry concept that completely shed any “young and innocent” expectations people once had. Their second mini album, Underwater, pulls you straight into an ocean of mystery; it’s moody, cinematic, and fully immersive. From the raw ache of PJ’s solo track ‘SINKING’ to the slick, cool allure of ‘FADE OUT,’ co-penned by Chanyeon, every song feels like a wave tugging at your heartstrings.
Then comes the title track ‘ATTENTION,’ a hypnotic surge of confidence with commanding vocals that dare you to dive deeper. And by the time ‘End of Time’ drifts in under moonlight, a love letter to PADO straight from the members’ hearts, it feels like the final piece of a fully realised concept. Underwater isn’t just a comeback; it’s a transformation. With its mermaid-inspired visuals, emotional depth, and bold tonal shift, the album proves that Big Ocean isn’t afraid to explore their shadowy depths, and they surface stronger, more expressive, and endlessly magnetic. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s Song Picks:‘Attention,’ ‘Sinking,’ and ‘End Of Time’
The Misunderstood EP – Hannah Bahng
Our Aussie girl is back once more on this list with another bahng-er (hehe) in the form of The Misunderstood EP. Vocals? On point. Lyrics? Gut-wrenchingly beautiful. Our ears? Blessed! One of our absolute faves from the EP is ‘IM ME AGAIN,’ an ethereal track that showcases both Hannah’s talent for lyricism as well as her gorgeous voice in the best way possible. We also got our hearts slightly broken while listening to ‘RIBS,’ but coming from Hannah, we’re willing to accept that. The Misunderstood EP feels like a natural evolution from her previous release, The Abysmal EP, but more mature and experienced, and we cannot wait to see what comes next for this amazing girl we love so much. – Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘what never lived,’ ‘IM ME AGAIN,’ and ‘RIBS’
Wait On Me – KAI
KAI’s fourth solo album was far more understated than its predecessors, but no less worthy of acclaim or a spot on our top 50! KAI’s first release since returning from the military, everyone was anticipating Wait On Me, whether you’re an EXOL or not. Wait On Me also brought KAI’s first solo tour, which THP was lucky enough to attend, basically making all our dreams come true. And no, we won’t be taking this opportunity to talk about the ‘Pressure’ choreography. The singles, ‘Adult Swim’ and ‘Wait On Me,’ didn’t have the same fanfare as the likes of ‘Rover’ or ‘Mmmh,’ but still reiterated KAI’s status as one of K-Pop’s very best. Wait On Me is rife with KAI’s sensual artistry, honey-smooth vocals, and legendary performance skills. As KAI says in ‘Flight to Paris,’ “Get away from the mundane,” and check out Wait On Me. – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Flight to Paris,’ ‘Walls Don’t Talk,’ and ‘Pressure’
DESIRE : UNLEASH – ENHYPEN
We can trust ENHYPEN to always deliver incredible music, and their 2025, DESIRE: UNLEASH, is truly everything that we wanted, and more! We have already explored their sweet romantic side with ROMANCE: UNTOLD, but this year’s project was a total 180 (in the best way!). With this comeback, ENHYPEN wanted to focus more on the mysterious lust and daring side of vampires. Everything surrounding DESIRE: UNLEASH was designed to make us want more, from the amazing songs to the visuals that they keep on serving!
We believe that ENHYPEN has created one of the best K-Pop discographies ever, and the addictive tracks from this project could only have been created by this group. The title track, ‘Bad Desire (With or Without You),’ follows how the group longs and yearns for true love. It goes along with their lore so well! And, of course, their b-sides keep getting better and better, following their enigmatic sides with passion and fiery romance. We love how the group keeps adding chapters to their storytelling through music that we can’t get enough of! – María Solano
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Outside,’ ‘Helium,’ and ‘Bad Desire (With or Without You)’
Winter Heptagon – GOT7
Mature, charming, and unapologetically GOT7 at its finest… that’s how we’d describe Winter Heptagon in one sentence. We knew this year was going to be a good one when we heard Winter Heptagon for the first time in January. With nine songs total and at least one written by each member, GOT7’s 13th mini album truly shows off how versatile the group is. And it’s amazing to be able to tell which song belongs to who just by listening. We knew the R&B vibe present in ‘Remember’ was Yugyeom’s doing, and ‘SMOOTH’ has Jackson’s signature written all over it, and that goes for all of them.
We were so glad to see GOT7 back together, making music and visibly enjoying every second. Frankly, Winter Heptagon brought us some much-needed warmth, and we can’t wait to see what else our lovely, chaotic seven have in store for us in the future. – Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘PYTHON,’ ‘Yours Truly,’ and ‘SMOOTH’
Am I The Drama? – Cardi B
Seven years is a long time to wait for a sophomore album, but Am I The Drama? proves, once again, that Cardi B plays by her own rules and comes out on top. Across 23 songs, Cardi flexes her versatility to such an extent that even dedicated fans might’ve been surprised. From vulnerable R&B to maximalist anthems to that highly anticipated diss track, not one of these songs could be accused of being filler. Another decision Cardi made for Am I The Drama? that we love? With the exception of ‘Up’ and ‘WAP,’ Cardi didn’t add the plethora of hit singles she’s had in the interim between Invasion of Privacy and Am I The Drama?. In a music industry that’s ruled by numbers, the decision to prioritize artistry over debuting an album with an extra 2 billion streams from the get-go is one we’ll always respect. – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Imaginary Playerz,’ ‘Pretty & Petty,’ and ‘Safe’
Permission to Dance On Stage: Live – BTS
2025 marked a huge moment in BTS history: the year all seven members finally returned from military service, sending ARMY into full celebration mode. Soon after their discharge, the members headed straight back into the studio to begin preparing for their highly anticipated return to music. While we’re more than happy to wait (perfection takes time, after all), they made sure we were well fed in the meantime with Permission To Dance: LIVE. Pulled from shows between 2021 and 2022, this project is BTS’s first-ever live album, and it serves as a powerful reminder of just how phenomenal they are as performers.
The album leans into nostalgia while spotlighting the strength of their live vocals, even as they tackle intense choreography. From fresh arrangements on classics like ‘FIRE’ to the rich, prominent live instrumentals, Permission To Dance: LIVE brings us one step closer to their eagerly awaited 2026 comeback and the tour that the members have been teasing. It leaves us buzzing for the day we finally see all seven of them light up a stage together again. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Fire,’ ‘Black Swan,’ and ‘Permission To Dance’
WRLD – The Rose
If you asked us what The Rose’s WRLDfeels like, we’d say it feels like a warm hug after a long day. It’s like Woosung, Dojoon, Hajoon, and Jaehyung are telling us everything will be okay through these seven songs. And not only did they do that through the lyrics, but The Rose also gave us a stunning video on their YouTube channel where they play the songs, creating a truly immersive experience for all of us.
As huge fans of immersive visuals in songwriting that we are, of course, we’d be obsessed with ‘Nebula,’ where subtle chords mix with lyrics like, “Counting stars, I closed my eyes / Searching for answers of life…” to create a perfect atmosphere. We’re also absolutely in love with Tomorrow’ and how it brings the feeling of being hopeful for the future, after all, “Tomorrow we’ll be okay.” And now on to the closing track, ‘Ticket To The Sky,’ it honestly feels like coming home to who we love and feeling safe in their embrace. Yes, we cried a little (or a lot). Don’t judge us. – Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Nebula,’ ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Ticket To The Sky’
SWAG – Justin Bieber
2025 has been the year of unforgettable comebacks, including the rise of the iconic Justin Bieber, and bringing him back to our on-repeat playlists! Justin has released not one, but two special R&B albums, called SWAG and SWAG II. These releases show us how much this genre and his personal style are a true fit for one another. We’ve decided to focus on the first album from this duology, since it was the one that announced his big return, but we recommend listening to both to get the complete story of where Justin has been.
As Justin has been experiencing adulthood, this new music represents growth. SWAG is a collection of his feelings while dealing with adult themes such as faith, marriage, and loyalty. As enjoyers of Justin’s R&B, we fell in love with this album. All of the tracks are cohesive, and they’re perfect if you want to enjoy the production and collaboration that comes with this genre. We can’t talk about 2025 without mentioning this big comeback!
THP’s Song Picks: ‘TOO LONG,’ ‘405,’ ‘WALKING AWAY’
No Genre – BOYNEXTDOOR
Listening to BOYNEXTDOOR turns our whole day around! We can recognize their music anywhere by their energy, and 2025 has been an incredibly busy year for them. They’ve shown us how versatile they are through this year’s releases, including No Genre, a mini-album full of tracks created by the members that highlights the message of embracing your true identity.
No Genre’s songs are playful and colorful, and they are all incredibly different from one another! If this were your first taste of the group, you would’ve discovered their hunger to display their artistry. BOYNEXTDOOR was in charge of this entire comeback, including the storytelling and the lyricism of the tracks. The members are deeply connected with No Genre, and we’re so happy to see that more groups are in charge of their creative works in K-Pop. This project shows that the group is here to conquer K-Pop’s fifth gen, and we can’t wait to keep seeing what they create in their next releases!
THP’s Song Picks: ‘I Feel Good,’ ‘123-78,’ and ‘Next Mistake’
Everyone’s A Star! – 5SOS
If you’re at all familiar with The Honey POP and our origin story, you would’ve probably expected this album in our top 50, right? After three long years (the pain of which was admittedly soothed by solo releases from every member), 5SOS returned with EVERYONE’S A STAR!, and we’re toying with the notion that this might be their best album yet. This album truly encapsulates all four members’ musical tastes, their sense of humor, their fanbase, and their talents. EAS! is an album that could only be made by a band that has been in the industry as long as 5SOS has; it exists perfectly in the balance between being self-aware and realistic, without being jaded and cynical. Even more than that, EVERYONE’S A STAR! was 5SOS’s most exciting (and well-executed) album rollout yet. Move over, ’She’s Kinda Hot’ graffiti livestream! – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Evolve,’ ‘Boyband,’ and ‘istillfeelthesame’
Ruby – JENNIE
If you were wondering, no, nobody does it like JENNIE! 2025 has been a huge year for the BLACKPINK members, both as a group with a new release and a world tour, and as soloists. All of them now have incredible albums under their belts! We want to highlight one of our favorites that has been appearing in all of our Spotify Wrappeds: Ruby. JENNIE has always been one of our favorite K-POP icons, but this album has made her conquer all of our hearts and our playlists!
We always associate Ruby with empowerment and owning your personal evolution. We have been craving to enjoy a full project created by JENNIE for as long as we can remember, and we wanted to hear her story from her, and only from her. We knew she was going to knock our socks out, as she has always delivered breathtaking concepts and songs that make history. This album gives us a glimpse into JENNIE’s creative mind through raw storytelling and versatility. Whether you prefer to listen to her iconic and catchy raps, her pop perfection with collaborations with amazing artists, or you love her vocals and her exploration through her growth, JENNIE does it all in Ruby. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect project to define our year! – María Solano
THP’s Song Picks: ‘with the IE (way up),’ ‘ZEN,’ ‘Filter’ (and of course, special mention to ‘like JENNIE’. Such an iconic title track!)
Back To Life – &TEAM
&TEAM’s Korean debut had been highly anticipated for three years, albeit a little confusingly, given they’ve always straddled the line between J-Pop and K-Pop, and have promoted Korean versions of most of their songs. But nonetheless, we’re so happy they’ve officially debuted, but we’re pretty sure &TEAM’s excitement superseded even the most hyped LUNÉs. The members clearly worked so hard on every aspect of this era, from the vocals to the performance to all of the extracurricular activities that come along with being a K-Pop idol.
The title track, ‘Back To Life,’ was &TEAM at their very best, with rock melodies and vocals mixed with hip-hop sensibilities and choreography. This versatility is matched (‘Mismatch-ed?!’) with the far more overtly hip-hop influenced coupling track, ‘Lunatic.’ This one-two punch of a rock anthem and a hip-hop banger has worked for &TEAM for several comebacks now, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon. Also, what on earth happened to Jo this era?! We’re still not ok. – Anna Marie
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Lunatic,’ ‘Mismatch,’ and ‘Back To Life’
Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny
No one does Latin pop like Bad Bunny does Latin pop. Benito chose to start the year with a bang in the form of Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The album is a love letter to his Puerto Rican upbringing, but it resonated with the entire Latin American community, to the point where most recognized the feeling behind not just the lyrics, but also the cover with the two empty chairs.
The title track, ‘DtMF,’ deserves all the praise it got (and still gets) for translating the feeling of looking back on past moments and thinking “I should’ve appreciated these things and these people more,” and how we only seem to realize that once we’re away and missing it. We also cannot help but mention ‘LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,’ where Bad Bunny directly tells the people of Puerto Rico not to let their home lose its identity in the same way much of Hawaiian culture has been lost over the years. In summary, one of the best albums of 2025, and we can’t wait to see what songs Benito will be performing during the Super Bowl halftime show next year. – Anna Bastos
THP’s Song Picks: ‘LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,’ ‘DtMF’ and ‘LA MuDANZA’
Beautiful Mind – Xdinary Heroes
Xdinary Heroes debuted in 2021, and ever since, they’ve continued to push boundaries and expectations, carving out a space in the industry meant for them and them only. Last year was already a massive year for the band as they released their first full-length album, Troublemaker, and their more experimental mini-album, LIVE and FALL. Mix those two, and you get one of the absolute best releases by Xdinary Heroes yet: Beautiful Mind. ‘Beautiful Life’ is at the forefront of the album. This rhapsody draws direct inspiration from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen and ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ by My Chemical Romance, adding Xdinary Heroes’ special spark to the mix and an opera-rock influence. It gave us one of the year’s most unique and unforgettable songs.
Beautiful Mind is a darker release, full of songs that push their sound to a new level while remaining true to Xdinary Heroes’ colors. From powerful ballads like ‘Supernatural’ to impactful, fun songs like ‘BBB,’ Xdinary Heroes packed some of their most unique and impressive songs in this mini-album, and created a new precedent in K-POP with Beautiful Mind. – Juu Luquín
THP’s Song Picks: ‘Beautiful Life,’ ‘Supernatural,’ and ‘George the Lobster’
DUH! – P1HARMONY
The dark horse of K-Pop struck again in 2025 with the greatest comebacks ever! P1Harmony has been, once again, one of our favorite boy groups of the year, as they’ve shown us more of their craft and their incredible music and charisma. They’re here to stay, and they will be loudly and confidently proud of how much they’ve worked to create their style. As they keep it fresh with every release, we proudly say that DUH! is one of our favorite records of the year!
DUH! is a mini-album that focuses more on the old-school hip hop style, but it also adds new genres to their iconic discography, like afrobeats and hyperpop tunes. These six tracks give us verses that leave us speechless, as well as a massive boost of energy and confidence! All of the songs from this record are playful and fun, reminding us that P1Harmony never plays about exploring new sounds and new dance moves to make their discography the most memorable of them all. This comeback is a breath of fresh air in K-Pop; they’re the only ones that can make such incredible music like this!
THP’s Song Picks: Pretty Boy,’ ‘DUH!,’ and ‘Work’
HUNTER – Key
Key’s HUNTER crashes in like a neon-soaked thriller; bold, stylish, and completely unafraid to push boundaries. From the pounding, bass-heavy swagger of the title track ‘HUNTER’ to the ‘90s-groove bounce of ‘Infatuation’ (ft. Eunho of PLAVE), the album shows off Key’s fearless flair for blending pop-house, R&B, and experimental electronics into something fresh and electrifying.
Tracks like ‘Picture Frame’ deliver dreamy synth-house that blurs the line between reality and fantasy, while the dance-floor-ready ‘GLAM’ and the edgy, off-kilter ‘Want Another’ prove Key still lives for the unexpected. And then there’s ‘Lavender Love,’ like a calm sunrise after the storm of beats. HUNTER doesn’t just revisit familiar styles; it reinvents them, crafting a sleek, cohesive sonic universe where every track stands on its own and somehow clicks together effortlessly. – Jazmin Williams
THP’s Song Picks: Hunter,’ ‘Strange,’ and ‘GLAM’
Color Outside The Lines – CORTIS
When we talk about our favorite K-Pop debuts of the year, we must talk about CORTIS. They’ve already taken the world by storm with Color Outside The Lines! CORTIS’ message is to break free from the standards with their passion for music and their vibrant fun. We felt that they would be superstars the moment we pressed play on ‘GO!’ and ‘FaSHioN!’ The group is full on creatives that want to show the world how K-Pop can mix with other genres in a modern and hip way. CORTIS wanted to showcase their personalities as much as they could with this debut, and thanks to that, they’ve created great, catchy tunes that have added a new soundtrack to the K-Pop genre this year.
We’ve never seen a debut catching so much praise and attention! Plus, all the members have collaborated in the creation of this debut in some shape or form. Every beat, lyric, dance move, and vibe from Color Outside The Lines includes their personal artistry. We feel like CORTIS is such a refreshing group! We’re so glad to be experiencing this new take on K-Pop with them. It’s been a while since we’ve heard such a perfect debut, and we can’t wait to see what they do in 2026 and beyond! – María Solano
THP’s Song Picks: ‘FaSHioN,’ ‘GO!,’ and ‘JoyRide’
And that’s your lot! What are your thoughts on our top 50 albums for 2025? Did you see your faves on this list? Let us know over on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
And if you want more music in your life, you’ve come to the right place…
Ted Danson’s “A Man on the Inside” returning to Netflix for its second season and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo belting out the “Wicked: For Good” soundtrack are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Aerosmith teaming up with Yungblud on a new EP, “The Bad Guys 2” hitting Peacock and Jordan Peele looking at Black cowboys in a new documentary series.
New movies to stream from Nov. 17-23
— “Train Dreams,” (Friday, Nov. 21 on Netflix), Clint Bentley’s adaptation of Denis Johnson’s acclaimed novella, stars Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier, a railroad worker and logger in the early 20th century Pacific Northwest. The film, scripted by Bentley and Greg Kwedar (the duo behind last year’s “Sing Sing” ), conjures a frontier past to tell a story about an anonymous laborer and the currents of change around him.
— The DreamWorks Animation sequel “The Bad Guys 2” (Friday, Nov. 21 on Peacock) returns the reformed criminal gang of animals for a new heist caper. In the film, with a returning voice cast including Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos and Marc Maron, the Bad Guys encounter a new robbery team: the Bad Girls. In his review, AP’s Mark Kennedy lamented an over-amped sequel with a plot that reaches into space: “It’s hard to watch a franchise drift so expensively and pointlessly in Earth’s orbit.”
— In “The Roses,” Jay Roach (“Meet the Parents’), from a script by Tony McNamara (“Poor Things”), remakes Danny DeVito’s 1989 black comedy, “The War of the Roses.” In this version, Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch star as a loving couple who turn bitter enemies. In his review, Kennedy called “The Roses” “an escalating hatefest that, by the time a loaded gun comes out, all the fun has been sucked out.”
— Musical theater fans, your time has come… again. “Wicked: For Good” is upon us, and with it comes the release of its official soundtrack. On Friday, after or before you catch the film in theaters, stream its life-affirming compositions to your heart’s content. Might we suggest Ariana Grande’s “The Girl in the Bubble?” Or Cynthia Erivo’s “No Place Like Home?” And for the Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey lovers, yes, there’s gold to be unearthed, too.
— Rock this way: Aerosmith is back with new music. Following their 2023 “Greatest Hits” collection and just a few months after the conclusion of their “Peace Out: The Farewell Tour” (the band said it would no longer hit the road due to singer Steven Tyler’s voice becoming permanently damaged by a vocal cord injury ) they’re teaming up with next gen rock ‘n’ roller Yungblud. It’s a collaborative EP called “One More Time,” out Friday. The anthemic opening track, “My Only Angel” sets the tone. What’s another one for the road?
— Raise your hand if you still miss “Succession” Sundays on HBO. An acclaimed Swedish drama called “Vanguard” debuts Tuesday on Viaplay that’s of the same vein. It’s a dramatization about Jan Stenbeck, one of Europe’s most influential media moguls. There’s ambition, betrayal and yes, sibling rivalry.
— Ted Danson’s “A Man on the Inside” returns to Netflix for its second season on Thursday. Danson plays a widower named Charles who has found a new sense of purpose as an amateur private detective. In Season One, Charles moved into a retirement home to catch his culprit. In Season Two, he goes back to college to solve a case. Danson’s real-life wife, Mary Steenburgen, joins the cast as Charles’ love interest as he explores the idea of a second chance at romance.
— Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore co-star in “The Assassin” for AMC+. Hawes (“Bodyguard”) plays a retired assassin living in solitude on a Greek island whose peaceful life is turned upside down when her estranged son (Highmoore) comes to visit. When the two find themselves in danger they must work together to stay alive. It premieres Thursday.
— Jordan Peele has a new documentary series called “High Horse: The Black Cowboy” coming to Peacock on Thursday. The three-part series examines how stories of Black cowboys have been erased from both pop culture and history books.
New video games to play from Nov. 17-23
— If you bought Mario Kart World when Nintendo launched the Switch 2 back in June, you may be wondering: Do I really need another racing game? Kirby Air Riders comes from designer Masahiro Sakurai, the mastermind behind Super Smash Bros., so it adds that franchise’s chaotic combat to the mix. Each of the competitors has different weapons and each of the vehicles has different benefits and drawbacks. And everyone can use Kirby’s signature “inhale” technique, which lets you absorb an opponent’s skills by, well, swallowing them. So if you like your racing weird, get your motor running Thursday.
YUNGBLUD snagged three nominations at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards. One stood out. He earned Best Rock Performance after his live cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” at a tribute concert for the late Ozzy Osbourne. People described it as a standout moment from the Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath farewell event. Sharon Osbourne praised the British artist once the news broke.
The performance took place in July during the Back To The Beginning concert at Villa Park. YUNGBLUD fronted a rendition of the 1972 Black Sabbath single, backed by Anthrax bassist Frank Bello, extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, Sleep Token’s II on drums, and Adam Wakeman on keys.
“I’m so proud of you. It’s just amazing, and I know Ozzy is smiling down at you. Love you always, Sharon,” said Sharon Osbourne on Instagram on Nov. 8.
The artist also got nominations for Best Rock Album for “IDOLS” and Best Rock Song for “ZOMBIE.” YUNGBLUD responded to the news over the weekend. His message went straight to Osbourne. “Thank you to you and your family for giving me the opportunity you did and your stage to show the world what I could do,” YUNGBLUD wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for teaching us all how to dream and never compromise.”
YUNGBLUD and the Osbourne family have known each other since 2022. Ozzy and Sharon appeared in the music video for YUNGBLUD’s song, “The Funeral,” that year. The two musicians shared an exchange backstage at the Back To The Beginning show, when YUNGBLUD gave Osbourne a gift.
Many called the “Changes” performance a standout moment from the farewell event. Black Sabbath or Osbourne have rarely played the track live despite it being a well-known inclusion in their catalog.
The 2026 GRAMMY Awards will happen in Los Angeles early next year. YUNGBLUD will compete against some of the biggest names in rock across the three categories.
On September 25th, 2020, mgk changed the course of pop-punk history and brought an overlooked genre back to the mainstream spotlight with the release of Tickets To My Downfall. He recruited pop-punk titan Travis Barker as executive producer, brought on some of our fave alternative artists for unforgettable features, took over MTV and the internet, and was so confident in all of it that he tattooed the album title along the base of his neck. That confidence and his full-send passion for the album earned him his very first #1 on the Billboard 200, as well as giving us one of the most iconic eras of his career.
Let’s celebrate Tickets To My Downfall and its impact on mgk and our lives by spotlighting some underrated tracks from the album! We’ll limit it to five, but just know that we’d spend all day gushing about every single track if we could.
‘lonely’
Maybe a predictable choice, but ‘lonely’ deserves all the recognition and will always be one of the first songs we recommend to new fans who want to really understand mgk’s music. It’s a touching reflection on his relationship with his dad who passed just a few months before the album came out, and also pays tribute to his late aunt. Kells poured so much emotion into his vocals and the lyrics, to the point where you’ll feel like you’re sitting next to him and sharing family stories while you look through old photo albums. ‘lonely’ is an absolute masterpiece that captures how much soul he puts into his music.
“The last time I saw you I cried, I wished you had more time left The last time I heard you They held the phone, you took your last breath…”
‘jawbreaker’
Justice for ‘jawbreaker!’ This song is an absolute pop-punk gem, complete with catchy melodies, guitar riffs you can practically sing along to, and even a few questionable lyrics. Seriously, we’re still wondering what “she’s not landing, LAX is in Miami” means five years later. Is an L.A. ex of his in Miami, and he’s just making a pun with LAX being a Los Angeles airport? Whatever, ‘jawbreaker’ is still one of our fave mgk anthems, and we’re forever jealous of the people who heard him mash it up with ‘why are you here?’ and ‘sid & nancy’ on the mainstream sellout Tour.
“Would it kill you to smile? Let me occupy your mind We’re at a million miles an hour…”
‘nothing inside’
It scratches a very specific itch in our brains when we hear mgk and iann dior’s voices together, and ‘nothing inside’ remains one of the most elite collabs that either of them have released. From the moment those intro drums kick in, it hits you just how intensely each of them are feeling because of the relationship issues the song describes. The choruses repeat the same lines over and over, like they’re trapped in certain thoughts and keep spiraling back to them. The idea of a girl seeing ‘nothing inside’ could mean either she doesn’t see his true feelings or reciprocation in his eyes, or she feels nothing for him or the future they could’ve had together anymore. Add in some trap-influenced beats and you have an amazing song that brings together Kells’ rock and hip-hop influences. And that Operation-themed scene paired with this song in Downfalls High? Poetic cinema.
“I’m running low on serotonin in these empty moments I’m having trouble operating without my main component…”
‘play this when i’m gone’
On his last few albums, mgk has made it a tradition to save what might just be the most heart-wrenching song the last track, and that pattern really kicked off with ‘play this when i’m gone.’ The final track on the standard Tickets To My Downfall album is a letter to his oldest daughter, Casie, to comfort her after he passes. Yup, cue the waterworks. Even with the dark themes, there’s something so calming about this song that reminds us that it’s okay to let ourselves feel whatever we’re feeling. We’ll never forget the bittersweet magic of hearing this for the first time!
“I’m not gonna lie and tell you it’s alright You’re gonna cry and, baby, that’s alright…”
‘body bag’
“You’re supposed to love me better, baby, so put me in a body bag” walked so “life’s just death if I can’t have you” could run on ‘orpheus.’ Dramatic, sure, but a lot of the best pop-punk is! The SOLD OUT deluxe track ‘body bag’ brings mgk together with Bert McCracken and YUNGBLUD for an unapologetically edgy, vampy tale of twisted love that you won’t regret sinking your fangs into. It flips the drum line from Fall Out Boy’s ‘Dance, Dance’ for some extra classic pop-punk flair and intensity that cranks things up to an 11!
“I’ve got my issues, but I have the right to think you’re wrong You’re just a witch and I drank your poison, baby…”
BONUS: ‘why are you here?’
We all make mistakes, but we don’t know if we’ll ever truly forgive Kells for not putting ‘why are you here?’ on the tracklist of Tickets To My Downfall. Sure, it made it onto mainstream sellout’s life in pink deluxe eventually, but still! It tells the story of a less-than-perfect connection in which mgk and a woman are both seeing other people, only to run into each other at a party and realize how strong the pull between them really is. The guitar riffs and Goody Grace’s backing vocals (which also appear on ‘bloody valentine,’ tying the two together) are peak pop-punk, and this track would’ve been the perfect bridge between the Hotel Diablo and Tickets To My Downfall eras in our humble opinion.
“I know that I said I was at home Okay, yeah, you caught me I thought that you said you were all alone Look at you lying…”
Which of these underrated songs do you love most? Do you agree with our choices? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! You can also buzz on over to our Reddit community to chat with us.
The late-night TV host marked Tuesday night as his return to the airwaves after that abrupt suspension last week following comments he made about the death of conservative political pundit Charlie Kirk.
Fans have been waiting to see what would happen upon the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! to ABC. And even though Tuesday’s comeback wasn’t aired on all ABC affiliates across the country, the episode still marked a momentous occasion for Jimmy, his staff, and his viewers — oh, and social media users, too, of course.
Tuesday night’s guests were actor Glen Powell and musical guest Sarah McLachlan. And look, no shade intended towards them, but… nobody was there to see them do their thing. Nahhhh, everybody tuned in to see what Kimmel would say about getting pulled off air!
So, without further ado, here we go…
Kimmel entered the studio to ROARING applause, with the audience giving him a standing ovation, chanting “Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy,” and more. See for yourself:
Jimmy Kimmel returns to his show to a huge standing ovation.
He thanked them for their support, then started his comeback monologue by joking:
“If you’re just joining us, we are preempting a regularly scheduled encore episode of Celebrity Family Feud to bring you this special report.
The 57-year-old comedian then referenced RFK Jr.’s “autism announcement” that was dropped on Monday, quipping:
“I’m not sure who had a weirder 48 hours, me or the CEO of Tylenol.”
By the way, experts have largely refuted the MAHA claim that the only doctor-approved painkiller for pregnant women is a cause for autism, but we digress…
He continued:
“It’s been overwhelming. I’ve heard from a lot of people over the last six days. I’ve heard from all the people all over the world, over the last reached out 10 or 11 times, weird characters from my past, or the guy who fired me from my first radio job in Seattle, not airing tonight by the way.”
He also thanked right wing voices like Ted Cruz‘s that warned against such retaliation and what it means for the first amendment.
“It takes courage for them to speak out against this administration. They did and they deserve credit for it.”
Kimmel then made it extremely clear his intention was to never make light of Kirk’s death, saying:
“I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make.”
Remember, he never actually made a joke about the death of Kirk. In fact, he strongly condemned the assassination the day it happened and sent his sincere condolences to the family. No, he was pulled over his comments about the gunman and the right wing reaction to it all.
Regardless, he still knows it was wrong and unAmerican for ABC affiliates to respond the way they did, calling out Donald Trump‘s FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for publicly saying the network would get pressure regarding Kimmel’s comments when Carr said, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” and “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
Overall the entire monologue was a poignant message of unity for all Americans and our first amendment rights. It was also one for healing. He ended on a note about Erika Kirk‘s speech from the podcaster’s memorial service on Sunday, specifically her public forgiveness for the gunman. Kimmel said that’s what the teachings of Jesus Christ are all about it — forgiveness. Through tears he admitted it touched him deeply, saying “if there is anything we should take from this tragedy, it’s that.”
Watch it all for yourself (below):
BTW, Jimmy Kimmel Live! will welcome Ethan Hawke, Lisa Ann Walter, and musical guest Yungblud on Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, Peyton Manning, Oscar Nuñez, and musical guest Alex G will show out.
If there’s one thing about us here at The Honey Pop, it’s that we LOVE our artists with accents. One Direction, 5SOS, The Academic, Yungblud, the list goes on and on! The list, however, would NOT be complete without New Rules. If you’re new to the group, or if you’re a long-time fan, we are here to give you the top four New Rules songs that you NEED to add to your playlist. Buckle up, rule number one for New Rules is you must be prepared for every emotion imaginable.
‘Really Wanna Dance With You’
This song is giving hopeless romance in the cheesiest way possible. It’s about seeing someone across the room and debating how to approach them, but overthinking it. Let’s be honest – we’ve all been there. In the verses and the music video, however, it works out! Add this song to give you the luck and confidence you may need the next time you “really wanna” dance with someone.
“And my shoes stuck to the floor
And the bell rang for last call.”
‘Drunk Texts’
We are going to drop the mood a bit for this one, so be ready to stare out of the window and pretend you are in a movie. Between the soft guitar and the harmonies, this song hits us directly in the chest, and when the lyrics are added, that feeling increases tenfold. It perfectly encapsulates the feeling of losing someone and having no idea where you went wrong, but only knowing that you miss the person deeply. If you are a fan of Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, and crying, this song is the perfect addition to your playlist. (We are giving you the acoustic version to hit even harder <3)
“I die a hundred times
Anytime I see your face”
‘Go The Distance’
Long-distance has to be one of the most difficult hurdles some people have to jump in a relationship. This song addresses that topic, but manages to maintain a hopeful tone with upbeat instrumentals that encourage listeners to dance. If you have a soft spot for ‘Beside You’ by 5 Seconds of Summer, this song follows a very similar theme! We highly recommend ‘Go The Distance’ to go on your road trip playlist! This is for sure one of the most bittersweet New Rules songs to exist.
“Wherever you are, I won’t let you go
We’ll go the distance”
‘ONE LESS WORRY’
Break-ups are never easy. ‘ONE LESS WORRY’ takes this and tries to find the positive in the negative. It talks about losing someone, but also losing the need to always worry about them. It goes back and forth between the pros and cons of no longer having to worry about that person. This highlights how recovering from a breakup is far from linear. It’s a beautiful piece that would be a good addition to any playlist (especially if it’s a playlist containing some stellar vocals!)
“And sometimes I don’t miss you
But I really have to try”
These four New Rules songs can fit into almost any playlist. They can even make a playlist of their own, as when played in order, they tell a story from falling in love to breaking up. Let us know what your other favorite New Rules songs are @TheHoneyPop!
Need more playlist recommendations? Check out more here!
If you’ve been around for a hot second, you know our love for indie-rock giants Only The Poets. It has been an incredible few years for this exploding Reading UK band, from supporting so many incredible artists on tour, to massive EP releases, festivals, a monumental record label signing, and international headline tours. It’s been a priviledge to watch this generationally-talented band achieve their dreams, while staying true to themselves and their fans. Whether it’s an EP review, a single celebration, or just a general feral fangirling moment, we will always ‘JUMP!’ at the chance to show Only The Poets some THP love! And if you think we were excited to attend their One More Night Tour concert in Manchester, you know we broke our legs running to interview OTP before the gig!
We popped along to Gorilla Manchester to chat to frontman Tommy Longhurst, and as we settled in at the venue’s upstairs bar, Tommy’s black and silver in-ear monitors still hanging around his neck, the feeling of OTP family has never been more felt. You know how some people just have a way of making others feel at ease? Yeah, that’s Only The Poets. This was a bucket list interview for The Honey POP! We’d love to take the opportunity to thank the OTP team, and especially to Tommy Longhurst for such a heartwarming and open chat. With all that being said, check out our interview with Only The Poets’ Tommy Longhurst below, as we talked all things touring, One More Night and better on the internet EP’s, bowling skills (or lack of), mental health advocacy, fan appreciation, and what’s next for the future of Only The Poets!
Welcome to The Honey POP Tommy! We know you’ve just got back from Reading Festival and you have a packed day with soundchecks and a record signing before tonight’s show. We appreciate you sitting down with us to answer all of our burning questions! You’re absolutely welcome! All good mate, all good!
Image Source: Courtesy of Chuff Media
The final leg of the One More Night Tour is underway and it’s the end of this era, as you’ve been saying on your socials! What’s it meant to you and what have been your highlights so far? Wow, well firstly it’s definitely felt like the most special tour we’ve ever done. I think, with some of the venues we’ve played and I think we took a step up with like, the production, you know with the lights and everything. It’s an era that we’re really proud of and we’re very very excited about what’s to come. But yeah, I think, we’ll look back very fondly and miss this One More Night era. Because what I loved about this whole thing was when we decided to name the EP One More Night, that song is actually about looking back on time, at fond memories and being full of nostalgia, so it’s actually ended up becoming quite a full circle thing where like, actually, we will look back on this era very fondly, and it kinda represents what that song was about conceptually. It fell into place very naturally which is kind of why we thought it’d be good to name the tour after it. So yeah, it’s been a blast, it’s been an absolute blast. We’re very excited about tonight. We always have great shows in Manchester, and it’s sold out, so we’re very excited!
We’re gonna miss this era too! Awwwww!
One More Night is one of the best bodies of work we’ve heard in a long time, we’re obsessed with it, it’s impeccable. Which is your favourite song to perform? Hmmm, ‘All The Time?’ Probably? We actually haven’t… we actually didn’t play it on all of the tour. We’ve just started playing it for these UK shows and it’s been a breath of fresh air and I love it! And I think it’ll be a main stay for a while ‘cos it just feels quite unique and we don’t really have anything like it. And what’s been great about all those songs is like, at one point it [favorite song to play] was ‘One More Night,’ at one point it was ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend, and at one point it was ‘It’s Okay (Not To Be Okay),’ so it keeps changing, which is nice. Thank you for saying you love it!
It’s absolutely stunning! What about to listen to? What’s your fave to listen to, and do you listen to your own music? I think… I do, but when something’s out there, because we’re constantly listening to things we’ve written recently and we have to critique it when we’re doing mix notes and actually being in the studio, you hear the song for 10 hours straight *giggles*, so it can start becoming a bit mind-numbing. But certainly when it goes on Spotify, I’ll have a few blasts in my car and it’s a really proud moment. You know, every time you release something into the world it’s terrifying but equally exciting. So yeah, I do listen occassionally!
What’s your fave to listen to when you do? From the One More Night era? [THP: Yes, or any!] Ooh! I love ‘Crash!,’ always have done. It’s just a real… I think it’s underrated. I think it got slept on a bit! Not by the fans, the fans loved it. I mean, I think it’s just a really special tune that I love to play as well. [THP: “So justice for ‘Crash!’?] Yeah! And I’d say for the One More Night era, ‘One More Night’ the song feels like a real moment in the set and obviously naming the tour after it, yeah that feels special in it’s own right as well.
You just surprise dropped the Deluxe EP of One More Night! In fact, we planned these questions and had to come back and change it up because of the surprise drop! [Tommy: hahahaha, sorry! THP: Don’t be, we couldn’t think of a nicer reason to change the questions!]. The Deluxe EP features the previous vinyl exclusive ‘Black and Blue’ – a beautiful way to round off this era, and it’s bold to assume we can all handle an acoustic right now. What’s the story with ‘Black and Blue?‘ It’s all about kind of like, the feeling of moving on feeling so alien to you, because you’re so hurt by a previous relationship. I think it’s almost that idea that they probably think you’re doing okay but you’re not. It’s a real honest one, basically talking about how moving on isn’t easy. And the beautiful thing about music is it doesn’t necessarily need to be a romantic song. It’s all just about the breakdown of a relationship, like a lot of our songs are, navigating your way through love and loss and things like that. So yeah, I just think that reaction, the reaction of doing it on this whole run just made us think “we should give the fans this!” Because obviously everyone getting the physical product is amazing, and we wanted to give you a little nugget of something that’s a bit of a surprise and a bit of an exclusive, but it felt right to put that on [The Deluxe EP]. And obviously ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend – Acoustic’ is very different to the original song, so we sort of flipped it on its head. And ‘Gone By Now’ as well, fan favorite, we all love that tune, it worked really well acoustically, so we just wanted to give everyone a few more tunes before we cap of this end of an era.
You’re about to soundcheck with fans, and you’re doing games with those fans too, before tonight’s show. That to us just sums up the relationship you have with your fans. [Tommy: Yeah, it’s fun man!] As a fan owned and run publication, we strongly believe in the power of fans and clearly so does Only The Poets. What do your fans mean to you? Oh, they are the absolute sole reason why we get to do this. So, just constantly reminding them of that and just, I mean people talk to me, people who aren’t in music, they’re like “oh you’re so engaged with your fans,” and we’re like, but that’s how… we know no different! Like, for us, that’s what we absolutely want to do, show our appreciation. Because without them, there is no Only The Poets. You know, what the fans always say is “Oh you’ve really helped us,” but like, what a lot of them probably don’t realise is they actually have helped us way more. The power of music and bringing us all together is beautiful. All we want to do is keep this family building and let’s hope we can do it. Yeah, you know, we just have a really special relationship and we wouldn’t change it for the world. We think more people should be like this. Because I do think some people kind of forget that at times, like, we will never do that. And also, all of the artists we’ve supported have shown the same level of appreciation. It feels like there’s a running theme there, people that are successful but have this real honest relationship with their fan base. We think that’s really great.
They are the absolute sole reason why we get to do this. […] Without them, there is no Only The Poets. You know, what the fans always say is “Oh you’ve really helped us,” but like, what a lot of them probably don’t realise is they actually have helped us way more.
Tommy Longhurst on what Only The Poets’ fans mean to them
And to a degree, there’s also some shared fans between you and those artists too? Fans gravitate to artists and people who have that talent but also put out that energy and mutual respect. Totally! Like, Louis Tomlinson was in one of the biggest boy bands in the world, and is SO greatful to his fans. We just did some shows with Dom (YungBlud), and it’s just the same level of appreciation. You know, it’s not why we do it but it’s just interesting isn’t it, that you can see that and go “Ahh that’s part of your success is looking after the people and remembering who got you where you are.” [THP: And fans always remember that appreciation too, we hold that close. Tommy: Yeah, totally!]
Our One More Night bias is ‘It’s Okay (Not To Be Okay)’ which is rooted in a topic you’ve always been very open about discussing in your music, which is mental health. Why does it matter to Only The Poets to put that into the world? I think just, there was a phase when I was writing songs and I was having a bit of a bad time, and I like, kinda of was scared to be that open and honest in my songwriting. And we released ‘Waking In The Dark,’ which was a good while ago now, which is a similar kind of concept to that song. That moment and the way people took that song and told us that it was helping them, certainly suddenly I was like “this is how I need to be now, just be honest.” Because I’m an emotional guy, we all are, and we think like, we have a platform as artists to raise awareness for really important things. I think music is therapy to a lot of us. And songwriting for me, I was going through a rough time in that period, and I was like “I’m gonna write a song that I think people need to hear and want to hear.” It’s such a powerful moment in the set now, and I think it’s one of the proudest I’ve been of a tune. We always joke that ‘It’s Okay (Not To Be Okay)’ is the evolution to ‘Waking In The Dark.’ I think ‘Waking In The Dark’ is beautiful and I love it, but like, with ‘It’s Okay,’ we call it ‘Waking In The Dark’s’ big brother!
What relationship is it to ‘No More Lonely’ then? Oooh I don’t know about that, that’s going way back!
You just dropped the better on the internet EP, which really feels like a gift between the fans and you. [Tommy: That’s exactly what it was!] What’s the story with this EP and were any of them debated to go on the One More Night EP? Yes! They were! What it was, I can’t say too much because I want to keep it all a surprise, but we all sat down and were like, we want to do things differently moving forward, like sonically, musically, lyrically and everything. And we were like, we have all of these great songs, there was like 50 of them on a hard drive, and Marcus and Clem have worked on loads of them. So us and our manager were like, to cap this era off let’s just give the fans four songs out of nowhere. Everyone went crazy which we knew would happen! I loved it because we’ve never done a release like that. Just seeing the reaction. Those four songs were top of the list and I’m so glad that we did it, because we’re playing some of them now. We did Reading Festival yesterday and played it, and they feel like a bit of a step up, even these four. So we’re really striving to bigger and better things now. It just felt like they deserved to be out there!
Stream better on the internet, here, right now. Go!
Okay, so with Better On The Internet already feeling like a step up, is this EP maybe a hint of things to come? Actually…. no, not really! Hahahahahaha! That’s the beautiful and interesting thing. And you probably thought I was about to go “Yeah!” but actually no! There’s a bit of an evolution there already, and maybe there’s dribs and drabs of it but certainly, it is about capping off this era. There’s some tunes in there, like ‘Indigo’ could have really lived on that body of work [One More Night EP], it’s like an indie tune. I love those four songs a lot and the reaction’s been amazing.
You’ve alluded quite excitingly (and stressfully), to the fact that things are about to change. Without saying anything you shouldn’t, please keep any secrets you need to keep… but what can you tell us about what’s next to come for Only The Poets? We’re just thinking bigger! We’re thinking just, trying to not put us in any genre boxes. We’re being way more open with our songwriting and the production, and the shows are gonna be different. We just wanna like switch things up, is what i’m gonna say. And I’m really bad at giving things away, so I’m gonna have to stop talking! I’ll trip over myself!
The Honey POP and Only The Poets’ Tommy Longhurst. Image Source: The Honey POP
Okay, quick fire round, first answers only, let’s go!
You’ve got to call a band member, but if they answer the call, you lose £10k. Who are you calling? Clem. Most competitive? Me. Who is most likely to be late to rehearsal? Andrew. Best post-show food? Who cooks the best, or what is the best? Oh, we have wraps. We like making little wraps, chicken and salad wraps. Lovely! Who is the best bowler? Andrew. Who is the worst bowler? Clem. If you had to swap places with anyone else on stage for the night, who are you swapping with? Marcus. And lastly…. This is never just band and fan, this is…… Errr…. Family?…… Can I say it? [THP: Yeah!] This is f**king family! Waheyyyy!
Errr…. Family?…… Can I say it? This is f**king family! Waheyyyy!
Tommy Longhurst
Show Time!
After our goodbyes and the obligatory selfie and hug, came show time! And what a show it was! Opening support act, scottish singer-songwriter Kerr Mercer brought all of the feels with his delectably rich vocals and moody reflective lyrics. We were also treated to a surprising cover of Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Please, Please, Please,’ which got the crowd belting the chrous (in several interesting pitches…). A well needed and placed vocal warm-up prior to screaming along to OTP’s set! Mercer owned his opening-spot as a rising star, and with upcoming music releases planned, we’re excited to see what this young talent does next, including his headline gig in Manchester, in October!
Then came the main event, and as the red lights filled the stage and air as Only The Poets took to the stage, the vocalised support of their dedicated crowd roarered and ripped through the room. In fact, if this gig was a recipe, its ingredients would just say “Red Bull, tears and gravel.” The energy and emotion of Only The Poets’ music and lyrics, coupled with the concert production, insane instrumental talents of Marcus, Clem, Andrew (Roo), and Tommy, and their rock-fuelled vocals, had us jumping in the air and falling to our knees. A fitting reaction to what Tommy would later call “one of our favourite headline shows ever!”
If this gig was a recipe, its ingredients would just say “Red Bull, tears and gravel.” The energy and emotion of Only The Poets’ music and lyrics, coupled with the concert production, insane instrumental talents and rock-fuelled vocals, had us jumping in the air and falling to our knees.
The Honey POP! on Only The Poets’ One More Night Tour, Manchester UK
Highlights of the night included the straight-out-of-the-gates opening ceiling raiser ‘Crash,’ which set the energy level for the entire night; and the stripped-back and sob-inducing ‘Black and Blue’ which saw Tommy and Clem leave the stage with nothing but an acoustic guitar, a microphone, and a dream; and join fans on the GA floor for a stunning performance surrounded by the love and warmth of fans and the star-freckled glow of their torches. An instrumental interval before our beloved ‘Even Hell’ saw Marcus, Roo and Clem shine with their respective instuments as they jammed around Marcus’ drumkit for a shining moment of their collective foundation of OTP’s sound. ‘All This Time’ delivered tenfold as a previously discussed “breath of fresh air,” and the sold-out audience matched Tommy’s vocal as if years of school assemblies had finally come into use!
Our first live experience of One More Night‘s title track left no question mark over the merit of this song’s position and weight on the EP, with it’s euphoric live sound and mirroring of our feelings of never wanting the night to end. Our own personal bias, ‘It’s Okay (Not To Be Okay)’ made certain there wasn’t a dry eye at THP or across the venue, and gave us everything we hoped for from this emotional reset of a tune.
Through every up-tempo number, Tommy’s hip-action left nothing behind as he bopped around the stage like Manager Sam had put new batteries in him. These weren’t the only times Tommy left fans squealing though – as previously alluded to during our chat, OTP sent fans into a tail spin as they shared that future new music was going to “flip Only The Poets on it’s f**king head,” which ensured the entire room lost its final collective braincell.
The last song before the encore served as instruction, as the crowd moved as one for the crescendo of the bouncy sweat-dripping demands of ‘JUMP!’ And of course, our babies ‘Ceasefire’ with its swaying twinkle of crowd torches, and ‘Emotional’ with its nostalgia, mosh pit and euphoria; ended our night in the perfect flavour of Only The Poets. An incredible night of OTP family unity came to an end as fans filed out of Gorilla Manchester with smiles, memories and ringing ears. Chants of “One More Night,” declared that the love and pride in Only The Poets is only going from strength to strength. We’ve been to many an Only The Poets gig, and we couldn’t agree more with the band, as we close this coverage of the One More Night tour and interview… it was our favourite OTP headline show ever too, and this certainly is… “Errr, family?”
Worried you’re going to miss them too much? You can still score tickets for One More Night in Bratislava, or tickets for the One More Fright Halloween show, in Rotterdam on October 30th!
Do you want even more Only The Poets reviews, news and general feral stanning? We’ve got you! Check out our ever growing OTP coverage, here!
Did you attend the One More Night Tour? Are you ready for the new era of Only The Poets? Do you want that chicken salad wrap recipe? Tell us it all on X at @thehoneypop or by visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
Happy Cowboy Carter day– oops, I mean Friday — to all who celebrate. Yes, it feels a bit sacrilegious to work on Opening Day, Beyonce’s Release Day, and Good Friday, but I digress. Some of us have to stay strong and power through the workday while others are enjoying the singular sunny day we’ve had all week.
But, I’m not bitter. No. Because every Friday I jump out of bed and open my Spotify app, where I’m greeted by a plethora of new music that just makes the day go by quickly. And even better, I get to make a fresh playlist for everyone to enjoy throughout the weekend.
With Easter coming up, we all have our plans to travel home and that entails tons of music. Whether you’re trying to ignore your family members, need something to pass the long hours traveling, or simply need some new tunes to fill your playlist with, I’ve got you covered. Because we all understand how difficult it can be to comb through every single playlist on Spotify, I do the work for you!
While you may be streaming Ariana Grande’s Written By playlist on Spotify, which includes some of her own smash hits like “7 Rings”, “Positions”, and “Into You”, and also features collaborations with Missy Elliott (“Borderline”), Lil Wayne (“Let Me Love You”), Nicki Minaj (“Bad to You”), Pharrell Williams (“Blazed”), and The Weeknd (“Off the Table”), among others…it’s time for new music.
It’s a new weekend filled with brand new music from artists like Beyonce, Becky Hill, and more. While Cowboy Carter has been all the rage as Beyonce makes her country debut, I took the time to shoutout a few songs you may have missed. I’m super excited, so let’s get listening!
Becky Hill- “Outside Of Love”
As her album inches closer, Becky Hill proves time and time again that she can push boundaries in the dance community. She can make a heartfelt ballad feel like a dance party- having a unique ability to isolate her vocal abilities while uplifting her lyrics. “Outside of Love” is one of her best to-date, which means it only gets better from here. Becky says,
“I’m so proud to present my latest single ‘Outside Of Love.’ This song is a big anthemic dance ballad with fresh underground production and is one of the stand out moments of the new album. I wrote it with my long time collaborators Mike Kintish and Charlotte Haining ,and producers Parisi. I really hope people connect to this frustrated and isolated love song and still feel like they wanna dance their way through the shared sadness.”
Anyma- Genesys II
Anyma is a dynamic character in the electronic dance music world. Not only a record label founder and performer in his own right, but a visionary in production and creating music. Following up his debut album, Genesys, Anyma continues to dazzle listeners with Genesys II.
Exciting and refreshing, Genesys II is exactly what you want from a sophomore album.
Louis The Child- “Falling” with NJOMZA & Daniel Allen
My favorite thing about Louis The Child is that they can take any track and turn it into something solely their own. With “Falling”, you get a perfect melancholic vibe that masks sad lyricism behind catchy beat drops. Louis The Child delivers yet another banger in their already impressive discography. They add,
“We have this thing we love to do when we make music with NJOMZA. We’ll write a song super slow based around some emotional chords, then strip the production, speed the whole song up, and reproduce with the song in mind. This was originally written at 128bpm and sounded like a slow ballad, nothing like what you hear now. We loved the songwriting, and when we got together with Daniel Allan, we played it for him and it was like ‘oh for sure let’s do this.’”
Quinn XCII- “Pasadena”
His first song post-fatherhood, Quinn XCII returns with “Pasadena”- a reminder for all of us to just live our lives, because we’re too old to care. It’s about living in the moment, doing things for no reason just because you want to. Quinn XCII gives us the reminder that we don’t need to wait to do the things we love.
Whether it’s going to Pasadena, or eating breakfast for dinner, this song is a great reminder to live for yourself.
YUNGBLUD- “Abyss”
Written as the opening track for the new anime series, Kaiju No. 8, YUNGBLUD traveled to Japan to write the song. What makes “Abyss” stand out is the attention to detail- how it perfectly encapsulates the struggle of the main character while remaining relatable. YUNGBLUD says,
“I think there are times when we feelthat the world is cruel and not necessarily made for us. I think that’s expressed very beautifully in the story, and it’s really in line with what I’m trying to achieve myself. Tofind my place in the world, to find my friends. Don’t suppress your hidden talents andpower, even if you can’t be proud of them yourself. Because everyone is beautiful”
I don’t know what’s happening this week, but you may have picked up that every living, breathing artist is releasing new music. Seriously, name a heavy hitter in the industry and they’re probably dropping a new song on August 25. Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, and more will grace our sound systems soon enough.
On a day that BLACKPINK, Zach Bryan, SZA, Iggy Azalea, and many, many more are releasing songs, there’s almost a guarantee that this may be my best playlist yet. The odds are, for once, in my favor and I’m confident we are pulling out a weekend playlist worthy of repeatedly listening to.
For Ariana Grande, we are getting the 10th anniversary edition of her Yours Truly album, which was her debut. It’s been a hectic week, considering Ariana left resident evil manager Scooter Braun, who is seemingly retiring from managing in general. And while the public may be listening to “Karma” by Taylor Swift, we have a few new tracks to cover instead.
That’s right: another weekend, another playlist. And with this much good music, we have no time to waste!
Let’s get listening.
Joe P- “Don’t Wanna Love U”
I need everyone to listen up: if there’s one song you listen to from this playlist, make it this one. Ever since I first heard it, I have replayed it at least five times daily. Stream Joe P for instant serotonin, I guess! When I interviewed him a few months ago, Joe P mentioned he was bringing his production to a studio for a bigger sound…and we got it.
It’s a sunny, dance-y song that I bop down the street nodding my head along when listening. I’ve liked every song he’s released, but this is by far my favorite. The synth-heavy sound and tortured lyrics about not wanting to love someone who is bad for you, but loving them anyway make for a near-perfect song.
Miley Cyrus- “Used To Be Young”
We’re looking forward to a potential Vol II of Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation album just a few short months after its release. To confirm these rumors, Miley released ballad “Used To Be Young” today, and the promo has been equally exciting. With lyric posters popping up everywhere next to old lyrics from hits like “Party in the USA” and “Wrecking Ball”, everyone is referencing their different eras.
The song itself is a hit, which is no shock when it’s from someone with the range and vocal capacity that Cyrus does. She can do any genre, any type of song, and her voice will shine through. More importantly, the song will make sense. Just like fine wine, Miley only gets better with age.
Ariana Grande – Yours Truly
Fans have been anticipating new music from Ariana Grande, especially since she paused for Wicked filming – a scandal studded event that dominated headlines on its own…And while we love The Good Witch, we need to hear Grande’s voice again. The Yours Truly album was Grande’s intro to music, but now she gets to put her more mature sound and production abilities into it…so big things were expected.
We hold these singers at a high regard for a reason, it’s so easy for us to forget how hard it is to sing, songwrite, and produce. That’s why we are so harsh on the songs that aren’t so good, so when artists like Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, and Ariana Grande rework their old albums, it’s impressive, it’s worth the listen, and it’s normally flawless.
Selena Gomez- “Single Soon”
Selena Gomez is making a return to music with “Single Soon”, a fun-loving, carefree track about how exciting it can be to be single. There’s been a lot of speculation about Selena’s dating life recently, which makes this song even more perfect, because it’s truly her message to us all: she’s in her IDGAF era and we’re here for it. It’s great to dance to, and just reminds me of classic Selena.
A contrast to Miley Cyrus’ ballad, the Disney gals are showing their range. It’s good to see Selena having fun with her music, and just not listening to whatever the hell the outside world has to say.
Zevia- “something I can’t do”
Zevia’s voice fills your ears like a coo, gentle and calming, beautiful and equally heartbreaking. With notes of Billie Eilish, Zevia can make a sad song feel like a hug. She makes you feel seen, putting unspoken heartache and emotion into song, “something I can’t do” is about taking away that deep depressive pain that some experience. Zevia says,
“When someone’s been sad for a long time and bad things happen to them continuously, good things that come unexpected could be just as bad, as they’re not used to it. Sometimes depressed people pray for good, but for me even the good can be bad. I can’t allow myself peace otherwise I don’t know who I’d truly be.”
Chloe Stroll- Pedestal
Our feature artist of the week, Chloe Stroll has been breaking into the music industry with her raw voice, an emphasis on the piano, and most importantly, her honest lyrics. Writing about real life experiences, “Pedestal” sums up heartbreak in any form – whether it be a friend, a significant other, or even a family member.
A powerful follow-up to her debut single, “Run”, based on a break-in Stroll and her husband, snowboarder Scotty James, experienced. It’s a summation of Chloe Stroll: resilient in her lyrics, in the way she creates an honest track, and honest beyond measure.
Joel Corry, Rita Ora, MK- “Drinkin”
Recently, I had the privilege of seeing Joel Corry live in Atlantic City. Not only does he have some of the biggest club hits right now, but he can put on an equally exciting show. Now, with a highly-anticipated debut album, Another Friday Night, is on the horizon and he’s here with yet another major collab with Rita Ora and MK.
“Drinkin” takes the beloved sampling used in Chance the Rapper’s “Zero Problems”, and it makes you want to dance the night away. You can already hear this song shooting its way to the top of every bar playlist, it’s another soundtrack to your night out from Joel Corry. I’m convinced he’ll never disappoint, and I’m excited for the album.
Yungblud- “Hated”
You can’t get much more personal than “Hated”, which is Yungblud’s recounting of being molested by a doctor as a child and dealing with internal hatred. The punk-rocker has a way of making catchy hooks and capitalizing on guitar and a hard drum that makes you release any pent-up stress and anxiety. Few times do we get to see an artist bare their entire soul into a song, and be so open and vulnerable.
Not only is Yungblud’s song a testament for survivors of assault everywhere, he’s opening a necessary conversation about men’s mental health. It’s a mixture of anger, pain, sadness, and healing all in one.
Audrey Nuna- “Locket”
Audrey Nuna is a musical maverick, someone who creates larger-than-life music and it just works perfectly. For her new song, “Locket”, she is releasing a video directed by the late Valentin Petit, who tragically passed away in an aircraft accident this year. It’s the last video he ever directed, making the song that much more significant. Audrey says,
“He was gifted in all the ways his work vividly illustrated, and with such a sense of refreshing humility towards his collaborators and crew that can often times feel rare to find in this industry. This is his final music video of this lifetime – I’m sure he’s already getting started, some place, somewhere, gathering ideas and crafting wildest and freest visions to life.”
