NPR Music critics reflect on the lyrics that captured the year's mood, sparked emotions and stayed with them long after the music stopped.

Which song lyrics from 2025 most moved our NPR Music critics?

In the lead-up to Christmas 2025, a purported risqué song in the style of 1940s or 1950s "oldies" tunes spread online. Its ...

Having been introduced by a mutual friend, Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne, Marander and Kurt Cobain had been dating for the ...

Indeed, the Grammy winner made some subtle revisions to her lyrics in "I Did Something Bad" and "Delicate," which were included in the version of Reputation with Dolby Atmos sound released by Apple ...

Some of the lyrics on this modern classic were brave, but they helped laid the foundations for what was to come ...

When Meat Puppets released their second album in 1984, few would have predicted just how transformative it would be.

The Beatles song that John Lennon used to signal his upcoming departure to his bandmates wasn't the first time he misled listeners.

December 5, 2025 • Dove Ellis. Melody's Echo Chamber. Editors' Tom Smith. Erin Wolf of Radio Milwaukee joins Stephen Thompson to discuss those albums and more on our last episode of New Music Friday ...

EsDeeKid’s ‘4 Raws’ features Timothée Chalamet’s verse referencing Kylie Jenner’s billionaire status, fueling alter-ego rumors ahead of his A24 film Marty Supreme ...