I like to start each new year by featuring the most popular songs of the previous year that I never got around to covering — a final round of ‘What the Kids are Listening To.’ And though 2026 doesn’t get here until Thursday, I’m kicking things off today.
First, a recap of the eight most popular songs of 2025 (according to the Billboard Hot 100), all of which did receive the Song of the Day treatment:
1. ‘Die With a Smile‘ – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
2. ‘Luther‘ – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
3. ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)‘ – Shaboozey
4. ‘Lose Control‘ – Teddy Swims
5. ‘Birds of a Feather‘ – Billie Eilish
6. ‘Beautiful Things‘ – Benson Boone
7. ‘Ordinary‘ – Alex Warren
8. ‘I Had Some Help‘ – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
This list underscores the issue Billboard has had with songs lingering on the charts (and the problem the industry has had producing new hits). Every track here other than Alex Warren’s ‘Ordinary’ was released in 2024 or earlier.
In fact, four of these songs (‘Lose Control,’ ‘A Bar Song,’ ‘Beautiful Things,’ and ‘I Had Some Help’) topped the 2024 year-end chart. That’s not good.
At #9 is another 2024 song, and Bruno Mars’ second appearance in the top ten. ‘APT.’ is a collaboration with Blackpink member Rosé recorded for her debut solo album. The bilingual song was inspired by a South Korean drinking game and contains an interpolation of Toni Basil’s ‘Mickey.’
I have seen the ‘APT.’ video more times than I can count without ever hearing the song. That’s because one of the TVs at my gym plays music videos, which I watch on silent while listening to podcasts through my headphones. So I am not surprised to learn ‘APT.’ was popular, given its frequency on that channel.
Fun song.
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
[Verse 1]
Kissy face, kissy face
Sent to your phone, but
I’m tryna kiss your lips for real (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
Red hearts, red hearts
That’s what I’m on, yeah
Come give me somethin’ I can feel, oh-oh, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
Don’t you want me like I want you, baby?
Don’t you need me like I need you now?
Sleep tomorrow, but tonight, go crazy
All you gotta do is just meet me at the
[Chorus]
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
[Verse 2]
It’s whatever (Whatever), it’s whatever (Whatever)
It’s whatever (Whatever) you like (Woo)
Turn this 아파트 into a club (Uh-huh, uh-huh)
I’m talkin’ drink, dance, smoke, freak, party all night (Come on)
건배, 건배, girl, what’s up? Oh-oh, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
Don’t you want me like I want you, baby?
Don’t you need me like I need you now?
Sleep tomorrow, but tonight, go crazy
All you gotta do is just meet me at the
[Chorus]
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
[Bridge]
Hey, so now you know the game
Are you ready?
‘Cause I’m comin’ to get ya, get ya, get ya
Hold on, hold on
I’m on my way
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah
I’m on my way
Hold on, hold on
I’m on my way
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah
I’m on my way
[Pre-Chorus]
Don’t you want me like I want you, baby?
Don’t you need me like I need you now?
Sleep tomorrow, but tonight, go crazy
All you gotta do is just meet me at the
[Chorus]
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Just meet me at the (Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh)
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Just meet me at the (Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh)
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Just meet me at the (Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh)
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
아파트, 아파트
Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh
Meet Me In Montauk 