It’s a new season, but much of the chart is still stuck in Winter. Here are my reviews of the top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of March 29, 2025.

1) “Luther” (Kendrick Lamar & SZA) – “Luther” is an easy, relaxed duet between two of the biggest hitmakers right now. The string instruments and vocal layering gives this song a particularly dreamy-quality that especially stands out in the context of Lamar’s album GNX, which has a lot of fast-paced tracks.

2) “Evil J0rdan” (Playboi Carti) – My favorite part of this song is the minute of instrumental at the start of the song. The synthesizers are so lush, but there’s almost an ambient quality to it as well, which is uncommon. The rest of the song is solid, but to me, this is the highlight.

3) “Die With A Smile” (Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars) – One of the only slow-paced tracks on Lady Gaga’s new album, Mayhem, “Die With A Smile” is a pretty typical pop ballad overall, but Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga harmonize so well it’s easy to look past the rather mundane lyricism. The vaguely-retro influences are a nice touch, as well.

4) “Rather Lie” (Playboi Carti & The Weeknd) – There’s nothing in this song that particularly stands out to me, but it’s hard not to enjoy listening to Carti and the Weeknd sing over an easy and catchy trap beat.

5) “The Giver” (Chappell Roan) – This song reminds me a lot of Shania Twain’s and Miranda Lambert’s earlier work, which is very nostalgic for me personally. It’s a perfect balance of pop and country, and Chappell’s vocals never disappoint.

6) “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (Shaboozey) – This is a pretty standard pop-country song, but it’s still a lot better than the other country songs currently on the Hot 100. It’s fun and upbeat, simple but not boring. It’s the kind of song you’d hear while you’re out somewhere and might find yourself tapping your foot along to.

7) “Birds Of A Feather” (Billie Eilish) – With shimmering instrumentals, it’s easy to mistake “Birds Of A Feather” as another pretty love song. But with a closer look, you’ll notice her haunting lyrical imagery of graves, caskets, and a body turning blue. Kind of like classic fairy tales, which we remember for their descriptions of magic and castles, but are actually quite dark and disturbing.

8) “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar) – Hope no one is tired of “Not Like Us,” because it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. I’ve heard this song countless times by now, but honestly, it hasn’t gotten on my nerves yet. Definitely a testament to Lamar’s talents as a musician.

9) “Pink Pony Club” (Chappell Roan) – I love when there’s a sleeper-hit on the Top 10, especially when it’s really good and deserves the love. “Pink Pony Club” is a beautiful anthem of self-love in a world that wants you to be ashamed of who you are, something a lot of people can find comfort in right now.

10) “Anxiety” (Doechii) – Out of all the songs currently on the chart, “Anxiety” is by far the most unique. Doechii isn’t afraid to say exactly what she wants to say, and she’s not afraid to take risks in the production booth, which makes for a listening experience equivalent to being on a roller coaster. She’s an artist to watch out for.