Chartbreakers: Lorde & Drake reboot, Worship Pop, and the shortest song ever
EPISODE 417
What happens when worship anthems climb the charts alongside soul revivals and nostalgia-driven comebacks? The May 2025 Billboard charts reveal a fascinating musical landscape where Drake performs a strategic reset after his epic battle with Kendrick, worship-adjacent pop dominates the mainstream, and The Marias reject conventional song structures with dreamy success. From the bizarre 34-second Minecraft soundtrack hit to the rise of "voice audition pop," we're exploring how these competing visions of pop music reflect our collective anxieties and cultural shifts. Is this beautiful chaos the new normal?
Songs Discussed
Sabrina Carpenter "Espresso"
Drake "Nokia"
Ed Sheeran "Aziza"
Lorde "What Was That?"
Alex Warren "Ordinary"
Miles Smith "Stargazing"
Forrest Frank "Your Way Is Better"
Doci "Anxiety"
Lil Tecca "Dark Thoughts"
The Marias "No One Noticed"
Raven & Ney "Love Me Not"
Leon Thomas "Mutt"
Teddy Swims "Bad Dreams"
Teddy Swims "Lose Control"
Benson Boone "Sorry, I'm Here for Someone Else"
Benson Boone "Beautiful Things"
Katseye "Gnarly"
Jack Black and Steve "Lava Chicken"
Charlie XCX "Party for You"
BTS "Boy With Love"
Billie Eilish "Birds of a Feather"
Gotye featuring Kimbra "Somebody That I Used To Know"
Lil Tecca "Ransom"
Kelis "Milkshake"
Kendrick Lamar "Alright"
Jay-Z "Frontin'"
Train "Hey, Soul Sister"
Rihanna "Love on the Brain"
Steve Lacy "Bad Habit"
Enchantment "Silly Love Songs"
Bob Dylan "All Along the Watchtower"
Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Kid Cudi "Beautiful Trip"