Another year is in the books, and it was another great one for folks who love music. A couple of trends emerged this year as 97.9 The Hill WCHL counted down our Top 97 songs of 2025. One of those trends is the continued emergence of “retro pop” highlighted by Tabitha Meeks and Tyler Ballgame both placing two songs high on the list. All four of those songs aim to evoke different eras in music, wearing their influences comfortably and clearly.
Another trend notable on the list is deepening of the bench of local music. Last year’s list included 18 local songs, up from nine on the 2023 list. This year’s list is more than 20% local, with 20 of the top 97 coming from artists in the Triangle. That includes two of this year’s top 10 songs coming from Fancy Gap and Taxicab Preacher.
The variety of artists represented continues to expand. This year, only eight artists appear on the list multiple times, led by Texas country-rock duo Chaparelle with three songs. There are only nine artists from last year’s countdown represented on this year’s list, with local artist Jesse Fox becoming the only artist to make the list all three years.
We are excited to see where 2026 takes the radio station musically…but first, 2025 gets a victory lap. Here are 97.9 The Hill’s Top 97 songs of the year — in reverse order, counting down to No. 1!
97. Warner Vaughn – Circles
96. Bby – Voices in My Head
95. Dutch Interior – Horse
94. 54 Ultra – No Tengo Valor
93. Wednesday – Elderberry Wine
92. Fontaines, D.C. – In The Modern World
91. Vulfmon, Zachery Barker – Dawn
90. TORRES, Julien Baker – Sugar in the Tank
89. Mama Duke – Feels So Good To Be You
88. MJ Lenderman – Wristwatch
87. Destroyer – Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World
86.The Softies – I Said What I Said
85. Courtney Barnett – Lotta Love
84. Tre.Charles – GRWTH
83. Rehash – On the Subject of Apathy
82. Tunde Adebimpe – God Knows
81. Jelly Crystal – You’re Gonna Worry About Me Some Day
80. Alycia Lang – Summer
79. This Is Lorelie, Snail Mail – Two Legs
78. Chaparelle – Bleeding Hearts
77. Massage – Daffy Duck
76. Bebe Stockwell – Minor Inconveniences
75. Slimdan, Medium Build – Problem Solver
74. Watchhouse – Rituals
73. Alexandra Savior – Unforgivable
72. The Rose City Band – Lights Along the Way
71. Lucy Davis – Ankles
70. Geese – Taxes
69. Megayacht – Good Luck Bad Luck
68. BRONCHO – Dreamin’
67. Sharon Van Etten – Idiot Box
66. Hope Tala – Magic or Medicine
65. The Sharp Pins – I Don’t Have the Heart
64. Watchhouse – All Around You
63. Hey, Nothing – Sick Dogs
62. Liam Kazar – The Word the War
61. Wet Leg – Catch These Fists
60. Gigi Perez – Sailor Song
59. Panda Bear – Praise
58. horse girl – Frontrunner
57. Rocco – If Only With You
56. The Two Lips – Talk
55. Idol Talk – Accelerator
54. Fancy Gap – Starlite Motel
53. dodie – I Feel Bad For You, Dave
52. Jack The Radio – Tell Everyone Around
51. HAIM – Relationships
50. Bridget Calls Me Baby – Too Easy
49. Lola Young – Messy
48. Royal Otis – Moody
47. Briston Maroney – Real Good Swimer
46. Hannah Jadagu – Doing Now
45. Jesse Fox – Leave
44. Molly Tuttle – That’s Gonna Leave a Mark
43. Blue Cactus – This Kind of Rain
42. Tabitha Meeks – Cherry On Top
41. Madi Diaz – Why’d You Have To Bring Me Flowers?
40. Turnpike Troubadours – Nothing You Can Do
39. Jade Bird – Nobody
38. Chaparelle – Inside the Lines
37. Katie Rae – Help!
36. Perfume Genius – It’s a Mirror
35. Chaparelle – Sex and Rage
34. Clover County – Good These Days
33. Christina Munsey – Cold September
32. King Princess – Cry Cry Cry
31. Alice Phoebe Lou – Better
30. Saya Gray – SHELL (OF A MAN)
29. PUP – Hallways
28. Rosie Tucker – All My Exes Live in Vortexes
27. Lennon KC – High Hopes and Paperclips
26. The Belair Lip Bombs – Hey You
25. Valeri June – Joy Joy
24. Tyler Childers – Oneida
23. Witch Post – Chill Out
22. Peach Pit – Am I Your Girl
21. floweroflove – New Friends
20. Fust – Spangled
19. Role Model – Sally, When the Wine Runs Out
18. Lou Hazel – Little Peace
17. Mei Semones – Dumb Feeling
16. Mayflies USA – Calling All The Bad Ones Home
15. Hurray For the Riff Raff – Buffalo
14. Sunday (1994) – Doomsday
13. Chatham Rabbits – Gas Money
12. This Is Lorelie, MJ Lenderman – Dancin’ In the Club
11. The Belair Lip Bombs – Back of My Hand
10. Shintaro Sakamoto – Dear Grandpa
9. Smerz – Roll the Dice
8. Taxicab Preacher – Better
7. Tyler Ballgame, Vulfmon – Gloves Off
6. Tyler Ballgame – Got a New Car
5. Momma – I Want You (Fever)
4. Fancy Gap – Little Heart Racer
3. girlpuppy – I Just Do!
2. Arcy Drive – Louie (acoustic)
1. Tabitha Meeks – Girl of the Hour
Tabitha Meeks (left) visited our Chapel Hill Media Group studios in August for an interview and to perform “Girl of the Hour” live. (Photo via the Chapel Hill Media Group.)
To listen the whole list from top to bottom, check out 97.9 The Hill’s Spotify playlist below. You’ll also be hearing our countdowns — of both our Top 97 songs and Aaron Keck’s Top 50 Local songs — broadcast on air and streaming online as we begin the new year!
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
97.9 The Hill’s Top 97 Songs of 2025 — Ranked Chapelboro.com.
Hence then, the article about 97 9 the hill s top 97 songs of 2025 ranked was published today ( ) and is available on chapelboro ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 97.9 The Hill’s Top 97 Songs of 2025 — Ranked )
Also on site :
- Skanska signs additional contract with existing client to build a data center in USA for USD 228M, about SEK 2.2 billion
- ‘No way out’: Telangana student dies in Germany after jumping from burning apartment on New Year’s Eve
- Switzerland fire latest: King Charles ‘heartbroken’ after 40 killed in ‘horrific’ Crans Montana bar disaster