The Top 10 Songs of 2025 (& Their Cosmic Twins of the Past)

The Top 10 Songs of 2025 (& Their Cosmic Twins of the Past)

Author: David Yas & Michael ”Milt” Wolfe January 2, 2026 Duration: 1:29:19
Hop in the Time Machine and buckle up, because in this episode of Past Tens, Dave and Milt do what they do best: stare directly into the pop-culture sun and ask, “So… how did we get here?” The fellas break down Billboard’s Top 10 songs of 2025 — praising the bangers, questioning the head-scratchers, and revisiting a few familiar names that refuse to leave the charts (looking at you, Bruno). Along the way, they dig into artist backstories, chart momentum, and whether these songs are future classics… or just temporarily living rent-free in our brains. As always, there’s a twist: every modern hit gets paired with an older song that shares its DNA — same vibe, same arc, same “I’ve heard this before but can’t quite place it” energy. Is pop music evolving, looping, or just wearing a new jacket? Dave and Milt investigate. Expect karaoke stories, party chaos, musical crescendos, country-rap identity crises, unexpected love songs, and at least one moment where someone asks, “Wait… how old is that guy?” It’s nostalgia, analysis, laughs, and just enough musical snobbery to feel like home. Topics (or: Things We Somehow Spent 90 Minutes Talking About) 01:02 – Karaoke and party highlights (regrets were made) 03:16 – Credit cards, cookies, and adult responsibility creeping in 03:50 – Reflecting on past music trends (and how we swore this wouldn’t happen again) 04:29 – The Top Songs of 2025, with a nostalgic twist 10:22 – Chappell Roan, Pink Pony Club, and the long road to overnight success 21:28 – Bruno Mars & ROSÉ: APT. and the art of pop precision 29:41 – Post Malone & Morgan Wallen: I Had Some Help (did they though?) 33:44 – Alex Warren: influencer → musician → wait, this kinda works 40:53 – Benson Boone and the beauty of a well-timed emotional explosion 44:01 – Music tastes, aging, and coming to terms with both 44:38 – The science of crescendos (aka “why this song suddenly slaps”) 47:32 – Billie Eilish and her ongoing evolution 52:02 – The Cure, because somehow they always come up 54:12 – Teddy Swims and vocal gymnastics 01:00:24 – Country-rap, reinvention, and genre identity crises 01:06:12 – Kendrick Lamar’s unexpected love song moment 01:15:33 – Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga: when pop royalty teams up 01:24:25 – Final thoughts, year-end reflections, and closing the book on 2025

For anyone who’s ever argued about a one-hit wonder or wondered what exactly made a chart-topper tick, there’s PAST 10s: A Top 10 Time Machine-Music of the 70s, 80s and More. Hosts Michael “Milt” Wolfe and David Yas don’t just play the hits; they dig into the actual top ten lists from decades past, serving up a blend of nostalgia and fresh commentary. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific chart, breaking down not just the winners but the curious also-rans and genuine oddities that shared the space. You’ll hear them analyze everything from the undeniable classics to those “how did that get there?” moments, all with a sense of camaraderie and genuine curiosity. While the core of the podcast revolves around the music of the 1970s and 1980s, they happily venture into the 90s and other eras, applying the same formula to themed lists like the greatest cover songs, iconic TV themes, and memorable movie soundtracks. It’s less a lecture and more like eavesdropping on a great conversation between two knowledgeable friends who love to unpack the stories behind the songs. The result is a consistently engaging listen that might make you revisit your old playlists with a new appreciation. Tune in for a weekly dose of musical archaeology that’s as much about the cultural context as it is about the melody.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

PAST 10s: A Top 10 Time Machine - Music of the 70s, 80s and More
Podcast Episodes
The Hits – and the Glitz – of 1979 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:30
Milt’s off living his best life at Jazz Fest, so Dave taps in Deirdre McCarthy as guest co-pilot, and—folks—we fire up the time machine to May 5, 1979. It’s Laverne & Shirley on TV, Alien in theaters, The Hitchhiker’s Gu…
The Hits of ‘87, UK Style [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:59
Dave and Milt open with banter about expensive VIP options, coffee vs. tea, and then discuss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class heavy with British performers (Phil Collins solo, Billy Idol, Oasis, Iron Maiden, Joy Divi…
The Michael Jackson Deep Dive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:59
Dave and Milt crack open a special Past Tens where the subject is none other than the human moonwalk, Michael Jackson—timed nicely with the looming biopic that’s about to remind everyone just how absurdly dominant this g…
Hits of '82: The Fire & The Fever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:29
Dave and Milt fire up the Top 10 Time Machine and land squarely in April 3, 1982—a week where the Falklands War is just getting started, Space Shuttle Columbia is touching down in the desert like it missed its exit, Mich…
The Best Opening Lines of ’70s Songs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45:25
Dave and Milt are doing what they do best: arguing about music like it matters (because it does). This time, they’re counting down their favorite opening lines from 1970s songs — with Milt, naturally, gravitating toward…
The Hits of 1977: Casey Kasem, Eat Your Heart Out [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04:30
Dave and Milt ride the Past 10s time machine to the week ending March 19, 1977, riffing on questionable water-park hygiene, a 44‑hour hijacking, FDA rules for “mixed nuts,” the Mary Tyler Moore finale giving birth to Thr…
Worst Remakes; Best Sleepers, WTFs & More From 300 Episodes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:40
Dave and Milt (the Chart Meister, not the Chart Master) celebrate what might be their 300th episode—give or take a few missed weeks and some lazy counting—by ditching the usual Billboard time-travel format and revisiting…
Hits of 1984: Here Comes the Rock Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:17
Dave and Milt jump into the Billboard Rock Tracks chart for the week ending March 10, 1984. They set the scene with Splash, Dallas, and Ed Koch’s Mayor, then count down the rock top 10: Yes “Leave It,” Van Halen “Panama,…
Fame? Fame! Ranking 80s & 90s Stars for the Rock Hall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:57
Dave and Milt open with shout-outs to a five-star review from the mysterious “BeanieGirl6” and an email from listener Jack (now in Houston) defending Edward Bear and sharing trivia about Roberta Flack’s inspiration. They…