As 2025 comes to a close, it’s once again time to share the songs that soundtracked our days and brought joy to us all through another year of building community through music.

If there were any doubt, this year’s Levitt Foundation staff top tracks prove that we are truly in a golden era of women in music. Female pop superstars transfixed us all with their lyrical prowess, genre-defying compositions, and powerhouse vocals, from the avant-garde, classical infusions of Rosalía’s LUX; to rising British sensation Olivia Dean’s timeless neo-soul classic, The Art of Loving; to the glossy pop sheens that cover the heartbreak, humor, and feminine fury on recent projects by Lily Allen and Florence + The Machine. New tracks by emerging country artist Lily Rose, folk duo Ellie & Drew Holcomb, Lady Gaga (and her “Abracadabra” choreographer Parris Goebel), indie rock band Wednesday, and more add to our genre-spanning collection of hits.

Looking at our top tracks, you’ll also see hints of how music connects us all—gathering at home and in the theaters to be changed “For Good” by the stories of friendship and empowerment in Wicked: For Good and KPop Demon Hunters, and immersing ourselves in the world of Natalia Lafourcade’s Amazon Prime series title track “La Cometierra.”

Each song holds a story: traveling with us on site visits across the country, fueling our creativity and boosting our senses, and reflecting the same vibrant energy you’ll find at any Levitt concerts. Check out what some of our Levitt staff had to say about their song selections below, then head to Spotify to dive into our Best of 2025 Playlist!

 

Mark Arteaga, Vice President of Operations
“Why “Berghain”? Audacious. Unique. Profound. It’s avant-garde. It’s high art in music form. Best. Song. Of. 2025. Period.”

Victoria Bridenstine, Vice President of Programs

Sadie Buerker, Communications Manager

Chris Dzialo, Associate Vice President of Communications

Kimberly James, Senior Programs Manager

Dagmar Koss, Programs Associate
“I am a big fan of Natalia, and I love how she experiments with different styles and genres and her voice is so powerful!”

Ryan Locante, Database Administrator

Matt Moore, Operations Associate
“This is in the introductory track off one of the bravest concept albums I’ve ever heard. West End Girl’s sugary-pop sound ushers in an unexpectedly devastating collection of stories of betrayal, self-exploration, and the courage to move on.”

Arianne Ousley, Operations & Special Events Manager
“It’s a fun dance song that evokes the feeling and vibe of her first album, The Fame.

Nicole Saint McGaffey, Art Director

Vanessa Silberman, Executive Vice President

Carly Swanson, Communications Associate

Brittany Van Natta, Executive Assistant
“I saw this artist as an opener in early 2024 with my best friend and we have been obsessed with her music ever since. This song is on her new album, I Know What I Want, which I have had on repeat since it came out in September.”

Amber Withers-Bohrod, Programs Officer

Sharon Yazowski, President & CEO