The 67th annual Grammy Awards will take place on Feb. 2, 2025, and the award show will celebrate a historic year for the music industry. The record of the year award is one of the most prestigious categories of the night, and the award celebrates the production and performance of a track. Every song nominated this year has had a significant impact on the music industry and pop culture. We ranked each track based on three factors: production, instrumentation and vocal delivery.
8. “TEXAS HOLD ’EM” – Beyoncé
As a 32-time Grammy winner, producer, director, entrepreneur and more, Queen B is undoubtedly one of the best artists of this millennium. Her previous albums, especially Lemonade and Renaissance, have solidified Beyoncé’s status as a giant in the music industry. Serving as a joint-lead single on Cowboy Carter, “Texas Hold ’Em” is a contemporary country song that ties in classic country motifs and instrumentation. Where the song falls flat however, is in its authenticity. Lyrics such as “So park your Lexus” feel out of place among traditional country imagery. Additionally, the ad libs after every line become tiresome halfway through the song. While I can respect Beyoncé’s bravery in exploring her Texan roots, this song didn’t stand out to me among other tracks in the album such as “16 carriages” and Beyoncé’s cover of “Jolene.” The single debuted at No. 2 and peaked at the top spot, earning Beyoncé her 13th No. 1 hit single combining her career as a solo artist and her time in Destiny’s Child. –Alex Hughes
7. “Fortnight (Feat. Post Malone)” – Taylor Swift, Post Malone
“Fortnight (Feat. Post Malone)” is the lead single on Swift’s latest full-length release, The Tortured Poets Department. Upon its release, the song broke the record for the most single-day streams on Spotify and earned a No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and Global 200. While the track has its merits, I ultimately found it unvarying and uninteresting. The persistent pulse of the pluck synth bassline ticks awkwardly in the gaps between vocal phrases, making parts of the track feel more like a spoken recitation of lyrics than a coherent blend of melodies. Post Malone lending his vocals to the track is an interesting touch—one I wish had been explored further, rather than being restricted only to uniform echoes of Swift’s vocals. –Kai Park
6. “360” – Charli XCX
Many female pop artists dominated the charts this summer. However, none were able to capture the social climate quite like Charli XCX. “Brat Summer” was a global phenomenon, influencing the charts, clothing and even the presidential election. As the second single on XCX’s sixth studio album, Brat, the synth-pop and electropop record, “360” examines the concept of the “it-girl.” The opening lines, “I went my own way and I made it, / I’m your favorite reference, baby,” reflect XCX’s views on internet fame and her influence on the music industry. Her dead-pan delivery and candid lyrics come across as genuine and refreshingly authentic. However, I wasn’t a fan of the tightly programmed drum pad that alternated between electronic hi-hats and claps. Their addition felt robotic and at times stiff. The record remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive 20 weeks and peaked at No. 41. –Alex Hughes
5. “Now and Then” – The Beatles
Although released in 2023, this record had been in production for 45 years. In a modern technological feat of music engineering, director Peter Jackson used machine-assisted learning to isolate John Lennon’s vocals from instruments and background conversations during production of the 2021 documentary “The Beatles: Get Back.” With the addition of a string section and vocals by former Beatle Paul McCartney and producer Giles Martin, the result is a retro Beatles ballad straight out of the 1960s. Lyrics such as “Now and then / I miss you / I want you to be there for me” highlight themes of love and longing for the past. At its core it is a simple song. However, the addition of the strings section and the volume of the drums bury parts of Lennon’s vocals. I would have preferred to see a more stripped-down version like the original demo to give the vocals and the song more space to breathe. The long-awaited single debuted and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. –Alex Hughes
4. “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
Serving as the fourth and final release in a series of diss tracks released by Kendrick Lamar during his 2024 feud with Drake, “Not Like Us” premiered on YouTube a mere 20 hours after Lamar’s previous release, “Meet The Grahams.” The track is an unrelenting lyrical assault on Drake, addressing a plethora of topics and making numerous allegations against the rapper. Lamar challenges Drake’s cultural identity and accuses him of sexual misconduct and exploiting Black artists for profit and street credibility, all to a catchy Mustard beat featuring a sample of Monk Higgins’ “I Believe in My Soul.” The track saw massive success, breaking numerous Spotify records and topping the Billboard Hot 100 upon release. “Not Like Us” has been so destructive to Drake’s image that he has filed petitions against Universal Music Group for alleged defamation and artificial inflation of the track’s popularity. While the intricacies of Lamar’s lyrics are too numerous to be unraveled in this review, I can certainly say that Mustard’s masterful weaving of samples and original instrumentation make for an unexpected yet remarkably suitable beat for the track. –Kai Park
3. “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
An infectious chorus, upbeat rhythms and sultry vocals all lend themselves to the summer hit that is Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso.” The song is a dynamic showcase of confidence and charisma that has dominated the air waves since its release in April, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Carpenter’s first song to top the chart. “Espresso” is simply and succinctly composed. Its instrumentation primarily makes use of samples made by LA DJ duo Oliver, which contribute to the funky, almost 80s feel that is infused with the pop elements of this song. While the groove of the chorus is undeniably catchy, I found the verses to be a little lacking—merely obligatory filler to build back up to the chorus again, hence its No. 3 spot. –Kai Park
2. “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan’s meteoric rise to stardom last year with the release of her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess brought back elements of 80s synth-pop and dance-pop. In “Good Luck, Babe!” Roan continues to fuse elements of pop and soft rock with an addictive drum pad and lyrics that delve into themes of heteronormativity and being true to one’s romantic feelings. Roan has stated that much of her work is inspired by her identity as a queer woman and her journey of self-discovery. Roan’s vocals shift between her flippant delivery during the verses to an emotional belt during the chorus. My favorite part of this track is the dynamics. The percussion builds subtly and the song is anchored by the bassline which blends with the kick drum, giving it a constant momentum. “Good Luck Babe” is a beautifully written love letter to queer resilience and embracing one’s identity. Following the single’s release in 2024, it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 77 and peaked at No. 4. –Alex Hughes
1. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish
The second single from Eilish’s latest full-length release HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” was first previewed in a teaser trailer for the third season of Heartstopper and released 4 days later. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and held the No. 7 position on Billboard’s 2024 year-end chart. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” explores themes of deep unwavering love and intense devotion. While addressing fears of impermanence in her relationship with her lover, Eilish refuses to let go and vows to “love you ’til the day that I die.” I found the lyricism deeply moving, especially towards the climax, as refrains from earlier in the song are layered over the swelling final chorus. This part of the song features the highest belt of Eilish’s discography. “I was alone in the dark, thinking, ‘You know what? I’m going to try something.’ And I literally just kept going higher and higher,” Eilish said in an interview with Apple Music. –Kai Park
The talent and representation in this year’s nominees cannot be overstated. In a pool of veteran artists like the Beatles and Beyoncé as well as rising stars such as Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, this year’s award is anyone’s for the taking!