From tear-jerkers to mic-drops, NPR's music critics share the 2025 lyrics that made them laugh, cry and hit replay.

From auditioning on American Idol to backflipping at the Grammys in a sparkly pantsuit, Benson Boone's career has been a wild ride so far. The 22-year-old musician from Washington catapulted to the ...

The late great Kris Kristofferson penned many heartwrenching and beautiful song lyrics, and picking the most beautiful of those lyrics is no easy feat. Still, these four songs have a special place in ...

Shakira, Shakira! A now-global sensation, the Colombian-raised artist was already a big deal in the world of Latin music when she broke into the U.S. mainstream with her 2001 English-language release, ...

“Beautiful Mistakes” is a subtle bit of pop-rock with heavy drums anchoring a swirl of atmospheric synths and soft guitar. The lyrics find frontman Adam Levine wracked by memories of lost love — “I ...