Which song lyrics from 2025 most moved our NPR Music critics?

Reba McEntire dropped new music during The Voice on Tuesday night (May 7). The lyrics to "I Can't" speak a message so many need to hear. The song from McEntire's first studio album in five years ...

When comparing today’s hit tunes with the top 40 of past decades, strong opinions are never in short supply. Every generation seems to lament its successor’s musical tastes and listening habits.

Over the past 50 years, U.S. pop music lyrics have become simpler, more repetitive, and increasingly focused on stress and negative emotions.

A great TV theme song has an almost magical quality. It turns into a portal rather than merely introducing a show. Those opening notes bring back memories of late-night binge sessions when you ...

Collier Jennings is an entertainment journalist with a substantial amount of experience under his belt. Collier, or "CJ" to his friends and family, is a dedicated fan of genre films - particularly ...

The 'Bonanza' theme song that introduced each episode changed during the show's run, with one version including lyrics written and sung by one of its stars, Lorne Greene. The Bonanza theme song ...

Scientific studies claim that modern music has become simpler than ever before, both lyrically and musically. But are they ...

Whether you’re looking for the ideal song for slow dancing with your special someone, or you want to wallow in a sad one because you’re dealing with heartbreak, there’s a Johnny Mathis track that will ...

Something that's been part of TV for a long time is the use of theme songs. You know, just in case people forget what show they're watching or something. They usually appear at the very beginning of ...