NPR Music critics reflect on the lyrics that captured the year's mood, sparked emotions and stayed with them long after the music stopped.

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From ‘80s new wave to ‘90s grunge to the latest pop single, music has changed a lot over the decades. Those changes have come not only in terms of sound, though; lyrics have also evolved as time has ...

Miranda Lambert is one of country music’s most dynamic songwriters. She can seamlessly transition from the fiery spirit of “Gunpowder and Lead” to the heartbreaking “Tin Man,” running the gamut of ...

YouTube Music is testing a new lyrics translation tool to enhance global music accessibility. The feature provides real-time, system-language-based translations directly beneath the original text. It ...

Apple Music is about to get its biggest update in years thanks to iOS 26, including upgrades to one of my favorite features—lyrics—just in time for the device that will be perfect for them. Lyrics in ...

From tear-jerkers to mic-drops, NPR's music critics share the 2025 lyrics that made them laugh, cry and hit replay. Right about now, music critics are sharing their favorite albums of the year or ...