What Was That by Lorde

Last day of 2025, and it only feels right to close the year with Lorde. Choosing our song of the year was easier than it should be, because What Was That has quietly defined how 2025 felt: disoriented, nostalgic, and strangely hopeful.

Lorde has always been the patron saint of coming-of-age confusion, from the teenage surrealism of Pure Heroine to the late-night introspection of Melodrama. With What Was That, she leans even further into that space-between-years mood: older, more self-aware, and unafraid to admit she still doesn’t have it all figured out.

“What was that / a life I almost had / flickering behind the glass”

Three reasons it’s our song of the year:

1. It captures the 2025 headspace. The song feels like scrolling your own memories: missed chances, alternate timelines, the strange ache of everything that almost happened. It’s not just a breakup track; it’s a “who am I now?” track.

2. Classic Lorde storytelling, evolved. The lyrics are intimate but cinematic, tying small, mundane images to huge emotional weight. It’s Lorde doing what she does best, with a quieter, sharper focus.

3. Production that lingers. The restrained beat and ghostly synths leave space for the words to land. It’s not built for the loudest moment at a festival; it’s built for the last night of the year, alone with your thoughts.

Press play, let yourself sit with everything 2025 was (and wasn’t), and listen now to our song of the year. Show your love for music and share justadailysong.com with your friends.