Addison Rae’s “Headphones On” carries the kind of polish and staying power that solidifies its status as a modern classic.
“Headphones On” is the fourth of five elite-tier pre-release singles for Addison Rae’s semi-eponymous debut studio album. It was the second of the three released in 2025. It earned Addison Rae a nomination for Song of the Summer at the MTV Video Music Awards held earlier this year.
Show Track Credits
Vocals, Primary Artist
Background Vocals, Programming, Keyboards
Background Vocals, Programming, Keyboards
Songwriter
Songwriter
Songwriter
Producer, Engineer
Producer, Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Assistant Mixing Engineer
“Put your headphones on.” Where do I even begin to describe this modest masterpiece? For starters, as is the case with the bulk of the tracks from Addison, “Headphones On” wears its early-2000s inspiration on its sleeve; however, it doesn’t lose its identity in the nostalgia. It is somehow still unmistakably a song released in the mid-2020s. The influences of early greats like Enya and Dido, as well as modern greats like Caroline Polachek, breathe heavily onto the track, but it is ultimately Addison’s signature finish. Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd knock it out of the park with the trip-hop production. Addison’s vocals are tame for the most part, but they never come off as non-committal. The lyrics aren’t exactly akin to the words on page from the greatest compositions of all time or anything like that, but they do their best in painting the acceptance-of-faith aura the track clearly goes for.
You’ve definitely heard this modern classic by now, so there’s no need for my recommendation. There’s essentially nothing to hate but a lot to love on this track. I remember listening to this for the first time back in April and wondering how on earth she’d been coming up with polished bangers back-to-back. It’s easily one of the best singles in the mainstream released this year. I only hope that Addison’s music career—should she want to continue it, that is—only grows for the better with time. Should it not, well, this track is sure to make our decade-end throwback playlists.