There are only a few days left of 2025. We can’t help but feel nostalgic for the fantastic year we had for music. If you are a fan of 5 Seconds of Summer like us at The Honey Pop, we can agree that this year was for the books. When you think that 5SOS cannot step up their game, out of nowhere, they release two solo albums and their sixth studio album. If we had a time machine and could say to ourselves that 5SOS did all of that in 2025, we simply wouldn’t believe it. We can’t time-travel, but don’t worry about it! The Honey Pop is going to tell you what happened with 5SOS in 2025! Grab a snack, put on your headphones, and get ready to read all about your favorite boy band. This is 5SOS 2025 Music Rewind!
Michael’s Sidequest From The Band
The first solo project of 2025 by a 5SOS member began on March 27, when Michael Clifford announced a brand new song called ‘Cool.’ 5SOS solo projects are an essential part of the band’s essence. With these, the band has the opportunity to experiment with their own musical persona and offer fans four distinct musical experiences. If Luke is alternative and Ashton is rock, then Michael went back to 5SOS roots because he is all about punk rock/punk pop. ‘Cool’ was only the tip of the iceberg, since Michael later announced his first solo album titled SIDEQUEST. The name, of course, is also an internal joke of the 5SOS fandom. While 5SOS were on a break, Michael was doing all sorts of side quests!
One of the most important sidequests from Michael’s solo era was on May 22, with the release of ‘Give Me a Break’ featuring Waterparks. The song is a pop-punk track that showcases how well Michael’s and Awsten’s voices sound together. However, the best part was the music video, which took us back to our fanfiction days. Who hasn’t written a fanfic thinking they were the next Jane Austen? Also, the duo launched a contest with Wattpad. In this, fans had to write crazy, alternative-universe fanfics about Michael and Awsten. Now that’s what we call a good promo!
“The knife of my back is the least of my worries”
But June and July were the crucial months for Michael. On June 25, he released another collaboration, this time with Porter Robinson, called ‘Kill Me For Always.’ This song is the first track of the album. Michael said to Music Feeds that the song is like the beginning of a story. After months of waiting, the story really began on July 25, when SIDEQUEST was released, giving us 10 songs that are 100% Michael Clifford.
There Are ‘Endless Ways’ To Describe Calum’s Solo Album…
If Michael is all about pop punk, then Calum could be defined as alternative pop. We have to say that this genre of music fits Calum like a glove, and hearing him experiment with the lowest tones of his voice is a highlight of our year. But let’s get to the beginning of it all. On April 10, Calum Hood released his first solo song called ‘Don’t Forget You Love Me.’ This was the lead single of his first solo project, ORDER Chaos ORDER. The song really set the tone of the album. It’s also allowed us to glimpse how vulnerable and honest Calum was going to be.
If you like early-2010s alternative pop music, this album is for you, especially ‘Call Me When You Know Better.’ Let us tell you, this song would’ve done numbers on Tumblr. The track was released on May 8 as the second single of the album. This is a more energetic song than ‘Don’t Forget You Love Me.’ What we love about it is how nostalgic it feels, but also fresh and new for Calum.
Finally, the day we all waited for. On June 13, ORDER Chaos ORDER saw the light of day. If the singles were good, we weren’t ready for the other tracks. However, we have to talk about the absolute smash hit that ‘Streetwise’ is. The track, as Calum said on Apple Music, is inspired by a 1984 documentary called Streetwise. This follows the lives of homeless youth in Seattle as they try to survive on the streets. The song is an upbeat track with lyrics about youth and the ups and downs of that phase of life.
Our ‘No. 1 Obsession’ is Back
When we thought that 5SOS wasn’t going to release an album this year, in September, after three years of 5SOS5, posters started to appear around the world saying that our favorite boy band is coming back. Of course, the fans started speculating if there was any chance it was 5SOS. After all, we spent years saying that they weren’t a boy band. However, we were wrong for good, because indeed the posters were announcing 5SOS’s comeback. On September 23, ‘NOT OK,’ a song with early Gorillaz influences, was released. This was a 180-degree change from the band’s usual sound. Also, it was the beginning of the EVERYONE’S A STAR! era. Among the release of the single and the announcement of the album, they performed in West Hollywood the brand-new songs ‘Boyband,’ ‘Everyone’s a Star!’, ‘No. 1 Obsession,’ ‘Telephone Busy,’ and, of course, ‘NOT OK!’
And if September was a great month for the band, then October marks a milestone in their career. The band was honored as one of the first musicians to be inducted into the Sydney Walk of Fame.
“Livin’ in the glitter, baby, I don’t feel a thing“
With a pink limousine, a brand-new aesthetic for each member, and a breathtaking promo, the expectations we had for the album were through the roof. Also, after hearing the songs, we couldn’t wait to experience the whole album. In each album 5SOS has released, we have seen how they have evolved as musicians and artists. But, with EVERYONE’S A STAR!, it’s like we have a brand new 5 Seconds of Summer.
On November 13, the band released the music video for ‘Telephone Busy,’ starring the bobbleheads of the album cover. But that wasn’t the highlight of that week. After years of waiting, 5SOS’s sixth album, EVERYONE’S A STAR!, came out on November 14. The album could be defined as 5SOS experimenting and creating music that will redefine not only this era, but their entire career. These days, pop music in general tends to feel repetitive, which is not bad if that’s what you like. However, we think, 5SOS made something unique in the way that they created it by following their own rules and not the music industry rules.
Our favorites, even though there’s no skip in the album, are ‘Start Over,’ or as we like to call it, ‘Kill My Time’ long lost sister; ‘Evolve;’ ‘istillfeelthesame,’ especially Michael’s verse, which is engraved in our minds; and ‘No. 1 Obsession.’
A few days after the release of the album, the band performed on a historic night at Times Square in New York City. A “we made it” moment for the band. And the triumphs didn’t stop there. The album went #1 on the UK and Australian charts and #6 on the Billboard 200! This makes 5SOS one of the only bands to have all of their albums debut in the top 10 of the American charts!
Now That’s What We Call A Year!
In 2026, 5SOS is getting back on the road with the Everyone’s A Star world tour. This era is far from over. We can’t wait to see all the milestones 5SOS will reach in this brand-new chapter. Who knows, maybe even more solo projects… No pressure though! If this were a 5SOS 2025 music rewind, our 2026 version would leave us in shock!
Do you have a favorite song from the new album? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram!
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