“In the Year 2525” is the 1969 Zager and Evans song whose title made it a memorable New Year's Eve countdown reference.
Written and recorded by Denny Zager and Rick Evans, the song imagines successive future eras and questions how technology may change human life. Its title moves through distant years, beginning with 2525 and continuing through increasingly remote dates. The futuristic framing has made it a recurring cultural reference when people discuss the arrival of a new year or century.
The single became a major international hit in 1969. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and also reached number one in the United Kingdom. The recording was produced by Dusty Springfield’s producer, Dick Campbell, and released by RCA Victor.
The song is not an official New Year anthem, and its mood is darker than a typical celebratory song. Its relevance comes from the way its year-based title and futuristic lyrics invite listeners to compare the present with imagined future dates. It is therefore best understood as a countdown-themed pop-culture association rather than a formal holiday tradition.