Top 10 Best Songs of 2023
#10: “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version)” (2023) Taylor Swift
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Taylor Swift’s 2014 album “1989” is widely credited with transforming her into the pop icon she is today. The re-recorded version, released on the ninth anniversary of the original album, included five “From the Vault” songs that didn’t make the cut in 2014. Among them is “Is It Over Now?,” an electropop ballad that finds Swift reflecting on a past relationship marred by mistakes from both partners. Believed by some to be referencing her romance with singer Harry Styles, the song was praised for its catchy production and Swift’s distinctive songwriting. Remarkably, it became her third number-one hit of 2023 alone, proving that nearly two decades into her career, Taylor Swift’s reign as a pop icon is certainly far from over.
#9: “C'est Comme Ça” (2023) Paramore
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No one knows what exactly the future holds, and sometimes, it’s best to simply embrace things as they come. This sentiment is perfectly captured in Paramore’s 2023 dance-punk single “C'est Comme Ça”. The biting track, released as the third single from their long-anticipated sixth album “This Is Why,” featured lead singer Hayley Williams delivering verses in an unusual spoken word style. “C'est Comme Ça” is greatly influenced by the styles of British post-punk bands like Dry Cleaning and Yard Act, and explores the singer’s apprehension about a bleak future and the chaos needed to survive. Backed by an equally chaotic production, this song showcases Paramore’s willingness to experiment without ever compromising their roots.
#8: “Vampire” (2023) Olivia Rodrigo
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Following the success of her debut album “Sour,” which launched her into superstardom, fans had sky-high expectations for Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore effort. Needless to say, the singer did not disappoint. Rodrigo gave fans a lot to sink their teeth into with “Vampire,” the lead single from her second album “Guts”. Lyrically, the bloody infectious song employs gothic metaphors to describe a past lover who exploited and ultimately drained the life out of her. Sonically, the track stays true to Rodrigo’s signature style, opening as a piano ballad before evolving into an epic pop-rock smash. “Vampire” claimed Billboard’s number one spot for two non-consecutive weeks and bagged Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
#7: “Paint the Town Red” (2023) Doja Cat
Love her or hate her, Doja Cat continues to prove she is a rebel with enough talent to back it up. The rapper-slash-singer opened the year with a more diabolical appearance, providing fans with a glimpse of what was to come. That persona took center stage on “Paint the Town Red,” a jazz-influenced hip-hop track that seemed to address her controversial behavior towards her fans. Her smooth rap flow, combined with the bouncy production, solidifies this as the most devilishly wicked song of the year. It not only gave Doja Cat her first solo number-one U.S. single, it also became the fastest solo female rap song to reach 100 million Spotify streams. Consider the town officially painted red.
#6: “Princess Diana” (2023) Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj
This list would be incomplete without the biggest breakout star of 2023. Ice Spice solidified her status as “rap’s new princess” by teaming up with none other than the “Queen of Rap” herself for this fiery hot remix of “Princess Diana”. Nicki Minaj takes the burgeoning star under her wings, lacing Ice Spice’s laid-back flow with her lethal heavy-hitting bars. Despite their distinct rap styles, the two are able to blend them seamlessly into a cohesive and electrifying collaboration with an undeniable pull. The song propelled Ice Spice further into the spotlight, securing her second top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. She previously achieved this feat with “Boy's a Liar Pt. 2,” a joint effort with British singer PinkPantheress.
#5: “A&W” (2023) Lana Del Rey
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Coming in at a staggering length of around seven minutes, “A&W” is Lana Del Rey at her absolute finest. Released as the second single from her ninth album, the song unfolds as a two-part narrative, presenting a sensual coming-of-age story. It begins with the singer reminiscing about her innocent California childhood, over a classic folksy, acoustic vibe. Then, around the four-minute mark, Del Rey flips things on its head. The song takes on a more down-tempo trap sound, as she mumble raps about her sexual maturity and involvement with a mysterious man named Jimmy. “A&W” earned rave reviews for its subversive production and earned Del Rey Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and Best Alternative Music Performance.
#4: “Last Night” (2023) Morgan Wallen
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Morgan Wallen, the country music sensation, dominated the charts in 2023 with his album “One Thing at a Time”. Not only did it spend 15 weeks atop the Billboard 200, it also produced his first number-one single “Last Night”. The song vividly recounts a drunken conversation between Wallen and his lover on what seems to be their final night together. With minimal production backing the track, Wallen’s vocals take center stage, allowing him to narrate the tale with raw emotions. Just like its parent album, “Last Night” was a massive success, reigning supreme on the Billboard Hot 100 for 16 non-consecutive weeks, tying for the second longest run ever. It also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song.
#3: “Kill Bill” (2023) SZA
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Murder never sounded as good as it does on SZA’s revenge fantasy track “Kill Bill”. Inspired by the Quentin Tarantino films of the same name, SZA applies the good old-fashioned revenge plot to her own romantic life. The song’s lyrics detail the singer’s elaborate plot to take the lives of her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. What begins as a rather harmless fantasy takes a tragic and pretty heartbreaking turn by the end when the singer executes her plan, revealing her own profound loneliness. “Kill Bill” received overwhelming praise for its candid songwriting and relatability, to a certain extent. It hit the top of the Hot 100 following a remix with Doja Cat, earning SZA her first number-one single.
#2: “Dance the Night” (2023) Dua Lipa
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The 2023 blockbuster “Barbie” is widely credited for a lot of things. It boosted box-office revenues around the world, led to a global shortage of a specific shade of pink paint and gave us the infectious disco hit that is “Dance the Night”. Performed by Dua Lipa, who also co-wrote it, the song talks about dancing through all of life’s challenges, and appears, rather fittingly, in the movie’s choreographed party scene. With its shimmery synth production and funky bassline, “Dance the Night” seamlessly extends the thematic vibe of Lipa’s album “Future Nostalgia”. It foreshadowed the film’s eventual box-office dominance, peaking at number six in the U.S. and topping the charts in the UK. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Padam Padam” (2023), Kylie Minogue More Than 40 Years Into Her Career, Kylie Minogue Is Still Serving Bops “Love from the Other Side” (2023), Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy Returns to Form With This Anthemic Rock Opus “Fly Girl” (2023), Flo feat. Missy Elliott This Slick Collab Brilliantly Fuses Old School & Futuristic R&B Sounds “Back on 74” (2023), Jungle All of the Extravagance and Allure of ‘70s Disco in Under Four Minutes “White Horse” (2023), Chris Stapleton Don’t Let the Cowboy Hat Fool You, Chris Stapleton Has the Makings of a Rock Star
#1: “Flowers” (2023) Miley Cyrus
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Miley Cyrus has come a mighty long way from the regular teenage girl leading a double life as a pop star on “Hannah Montana”. These days, she’s fully embodied the latter identity, undoubtedly proving her worth on 2023’s “Flowers”. The track has been described as an anthem of “self-love and acceptance” and reflects on Cyrus’ newfound independence following a breakup. With subtle nods to her past marriage to ex-husband Liam Hemsworth, “Flowers” brilliantly incorporates Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man,” flipping the entire song on its head. Cyrus kicked off the year with a bang, as “Flowers” soared to the top spot in the U.S. and 37 other countries, breaking global Spotify records along the way. Which of these tunes was the soundtrack to your 2023? Sound off in the comments below.
