2023 Is Nearly Over, But These 17 Songs Made It Just A Bit More Bearable
I'm Andrew, a senior data analyst for BuzzFeed and a music enthusiast! Throughout 2023, I listened to a variety of music, including alternative rock, country, pop, symphonic metal, and more. This list compiles some of my favorite songs released this year, some from artists known worldwide and some from newer artists making waves in their respective genres.
Without further ado, let's see who made the list!
1.Taylor Swift, "Is It Over Now? (Taylor's Version)"
Taylor continues to find new peaks in her career, from the record-breaking Eras Tour to the record-setting 1989 (Taylor's Version). "Is It Over Now?," the best of the "from the vault" tracks, combines some of Taylor's most potent lyricism with synths reminiscent of "Out of the Woods" and "New Romantics."
Favorite lyric: "You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor"
Favorite moment: How Taylor says, "But NO!"
Like it? Check out: 1989 (Taylor's Version)
2.Quarters of Change, "Heaven Bound"
Though only released in late October, "Heaven Bound" has quickly become one of my most streamed tracks of the year. Opening with ethereal guitar riffs and vocals, the song builds up in each section, leading to a guitar solo that will give you goosebumps. It is well produced, with each instrument and vocal track given its own space in the mix.
Quarters of Change have had an incredible year of growth, selling out tour dates and playing festivals like the Austin City Limits. "Heaven Bound" is the last of four promotional singles for their Jan. 26, 2024, album, Portraits.
Favorite lyric: "I kind of think that it's over now / Heaven sent, heaven bound"
Favorite moment: Jasper Harris's amazing guitar solo
Like it? Check out: "What I Wanted"
3.Svrcina, "You Again"
One of the most underrated up-and-coming voices, Svrcina released one of the strongest pop ballads this year with "You Again." While the track discusses the difficulties of a relationship, the instrumental is upbeat, providing a cool contrast between the lyrics and the music. I also love when artists switch up the melody of the first and second verses!
Favorite lyric: "Baby love's such a hard lesson / We're just angels on the ground"
Favorite moment: The melody of the pre-chorus
Like it? Check out: "Heart Like Mine"
4.Ellie Goulding, "Midnight Dreams"
When I first heard this song, I had it playing in my head for the next week. Between the '80s-style synths and bouncy melody, it feels as if it was crafted to be earworm pop perfection. Ellie Goulding's voice also has a unique tone that complements the atmospheric vibe of the song.
Favorite lyric: "You're my energy / Feel you all around / Electricity"
Favorite moment: The high notes in the chorus
Like it? Check out: "Like a Saviour"
5.Jack Kane, "Sequins"
I discovered Jack Kane while watching Dragonheart 5 (we love a fantasy film!). After watching the movie, I saw on Instagram that he sings and writes his own music. "Sequins" is a great acoustic track that opens with a guitar and drum pattern and builds in the bridge and choruses. I thought it was unique how he uses layered background vocals as an instrument to fill spaces in the mix. His backlog of originals is also not to be missed, with the excellent EP Shiner released earlier in the year.
Favorite lyric: "Is it ever enough? / Will you ever wake up? / Is it ever enough to forget about everything?"
Favorite moment: The layered vocals in the bridge
Like it? Check out: "Gold"
6.Bebe Rexha and David Guetta, "One in a Million"
Bebe Rexha and David Guetta are a powerful duo, previously collaborating on songs like "Hey Mama" and "I'm Good (Blue)." "One in a Million" is the latest in their string of hits, starring Bebe's powerful vocals and a drop that takes you back to the early 2010s.
Favorite lyric: "I tripped and found paradise in your eyes"
Favorite moment: The transition from the opening chorus to the first verse
Like it? Check out: "When It Rains"
7.Moyka, "Rear View"
Fans of artists like Aurora and Sigrid have likely heard Moyka's distinct take on ambient electronic pop. "Rear View," the lead single from the 2023 release Movies, Cars & Heartbreak, features a stunning chorus, with driving synths and a radio-ready beat.
Favorite lyric: "I may be in your rearview / But I still see the stars from here"
Favorite moment: The pre-chorus into the second chorus
Like it? Check out: "Nobody"
8.Charlotte Sands, "Alright"
"Alright" is an inspiring song about having hope in the darkest of times, and beautifully delivered by Charlotte Sands's crystal-clear voice. She lets loose in the bridge, triumphantly declaring, "Even though I'm lost, I'm not afraid." Don't miss Charlotte's 2024 tour all around the US and Europe!
Favorite lyric: "All my monsters live in the mirror / So I stare 'em straight in the face"
Favorite moment: The entire bridge of the song
Like it? Check out: "Good Now"
9.Griff, "Into the Walls"
A good song can hook you within the first few seconds, and the piano in the introduction instantly hit me. Griff's voice does a great job adapting to the different emotions she conveys — gentle and whispery in the verses, and full and powerful in the choruses when the drums kick in.
Favorite lyric: "Yesterday, I felt like dancing / Tomorrow, maybe I'll cry"
Favorite moment: The piano riff playing in the background
Like it? Check out: "Astronaut"
10.Kenya Grace, "Strangers"
"Strangers" is another example of a song that got me hooked within the first few seconds. In particular, the synth pattern in the background really stood out against other dance/electronic releases this year. With Kenya Grace's delicate vocals, this is one of those songs to listen to while driving home at 2 a.m.
Favorite lyric: "One random night when everything changes / You won't reply and we'll go back to strangers"
Favorite moment: How the background vocals mix with the synths
Like it? Check out: "Strangers — Sad Acoustic Version"
11.Freya Ridings, "Can I Jump?"
Freya Ridings has a voice you can instantly recognize. Combining a gentle piano, building drumbeats, and a touch of reverb, "Can I Jump" showcases Freya's rich vocal texture. For fans of acoustic/piano ballads, this is a track that should not be missed.
Favorite lyric: "Would you walk away / When I'm standing at the top?"
Favorite moment: The drums used in the transition from the second pre-chorus to the second chorus
Like it? Check out: "Weekends"
12.Kylie Minogue, "Story"
Kylie Minogue released one of the best pop albums of the year with Tension, featuring hits like the title track and the summer smash "Padam Padam." "Story" is the closing track of the standard edition of the album, highlighting Kylie's vocal range with some stratospheric notes in the chorus.
Favorite lyric: "I didn't walk on the wild side or fall in the night sky"
Favorite moment: The high notes in the chorus
Like it? Check out: "Tension"
13.Reneé Rapp, "Snow Angel"
What happens when a Broadway star becomes a pop star? Some incredible vocals! Reneé is having a huge year, releasing her debut album and selling out tour dates across the country. The title track, "Snow Angel," is a beautiful ballad that has one of the most vocally intense bridges I've heard in a long time.
Favorite lyric: "The seasons change, addiction's strange / I loved back then what I hate today"
Favorite moment: The INTENSE bridge
Like it? Check out: "I Hate Boston"
14.Role Model, "A Little More Time"
The strength of this acoustic-pop ballad is the concept of "less is more." With a quieter song, each piece of the track has more of an impact and opportunity to showcase itself. The gentle instrumental is mixed well with the main vocal, allowing the listener to really focus on the lyrics.
Favorite lyric: "I've tried everything to feel anything"
Favorite moment: The backing vocals in the second chorus
Like it? Check out: "Blind"
15.Carter Faith, "Wild"
Carter Faith is one of country's rising stars, amassing millions of streams and opening for artists such as Keith Urban and Little Big Town. "Wild" has a clever melody and lyricism, comparing a newfound love to wildflowers, wild horses, wildfires, and more.
Favorite lyric: "I'm no stranger to strange / Wild at heart they say"
Favorite moment: The vocal riffs in the chorus
Like it? Check out: "Already Crazy"
16.Hunter Hayes, "Victory"
Hunter Hayes rose to fame with hits like "Wanted" and came back this year with his first album since 2019. Red Sky has plenty of bops, but my favorite is the closing track, "Victory," an inspirational anthem with a chorus ready for stadium performances.
Favorite lyric: "I'm finally finding me / And that's a victory that I can believe in"
Favorite moment: The stadium-ready chorus
Like it? Check out: "The One That Got Away"
17.Delain, "Hideaway Paradise (Piano Version)"
Let's end this list with some metal! Delain's 2023 release, Dark Waters, features new lead singer Diana Leah. The piano version of "Hideaway Paradise" is a stripped-back version of the original track, transforming the hard rock anthem into a gorgeous piano ballad. For fans of groups like Evanescence, Nightwish, and Within Temptation, Delain is a must-listen.
Favorite lyric: "Let the world keep turning above me / Voices broken in the dark"
Favorite moment: How the piano version sounds like a completely different song than the original
Like it? Check out: "Hideaway Paradise" (the rock version!)
And of course, here's a playlist that features all of the songs — in one place for your convenience!
Let me know some of your favorite songs of 2023 in the comments below!
