One thing music in 2023 had going for it was its ability to fuse the old with the new, the familiar with the sprinkle of adventurous and different. Where I used to stick to a rolodex of specific artists and just wait for them to drop new music (which I still do, hence why my favorite artists tend to appear on my lists each year), I now love discovering new up-and-coming voices that might get ignored by the mainstream, even if they would love them if they paid attention. From the compelling alt-pop of Gracie Abrams and Holly Humberstone to new and some of the best material in ages from Miley Cyrus and P!nk, here are my picks for the 50 best songs of 2023.
“Flowers” – Miley Cyrus
Damn right you can buy yourself flowers!
“Trustfall” – P!nk
If you need me, I’m gonna go try just falling and seeing if it solves all my problems. *peace sign emoji*
“Body Better” – Maisie Peters
If he leaves you for someone with a better body, just write a bop about him. Problem solved.
“Inhale/Exhale AIR” – Shania Twain
When Queen Shania said, “Whatcha gonna do without air?” I felt that.
“Can’t Tame Her” – Zara Larsson
Can’t tame her, won’t tame her, don’t try taming her again for at least another 10 to 12 business days.
“Another Reason” – Grant Knoche
If a guy makes it hurt to listen to Holly Humberstone, that’s just plain unforgiveable.
“Pearls” – Jessie Ware
I only know how to communicate with people who have shaken it until the pearls have fallen off.
“When I Get There” – P!nk
We love a grief anthem that brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.
“Heart Wants What It Wants” – Bebe Rexha
Can’t fight what the heart wants, babe!
“Look At Us Now (Honeycomb)” – Daisy Jones & The Six
Find me a better fake ‘70s song by a fake ‘70s rock band. That’s right, you CAN’T.
“Hatelove” – Alex Porat
Love is so much easier to hate, TBH.
“I Know It Won’t Work” – Gracie Abrams
I don’t know how Gracie Abrams went back in time and wrote this song about Jess Mariano and Rory Gilmore, but she did.
“Not Strong Enough” – boygenius
They didn’t have to go this hard for the queers but they did. They did that for all of us.
“Thousand Miles” – Miley Cyrus feat. Brandi Carlile
Who among us haven’t been driving around town in a beat-up old Mercedes, realizing that we weren’t always right but we don’t have time for the things that went wrong? Real.
“Ghost” – Ava Max
Tag yourself: I’m the “ooh baby” that repeats itself in the chorus.
“The Sound of Letting Go” – All Time Low
Underrated.
“Stupid Cupid” – Jenna Raine
She just wants to hold them tighter, that’s just how she’s wired. A new name to watch.
“Heart Attack (Rock Version)” – Demi Lovato
Demi said, “I’m gonna go back in the studio and record new versions of songs where I hit so many high notes and hit even higher notes this time, hold my beer.”
“SunKissing” – Hailee Steinfeld
Don’t know if I’ll ever see a Steinfeld full-length LP. But I’ll wait. Until the end of time.
“Lost the Breakup” – Maisie Peters
Whoever lost this breakup with Maisie Peters, sorry to that man.
“Born With a Broken Heart” – Olivia O’Brien
Every so often a song comes along where you just wanna tattoo every single lyric on yourself. Anyway. That’s this song.
“Begin Again” – Jessie Ware
Begin your life anew and join us in a prayer circle that Jessie Ware never stops doing disco.
“Jaded” – Miley Cyrus
She could’ve taken you places, pal.
“Alone” – Kim Petras & Nick Minaj
Iconique.
“Move” – Idina Menzel
When Idina tells you to move, you MOVE.
“Favorite Kind of High” – Kelly Clarkson
Who said Kelly’s new album was boring? Who? Give me names and addresses.
“Padam Padam” – Kylie Minogue
Straight people might still be oblivious to Kylie, but now I’m thinking that’s a good thing.
“Dance the Night” – Dua Lipa
I do happen to think about dying, but I can still dance the night away, Barbie.
“Hits Different” – Taylor Swift
Hits different when it’s finally available to stream? Indeed.
“Steal the Show” – Lauv
I don’t mind if Lauv steals the show. He’s cute.
“High Road” – Kelly Clarkson
Chronic people pleasers hive RISE UP.
“Wendy” – Maisie Peters
Maisie is out here teaching the children that they don’t need to mother their male partners with apt Peter Pan metaphors. Chef’s kiss.
“Vampire” – Olivia Rodrigo
I’m not a fame fucker, but every time she repeats the words “fame fucker,” I’m in a state of euphoria?
“Rush” – Troye Sivan
Gay rights, I guess!
“Bad Guy” – Grace Enger
Gosh, I just wanna curl up inside this song and live there forever. Another name to watch.
“When Emma Falls In Love” – Taylor Swift
Yeah, this song could easily be about Emma Stone, but it was also actually written about Rory Gilmore. Sorry I don’t make the rules.
“I Should’ve F****d Your Brother” – Olivia O’Brien
Embracing your chronic broken heart one moment then realizing you were dating the wrong brother in easily the year’s best and most underrated pop song? That’s my girl.
“Beast” – Idina Menzel
If you didn’t fall in love with this song from those bizarre yet effective TikTok videos she made to promote it, I don’t know what to tell you. Guess you’re not a beast. Sucks to suck.
“Only A Stranger” – Victoria Justice
Yes, Victoria Justice sings, even if she hasn’t put anything out in a good decade except for this new ballad with angelic vocals. Hope this is the start of something.
“Positive Spin” – Gretta Ray
Ever thought of putting a positive spin on it? Me neither, but I’m gonna keep trying.
“Single Soon” – Selena Gomez
Anyone else think that the cover art for this single meant Selena Gomez had a single coming soon, hopefully the lead from her next album, and not a standalone song called “Single Soon”? Same.
“Cruise Control” – Jenna Raine
Take off the cruise control, girlies! It’s a metaphor!
“I Can’t Love Him (And Love You Too)” – Fefe Dobson
The electric guitar solo? Could listen to it for days. (I also got to interview Fefe Dobson again!)
“Don’t Date the Teenager” – Gretta Ray
If you need a teenager to drive you around, maybe someone should introduce this guy to Uber?
“All-American Bitch” – Olivia Rodrigo
Meredith Brooks would be proud.
“Into Your Room” – Holly Humberstone
Runner-up for the year’s best and most underrated pop song.
“Just Love” – Joshua Bassett
Still love him.
“Things We Do For Love” – Kylie Minogue
The things that Kylie does wrong musically must be a small list.
“One of Your Girls” – Troye Sivan
Didn’t love Troye’s new album as much as everyone else, and I wish this song was less needlessly auto-tuned, but it is as good lyrically as they say.
“Bandaid On a Bullet Hole” – Olivia O’Brien
Who isn’t DIY-ing it and just hoping for the best? A good note to end the year on.
Listen to this playlist on Spotify, and check out my picks for the best songs of previous years here.
Jeffrey Reads 