51 Best Songs of 2023 | Playlist 🎧

40. Halle, “Angel”    

🎵 “Angel” • 🏷 Parkwood Entertainment LLC / Columbia • 🗓 2023   

🏆 Grammy nominated singer 🎙 Halle (Halle Bailey) unveiled her debut solo single, 🎵 “Angel” in August 2023. Written by Halle, 🎼 ✍ Sebastian Kole and producer, 🎛 Ron “Neff-U” Feemster, the results are… angelic 😇!  “Angel” commences angelically, with gorgeous, rhythmic production.  Vocally, Halle’s tone is stunning – celestial.  The control and ease with which she sings is impressive, never breaking a sweat yet packing a formidable and mighty punch. Melodically, “Angel” is tuneful, particularly the chorus:     

“Black girl here, black girl with the black girl hair    

Took a little sunkiss just to look like this    

God-sent, you’re an angel (angel)    

Angel (angel)    

Angel (angel)     

Angel (angel).”  

Her high notes are EPIC!  Beyond the sound – piano, organ, and tasteful synths – and the voice, the theme and lyrics are #winning. Black girl empowerment, PERIOD.  “I’m more than a girl,” Halle sings in the second verse, continuing, “Won’t let the troubles of the world / Come weigh me down.” Among the most beautiful lyrics hail from the bridge, where she sings, “Some might hate, and they wait on your fall / They don’t know there’s a grace for it all / My flaws don’t make me.” All told, Halle nails it on 🎵 “Angel”. BRAVO!

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: August 2023  
• 11 Songs Where Spirituality is Sus… (2023)  

39. Sampha, “Spirit 2.0”  

💿 Lahai • 🏷 Young • 📅 2023

“Two bodies on this mattress / Save me as it sinks / Automatic self-protection / Like airbags in my limbs.” After six years, 🎙 Sampha (Sampha Sisay) returned with 🎵 “Spirit 2.0”, which appears on his sophomore album, 💿 Lahai. He produced “Spirit 2.0” alongside 🎛 El Guincho and Riccardo Damian. The sound – light, rhythmic electronic music cues, rhythmic drum groove, and keys – help fuel his fire.  There’s also warm strings (programmed) adding to the decadence.  Of course, Sisay’s voice is distinct and fabulous as always.  Early on in “Spirit 2.0,” the chorus is introduced.  Eventually, the chorus plays out as “Waves will catch you; light will catch you / Love will catch you, spirit gon’ catch you, yeah,” etc. There are three verses, including the poetic first verse, excerpted at the top. In the second, Sampha acknowledges traveling for healing, as well as a chain given to him by a special person. The third and final verse is totally different, taking on more of a hip-hop vibe with its quick lines.  The ‘bars’ he delivers are alluring, commencing with the clever “Just like Jonathan Livingston Seagull / Try catch the clouds as I free fall / I was caught by the wings of my people / Then you pick me up in your two-door.”  All told, 🎵 “Spirit 2.0” is an epic comeback for Sampha!

Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: July 2023  

38. Latto & Cardi B, “Put It On Da Floor Again”  

🎵 “Put It On Da Floor Again” • 🏷 Streamcut / RCA • 🗓 2023 

“I done done it all, feel like Shawty Lo / Laughin’ to the bank, but shit is not a joke.” Okurrr, 🎙 Latto! That Shawty Lo reference = 🔥. The 🏆 Grammy-nominated rapper dropped a surefire banger with 🎵 “Put It On Da Floor”.  She showed off mad attitude and personality, fueled by the banging beat and production of 🎛 Go Grizzly, Squat Beatz, and Ben Hogarth. She’s aggressive, confident, and gives no fucks: “Leave the club sloppy drunk, come home and get my rocks off / Heard ‘Bitch from Da Souf’, he tryna see me knock his socks off.” DAMN! On 🎵 “Put it on Da Floor Again” she taps 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper, 🎙 Cardi B for the assist who is true to self from the jump: “Put a ribbon on me, I been actin’ brand new / I ain’t smokin’ on no za’, lil’ bitch, I’m smokin’ on you.” Cardi spends ample time talking about bitches: “She said she don’t like me ‘cause she love me, duh, knock it off  / That bitch made ten pages just to sub me, but I block ‘em all / … Shittin’ on these bitches, dunkin’ on they heads / Get these hoes some melatonin, put they ass to bed.”  Holy shiitake mushrooms! Also, for good measure, Latto leaves quite the impression on the outro of 🎵 “Put it on Da Floor Again”: “Yeah, it’s giving cunt / I’m in the booth playin’ with my pussy, bitch.” Nothing more needs to be said! 

Appears in 🔻:   

• Latto, Put it on Da Floor Again: Rap BNGRZ 🔥 No. 20 (2023)  
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 

37. Hozier, “Eat Your Young”  

💿 Unreal Unearth • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2023

“I’m starvin’, darlin’ / Let me put my lips to something / Let me wrap my teeth around the world.” Ooh-la-la – so this is what we’re doing 🎙 Hozier?  Well, damn! Later, the 🏆 Grammy-nominated Irish singer/songwriter asserts in the second verse of 🎵 “Eat Your Young” (💿 Unreal Unearth), “I can’t buy this fineness / Let me see the heat get to you / Let me watch the dressing start to peel.” Woo! While there is a sexual vibe going down, Hozier goes deeper, exploring the notion of eating the young – exploiting them for gain.  The chorus says it best, particularly the end: “Come and get some / Skinnin’ the children for a war drum / Puttin’ food on the table sellin’ bombs and guns / It’s quicker and easier to eat your young.” “Eat Your Young” goes beyond its clever songwriting.  Hozier sings expressively throughout, showing off a cool, sexy, and sophisticated tone, showing a ripe falsetto during the chorus.  Furthermore, the production is gorgeous, led by the lush, picturesque strings (well arranged). The melodies are tuneful, namely the pre-chorus and chorus. In addition to the strings, the rhythm section make “Eat Your Young” a success too (punchy drums, keys, guitars, robust bass line). 

Appears in 🔻:    

• 13 Appetizing Songs That Totally Eat 🍽️ (2023)   
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far)   
• 13 Engaging YOUR or YOURS Songs (2023)  

36. BLP Kosher & BabyTron, “Mazel Tron” 

🎵 “Mazel Tron” • 🏷 BLP Kosher / BabyTron • 🗓 2023  

“Ay, Kosher, you know how to play tennis?” 🎙 BabyTron asks 🎙 BLP Kosher in the intro of their sick collaborative track, 🎵 “Mazel Tron”.  Kosher responds, “I don’t know how to play, but we can go back to back.” Indeed, that is what the Dreidel Gang (Kosher) and ShittyBoyz (BabyTron) do, dropping litness throughout this rap banger.  The intro is the first sign that “Mazel Tron” is going to be H-O-T 🥵!  Furthermore, throw in the energetic backdrop by producers 🎛 Damjonboi and marvy ayy and dis shee-it is bananas – like “B-A-N-A-N-A-S”! Following the intro, BabyTron and BLP Kosher drop the chorus, which is infectious and filled with swagger – it kicks ass and take names! Kosher gets it poppin’ first with BabyTron responding.  “I ain’t Irish, but my money doubling grab a shamrock,” Kosher brags, with BabyTron responding, “I ain’t trickin’ with you bitches, pockets come with padlocks.” Arguably the best exchange is “They thought I was fantasizing, showed ‘em I can pop / Grew my hair down to my shoulders, fan thought I was Matt Ox.” WOO! BabyTron performs the first verse solo, with no shortage of humorous, intriguing bars, like “Why this bitch preachin’ like she real, but got a BBL? / If I ever fell off, it was on a trampoline.” Gah-day-um! BLP Kosher arrives in the third verse, touting his come up: “Pulling capers, I was at La Quinta, I just left The Breakers.” He also drops bullets like, “Touch down with the Dog Shit Militia, smoking cow manure / Opp kebab, I introduce the stick and put them on a skewer” and “Make ‘em jump, Van Halen, we could rock out, no guitar.” All told, not only does it seem that BabyTron and BLP Kosher have a ball rapping on 🎵 “Mazel Tron”, it also a ball to listen to.  

Appears in 🔻:   

• BLP Kosher • BabyTron, Mazel Tron: Rap BNGRZ 🔥 No. 12 (2023) 

35. Foo Fighters, “Rescued” 

💿 But Here We Are • 🏷 Roswell • 🗓 2023

First and foremost, rest in peace, 🎙 Taylor Hawkins. The loss of the incredibly talented 🎙 Foo Fighters drummer was a huge one – devastating and totally unexpected. Despite the loss, 🎙 Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters decided to move forward as a band, releasing their 11th studio album, 💿 But Here We Are, led by the dynamic lead single, 🎵 “Rescued”.  “Rescued” was produced by the band alongside 🎛 Greg Kurstin. The sound is strong – dynamic, as in LOUD AND IN YOUR FACE LIKE IT’S SCREAMING AT YOU!!! Grohl is intense on both drumming and vocals.  He seeks to memorialize his late friend and bandmate, as well as carry on the torch.  “It came in a flash, it came outta nowhere,” Grohl sings in the first verse, adding, “It happened so fast, and then it was over.” In the chorus, he asserts, “I’m just waitin’ to be rescued, bring me back to life / …We’re all just waitin’ to be rescued tonight.” The record is a reaction to Hawkins’ unexpected passing, and how it has affected the band. It feels fitting that this song is the first single as well as the opening track from But Here We Are. “Rescued” is an honest and powerful statement by the 🏆 Grammy-winning band: “We’re all just waitin’ to be rescued tonight.”    

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: April 2023   
• 13 Songs Filled with Grief, Mourning & Remembrance (2023)   
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 

34. Sexyy Red, “SkeeYee” 

💿 Hood Hottest Princess • 🏷 Open Shift/gamma. • 🗓 2023  

“When I holler, ‘Skee-Yee,’ that mean pull up.” “My sister in the backseat with a .30 (Baow) / Niggas tryna shoot they shot, Stephen Curry (Swish).” 🎙 Sexyy Red is one of a kind – bold, risqué, and unapologetic AF. She’s true to self on 🎵 “SkeeYee” where the hood and sex propels the track. Her 2023 mixtape isn’t called 💿 Hood Hottest Princess for nothing! Fueled by the production of  🎛 Tay Keith, DJ Meech, and BanBwoi, Sexyy Red mentions ASSets and private parts along with being bold and outlandish. She reveals her cards early with the chorus arriving right after the brief intro:     

“If you see me and you tryna see what’s up (Skee-yee)  

He wanna fuck with me, then I’ma have him stuck (Skee-yee)  

Bitch lookin’ bad, and got a stupid butt (Skee-yee)  

Jewelry on yo wrist, fuck it, hold it up…” 

Sexyy Red paints herself as, frankly, a bad bitch. In the verses, she provides no shortage of NSFW bars. “When you with me, put that dick all up in my backside,” she asserts in the first verse. Prior to that, she “Take(s) a bitch nigga, show no mercy / Do the pussy bitch dirty.” WOO! In the second verse, she mentions shooters, making “the engine fart” (🥴), and being “In the booty club, standin’ on the couch throwin’ B’s.” 🎵 “SkeeYee” is raw and unrefined, but that’s part of its charm.   

Appears in 🔻:   

• Sexyy Red, SkeeYee: Midnight Heat 🕛 🔥 No. 91 (2023) 

33. boygenius, “True Blue”  

💿 the record • 🏷 boygenius / Interscope • 📅 2023

“And it feels good to be known so well / I can’t hide from you like I hide from myself.” Emotional, thought-provoking lyrics from the chorus of a five-minute-long gem 💎, 🎵 “True Blue”, the fourth track from 🎙boygenius’ critically acclaimed, 🏆 Grammy-nominated LP, 💿 the record. Boygenius is comprised of three gifted singer/songwriters: 🎙 Lucy Dacus, 🎙 Julien Baker, and 🎙 Phoebe Bridgers. Lucy Dacus does the heavy lifting on “True Blue. She sings marvelously from the onset on this guitar-driven record, anchored by a strong drum groove.  The vocal harmonies only up the ante. The songwriting is on-point, beginning in the first verse: “You were born in July ’95 / In a deadly heat / You say you’re a winter bitch / But summer’s in your blood / You can’t help but become the sun.” The second verse is intriguing too, including a popular, albeit explicit phrase: “When you don’t know who you are / You fuck around and find out.” In the third verse, Dacus cleverly circles back to heat: “Breakin’ a sweat on your upper lip / And gettin’ pissed about humidity.” So, matters of the heart come into play in the chorus, performed by all three ladies. Extended following the first iteration, boygenius assert, “I remember who I am when I’m with you / Your love is tough, your love is tried and true-blue / blue.” That love is lit, considering it’s true blue, plus, it happens to be the titular lyric. In the bridge, Dacus + Bridgers mention a sole instance of a lover doing them wrong, concluding “Who won the fight? I don’t know / We’re not keeping score.” In other words, it doesn’t matter – their love is stronger than the petty stuff. The goodness of 🎵 “True Blue” speaks for itself. 

Appears in 🔻:  

• boygenius, True Blue: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 10 (2023)  
• 11 Riveting, BLUE Songs (2023)  

32. JORDY, “Story of a Boy” 

💿 BOY • 🏷 300 Entertainment • 🗓 2023

“This is the story of a boy / I’d adore him if I had a choice,” 🎙 JORDY asserts on 🎵 “Story of a Boy” (💿 BOY, 2023) covering the 2000s 🎙 Nine Days classic, 🎵 “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”. According to MTV, the openly gay pop musician is the first person to be granted permission to cover the song!  With the blessing of Nine Days front man, 🎙 John Hampson, JORDY transforms the “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” to fit who he is (“He doesn’t know my name / But I could give much more”). “Story of a Boy” is another awesome addition to the ever-expanding queer music catalog.  In his hands, the record is both reflective and longing. “Moved here from a small town / Fell in with the wrong crowd,” he sings in the first verse, adding, “I don’t blame him ‘cause most people suck / And leave you crushed.”  In the second, he frets about Hollywood and says of this guy, “And I watch him on the internet / Trying to be happy / He wouldn’t have to if he knew that he could have me.” JORDY keeps it queer, and who would have it any other way (“And he looks so good / Walking through that door / Oh, I wish I could / Be the ending that he’s looking for”)? It’s incredibly cool he took a 00s hit and reintroduced it to a new generation from a gay perspective. 

Appears in 🔻:    

• JORDY, Story of a Boy: LGBTQ Bopz 🌈🎶 No. 6 (2023)   
• Story: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 16 (2023)   
• 11 Intriguing Songs With A Story to Tell (2023)    
• BOY, These Songs Are About You (2023)   
• Best LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 Songs of 2023 (so far) 
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 

31. Skrillex, Fred again.. & Flowdan, “Rumble”  

💿 Quest For Fire • 🏷 OWSLA / Atlantic  • 🗓 2023  

Three words: “Hear the rumble.” Woo! 🎙 Elley Duhé is the first voice heard on 🎵 “Rumble” (💿 Quest For Fire), a lit single attributed to the superstar team of 🎙 Skrillex, 🎙 Fred again.., and 🎙 Flowdan. Skrillex and Fred again… handle the production duties, which entails some sick percussion, synths, and of course, those pitched-up vocals by Duhé that recur. The heavy lifting vocally arrives courtesy of English Grime MC Flowdan, who is a VIBE from the start of the first verse. “Run for dem life when I step into the jungle,” Flowdan asserts, adding, “Said they wanna group up, they better move up / Never gonna win a Royal Rumble.” Woo! As stellar as those lines are, his best moments arrive on the refrain: “Yo, listen, you hear that? Killers in the jungle.” The music brilliantly matches his jungle reference with an intense percussive, tribal groove and a sense of enigma.  During the drop, Duhé also references the rumble. Beyond the refrain, Flowdan also drops some vibe-laden smoking references in the second verse (“Yo, you hear that? Over, smell the aroma”). All told, 🎵 “Rumble” is a big mood, surefire vibe bop. Just the energy needed for 2023.

Appears in 🔻:   

• 13 Big Mood, Surefire Vibe Songs (2023)
• Awesome Songs: January 2023  

30. Paul Russell, “Lil Boo Thang” 

🎵 Lil Boo Thang • 🏷 Paul Russell / Arista • 🗓 2023  

“You my lil boo thang / So, I don’t give a hoot what your dude say.” Woo, 🎙 Paul Russell! He adds in the chorus of 🎵 “Lil Boo Thang”, “I be shooting that shot like 2K.”  With “Lil Boo Thang,” Russell serves up a bite-sized record that clocks in under two minutes in duration.  Despite its brevity, this joint is infectious AF from the get-go. “I’ma keep it real when your man long gone / If you’re looking for a friend then you got the wrong song.”  So, what makes “Lil Boo Thang” epic? First and foremost, it’s the beloved sample that fuels the fire. The no. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit by 🎙 The Emotions, 🎵 “Best of My Love”, is utilized liberally.  Paul even go so far as to lift the lyrics, in addition to the recognizable instrumental.  Even relying heavily on a soul classic, Russell delivers an exuberant, memorable performance. He serves up plenty of personality – ample G-A-M-E: “To the back, to the front / You a ten, baby girl, but I’m the one (Hey).” With no shortage of catchy lyrics, the crème de la crème – the crowning achievement – belongs to the chorus. Perhaps Russell says it best towards the end of the chorus: “Tell ‘em I’m. next / Tell ‘em you found a lil something too fresh.” WOO! 🎵 “Lil Boo Thang” deserves two thumbs up!  

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: August 2023 

29. Tyla, “Water” 

💿 TYLA • 🏷 FAX / Epic • 📅 2024

“Can you blow my mind? / Set off my whole body / If I give you my time (Ooh) / Can you snatch my soul from me?” Ooh la-la, 🎙 Tyla! The ascending South African singer landed a breakthrough hit with the infectious, sensual single, 🎵 “Water”.  “Normally, I can keep my cool,” she asserts in the first verse, continuing, “But tonight, I’m wildin’.” Ooh-wee! Her vocals are crystal clear and sweet throughout.  Also clear is the fact that passion is going down: “Make me sweat, make me hotter / Make me lose my breath, make me water.” As passionate as she is, she keeps things tasteful – a positive attribute for sure!  Supporting Tyla is warm production work courtesy of 🎛 Sammy Soso. It’s a great lift on this pop single set to appear on her 2024, self-titled debut album. Easily, one of the best songs of 2023.   

28. Jung Kook, “Seven” (Ft. Latto) 

💿 GOLDEN • 🏷 BIGHIT MUSIC • 🗓 2023

“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (a week).” 🎙 Jung Kook is NOT giving us a kindergarten lesson on the days of the week on 🎵 “Seven”! Sure, the chorus begins with him singing about seven days, but ultimately, it’s what he vows to do in those days: “Every hour every minute every second / You know night after night / I’ll be fuckin’ you right / Seven days a week.” Further amplifying this naughty, no. 1 summery smash is female rapper 🎙 Latto, who fits right in on this fuckin’ standout from 💿 GOLDEN. The sexy single was penned by 🎼 ✍ Andrew Watt and Cirkut (who also produce), alongside Latto, Jon Bellion and Theron Makiel Thomas.  The lyrics aren’t filled with depth but are enjoyable and sexy. “Weight of the world on your shoulders,” he sings beautifully in the first verse, adding, “I kiss your waist and ease your mind.” That’s sweet and of course, S-E-X-Y. The second verse exhibits devotion too, while also being sensually charged. The naughtiness creeps in the pre-chorus, beginning with the suggestive line, “It’s the way that you can ride,” and concluding with “fuckin’ you right.” As for Latto, who appears in the third verse, she manages to be sexy without getting too dirty.  “Seven days a week, seven different sheets / Seven different angles, I can be your fantasy,” she raps, adding, “Come here, baby, let me swallow your pride.” Woo! All said and done, 🎵 “Seven” is a bop.    

Appears in 🔻:    

• Awesome Songs: July 2023  

27. Hozier, “Francesca” 

💿 Unreal Unearth • 🏷 Columbia • 📅 2023  

“My life was a storm since I was born / How could I fear any hurricane.” 🎵 “Francesca” is EASILY one of the best songs of 💿 Unreal Unearth, the third studio album by 🏆 Grammy-nominated, Irish singer/songwriter, 🎙 Hozier. It’s also one of the best songs of 2023. “Francesca” draws inspiration from 📚 The Divine Comedy by ✍️ Dante, specifically Francesca da Rimini in Canto V and the second circle of hell, lust. “Francesca” speaks to the tragedy of love, specifically an infamous affair that ended in murder. Even though Francesca and the man she had the affair with, Paolo are in hell, the gargantuan chorus isn’t as hellish as you might expect:

“I’d tell them, ‘Put me back in it’  

Da-ah, darlin’, I would do it again (Ah-ah-ah-ah)  

If I could hold you for a minute  

Da-ah, darlin’, I’d go through it again (Ah-ah-ah).”   

No regrets? The sound of “Francesca” also makes it a rousing success, with its accompanying keys at the onset (and organ patch), rhythmic guitar providing a driving feel, and a wall of sound at the end of the cut.    

Appears in 🔻:  

• 13 Compelling Songs About Specific People (2023)  

26. Conan Gray, “Never Ending Song”    

🎵 “Never Ending Song” • 🏷 Republic • 🗓 2023

“Tried to turn the page, but our story wasn’t stoppin’.” Oh 🎙 Conan Gray! The handsome, incredibly talented gift that keeps on giving, particularly on the brief but potent single, 🎵 “Never Ending Song”. Following the intro featuring crescendoing pummeling drums, “Never Ending Song” settles into 80s styled production which embraces New Wave and synthpop cues. Notably, Gray works with producers 🎛 ILYA and Max Martin.  The result: a match made in heaven.  Gray serves up awesome lead vocals. Furthermore, the melody is incredibly tuneful in the verses. The verses are brief, but the personality that Gray exhibits is #GIVING.  Of course, the centerpiece is the simple, catchy chorus: “And it goes on, and on, and on / Like a never-ending song.” While the chorus, and the production that accompany it, are arguably the crème de la crème of “Never Ending Song,” the bridge is a vibe too. During the bridge, there is nice contrast served up – “Can you make us stay forever? / Are we done? Can you make it play.” I love how Gray ascends into his upper register at the end of it, prior to returning to familiar territory with the chorus.  His performance is a bit freer post-bridge, incorporating some more ambitious vocal ad-libs. Gray can do no wrong! Short but sweet, 🎵 “Never Ending Song” marks another winner for Conan.  

Appears in 🔻:   

• 13 More Songs Where the Keyword is SONG (2023)   
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far)   
• 13 More Dazzling NEVER Songs (2023)  

25. Brent Faiyaz, “Moment of Your Life” (Ft. Coco Jones)   

💿 Larger Than Life • 🏷 ISO Supremacy / UnitedMasters LLC / High Standardz / Def Jam Recordings • 🗓 2023

“You lookin’ better than you ever did,” 🎙 Brent Faiyaz (Christopher Brent Wood) sings in the first verse of 🎵 “Moment of Your Life”, a highlight from his 2023 album, 💿 Larger Than Life. He continues, “If you told me the secret, I would spread that shit to every girl that I meet.” Hmm, and why is that, Brent? “So, they would know how to be / That shit tastes fresher than a peppermint.”  The big takeaway from the excerpted lyrics of this contemporary R&B joint is L-O-V-E. On “Moment of Your Life,” he taps the talented 🎙 Coco Jones for the assist. Produced by 🎛 Mannyvelli, Sparkheem, and Dpat, “Moment of Your Life” samples the 1998 🎙 Nicole Wray song, 🎵 “Boy You Should Listen”.  In fact, that’s where those ‘old-school,’ rhythmic, 90’s R&B sounds originate.  Furthermore, melodically, “Moment of Your Life” lifts off the 90s tune, which is a win for both Brent and Coco.  Following his smooth performance in the first verse and the chorus, Coco Jones takes the reins in the second verse, wowing with her rich, robust pipes (“Tonight, baby boy, you lookin’ better than you ever did / I’ll show you my secrets, can you handle it?”).  The chemistry when both artists perform is incredible, including harmonized vocals and trading lines (the bridge).  Even the contrast between the two is fabulous, particularly how Jones’ ad-libs cut more than Brent’s – she delivers more grit in the final chorus.  The chorus, of course, is the crème de la crème – that realization of love:    

“And I got every other thing that I need and want but you   

And I’ve been wantin’ you, so what you wanna do tonight?   

Make this the moment of your life.” 

🎵 “Moment of Your Life” is a fantastic R&B duet.  

Appears in 🔻:   

• Moment: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 71 (2023)  
• Awesome Songs: September 2023  
• 11 Songs Where the Moment is Key (2023)  

24. Dominic Fike, “Dancing in the Courthouse”  

💿 Sunburn • 🏷 Sandy’s Boys, LLC / Columbia • 🗓 2023    

“Weather controls your day / People make up your mind / Until you can’t even tell / When someone gives you a sign.” Bummer! Alternative, genre-bending standout 🎙 Dominic Fike urges us to focus on the things we can control and embrace the positives and opportunities in life. The Floridian has us all 🎵 “Dancing in the Courthouse” (💿 Sunburn),  a song that shows him moving beyond adversity, which him and his family have experienced their fair share of. Life hasn’t been easy, however, he’s a prime example of overcoming as that this song superbly conveys. The best moment” is the chorus, where the lyrics captivate, and the melody is tuneful: 

“Put ‘em on trial (On trial)   

Make ‘em dance for it in the courthouse   

Make a stand for it or it don’t count (Or it don’t count)   

Be the landlord of the whole town (Of the whole town)   

Put ‘em on edge (On edge)   

Make the judge jump and hit the two-step (Yeah, hit the two-step)   

And make the jury come up with two guesses (Up with two guesses)   

And lose interest, then they make up a new sentence.”    

Beyond the theme, lyrics, and an intriguing music video, the sound is stunning too.  The warmness of the guitar at the onset is a stellar touch.  Furthermore, the prominence of guitar throughout is awesome 🤘. Of course, from a vocal standpoint, Fike sounds authentic, honest, and expressive.  His instrument can deliver sheer beauty as well as grittier moments.  Fike has ample light to share with the world.    

Appears in 🔻:   

• ‘Oh, The PLACES You’ll Go’ on These 15 Songs (2023) 
• Awesome Songs: April 2023  
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 
• 15 Epic Songs Fueled by DANCE 🕺🪩 (2023) 

23. Dua Lipa, “Houdini”   

🎵 “Houdini” • 🏷 Warner UK • 🗓 2023

🏆 Grammy-winning pop superstar, 🎙 Dua Lipa brings some serious magic on her single, 🎵 “Houdini”. She penned the record alongside 🎼 ✍ Caroline Ailin, Danny L Harle, Kevin Parker (of Tame Impala fame), and Tobias Jesso Jr..  Harle and Parker also produced the record, characterized by a sick, danceable groove.  This is where Dua Lipa’s bread is buttered! In addition to the beat, “Houdini” features a colorful palette of sounds – the keys and synths rock (in a 1980s sort of way, of course).  Beyond the backdrop, she brings the heat vocally.  Her performance is solid, yet non troppo, if you will.  It’s cool how the songwriting incorporates Harry Houdini into matters of the heart.  In this case, it’s singledom! The centerpiece, the chorus, arrives early, with Dua Lipa revealing the deck of cards: 

“I come and I go    

Tell me all the ways you need me   

I’m not here for long    

Catch me or I go Houdini    

I come and I go    

Prove you got the right to please me   

Everybody knows   

Catch me or I go Houdini.”   

Ooh, wee! The melodies are tuneful in the verses as well, and beyond the chorus the post-chorus is rad too: “If you’re good enough, you’ll find the way / Maybe you could cause a girl to change her ways / Do you think about it night and day? / Maybe you could be the one to make me stay.” 🎵 “Houdini” = SUREFIRE BOP!   

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: November 2023 

22. Olivia Rodrigo, “Get Him Back!” 

💿 GUTS • 🏷 Olivia Rodrigo / Geffen • 🗓 2023

Is there any doubt that 20-year-old, 🏆 Grammy winning pop artist 🎙 Olivia Rodrigo has 💿 GUTS? NOPE! Her sophomore album is arguably even better than her debut. Among the highlights is the sensational 🎵 “get him back!”. You know when those drumstick taps kick things off (courtesy of 🎙 Alexander 23) that this song is sure to be a banger.  Rodrigo truly amps up the personality.  The rhythmic chanted vocals in the verses help showcase a big-time attitude. Exhibit A: “He said he’s six-foot-two, and I’m like, ‘Dude, nice try.’” While there are some parallels to other songs from GUTS, as well as her career up to this point, “get him back!” sounds distinctly different, which is a win.  You can’t mention this bop without highlighting that sung chorus which contrasts the verses: “I wanna get him back / I wanna make him really jealous, wanna make him feel bad.” WORD!   

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: September 2023  

21. The Rolling Stones, “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” (Ft. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder)  

💿 Hackney Diamonds • 🏷 Promotone B.V. • 🗓 2023  

On 🎵 “Sweet Sounds of Heaven”, the epic, near-seven and a half minute second single from 💿 Hackney Diamonds, 🎙 The Rolling Stones tap 🏆 Academy- and Grammy-award winning musicians 🎙 Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder for the assist!  The results are EPIC! Wonder provides bluesy, soulful piano to the backdrop – a mix of blues, gospel, and rock.  Before 🎙 Mick Jagger ever sings a note, the instrumental sets the tone.  He sings the first verse, delivering expressive, potent, and powerful pipes.  The heavenly, spiritual vibes arrive early on, as Jagger memorializes the late, great 🎙 Charlie Watts: “Bless the Father, bless the Son, hear the sound of the drums.” Lady Gaga arrives in the second verse, surprising with the sound of her voice with her select lyrics.  She sings in her upper register, giving us a different sound.  She complements Jagger’s lead well, which continues in the verse, referencing spiritual things once more (“I hear the sweet sounds / the sweet sounds of children / And they’re praisin’”).

Both artists sing in the chorus. The grittiness and power that Lady Gaga shows off is ear-catching, PERIOD. The lyrics are strong, particularly as both artists sing at the end of the chorus, “Eat the bread, drink the wine / ‘Cause I’m finally, finally quenchin’ my thirst.” The bridge is totally different from the verses or chorus – it builds up to the second dynamic chorus. All told, there are some awesome sounds that occur throughout the main portion of “Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” as well as the extended part.  Notably, Mick shouts out Stevie, while he and Gaga continue to tout “the sweet, sweet scents of Heaven.”  An entire essay could be written about this glorious song, however, it’s best experienced by listening.    

Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: October 2023 

20. Kesha, “Eat The Acid” 

💿 Gag Order • 🏷 Kemosabe • 🗓 2023

“You don’t wanna be changed like it changed me.” Remember that lyric, folks – it is a crucial, recurring line from 🎵 “Eat The Acid”, the first of two promo singles from 💿 Gag Order, the fifth studio album by 🏆 Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter, 🎙 Kesha. Take one listen to “Eat the Acid” and it is clear that Kesha opts for a different direction – one that is incredibly refreshing. Production is a key part of the change of direction. This dark pop record thrives off its minimalism. Drums are absent! “Eat The Acid” is hypnotic and intense. Kesha produces alongside 🎛 Rick Rubin, Stuart Crichton, and Jason Lader. The keys and synth work is utterly stupendous, carrying the rhythm and propelling the intensity.  Vocally, she sounds elite, never over singing, exhibiting poise.  She is never forced to over sing given the tunefulness of the melody – utterly infectious.  Thematically, she experiences a spiritual awakening, recollecting her mom’s advice not to “eat the acid” (aka LSD), and connecting with God.  The third verse truly stands out: “I searched for answers all my life / Dead in the dark, I saw a light / I am the one that I’ve been fighting the whole time / Hate has no place in the divine.”  The Kesha who graces 🎵 “Eat The Acid” is starkly different than the Kesha of the past and that shows evolution.

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: May 2023  
• Best LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 Songs of 2023 (so far)  
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 
• 13 Appetizing Songs That Totally Eat 🍽 (2023)️  

19. Janelle Monáe, “Float” (Ft. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80) 

💿 The Age of Pleasure • 🏷 Wondaland Productions LLC / Bad Boy Records LLC • 🗓 2023  

🎙 Janelle Monáe kicks off 💿 The Age of Pleasure, her first album in five years, with one of its most pleasurable listening experiences: 🎵 “Float”. The 🏆 Grammy-nominated, nonbinary musician is assisted by Nigerian saxophonist, 🎙 Seun Kuti, and band, 🎙 Egypt 80’. Monáe has evolved into the person that she wants to be, asserting, “I used to walk into the room head down / I don’t walk, now I float.” Her confidence is through the roof, as she rides the picturesque production (🎛 Nate “Rocket” Wonder, Sensei Bueno, and Nana Kwabena) with ease.  She is liberated sexually, dropping naughty, scintillating lines like, “She throwin’ that thang in a circle, makin’ in viral, I might just elope / Say, ‘Listen lil’ mama, you like shibari? Watch while I show you the ropes’.” “Float” brilliantly sets the tone of The Age of Pleasure.  Furthermore, it ranks among the best tunes of 2023.   

Appears in 🔻:   

• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far)  

18. Dua Lipa, “Dance the Night” 

💿 Barbie The Album • 🏷 Atlantic / Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. • 📅 2023   

“Baby, you can find me under the lights / Diamonds under my eyes.” Ooh-la-la, 🎙 Dua Lipa! Those lyrics hail from the first verse of 🤩 🎵 “Dance The Night”, the second track, single, and second consecutive highlight from 💿 Barbie The Album. “Dance The Night” features danceable, picturesque production thanks to 🎛 Mark Ronson, Picard Brothers, and Andrew Wyatt. Perhaps it is those jubilant, flirty strings that make the backdrop so electrifying! “Turn the rhythm up, don’t you wanna just / Come along for the ride?” Dua Lipa continues singing in the first verse.  As always, the singing is solid – we expect no less from a vocalist as talented as her.  Furthermore, those vocals are playful and flirty, delivered with plenty of personality.  She’s not lying when she asserts, “I can take the heat, baby, best believe / That’s the moment I shine,” or “When the night’s here, I don’t do tears / Baby, no chance.” Ow! In addition to fun lyrics and a well-rounded vocal, the tunefulness of the melody further amplifies this surefire catalyst for a dance floor. Honestly, is there any way you can sit on your ass while Dua Lipa implores us to 🎵 “Dance The Night” away? Hell nah – of course not! Dua Lipa says it best in the chorus: “My heart could be burnin’, but you won’t see it on my face / Watch me dance (dance), dance the night away.”   

Appears in 🔻:   

• Dua Lipa, Dance The Night: Dance Gemz 🕺 💎 🎶 No. 11 (2023)  
• 15 Epic Songs Fueled by DANCE 🕺🪩 (2023)  

17. Zach Bryan, “I Remember Everything” (Ft. Kacey Musgraves) 

💿 Zach Bryan • 🏷 Belting Bronco / Warner • 📅 2023

“Rot gut whiskey’s gonna ease my mind…” Perhaps, but is the gut rot worth it? Anyways, 🎙 Zach Bryan had a gargantuan year in 2023, period. His self-titled album debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200.  Furthermore, he reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with 🎵 “I Remember Everything.” “I Remember Everything” finds the Oklahoman country musician duetting beautifully with fellow country musician, 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Kacey Musgraves.  As the title suggests, Zach has vivid memories – combined with expressive, nuanced vocals – including “How your mama ran off and pawned her ring / I remember, I remember everything.” Likewise, Musgraves remembers too, with her chill, unbothered vocals. Notably, she criticizes Bryan in the second verse: “You’re drinkin’ everything to ease your mind / But when the hell are you gonna ease mine?” Fair point.  She adds, in the chorus, “You only smile like that when you’re drinkin’ / I wish I didn’t, but I do / Remember every moment on the nights with you.” In a year where country was more popular than ever, “I Remember Everything” marks one of its great moments and one that is unproblematic. 

16. Luke Combs, “Fast Car”   

💿 Getting’ Old • 🏷 River House Artists LLC / Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 2023    

“You got a fast car / And I want a ticket to anywhere / Maybe we can make a deal / Maybe together we can get anywhere.” 🎙 Luke Combs is among the most successful musicians in country music in the 2020s.  His original songs have paid dividends for him, earning multiple 🏆 Grammy nominations.  However, on his 2023 album, 💿 Getting’ Old, Combs revisits a 1988 classic by 🏆 Grammy winner 🎙 Tracy Chapman, 🎵 “Fast Car”.  Combs surpassed Chapman’s mark on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, Luke racked up a no. 1 on the Country Airplay charts. Given the fact that Chapman penned “Fast Car,” she made some history too, 35 years after “Fast Car” arrived, becoming the first black woman with the sole writing credit on a no. 1 country song. That, ladies and gentlemen, is big.  The accolades that Combs is receiving himself are remarkable. Most remarkable, however, in the case of this cover, is how well he executes it.  The original wasn’t too far removed from country music, given its folky, singer/songwriter leanings.  Countrifying it, with the perks of modern recording technology, works seamlessly (production by 🎛 Chip Matthews and Jonathan Singleton).  The guitars are idiomatic of modern country, while also retaining the sanctity of the original. The most dramatic difference, of course, is the shift from a female to a male vocalist.  Combs sounds incredibly natural on the lead, as if this could’ve been his song. Hearing him sing so expressively, it’s clear that this classic means something to him – it’s special.   

Appears in 🔻:    

• Luke Combs, Fast Car: Covers No. 31 (2023)   
• Tracy Chapman vs. Luke Combs: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 32 (2023)   
• 13 Stellar Songs Driven By Speed (2023)  

15. SZA, “Snooze” 

💿 SOS • 🏷 Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA • 🗓 2022 

“Let’s take this argument back up to my place (my place) / Sex remind you I’m nonviolent, I’m your day one (Day one).” Ooh-wee! 🎵 “Snooze” is no snooze fest for 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter, 🎙 SZA. She experienced ample success with her December 2022 sophomore album, 💿 SOS.  She released “Snooze” as a single in April 2023 following her ace in the hole, 🎵 “Kill Bill”. SZA exudes plenty of assertiveness and attitude.  The big takeaway – she’s stuck on him.  Early on, she asserts, “I’d touch that fire for you / I do that three, four times again.” My, my, my! She goes on to say in the chorus, “I can’t lose when I’m with you / How can I snooze and miss the moment?” Indeed, especially when “Nobody do body like you do,” WOO! “Snooze” features stellar vocals from SZA, and is superbly produced (🎛 Babyface, BLK Beats, and The Rascals)

14. Omar Apollo, “3 Boys”  

🎵 “3 Boys” • 🏷 Warner • 🗓 2023

“I should take your advice and find someone new / So I could have two.” That number is significant on 🎵 “3 Boys”, a marvelous single by 🏆 Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, 🎙 Omar Apollo. Apollo continues to be open about sexuality, adding a different wrinkle on “3 Boys”: monogamy versus polyamory versus unrequited love.  Even though the boy that Apollo digs (likely an ex) encourages bringing another into the fold, Apollo isn’t a fan. “Seems like everything I do take me further from you,” he asserts in the pre-chorus.  The centerpiece is the chorus, where he soulfully expresses his issues with polyamory/still being in love with someone he’s not with anymore.  He only wants one boyfriend as opposed to three in the mix.  “Three boys would work if I wasn’t so tethered to you,” he sings, continuing, “What should I do? / I can’t even choose / I’m tethered to you.” Apollo brings up relevant points about being dedicated to the ONE he loves.  He sings well, superbly bringing the lyrics of this co-write with 🎼 ✍ Mustafa, Nathan Phillips, and Sir Dylan (who also produces) to life. It is easy to continue to be in love with Omar Apollo… HIM and his music.  

Appears in 🔻:    

• Awesome Songs: February 2023   
• Monogamy: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 20 (2023)   
• BOY, These Songs Are About You (2023)   
• Best LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 Songs of 2023 (so far) 
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 

13.Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar, “The Hillbillies”  

🎵 “The Hillbillies” • 🏷 Baby Keem, LLC / pgLang LLC / Columbia • 📅 2023

“We gon’ fuck up the world (Here right now) / Excuse me, but is that your girl? (Here right now).” WOO! 🏆 Grammy-winning rappers (and cousins) 🎙 Kendrick Lamar and 🎙 Baby Keem make musical magic when they collab – the synergy is real! There is no shortage of magic in the colorful single, 🎵 “The Hillbillies.”  “The Hillbillies” was produced by 🎛 EVILGIANE, and samples 🎙 Drake (🎵 “Sticky”) and 🎙 Bon Iver (🎵 “PDLIF”).  🎙 Justin Vernon sounds heavenly in the unique backdrop, complementing the rappers who reference themselves as soccer superstars ⚽️ Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. K-Dot asserts, “They gon’ think that you rep me, girl, 5’7”, I’m Messi, girl.” He adds, in the second verse, “I’ma pass you to Neymar, he got time for your bestie, girl.” Baby Keem adds, prior to the end, “Messi, get them girls off the stage, ‘cause somebody’s gonna get taken.” Distinct, idiosyncratic, and unique, “The Hillbillies” is one of the more fun rap songs of 2023.  The way Kendrick and Baby Keem trade bars = FANTASTIC!

12. PinkPantheress & Ice Spice, “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” 

💿 Heaven knows • 🏷 Warner Music UK Limited • 📅 2023 

 “Take a look inside your heart, is there any room for me? / I won’t have to hold my breath till you get down on one knee.” Oh my – interesting. 🎙 PinkPantheress dropped a compelling single entitled 🎵 “Boy’s a liar” at the tail end of 2022.  In 2023, she unveiled the remix, 🎵 “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” featuring rapper, 🎙 Ice Spice. “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” keeps things short – two minutes and change – and sweet, of course! PinkPantheress serves up chill, cool vocals at the onset.  She’s backed by picturesque production – great groove and plenty of exceptional production touches led by keys and synths – as she informs us about this lying male.  Besides her light, airy voice, other selling points include the quick melodic lines and how they correspond with the tempo. There are also some nice overlapping and layered vocals.  Fittingly, the chorus – brief and uncomplicated – is #winning too (“Thе boy’s a liar, the boy’s a liar / He doesn’t see ya, you’rе not looking at me, boy”). Ice Spice makes “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” one of the treats of 2023. As always, her flow is energetic: “Like that boy is a cap / Sayin’ he home, but I know where he at, like / Bet he blowin’ her back / Thinkin’ ‘bout me ‘cause he know that it’s fat (Damn).” Damn, indeed, and better yet, “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” is a damn good song – NO CAP!

11. Sufjan Stevens, “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?”    

💿 Javelin • 🏷 Asthmatic Kitty • 🗓 2023    

🎵 “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?”, a single and highlight from 💿 Javelin, the 10th studio album by 🏆 Academy and Grammy award-nominated singer/songwriter 🎙 Sufjan Stevens, begins stripped, reminiscent of his folksier music moments of the past.  “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?” commences with a simple, rhythmic accompaniment carried by guitar (or similar acoustic string instrument) supporting his hushed, expressed vocals, and it’s more than enough.  Soon enough, piano joins the mix in the pre-chorus, with Stevens maintains his hushed vocal approach (“Tie me to a tiny wooden raft / Burn my body, point me to the undertow”). The initial chorus that follows grows a bit bigger in scope, but still, Stevens remains cool, calm, and collected – even keeled:

“Will anybody ever love me?     

For good reasons      

Without grievance, not for sport     

Will anybody ever love me?      

In every season     

Pledge allegiance to my heart     

Pledge allegiance to my burning heart.” 

Following the first chorus, a more colorful soundscape arrives. In the second verse, not only is the arrangement more ornate instrumentally, but Stevens also adds vocalists who harmonize with him. The lyrics continue to shine with Stevens singing in the final couple lines of the verse, “Take my suffering as I take my vow / Wash me now, anoint me with that golden blade.” Expectedly, the second chorus is much grander – absolutely stunning with its vocal layers and the instrumental touches. The outro is ear-catching, highlighted by the lyric, “My burning heart,” as well as supporting vocalists singing the titular lyric. “Will Anybody Ever Love Me,” dare I say slaps in the most refined, sophisticated way possible!      

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: October 2023  
• 13 Intriguing Songs for ANY Occasion (2023)  

10. Tyler Childers, “In Your Love” 

💿 Rustin’ In The Rain • 🏷 Hickman Holler / RCA • 🗓 2023

“It’s a long hard war / Ah, but I can grin and bear it,” Kentucky country singer/songwriter 🎙 Tyler Childers sings, continuing, “‘Cause I know what the hell I’m fightin’ for / And I will wait for you.” Childers wows on 🎵 “In Your Love” from his 2023 album, 💿 Rustin’ In The Rain.  LOVE is the big takeaway on this gorgeous ballad that Childers wrote alongside 🎼 ✍ Geno Seale.  The protagonist is willing to fight for love – give his all for the person he loves (“You’re the finest thing around / So I will stand my ground”).  Childers absolutely slaughters.  His voice is marvelous as he sings expressively, in nuanced fashion.  The authenticity that he performs with truly makes the listener buy what he is selling. The chorus is the the crème de la crème: “We were never made to run forever / We were just meant to go long enough / To find what we were chasin’ after / I believe I found it here / In your love.” A piano ballad initially, the instrumentation expands to include an idiomatic country sound palette. With the excellence of the song firmly established lyrically, musically, and vocally, the bold, stunning music video deserves mention – a gay love story between two miners that perfectly parallels the songwriting. Haynes told Ann Powers of NPR he was inspired to do the music video by his older cousin, who is gay. With 🎵 “In Your Love”, Childers delivers one of the very best songs of 2023 – a perfect example of putting more acceptance, love, and respect in the world rather than judgement. 

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: August 2023 

9. Boygenius, “Not Strong Enough”  

💿 the record • 🏷 boygenius / Interscope • 📅 2023

“Black hole opened in the kitchen / Every clock’s a different time / It would only take the energy to fix it / I don’t know why I am…” Oh, wow! For 💿 the record, the 🏆 Grammy-nominated album by critical darlings, 🎙 boygenius – 🎙 Lucy Dacus, 🎙 Julien Baker, and 🎙 Phoebe Bridgers – the song to beat is the sixth track, 🎵 “Not Strong Enough.” On this four-minute gem, the songwriting is impeccable, as to be expected from three gifted singer/songwriters. Furthermore, it’s tuneful from start to finish – a ‘pop’ joint in the context of an alternative LP. “Not Strong Enough” covers plenty of territory – more than initially anticipated by the collective. Territory covered includes overthinking and n self-hatred (“Not strong enough to be your man / I tried, I can’t”), mental health/illness, and, perhaps most interestingly, a god-complex (“Always an angel, never a god”).  Notably, it’s brilliant how boygenius highlights this notion that women don’t receive the same acknowledgement as men. All told, “Not Strong Enough” is strong to the nth degree – easily, one of the elite songs of 2023.  It’s well-written, well-produced, and well-performed.

8. Olivia Rodrigo, “Vampire” 

💿 GUTS • 🏷 Olivia Rodrigo / Geffen • 🗓 2023   

“As you sunk your teeth into me, oh / Bloodsucker, fame fucker / Bleedin’ me dry like a goddamn vampire.” WOO! 🏆 Grammy-winning pop superstar 🎙 Olivia Rodrigo returns in a big way with, 🎵 “Vampire”, the ambitious lead single from her highly anticipated sophomore LP, 💿 GUTS. Olivia doesn’t mince her words.  A couple of f-bombs always adds pizzaz, don’t they? Rodrigo penned “Vampire” alongside 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Dan Nigro, who also produces. Early on, Rodrigo makes it crystal clear that she is not happy with her ex. “Six months of torture you sold as some forbidden paradise,” she asserts in the first verse, adding, “I loved you truly / You gotta laugh at the stupidity.” Day-um! “Vampire” fittingly commences as a piano ballad, adding instrumentation in the first chorus, where the intensity increases. Rodrigo shows off mad pipes during the chorus, capped off by the epic “bloodsucker, fame fucker…” lyric. By the second verse, also dramatic, drums enter the mix, adding even more intensity, establishing this toxic experience. At one point, she states, “Oh, what a mesmerizing, paralyzing, fucked up little thrill / Can’t figure out just how you do it and God knows I never will.” As excerpted earlier, the centerpiece is the chorus, in all its vampirical thrills: “You only come out at night / I used to think I was smart / But you made me look so naïve.” As bad as the experience was for Rodrigo, she lets it all out on this thrilling gem.  

Appears in 🔻: 

• Awesome Songs: July 2023  

7. Billie Eilish, “What Was I Made For?” 

💿 Barbie The Album • 🏷 Atlantic / Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. • 📅 2023

“I used to float, now I just fall down / I used to know, but I’m not sure now / What I was made for / What was I made for?” When 🎙 Billie Eilish and 🎛 FINNEAS release music, it hits different, doesn’t it? Most of the songs from 💿 Barbie The Album are brief, energetic, groovy, and upbeat.  In the case of Eilish’s 🤩 🎵 “What Was I Made For?” tempo slackens, the duration increases, and the tone is much more reflective.  As always, Eilish and FINNEAS concoct magic in the studio, penning this ballad. Producing alongside FINNEAS is 🎛 Andrew Wyatt and Mark Ronson. “What Was I Made For?” is beautiful.  It commences as a piano ballad. As the record progresses, there’s additional instrumentation that fills things out (the beauty of the synthesizer).  The melody is stunning, amplified more by radiant vocals by Billie Eilish.  Eilish sounds particularly strong in her upper register showcasing her versatility.  Besides her superb vocal performance, the vocal production is also a selling point. From a songwriting perspective, “What Was I Made For?” is well-penned. It’s sad, mind you, but highly successful (“When did it end? All the enjoyment/ I’m sad again, don’t tell my boyfriend / It’s not what he’s made for / What was I made for?”).   

Appears in 🔻: 

• Awesome Songs: July 2023  

6. Doja Cat, “Paint the Town Red” 

💿 Scarlet • 🏷 Kemosabe / RCA • 🗓 2023

“Said pop make money, now you try, bitch / You could use a revamp with a new vibe, sis.” Grammy-winner Doja Cat is locked-in in aggressive, rap mode on 🎵 “Paint The Town Red”, the opener and a single from her fourth studio album, 💿 Scarlet. Produced by 🎛 Earl on the Beat, Amala gets a lift with the beloved, soul classic, 🎵 “Walk on By” by 🎙 Dionne Warwick being sampled overtly. The first thing we hear from Doja is the chorus, in all its assertive glory: “Yeah, bitch, I said what I said / I’d rather be famous instead / I let all that get to my head / I don’t care, I paint the town red.” WOO! If the chorus weren’t feisty enough, the post-chorus certainly is, adding to the infectious nature of the track (“Mm, she the devil / She a bad lil’ bitch, she a rebel…”). Beyond the chorus, the biting, unapologetic bars continue in the verses whether its, “Said my happiness is all of your misery / I put good dick all in my kidneys” from the first, or, “I’m a demon, Lord / Fall off what? I ain’t seen the horse.”  Fully embracing all things hip-hop, Doja Cat shines on 🎵 “Paint The Town Red”.  the song to beat from Scarlet.  

Appears in 🔻:      

• These 13 Songs Bleed 🩸 Red (2023) 
• Paint 🎨: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 67 (2023) 
• Awesome Songs: August 2023    

5. Miley Cyrus, “Flowers” 

💿 Endless Summer Vacation • 💿 Endless Summer Vacation • 🏷 Smiley Miley, Inc. / Columbia • 🗓 2023

“Yeah, I can love me better than you can.” Oh snap, 🎙 Miley Cyrus! The groovy single 🤩 🎵 “Flowers” commences her eighth studio album, 💿 Endless Summer Vacation. On this pop gem, Cyrus sings about loving herself post-relationship. “We were right ‘til we weren’t,” she asserts in the first verse, continuing, “Built a home and watched it burn.” That is an accurate, poetic way to cap off an ended union.  The second verse has a similar tenor: “No remorse, no regret / I forgive every word you said.”  The centerpiece is the chorus where she is better off alone, at least, for now: “I can buy myself flowers / Write my name in the sand /… I can hold my own hand / Yeah, I can love me better than you can.” Besides entertaining, emotional, and relatable lyrics, the music is lit too, thanks to production by 🎛️ Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson. Despite her love troubles (Liam Hemsworth appears to be the big culprit here), Cyrus makes sweet lemonade out of sour lemons on 🎵 “Flowers”.  Her voice is amazing, the songwriting memorable, and the sound – quite an ear-catching vibe.

Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: January 2023 
• Best LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 Songs of 2023 (so far) 
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 

4. Victoria Monét, “On My Mama”  

💿 JAGUAR II • 🏷 Lovett Music, Inc. / RCA • 🗓 2023

“Put that on my own mama, on my hood / I look fly, I look good / You can’t touch my bag, wish you could / I look fly, I look too good.” 🎙 Victoria Monét is confident AF on 🎵 “On My Mama”, the very best song from her 2023 debut album, 💿 JAGUAR II, PERIOD! Basically, you can’t touch her – she’s the sugar honey iced tea! On this fab record, she gets a groovy, soulful backdrop from 🎛 Deputy and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman.  It’s not all neo-soul vibes though as 🎙 Chalie Boy brings the hip-hop swagger in the post-chorus, gassing up Ms. Monét.  While the chorus takes the cake, EVERYTHING about “On My Mama” is the cat’s meow 🐈. Monét has opted against being humble – an understatement.  “Tell me, is you down / ‘Cause I’m tryna go up tonight,” she sings in the first verse, continuing, “Hoes and hoochies left and right / I just wanna live in a fantasy / I think we deserve it, right?” WOO! Furthermore, she brags, “Sex game go stupid / Snappin’ like a toothpick /… Might be too fine to hit it from behind” Lawd Jesus! As untouchable as she is, there is no way you can deny how entertaining she sounds on 🎵 “On My Mama”. Gotta love the fierceness!   

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: June 2023  
• 13 Compelling Songs About Specific People (2023)   

3. Troye Sivan, “Rush” 

💿 Something To Give Each Other • 🏷 EMI Recorded Music Australia Production • 🗓 2023

“I feel the rush / Addicted to your touch / Oh, I feel the rush / It’s so good, it’s so good.” 🎙 Troye Sivan embraces and double down on his sexuality on the club infused, 🏆 Grammy-nominated bop, 🎵 “Rush”.  “Rush” serves as the opener and lead single of his third studio album, 💿 Something To Give Each Other.  It’s fabulous and gay AF. The music video seals the gay deal of “Rush”.  Still, even if Sivan had denied us a visual of appetizing fit, shirtless men and sexual liberation, the sound of the record is giving gay gym / gay club.  This slick joint was produced by 🎛 Styalz Fuego, NOVODOR, and Zhone.  Lyrically and thematically, sex is written all over this record.  Sure, there’s dancing, but it’s dirty dancing! “Trust the stimulation, don’t you let it break / Every stimulation, promise I can take,” Sivan sings in the first verse adding, “What you wanna give? Boy, you better show me what / You’ve been schemin’ up.” WOO! The heat continues in the second verse, where Troye asserts, “Pass your boy the heatwave,” adding, “Kiss it when you’re done, man, this shit is so much fun / Pocket rocket gun.” Clearly, while listening to the heat and surefire bop that is 🎵 “Rush”, you should be some place where it’s okay if you get a little, um, turned on!

Appears in 🔻:   

• Awesome Songs: July 2023   
• Rush: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 59 (2023)   
• 13 Thrilling Songs to Get Your Gym 🏋️ 💪 On… or Not (2023)  

2. Lana Del Rey, “A&W” 

💿 Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd • 🏷 Interscope • 🗓 2023

🏆 Grammy-nominated alt-pop singer/songwriter 🎙 Lana Del Rey kicked off her ninth studio album, 💿 Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd with unpredictability, thanks to expansive single, 🎵 “A&W”. Del Rey penned “A&W” alongside 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Jack Antonoff, who she also produces the track with. This epic, seven-minute-plus record is divided in two distinct parts.  Part I finds Lana being true to self. Even so, there is plenty to unpack, which is part of the genius. She is reflective, reminiscent, and brutally honest.  She recalls innocence in the first line: “I haven’t done a cartwheel since I was nine.” However, the sugar honey iced tea doesn’t take long to get real, as she depicts being an American Whore, as the abbreviated title suggests.  There are plenty of epic lyrics from Part I including the transparent “It’s not about havin’ someone to love me anymore / This is the experience of bein’ an American whore,” and the ultra-memorable, “Did you know a singer can still be / Looking like a sidepiece at thirty-three?”  On Part II, she moves beyond alternative singer/songwriter pop to more of a trip-hop, minimalist sound.  This is where she showcases more innovative spirit, all the while flipping 🎵 “Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop” to “Jimmy Jimmy cocoa puff.” In the process, the high is real. Just when you think Lana Del Rey has become totally predictable, she totally surprises on the more experimental 🎵 “A&W”.    

Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: February 2023 
• Interesting Songs That Feature Acronym Titles, Vol. 2 (2023) 
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 

1. SZA, “Kill Bill” 

💿 SOS • 🏷 Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA • 🗓 2023 

“I might kill my ex, not the best idea,” 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter 🎙 SZA asserts on 🎵 “Kill Bill”,  one of the very best songs from her critically acclaimed sophomore album, 💿 SOS.  In the record, she sings gorgeously despite being pissed off.  In the first verse of the original, she asserts, “I’m still a fan even though I was salty / Hate to see you with some other broad, know you happy / Hate to see you happy if I’m not the one drivin’.” Like the 🎬 Quentin Tarantino films she references, she’s angry at her ex, eventually confirming she kills him and his new girlfriend.   

Ultimately, her love pain, and violence, is our listening pleasure, accentuated even more on 🎵 “Kill Bill (Remix)” featuring fellow 🏆 Grammy winner, 🎙 Doja Cat.  Doja appears at the beginning of the remix, replacing the original verse by SZA.  It is colorful, painting a violent picture, because of her ex-boyfriend being a dick.  Doja ends up going to his new house, the new girlfriend is angry, and ultimately, after the new girlfriend charges at Doja, she shoots her.  Memorably, she closes the verse with a bang: “Y’all crisscrossed, saw her fall to the floor / Then you paused there in horror, that shot wasn’t for her.”  From there, we get the rest of the original “Kill Bill,” beginning with the unforgettable, ex-killing chorus, and second verse by SZA (“I try to ration with you, no murders, no crime of passion / But, damn, you was out of reach”). Stellar track and the best song of 2023 from my perspective!

Appears in 🔻:  

• Awesome Songs: April 2023  
• Best Songs of 2023 (So Far) 
• 13 Compelling Songs About Specific People (2023)   
• 15 Electrifying Songs That Utterly KILL It (2023)