2023 has certainly been an interesting year for music. As someone who loves covering new music, it is difficult to keep up with the rapid-fire nature of the music industry in this day and age. Because the internet moves so quickly, multiple new tracks are popping up that go viral literally every week. The amount of new music that becomes popular is astounding, and it almost becomes an information overload for people who love to cover new music like me. One cool thing about the music industry’s current state is how diverse it has become. There are truly no limits on what artists can do in 2023. Everyone draws influence from everyone else, making the music industry as a whole as wide-ranging and diverse as it has ever been. One thing that is not cool about the music industry in 2023 is how so many people who make music are way too focused on getting eyes on what they are doing instead of focusing on the quality of their music. Even though there is a ton of awesome new music coming out, sometimes it feels like a lot of the music in 2023 is unfocused, as artists are more concerned with coming up with cool ideas that will pop with the masses instead of focusing on the quality of the art they are putting out. I think this is especially reflected in so many of the albums that came out this year(I will elaborate on this when I drop my best albums of 2023 list in the coming days). With that being said, there were still so many great individual songs that came out in 2023. To be honest, it was kind of difficult to compose these Best of lists for the first and second half of 2023 because there are so many songs I want to include. There are definitely multiple songs I left out that I enjoy a ton; I honestly probably could have made this list at least 35 songs if I wanted to. Below is a list of some of my favorite songs from the first half of this year(approximately going through the end of June). This list is not necessarily in order of least favorite to favorite, instead following more of a general chronological order(or more so, an order of when I first heard them). I will indicate what my absolute three or four top ones were in the descriptions of the songs, though. Please let me know in the comments below how many of these songs you loved as well, and also comment the names of some other great songs from the first half of 2023 that you love.

PAINT THE SKY – LIL YACHTY

Lil Yatchy certainly started this year out with a bang with his album Let’s Start Here. He began the year by setting the standard for all of his peers, and not many of them lived up to him throughout the rest of 2023. There are multiple songs from Let’s Start Here that I could have picked for this list, but I went with ‘paint THE sky’ for a few reasons. The melody for this song is like ear candy; its warm and luscious feeling has the energy of a Blue Eyed Soul song from back in the day by Hall & Oates or Michael Bolton. The hook for ‘paint THE sky’’ is so addicting. Whenever I hear this one, I get ‘you got me drinking, smoking, I might overdose on your love’ stuck in my head for hours. ‘paint THE sky’ is a great track that shows the diversity Lil Yachty has in his artistry; I hope he goes this direction again in the future.

FLOWERS – MILEY CYRUS

Every year, there are one or two Pop songs that come out with a lasting quality to them that transcend time. ‘Flowers’ is one of those songs. I was not the biggest fan of Miley Cyrus’ new album Endless Summer Vacation as a whole(I did think it was okay but was unfortunately very underwhelmed), I can not deny how good ‘Flowers’ is. To be honest, ‘Flowers’ has grown on me as the year has gone on; I did not love it when it first came out, but I have come to appreciate and enjoy it a ton over the course of the year. Songs like this feel like they could have come out 20 years ago, but also feel modern. Even though it has a classic sound, it still somehow does not feel old. The most interesting thing about ‘Flowers’ to me is the lyricism. This song is actually written as a response to Bruno Mars’ hit some ‘When I Was Your Man;’ though Miley is singing this song to her ex, she is responding to Bruno’s lyrics in that track through this one(if you do not understand what I mean, listen to them both and think about it). ‘Flowers’ may not be thrilling or innovative, but it is a high-quality Pop song with a timeless quality I can appreciate.

BOY’S A LIAR PT. 2 – PINK PANTHERESS FEAT. ICE SPICE

‘boy’s a liar pt. 2’ is easily a candidate for song of the year from 2023. Out of all the great music that came out this year, I would not be surprised if this is the one that many people remember the most. This song was created by two of the most modern-sounding and viral artists making music today, PinkPantheress and Ice Spice. Its light and bright melody and fast-paced Garage beat are so entertaining and will get anyone bobbing their head when it comes on. Both vocal performances on this song are great. PinkPantheress and Ice Spice each bring so much to the table that makes ‘boy’s a liar pt. 2’ a fun song to listen to. ‘boy’s a liar pt. 2’ was a major hit on TikTok and Instagram for good reason, and I do think it will be remembered for years to come as a staple from 2023.

MIRACLE – CALVIN HARRIS FEAT. ELLIE GOULDING

Unfortunately, there were not a ton of Electronic songs that grabbed ahold of me this year. Having been such a big fan of Electronic music in the past, it bums me out that it has not been hitting in the mainstream the last couple of years as it was in the 2010s. ‘Miracle’ is a song that had some mainstream success at the beginning of the year, though, and it is easy to see why this one hit like it did. Calvin Harris goes with a retro sound on this track that fits the aesthetic that so many artists in different genres have been capitalizing on. ‘Miracle’ has an instrumental that is very reminiscent of the Europop music that was big in the Y2K era. This song has the type of emphatic sound that so much Trance music at the turn of the century had. Ellie Goulding does her thing on this track, providing a memorable chorus that is fun to sing along to. ‘Miracle’ is an entertaining song that provides a bit of nostalgia that Electronic music fans appreciate a ton.

HOLLYWOOD BABY – 100 GECS

‘Hollywood Baby’ may not be a song for everyone, but I have to shout it out. This song is by the polarizing and experimental group 100 gecs. This is the kind of music that people either love or hate; there is no in-between. I obviously fall into the love category when it comes to 100 gecs’ music. Their 2023 album, 10,000 gecs is an absurd and wild mashup of Metal, Punk, Industrial music, and pretty much every major music genre. ‘Hollywood Baby,’ in my opinion, is the best and most exciting song on the record, which is saying a lot. This is a distorted and saturated Industrial and Metal-infused Pop-Punk track with so much energy and a very inviting and sing-a-long-able chorus. If I were to show 100 gecs to non-Industrial fans their music, I would probably pick ‘Hollywood Baby’ because it is one of their most tame and palatable tracks. It does not have any of the abrasive and bold qualities some of their more intense music has. ‘Hollywood Baby’ is a cool track from one of the most interesting artists making music today, and I had to make sure I talked about it on this list so it gets more exposure.

KILL BILL – SZA

Although ‘Kill Bill’ did technically come out at the end of 2022 as apart of SZA’s SOS album, it was released as a single at the beginning of 2023, so I am including it on this list(especially because it went so viral in the first half of the year on apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube). ‘Kill Bill’ is a truly excellent neo-R&B that encapsulates everything about SZA that makes her a generational talent. This track is so simple yet so powerful. The soft and breezy instrumental brings out the dainty and lullaby element that SZA’s vocals contain. The tongue-in-cheek lyricism of this song is silly yet relatable and so fun to sing-along to. It is not tough to see why this song is so popular. Like ‘Boy’s a liar pt. 2,’ it will no doubt be one of the most remembered songs of 2023.

A&W – LANA DEL REY

Spoiler alert(please read the rest of the list too when it comes out to see what else I loved from this year), I think that Lana Del Rey’s DYKTTATUOB is the best album of 2023. I know it is a bit polarizing, but I just think it is so good for what it is and deserves all of the credit. It is an Americana masterpiece, and ‘A&W’ is one of the songs that captures its overall magic the most(there are a couple other songs from the record, like ‘Peppers,’ that I love as well, but I think ‘A&W’ is just the album’s peak). ‘A&W’ is a journey of a song to listen to; it has many layers, and gets heavier and more bold as it progresses. I love how the sound and style of this song changes multiple times within the track, while still feeling seamless and cohesive. This song has elements of Chamber Pop. Folk, Hip Hop, and Industrial Electronic music, and somehow still feels so clean and natural. ‘A&W’ is an example of Lana Del Rey pushing boundaries and nailing it(as she so often does), and it deserves to be praised and recognized.

FUNERAL GREY – WATERPARKS

Pop-Punk and Emo-Rock have seen a revival in the last five years or so, and one of my favorite artists who is a part of this revival is Waterparks. Their 2023 album, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, is very fresh and riveting, and ‘FUNERAL GREY’ is a great example of this. ‘FUNERAL GREY’ has the kind of glitzy and pleasant Pop-Punk sound that fans of bands like Boys Like Girls or Fall Out Boy would love. It has just enough of a Pop sound to make it easy to enjoy for people not as much into Rock music, but it is gritty enough for fans of the harder music in the genre. To be honest, I am kind of surprised this song did not end up being bigger than it was because it has the kind of angst and attitude I could see excelling on TikTok. ‘FUNERAL GREY’ is a very good Pop-Punk song from a band that deserves way more credit, as I think they are a lot better than some of the more popular artists in this genre today.

CLASSY 101 – FEID FEAT. YOUNG MIKO

If you know me, you know I am always going to include some Spanish-language in lists of music I love. ‘Classy 101,’ by Feid and Young Miko, is the first one I chose for this list. Feid and Young Miko are two of the biggest rising stars in the Reggaeton music scene right now; they both have so many qualities about their sound and persona that draw the listener in, and ‘Classy 101’ is a perfect example of that. ‘Classy 101’ is an entertaining and energetic song that will get anyone feeling good when it comes on. This track has perfect dance floor energy; the instrumental and vocal performances are so smooth; it is difficult to not immediately start moving your hips when it plays. ‘Classy 101’ is a Reggaeton smash that introduced so many people to these two great artists, and it is the start of what will be an extremely successful career for both Feid and Young Miko.

UN X100TO – GRUPO FRONTERA FEAT. BAD BUNNY

One of my favorite music trends of 2023 was the emergence in popularity of a type of Mexican Folk music called Nortěno. This style of music is simple yet powerful, with the focus being put on the intricate melodies provided by the instrumentalists and the powerful vocals of the singers. ‘Un x100to’ was not the first song with the song to blow up in 2023, but it is definitely one of my favorite ones. The thing that stands out the most to me on this song is the contrast in vocals between the singers of Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny. Bad Bunny has such a gruff and heavy vocal style, which gives the song so much texture and emotion when paired with the vocals from Grupo Frontera’s vocalists. ‘Un x100to’ is a really cool song from an artist that I am happy is making a name for themselves in 2023. I hope with the help of Bad Bunny music like this stays popular in the coming years.

12AM – DC THE DON

I am always going to get excited when someone from my city starts to make it big. DC The Don is yet another Milwaukee-born artist making waves on a national scale. Like Lakeyah was a couple of years ago, DC The Don was an XXL Freshman in 2023, solidifying him as one of the most exciting rising stars in the game DC The Don’s 2023 album FUNERAL is a really high-quality and diverse project that shows how talented he is, and ‘12AM’ is the peak of that record in my opinion. This track is so ultramodern in the best way. It takes some of the best qualities from the music of artists like Playboi Carti and Lil Uzi Vert from recent years and expands upon it. Even though it is easy to hear who DC The Don was influenced by in this track, ‘12AM’ still sounds very unique and futuristic and makes DC The Don stick out.

FAVORITE SONG – TOOSII

Slow and emotional R&B Trap music becoming super popular is one of the most confusing things happening in the Hip Hop game right now. So much of today’s Hip Hop is so high energy and massive, so this kind of softer and sweeter music emerging like it has is certainly intriguing. ‘Favorite Song’ is my top song with this sound and style that was big in 2023, and I am obviously not the only one who thinks this considering how popular it was. One thing that is cool about this track is the sense of community it provides. It has the kind of sing-a-long element to it tracks like Keyshia Cole’s ‘Love’ and Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together’ have; when it comes on at the function, literally everyone will start singing their heart out. Any track that has this kind of effect on a crowd has to be praised and recognized. That is why I think ‘Favorite Song’ has to be included as one of the best songs from 2023.

WHERE SHE GOES – BAD BUNNY

Are you surprised that Bad Bunny is already appearing again in this list? You shouldn’t be, considering so much of what he touches immediately turns to gold. ‘WHERE SHE GOES’ was Bad Bunny’s first solo single of 2023, and like ‘Boy’s a liar pt. 2’ and ‘Kill Bill,’ it will be one of the most remembered and iconic songs of the year. This song capitalized on the Jersey Club style of Electronic music that has become so big recently; its vibrant and upbeat sound will get the whole function partying when it comes on; it is the kind of song any DJ can turn on to immediately inject energy into the crowd. ‘WHERE SHE GOES’ has this epic quality to its sound that makes it so captivating and exciting to listen to. It is yet another reason why Bad Bunny is one of the most important artists of his generation.

SOSSAUP – KAYTRAMINE FEAT. AMAARAE

Kaytranada and Aminé coming together to make a record was one of the coolest collaborations to come about in 2023. Both of these artists have distinct and unique styles of music, and hearing them do it together was very cool. ‘Sossaup’ is easily my favorite song from their record together, as I feel like it brings out the best in both artists. This song takes elements of the Funky House music Kaytranada is known for and gives it an Island music twist. Aminé’s vocals on ‘Sossaup’ are so silky and easy-going, pairing so nicely with the feeling of the instrumental. Even though the track feels sort of laid-back, there is something about its energy that makes me want to move my feet whenever it comes on. ‘Sossaup’ is a song that may not be for more casual Hip-Hop or Electronic music fans, but people who appreciate the more experimental elements of both genres should appreciate it a lot.

FLOAT – JANELLE MONÁE FEAT. SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80

Janelle Monaé’s new album The Age Of Pleasure was one of my most anticipated albums of 2023. Although I will admit the album as a whole didn’t live up to my lofty expectations, it still had some very good music on it, including the song ‘Float’ with Seun Kuti & Egypt 80. ‘Float’ is the kind of song that makes me want to party the night away on a beach whenever I hear it. This track has the kind of Island Trap feeling that immediately makes me think of a warm summer night in the Caribbean(which I could definitely use right now considering how cold and crappy it is in Milwaukee). The instrumental for this song is so balmy and luscious, the vocals provided by Janelle Monaé match that energy. I especially love her rapping on this track, as it gives ‘Float’ a joyous feeling that is palpable. ‘Float’ is an example of Janelle Monaé at her absolute best; I hope this is not the last time we hear her venture into this kind of music because she is so good at it.

ELLA BAILA SOLA – ESLABON ARMADO Y  PESO PLUMA 

‘Ella Baila Sola’ is the second Nortěno song I chose for this list. As much as I enjoy ‘Unx100to,’ I have to say I like this one more. Everything about this song is enthralling and draws me in as a listener. This song has an intricate and strong guitar riff and rhythm that are so inviting. As great as the instrumental is, the main component of the song that I(and so many others) love are the vocals, particularly the vocals from Peso Pluma. His raspy and nasally voice has an abrasive quality to it that is so interesting and keeps me wanting so much more. Although one does not expect this style of vocals to be on a song like this, I have to say that they work perfectly. ‘Ella Baila Sola’ was my personal first introduction to Peso Pluma, and I can not wait to hear more from him in the future as he continues to get better at what he does.

MOMENTARY SWEETHEART – DEB NEVER

‘Deb Never’ is an awesome Indie Pop-Rock artist that I have been trying to get people into for years. Her music is so eclectic and diverse; Deb Never draws influence from such a wide variety of places that it seems like there is no way to pinpoint her sound. She makes Alternative Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop that makes her stand out in the best way possible. ‘Momentary Sweetheart,’ a single from Deb’s phenomenal 2023 EP Thank You For Attending, is one of Deb Never’s more traditional-sounding songs, taking on a Post-Grunge sound that is reminiscent of the early 2000s. It is still really great and unique for what it is; this song is full of distortion and sound effects that make it sound modern. Deb Never’s vocal performance on this one is so powerful, giving the song a heaviness that makes it so powerful. If you are into Alternative Rock and want someone new to check out, please listen to ‘Momentary Sweetheart’ by Deb Never because it rules.

FUKUMEAN – GUNNA 

After being released from prison near the end of 2022, Gunna was determined to prove to the Hip Hop community that he is still one of the most important Trap artists in the game regardless of how people feel about his legal circumstances. I would say it is safe to say he proved how relevant and talented he is with his album a gift and a curse, and ‘fukumean’ is probably the best example of this. ‘fukumean’ is an incredibly captivating track that seems to get better with each listen. Everything about it is awesome; from the hypnotic melody to Gunna’s memorable vocals, ‘fukumean’ is just so good for what it is. I still find myself frequently going back to this one in awe of how perfect Gunna’s flow is on it. It is undeniable that Gunna is better than anyone at doing what he does when it comes to melodic Trap music, and ‘fukumean’ proves this.

MONA LISA – DOMINIC FIKE

 

I am not going to lie, I was majorly disappointed by Dominic Fike’s 2023 album Sunburn. I had high hopes for it due the singles released from it, but overall it just didn’t hit for me. One of the aforementioned singles from Sunburn I enjoyed a lot is ‘Mona Lisa,’ which is also included in the new Spider-Man movie. This is an upbeat and breezy Pop track that will make anyone feel good when it comes on. ‘Mona Lisa’ is not the most exciting or innovative track on this list, but it is still very good for what it is. Everything about this song is catchy. From the guitar-driven melody to the quick beat to the clear and sticky vocals, there is so much about ‘Mona Lisa’ that makes it a quintessential and very solid Radio-style Pop Track. ‘Mona Lisa’ is an entertaining and easy-going song that I could see ending up being popular for years to come because of how accessible it is.

HAEGEUM – AGUST D

I actually am making a list of music dedicated to my favorite K-Pop and J-Pop songs of the year, but I enjoy ‘Haegeum’ so much I had to include it on both lists. This track off of Agust D’s new album(who is actually also known as Suga from BTS) is just so great(to be honest, the whole of Agust D’s D-Day is great). ‘Haegeum’ is an abrasive, hard-hitting Trap song that provides so much emphasis and feels so huge. The instrumental for this song is so tough and looming, and the vocal performance from Agust D is just as intense as the instrumental. If you love harsh Trap music and have not heard ‘Haegeum’ yet, please check it out below because it is seriously so good. There is a reason why Agust D is thought of as one of the most important and prominent rappers in the Korean music industry, and ‘Haegeum’ shows just how good he is.

SPRINTER – CENTRAL CEE AND DAVE

Out of all of the Hip Hop artists who are thriving in Great Britain right now(over the last few years, the genre has risen to heights in the UK that it had never previously been able to reach), Central Cee and Dave are two of the artists who are making the biggest amount of impact in the United States as well. It is not tough to see why so many people are attracted to these two, especially because of songs like this. ‘Sprinter’ is an airy and effortless Pop-Trap song that will put anyone in a good mood when it comes on. The instrumental is so sleek and free, and the rap flows that come from Dave and Central see ride it so perfectly. This is a good song to introduce your friends to that do not know a lot of British Rap music, as it is a good and safe introduction to the style of instrumentals and overall sound of the music they love to make overseas. ‘Sprinter’ is a great track from two of the best artists doing it in the UK Rap game right now, and I hope both of these artists continue to grow and make moves in the American music world as well.

WHAT IT IS – DOECHII

As I have mentioned in this write up, TikTok is one of the driving forces behind what’s popular in music right now. ‘What It Is’ by Doechii is the perfect example of what I would consider a “TikTok single.” This infectious, animated Pop-Trap song is very fun to listen to and will get stuck in your head whenever you hear it. It has the kind of melody and vocals that are so bright and pleasant that you will find yourself singing or humming ‘What It Is’ to yourself all day. This song has the kind of energy that makes it feel like it will last on TikTok for a long time. I would not be surprised if ‘What It Is’ continues to be one of the more popular sounds used throughout 2024 on that app. ‘What It Is’ stands out because of how goofy and vibrant it is, and that is what makes it a very good song.

CAFFEINE – JACK KAYS

I would not classify ‘Caffeine’ by Jack Kay’s to be a typical TikTok single, but it is a dope song I found earlier this year on TikTok. I stumbled across this one aimlessly swiping earlier this year, and I am glad I did because I love it. ‘Caffeine’ is a high-energy, brash Alternative Rock song that provides a bit of nostalgia to a style of music I feel like deserves more credit. This song has an audacious guitar riff and overall sound that makes me think of the early 2000s; when I hear ‘Caffeine,’ I immediately think of The Strokes or The Arctic Monkeys. Jack Kays’ vocals are super poignant and prominent on ‘Caffeine.’ The emotion that he feels while singing this song is so palpable, which is one of the reasons I enjoy it so much. ‘Caffeine’ is an awesome Rock track with a sound that is not very prevalent these days, and I am excited to keep following Jack Kays and see how far he can take this sound(and his music in general).

INTRODUCING – GENIA

Like ‘Caffeine,’ I came across ‘Introducing’ by Genia when I was  aimlessly swiping on TikTok earlier this year. It is another exceptional song by a really cool up-and-coming artist that I am thrilled to help expose more and more people to. If you know me, you know I love 2000s R&B music, so ‘Introducing’ is right up my alley. When I first heard ‘Introducing,’ I described it as a combination of the music from Rihanna and Beyoncé from the late 2000s. This track has the kind of triumphant, larger-than-life horns one would expect from a Beyoncé song from that era, But Genia’s forceful, more Hip Hop oriented flow makes me think of Rihanna. This song does have a Trap beat to it that also makes it feel modern, giving it a retro-yet-fresh appeal. ‘Introducing’ is a great track from a rising R&B artist with tons of star power, and I am pumped up to see what Genia does next.