It's that time of year again to reflect and choose the things that 2023 will be remembered for, including music. Overall, the year in pop music felt rather stale, with the exception of Kylie Minogue, Alison Goldfrapp, and Jake Shears who made glorious comebacks. Joy Oladokun created one of the most meaningful and well-written records of the year, but unfortunately, it was largely overlooked. Jonas Brothers transformed into the Doobie Brothers and delivered one of the finest songs of their career. Slayyter, Tove Lo, and Caroline Polachek continued to push the boundaries of pop music, and I hope to see more of that in the future. Bebe Rexha, Sigrid, Cat Burns, and Mimi Webb crafted great bittersweet pop songs that always resonate. Last but not least, Kim Petras had an exceptional year. She won a GRAMMY and released two albums. However, I believe there is more for her to accomplish and showcase. She has a compelling narrative to share, and I would like to see her explore a more left-leaning, punk-inspired style and create more "art pop." Similar to Madonna and Lady Gaga in the past, she has a keen ability to connect with subcultures that can resonate with her music.
These are my favorite songs of 2023 in no particular order:
"Somebody To Love" by Kylie Minogue
"Somehow" by Joy Oladokun
"Minute" by Kim Petras
"Something About Your Love" by SG Lewis
"Borderline" by Sigrid
"The Last One" by Maisie Peters
"Miracle Main" by Bebe Rexha
"Waffle House" by Jonas Brothers
"Memories" by Slayyter
"Freezing" by Mimi Webb
”One That Got Away" by MUNA
"In Electric Blue" by Alison Goldfrapp
"Too Much Dancing" Jake Shears
“Don’t Get My Hopes Up” by Chace
"Welcome to my Island" by Caroline Polacheck
"i love u" by Tove Lo
"know that you're not alone" by Cat Burns
An honorable mention goes to “You Are The Eyes Of The World” by Phét Phét Phét that is 20+ minute tranquil opus that helped me to keep me grounded in the chaos of everyday life.