75 Best Songs Of 2023, Ranked

The year 2023 was an incredible one in the music world that featured surprise singles from some iconic artists of the past and major hits from rising stars. The year was full of emotions, with tracks running the gamut from ecstasy to depression and joyous partying to more shy offerings. In this article, we’ll break down the 75 best songs of 2023, taking into account chart performance, artistic creativity, and widespread fan acclaim to help rank them into proper order. 

1. Last Night – Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen - Last Night (One Record At A Time Sessions)

Last Night was an inescapable track in 2023, and while you can definitely argue that other songs should hold the top spot, it was the most successful single of the entire year. It held the top of the Hot 100 for a combined 16 weeks, in a nonconsecutive run stretching from February through August. If that doesn’t sell you, it tied the record for second-most weeks at number one and set the record for a non-collaboration single. It even stands as the only single to top the chart in six consecutive months.

This country crossover proved even more successful than Taylor Swift’s All Too Well, the last country track to top the chart, and marked the first time a male country artist achieved the feat since 1981. Thanks to multiple viral TikTok trends and a simple, fun chorus, Last Night cemented its spot as the most successful and best single of the year. 

2. Flowers – Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus - Flowers (Official Video)

Speaking of inescapable songs, I still remember where I was when I first heard Flowers coming out of my wife’s phone. The biggest single to come from Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation album, it stood as a brutal response to her former fiancé and her journey of acceptance and self-love in the aftermath of their breakup.

It debuted at the top of the Hot 100 and held the spot for eight non-consecutive weeks in 2023, turning into an international hit single that triumphantly strode to the top of the charts in 37 different countries. It would go on to earn her nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. 

3. Kill Bill – SZA

SZA - Kill Bill (Official Video)

One could make a solid argument that SZA’s SOS album was the best offering of the year, but it was songs like Kill Bill that earned it that placement. Mirroring the films of the same title, it follows a fantasy of her quest to exact revenge on an ex and ultimately off him and his new girlfriend. While that sounds a bit extreme, as a fantasy it remains purely relatable and that made it resonate with fans around the world.

It quickly rose to the number-one spot in seven countries worldwide, breaking into the top 10 in a further eight regions. A remix alongside Doja Cat boosted the original solo version to the top of the Hot 100, and it spent a total of eight weeks at number two. It went on to break Old Town Road‘s record for the most weeks atop the Hip-Hop/R&B charts in the US, staying there for 21 weeks. 

4. vampire – Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo - vampire (Official Video)

Another contender for album of the year thanks to her album Guts, Olivia Rodrigo delivered one of the best songs of the year with vampire. The ghoulish blood-suckers are brought up frequently throughout the track as she denounces the actions of an unnamed person who seemingly drained the life out of her and used her before dropping her.

The vampire lore gives the goth-pop single a fun twist without going full vamp and serves as a release valve for personal anger behind the scenes. It had a solid chart run, topping the Hot 100 in the US and the charts in five other countries en route to earning her nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. 

5. Paint the Town Red – Doja Cat

Doja Cat - Paint The Town Red (Official Video)

Paint The Town Red was undeniably one of the catchiest and most fun songs of the entire year. Essentially inspired by Doja Cat arguing with fans online, it proudly announces her unflappable confidence and dismisses all critics. It turned out to be a massive viral hit on top of an international hit single. It rose to the top of the charts in 19 different countries and made her the first female rapper to top the UK Singles Chart.

It then made Spotify history by becoming the first solo female rap track to top the platforms Global and US Top 50 charts and the fastest female rap song to reach 100 million streams. Throw in a few million more usages on TikTok and you end up with one of the most successful tracks of the year from one of the best albums of the year in Scarlet

6. I Remember Everything – Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves

Zach Bryan - I Remember Everything (feat. Kacey Musgraves)

Something about Zach Bryan’s music draws in fans of classic country and modern listeners alike, offering a little bit of something for everyone behind his incredible songwriting abilities. I Remember Everything was the best song he put out in 2023, serving as the lead single of his eponymous album.

Sung as a duet alongside Kacey Musgraves, the track debuted at the top of the Hot 100 and became both singer’s first number-one single on that chart. The pair trades soft, argumentative lines about being in a prior relationship and the different perspectives each of them had about the way things eventually turned out. 

7. A&W – Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey - A&W (Audio)

The title A&W not only refers to the American brand of root beer, but it also serves as an acronym for “American Whore.” Easily in the conversation for the title of best new song of 2023, it is both a classic Lana Del Rey single and a deeper peek behind the curtain of her life. Some hailed it as the best single she’s ever written while others had trouble discerning the meanings of the track and still found it a wonderful experience.

Interestingly, it is the third time she has released a song that mentions soda in the title after Cola and Diet Mountain Dew. While it failed to make it onto the Hot 100, the track earned her two nominations at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Alternative Music Performance. 

8. Boy’s a liar Pt. 2 – Pink Pantheress And Ice Spice

PinkPantheress, Ice Spice - Boy’s a liar Pt. 2 (Official Video)

Boy’s a liar Pt. 2 is a remix of the original solo version of the song by Pink Pantheress that features rising star Ice Spice rapping a verse in the middle of the track. It ended up serving as the lead single of PinkPantheress’s debut album Heaven Knows, earning rave reviews from critics and fans alike. It eventually peaked at number three on the Hot 100 and Global 200, becoming an international hit single and giving her another viral sound on TikTok. 

9. Will Anybody Ever Love Me? – Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens - "Will Anybody Ever Love Me?" (Official Music Video)

Sufjan Stevens is yet another artist to return with aplomb in 2023 and throw their hat into the ring for the title of best album of the year thanks to Javelin. Perhaps the best and most poignant song on the album, Will Anybody Ever Love Me? was released as the second single from the album. It questions whether or not the singer will ever find love for the right reasons and describes the pain of failed relationships that began without the proper desires in mind. 

10. Rich Men North of Richmond – Oliver Anthony

Oliver Anthony - Rich Men North of Richmond (Lyric Video)

Oliver Anthony became a massive star when he released Rich Men North Of Richmond on TikTok, completely unaware of what it would become. An anthem of the working man, decrying the plight of the average American and contrasting it to the laissez-faire lifestyle of the politicians in power, this single stirred up many responses from politicians and music critics alike.

It was soon weaponized by people on both sides of the political spectrum, becoming one of the most important talking points of the year despite the artist’s quick response. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the song, it debuted atop the Hot 100 and made him the first artist to do so without any prior entries to the chart, topping streaming and sales charts overnight. 

11. Brand New – Lil Wayne, Tyga, And YG

Tyga, YG, Lil Wayne - Brand New (Official Video)

Look, you’re not going to see this one on any year-end charts. But after three years with no official solo releases from Lil Wayne and fans eagerly waiting for Tha Carter VI to drop before the end of the year, Brand New was an utter breath of fresh air.

The fourth single from Tyga and Lil Wayne’s collaborative album, this single feels like a return to classic hip hop and a return to form for him. His standout verse on the track alone is enough to warrant its inclusion on this list, but even at a glance, it’s easy to see this song as one of the catchiest tracks of the entire year. 

12. What Was I Made For? – Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For? (Official Music Video)

You can’t talk about 2023 without bringing up the Barbie film, so it comes as no surprise a song from the movie’s soundtrack ended up being one of the best of the year. Billie Eilish put together What Was I Made For? for the film, but it serves as more than just a fitting movie song.

It can also easily be seen as discussing the music industry as a whole, with pop stars minted only for profit regularly. It became a significant hit single after its release as well, rising to number 14 on the Hot 100 and reaching number one in four other countries while also earning her five Grammy nominations. 

13. Unholy – Sam Smith and Kim Petras

Sam Smith, Kim Petras - Unholy (Official Music Video)

Unholy was the quintessential sexually charged hit single of 2023. After being teased on TikTok, it quickly went viral before being released in full, bringing all of the energetic and sensual pop power it could to the limelight. It was a change of tune from Sam Smith away from his typical ballads. But it rose as a standout track on his Gloria album, winning the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and making Kim Petras the first openly transgender artist to win a major category at the awards.

It topped charts in 20 countries worldwide, and despite some supposed devil-worship controversies stemming from a performance of the song at the Brit Awards, it remains one of the bright spots of the year. 

14. Now and Then – The Beatles

The Beatles - Now And Then (Official Music Video)

Who would have guessed that The Beatles would be releasing new music in 2023? Maybe avid fans who remembered John Lennon’s unfinished demos, which had already given us Free As A Bird and Real Love, though the majority of people were not among them. Now And Then has been dubbed “The Last Beatles’ Song,” as it was paired as a double A-side single with a remix of their Love Me Do to bookend their career.

Lennon wrote and recorded the track in 1977 solo, and it was considered for release in the 1990s but sat on a shelf for three decades. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr completed it with their current vocals and combined it with Lennon’s original recording and overdubs of George Harrison from 1995. It’s almost haunting listening to the four of them together again and serves as a worthy finale for the most successful group of all time. 

15. Red Wine Supernova – Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan - Red Wine Supernova (Magician's Cut)

What better way to encapsulate the sexual freedom of 2023 than an unabashed song about lust at first sight? Red Wine Supernova turned out to be the best queer hookup anthem of the year, a relatable, funny, unashamed single about wanting to get it on in the most brazen terms possible.

16. Strike (Holster) – Lil Yachty

Lil Yachty - Strike (Holster) (Official Music Video)

Lil Yachty’s come-up in music officially ended in 2023, as he cemented himself as one of the titans of the scene. Among the incredible singles he released throughout the year, none hold a candle to Strike (Holster). The song is the culmination of his career, shouting protests and exploring new themes throughout his slow-rolling bars. 

17. Something in the Orange – Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan - Something In The Orange

While I Remember Everything had more commercial success, Something In The Orange has become the most recognizable Zach Bryan song on the market. Perhaps the best country performance of the year, it has all the nostalgia, yearning, and pain you’d expect from a classic of the genre while still putting a fresh twist on the style. 

18. Padam Padam – Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam (Official Video)

Padam Padam was the lead single of Kylie Minogue’s album Tension, discussing a sexual encounter while using the title of the song as an onomatopoeia for a heartbeat. A massive success, it rose to number eight in the UK and won Record of the Year at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards. It’s even been hailed as a track that has helped bridge the gap between younger audiences and older performers, turning into a viral phenomenon along the way. 

19. I’m Good (Blue) – David Guetta and bebe Rexha

David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - I'm Good (Blue) [Official Music Video]

I’m Good was undeniably one of the quintessential party songs of the year. Evocative of the feelings before a fun night out, the track relishes the freedom to have a good time and the potential for anything to happen. No matter what, they’re prepared for it. The song itself rose to the number-one spot in 20 different countries and broke into the top 10 in a further 15. 

20. This is Why – Paramore

Paramore: This Is Why [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Paramore returned in 2023 with their first album in six years, This Is Why. The title track of the album was the last song to be finished but the first one to be released, summarizing the paranoia and fear of leaving home Hayley Williams experienced during the COVID-19 Pandemic. It’s still the pop-punk style you expect from the band, but it does shift a bit into an oddly danceable beat. 

21. Shiver – Fever Ray

Fever Ray - 'Shiver' (Official Visualiser)

Shiver quickly became a hit single on the back of Fever Ray’s longing for touch and one of the best albums of the year. It follows the need for touch and how it can make your skin crawl but also adds a bit of a reality check that discusses knowing what’s real around us. No other song better explored the experience of exploring a partner’s body in 2023, but it did so tastefully and beautifully. 

22. I Got Heaven – Mannequin Pussy

Mannequin Pussy - "I Got Heaven"

Mannequin Pussy has been around for over a decade now, dropping songs like bombs that explode in unadulterated attacks all the while. I Got Heaven sees them at their best, mirroring the sacred and the profane as they decry the weaponization of Christianity and call for people to live their best lives here on Earth.

23. Try That In A Small Town – Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean - Try That In A Small Town (Official Music Video)

Try That In A Small Town was the most divisive single of the year thanks to accusations of coded racism in the accompanying music video and the substantial media coverage that followed it. A song that contrasts urban and rural lifestyles, it served as the lead single for Jason Aldean’s 11th studio album and quickly shot up the charts.

While many tuned in to discern what the fuss was all about and many others hate-listened to it for reactions, all those streams earned it a short stint on the Hot 100 and the biggest sales week for a country track in the last 10 years. 

24. Cruel Summer – Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer (Official Audio)

In a year of constant Taylor Swift updates, there was no way she was going to be held off of this list. Cruel Summer was originally released on her 2019 album Lover, though it was re-recorded and released in 2023 as part of her ongoing actions against her former studio. It earned rave reviews and chart success upon initial release, but the re-recorded version in 2023 soared back up the charts to become a number-one single—again—in the US and an international top-10 hit. 

25. SkeeYee – Sexyy Red

Sexyy Red - SkeeYee (Official Video)

SkeeYee was a major contender for the title of “Song of the Summer” in 2023. As Sexxy Red continues her incredible breakout into stardom, this will be one of the tracks people look back on as one of her most important. A braggadocious, energetic single that flips societal sex standards on their head and has one of the best hooks of the year? Sign us up.

26. Lovin On Me – Jack Harlow

Jack Harlow - Lovin On Me [Official Music Video]

Jack Harlow earned a viral and chart hit with what might have been the goofiest and catchiest flirt of the year. Lovin On Me starts off with an announcement of how vanilla the singer is—in the bedroom—then continues from there with all the things he is and isn’t willing to do with the woman he seems to be rizzing up. It’s a bouncing good time and a number-one hit on the Hot 100 in 2023. 

27. On My Mama – Victoria Monét

Victoria Monét - On My Mama (Official Video)

On My Mama is a song that will feel like a timeless classic. Blaring horns and declarations of being “fly” give the track a pure nostalgic vibe, but it manages to remain a modern hit rather than a rehashing of older styles. Victoria Monét’s clever and quirky songwriting abilities are put on display throughout the song, dropping fun catchy lines that create several memorable moments. 

28. Barley – Water From Your Eyes

Water From Your Eyes- "Barley" (Official Music Video)

Barley is a masterclass in making sounds that shouldn’t work together sound utterly divine. Synths, coins, an ice shaker, and more all combine to produce perhaps the most creative experimental work of 2023. 

29. Not Strong Enough – boygenius

boygenius – Not Strong Enough (official music video)

On an album of standout songs, Not Strong Enough is still a highlight. The supergroup boygenius brings the pain of not ever being good enough to the forefront but places a calming hand on the self-hate train in the process. Rather than drowning in feelings of worthlessness and ceasing to care, it calls for people to avoid living selfishly and remember that they are worthy. 

30. Moonless – Julie Byrne

Julie Byrne - Moonless (Official Lyric Video)

Moonless is the perfect encapsulation of the end of a relationship, serving as the most poignant and emotional breakup ballad of the entire year. Coming from an album inspired by the loss of a lover in general, it perfectly captures how impactful an absence can truly be. 

31. golden hour – JVKE

JVKE - golden hour (official music video)

The track golden hour gets my vote for being the best bedtime song of the year. Its sparkling and twinkling sounds give off a joyous vibe but remain calm enough to allow anyone to peacefully drift off into a deep slumber. That’s no knock on the entertainment value of the track either, after going viral in 2023 it became an international hit single, breaking into the top 10 in eight countries. 

32. Ella Baila Sola – Eslabon Armado Y Peso Pluma

Ella Baila Sola - (Video Oficial) - Eslabon Armado y Peso Pluma - DEL Records 2023

Latin music has made a roaring return to the charts, with 2023 being one of its finest years in recent memory. Encapsulating the successes of the movement best has to come in the form of Ella Baila Sola. It’s a song that will instantly hook listeners and that rose to become a global number-one single on Spotify, making history when it broke into the top five of the Hot 100. 

33. Creepin’ – Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage

Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage - Creepin' (Visualizer)

Creepin’ served as the only single to come from Metro Boomin’s studio album Heroes And Villains. While mostly a remake of the song I Don’t Wanna Know by Mario Winans, it inspired several great remixes and was a quick top-40 hit in its native Italy and peaked at number three in the US. 

34. fukumean – Gunna

Gunna - fukumean [Official Visualizer]

The track fukumean might have one of the most killer beats of 2023. Released from Gunna’s album A Gift & A Curse, it aims at all of his haters and revels in the lavish lifestyle, all laid across flute and piano production that was a bit unexpected. 

35. Forget Me – Lewis Capaldi

Lewis Capaldi - Forget Me (Official Video)

Forget Me was the first track released by Lewis Capaldi in three years, serving as the lead single of his second studio album. It debuted at the pinnacle of the UK Singles Chart, earning him his third number-one hit in the UK, and was even nominated for Song of the Year at the 2023 Brit Awards. 

36. Rock and a Hard Place – Bailey Zimmerman

Bailey Zimmerman - Rock and A Hard Place (Official Music Video)

Bailey Zimmerman’s Rock And A Hard Place was a contender for best country single of the year. It rose to number two on the country charts purely based on streaming numbers, as at the time of charting, it hadn’t been released as a single yet. 

37. Houdini – Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa - Houdini (Official Music Video)

Houdini marked an era of Dua Lipa moving away from a disco sound and embracing the traits of 1970s-style psychedelia. After being posted online in October 2023, the song immediately earned rave critical reviews. It barely missed out on the top 10 on the Hot 100 but took the top spot on the US Dance charts. 

38. Bad Habit – Steve Lacy

Steve Lacy - Bad Habit (Official Video)

Bad Habit was a song that brought lo-fi hip hop beats to the mainstream stage and threw in some psychedelic elements for good measure. It took several years to write, evolving over time, with several versions popping up online for viral trends. It became the first track in history to top both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rock and Alternative Songs charts, and the first to make it to the top five of Billboard’s genre charts simultaneously. 

39. Just Wanna Rock – Lil Uzi Vert

Lil Uzi Vert - Just Wanna Rock [Official Music Video]

Just Wanna Rock served as the lead single for Lil Uzi Vert’s 2023 album Pink Tape. Earning over 500 million views in a teaser on TikTok, the song broke into the top 10 of the Hot 100 and the top five on the Hip-Hop/R&B charts in the US. 

40. UN x100TO – Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny

Grupo Frontera x Bad Bunny - UN X100TO (Video Oficial)

Bad Bunny has been at the forefront of the música mexicana movement since the beginning, hopping on tracks to help promote the sounds ever since. UN X100TO is a song all about heartbreak and longing that swiftly reached the top spot on Spotify’s Global chart. The contrasting vocals of Bunny Bunny and Grupo Frontera are evident, though they perfectly balance each other out while scoring yet another win for the movement. 

41. Princess Diana – Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj

Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj - Princess Diana (Official Music Video)

Princess Diana was a bit of a coming-out party for Ice Spice, helping cement the newly minted starlet as a major player in the music industry. Alongside Nicki Minaj, the song netted Ice Spice her second top-10 hit on the Hot 100 when it peaked at number four on the chart.

42. Fast Car – Luke Combs

Luke Combs - Fast Car (Official Live Video)

Fast Car originated as a Tracy Chapman track and Luke Combs used most of the original lyrics in his 2023 version of it. His version quickly rose on the country charts, hitting number one on the Country Airplay chart and winning Song of the Year at the CMA’s.

43. Eyes Closed – Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran - Eyes Closed [Official Video]

Eyes Closed was the lead single of Ed Sheeran’s newest studio album . It both debuted and peaked on top of the UK Singles Chart and pays tribute to one of his closest associates. Comparing the color blue to his feelings wasn’t anything new, but it was an apt description of the feelings of loss he was going through when he wrote the song. 

44. The Hillbillies – Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is no stranger to incredible bars and one-liners, but The Hillbillies sees him at the top of his game. He duels with Baby Keem throughout the song for the best one-liner of them all, rapping about goofy flexes and showing off a natural chemistry that makes us pray the two continue to release music together. 

45. Sweet Sounds of Heaven – The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones | Sweet Sounds Of Heaven | Feat. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder | Visualiser

We crossed The Beatles off of our list already, but just like them, nobody expected The Rolling Stones to come back in 2023 either. Alongside Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder, perhaps the best offering of their long-awaited album has to be Sweet Sounds Of Heaven. It takes listeners through a funky and soulful tune that reminisces on the old days like you’d expect from an old-school band, but still sounds fresh despite the years behind the voices. 

46. namesake – Noname

Noname was another fiery poet to return to music in 2023, cranking out one of the best albums of the year and unapologetically maligning the decisions of the powers that be. Perhaps the best song on the stunningly great album is namesake, a single that goes after complacency and war crimes, as well as going after some of the biggest artists in the world for their complicity with the military-industrial complex. 

47. Need a Favor – Jelly Roll

Jelly Roll - "NEED A FAVOR" (Official Music Video)

Jelly Roll became a major name in the music industry in 2023, largely thanks to his unique take on the country genre. Need A Favor speaks of only talking to God when the singer needs something from him and prays for undeserving repentance. Combining rock and country genres together, it earned him a top-three spot on the US Rock Airplay chart and a number-one hit on the Country Airplay rankings. 

48. TQG – Karol G and Shakira

KAROL G, Shakira - TQG (Official Video)

TQG was the standout track on Karol G’s album Manana Sera Bonito. A bad-bitch single about being too big for the men in the duo’s lives, it quickly gained traction and earned the pair a number-one hit on the Global 200 while also making it to number seven on the Hot 100. It then won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Fusion/Performance and two MTV awards as well. 

Recommended: Top Shakira songs of all time

49. Vampire Empire – Big Thief

Big Thief - Vampire Empire (Lyric Video)

Big Thief didn’t release an album in 2023, only a solitary 7” single but that was more than enough for them to cement their place among the best of the year. Vampire Empire is exactly the sort of folk-rock sex song about escapism we needed. And boy did they deliver. 

50. Made You Look – Meghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor - Made You Look (Official Music Video)

Made You Look brings the doo-wop to Meghan Trainor’s album Takin’ It Back. A flirtatious and fun song, it quickly inspired viral dance trends and several challenges popped up around the single. It eventually rose to the top of the Hot 100, becoming the first of her tracks to break the top 20 of that chart since Me Too in 2016.

51. Lift Me Up – Rihanna

Rihanna - Lift Me Up (From Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

Lift Me Up was released as the lead single for the film soundtrack of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Combining the popularity of the movie and the power of Rihanna, the song did unsurprisingly well on the music charts. It earned award nominations at both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes while also becoming an international hit that soared up charts around the world. 

52. WHERE SHE GOES – Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny - WHERE SHE GOES (Video Oficial)

Only a month after UN X100TO was released, Bad Bunny announced yet another single titled WHERE SHE GOES. A Spanglish track featuring lyrics in both languages, many critics saw it as his first attempt at creating a “Song of the Summer.” He was nearly successful, earning a number-one hit on the Latin Airplay chart and breaking into the top 10 of the Hot 100. 

53. Cupid – FIFTY FIFTY

FIFTY FIFTY (피프티피프티) - 'Cupid' Official MV

Breakthroughs from K-pop groups are the new norm, but FIFTY FIFTY’s Cupid was still something special. The lyrics feel like they were lifted directly from a fuzzy teenage diary. Sadly, just like the majority of teen romances, they barely lasted longer than the song’s success. Only a few months after it became a top-29 Hot 100 hit, three of the four members were cut from the group, restarting all of their progress. 

54. Next Thing You Know – Jordan Davis

Jordan Davis - Next Thing You Know (Official Music Video)

Next Thing You Know is a classic country song about how quickly life comes at you. Jordan Davis sings about the first time he met his wife and how fast it seemed that the two were married and having kids and then looks to the future when they’re old and gray sitting together. It turned out to be a hit on the Country Airplay chart, rising to number two there and securing the number-one spot on the Canadian Country chart. 

55. Until I Found You – Stephen Sanchez

Stephen Sanchez - Until I Found You (Official Video)

Until I Found You was the lead single for Stephen Sanchez’s second EP Easy On My Eyes. A major international hit, it rose to number 23 on the Hot 100, number eight in Australia, and number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. 

56. Escapism. – Raye And 070 Shake

RAYE, 070 Shake - Escapism. (Official Music Video)

Escapism. was released as the third single from Raye’s debut album My 21st Century Blues. Combining electropop and hip hop, it mainly focuses on ways people escape reality and deal with heartbreak. It was largely considered her breakout single, garnering attention on TikTok in 2022 before becoming her first number-one single in the UK and eventually breaking the top 25 of the Hot 100 as well. 

57. Karma – Taylor Swift Feat. Ice Spice

Taylor Swift ft. Ice Spice - Karma (Official Music Video) ft. Ice Spice

Karma was a new dig at Taylor Swift’s detractors, claiming good karma had brought her success while the people who hated her didn’t get the same treatment by the cosmic concept. A highlight of her The Eras Tour and one of the most successful chart hits of the year, it eventually peaked at number two on the Hot 100 and earned a nomination for Best Pop/Duo Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. 

58. CUFF IT – Beyoncé

Beyoncé - CUFF IT (Official Lyric Video)

CUFF IT ended up charting well after the release of Beyoncé’s Renaissance album, rising to number six on the Hot 100 and earning her 21st top-10 single. 

59. Spin Bout U – Drake and 21 Savage

Drake, 21 Savage - Spin Bout U

Nobody is going to argue that Spin Bout U sees Drake at the peak of his powers, but his powers far exceed most other artists out there. The single was released from Drizzy’s collaborative album with 21 Savage called Her Loss, earning a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. 

60. Players – Coi Leray

Coi Leray - Players (Official Audio)

Players was released as the lead single of Coi Leray’s self-titled and second studio album in 2023. It was revealed in interviews that she free-styled the entire song in a single take, an incredible feat for any artist out there. It broke into the top 10 of the Hot 100 and took the top spot on the US Rhythmic Billboard chart. 

61. Snooze – SZA

SZA - Snooze (Official Video)

An acoustic version of Snooze propelled SZA’s original version to number two on the Hot 100, earning her eighth top-10 single on the chart. It was also the only song of 2023 to spend the entire year charting somewhere among the Hot 100 rankings. 

62. Calm Down – Rema and Selena Gomez

Rema, Selena Gomez - Calm Down (Official Music Video)

Calm Down was the best release from Rema’s debut album and became a major international hit. It topped charts in four countries and peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, earning the title of the most successful Afrobeats song in history. 

63. Die For You – The Weeknd and Ariana Grande

The Weeknd, Ariana Grande - Die For You (Remix / Lyric Video)

Die For You originally came out in 2016 as part of The Weeknd’s album Starboy. But in 2023, it got a huge resurgence in popularity thanks to TikTok, eventually forcing The Weeknd to produce a remix of the track alongside Ariana Grande that rocketed up the charts. It topped the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart in March, inspiring viral trends and several iterations of the track.

64. wait in the truck – Hardy Feat. Lainey Wilson

HARDY - wait in the truck (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Official Music Video)

Wait In The Truck is the story of an abused woman and a man who decides to avenge her by killing the person responsible. It was a classic country murder ballad wrapped in a modern jacket, hearkening back to tracks like Garth Brooks’ single The Thunder Rolls. For him, it became a major country hit, peaking at number two on the Country Airplay chart and number five on the Hot Country Songs chart. 

65. Tomorrow 2 – GloRilla and Cardi B

GloRilla, Cardi B - Tomorrow 2 (Official Music Video)

Tomorrow was already a successful song on its own, but being blessed with a remix that featured Cardi B was exactly what the world was waiting for. It was one of the best tracks of the year according to critics, earning several award nominations for their collaborative efforts and showcasing a pair of two hip hop artists with perfect chemistry. 

66. I Like You (A Happier Song) – Post Malone and Doja Cat

Post Malone - I Like You (A Happier Song) w. Doja Cat [Official Music Video]

I Like You (A Happier Song) sees Post Malone and Doja Cat find their sweeter side. It’s a cute, adorable little single that is sure to put a smile on the face of any listener and was the third single released from his Twelve Carat Toothache. It eventually peaked at number three on the Hot 100, giving him his 11th top-10 hit on the chart. 

67. Dial Drunk – Noah Kahan and Post Malone

Noah Kahan, Post Malone - Dial Drunk (Official Lyric Video)

Dial Drunk was the perfect mixture of alternative rock and roll music that everyone should be listening to. Noah Kahan and Post Malone wrote the track together, eventually seeing it break into the top 10 of the Adult Top 40 and the top five of the Hot Rock and Alternative Songs charts. 

68. Area Codes – Kaliii

Kaliii - Area Codes (Official Music Video)

Area Codes is another song that proves the power of TikTok in the music industry. It gained traction on the platform and became Kaliii’s first charting single, eventually peaking at number 33 on the Hot 100. 

69. Memory Lane – Old Dominion

Old Dominion - Memory Lane (Official Music Video)

Memory Lane is the wistful title track of Old Dominion’s fifth studio album. A big country hit, it broke the top 10 of two country charts and crossed over to the Hot 100, peaking at number 27. 

70. Coco Chanel – Eladio Carrión feat. Bad Bunny

Eladio Carrión ft. Bad Bunny - Coco Chanel (Visualizer) | 3MEN2 KBRN

Coco Chanel might be the most reference-laden single of the entire year and it stirred up a bit of controversy with a line about Phoenix, making some listeners question whether Bad Bunny or Benito was dating Kendall Jenner. From video games to the legendary villain Thanos, this sexy dembow song doesn’t scrimp on anything that brings in listeners, making it one of the easiest tracks of the year for non-Latin listeners to get a taste of the genre.  

71. 2 die 4 – Addison Rae Feat. Charli XCX

Addison Rae - 2 die 4 feat. Charli XCX (Official Audio)

Addison Rae appeared to have dropped off the face of the Earth following the release of her debut single Obsessed in 2021, but leaks online assured fans her pop career was only beginning. The best of them came in the form of 2 die 4, seeing her team up with Charli XCX to create one of the smoothest and catchiest hooks of 2023. 

72. I Killed Your Dog – L’Rain

L'Rain - I Killed Your Dog (Official Visualizer)

I Killed Your Dog was released as the title track of one of the undeniable best albums of the year. L’Rain drops funny lines and tells great stories throughout the album, but this single has to be among the best songs of the year. It mainly focuses on some unhealthy reactions when you jump the gun in situations you aren’t sure about yet. 

73. Water – Tyla

Tyla - Water (Official Music Video)

Water turned into an international hit on the back of some challenging choreography that earned it a place as a mainstay on TikTok. Fluid beats and a ridiculously danceable instrumental helped drive it up the charts on hip hop and R&B radio stations. Underpinning it all are the loosely sensual lyrics that could be talking about dancing or sexual encounters, dealer’s choice. 

74. You’re Losing Me – Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift - You're Losing Me (From The Vault)

Few songs produced fan clamor the way Taylor Swift’s You’re Losing Me did in 2023. Only released on physical CDs sold at the weekend shows of her The Eras Tour at Metlife Stadium, bootleg and YouTube copies quickly popped up to allow listeners to hear the ridiculously limited single. It’s one of her most cutting and gut-wrenching songs and one that should have been released during the Midnights era

75. bad idea right? – Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo - bad idea right? (Official Video)

The track bad idea right? was another trending sound online, but it ended up being another great song from Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts album. It mainly focuses on doing things you know are a bad idea because you want to, even though it isn’t the right choice.

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