The Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2023

When it came to the worst music of 2023, well, there was a lot for me to unpack. The year was dominated by morally questionable country music, hit-or-miss rap music, and weak pop offerings. That doesn't mean there weren't any good pieces of music in 2023, because there absolutely were. These ranged from slightly good to nearly perfect, and they came in all shapes and sizes. While I don't think the year was great overall, I do think the songs that stuck with me are incredible. Whether that be due to their lyrical contents or their overall sound, these 10 songs plus some honorable mentions were good enough for me to be drawn to over and over again. 

So what were the best trends of 2023? Well, that depends on who you ask. Most would argue that the resurgence of older songs would be a highlight considering that Taylor Swift, the Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and Miguel all had songs from over 4 years ago hitting the year-end list. TikTok's continued influence over the music industry has led to some interesting consequences, as we're seeing songs that had a limited chart run upon release come back to more success. Heck, there were a few covers this year that gained chart success, those being Luke Combs' "Fast Car" and Metro Boomin's "Creepin'" (which is a remixed version of "I Don't Wanna Know" by Mario Winans). 

As with the worst list, my definition of "hit" means it either hit the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 or stayed on the regular Hot 100 for a decent while, so this is only limited to the songs that had an actual presence in our cultural mindset. With that being said, there's not really much more I want to go over here, so let's kick off the list of the top ten best hit songs of 2023.

#10

With this first artist, I've gotta be quite honest with myself. I don't think any country musician has had a bigger year over the past 20 years than he did in 2023. The first country solo number-one in years, the biggest album release of the year, and arguably one of the best songs of the year all coming from Nashville. It's crazy to think, especially considering all of the controversy with this guy over the past 2 years. The thing is, when you make music this good, people are going to listen.

10. One Thing At A Time - Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen is probably the most conflicting artist of the year. Most people I know love him, as I live in a pretty rural area. I wasn't particularly a huge fan until my older brother and I listened to the album when it came out. To make a long story short, I enjoyed that album thoroughly, and it was highlighted by the title track, a country-pop tune with one of the catchiest guitar riffs I've heard in modern country music. Every element of the melody is intricate and controlled, and it comes together in a fun way. As for the lyrics, well you can sense a bit of tension in Morgan's demeanor as he tells this girl that he's picking between her and his addictions, which isn't a particularly great message and does knock it a few spots down the list. There are highlights, as his flow in the first few lines ("Somebody hand me a cigarette, I know I ain't had one in over a week") is immediately engaging and traps me into singing along nearly every time. It's also amazing driving music, surprisingly, as experiencing this song while driving down an empty highway was one of the best things about my summer this year. Why couldn't this have been the big crossover #1 single instead of "Last Night"? Missed opportunities for sure.

#9

The Olivia Rodrigo experience has been an odd one to be sure. I know I'm not really in her target audience, nor did I ever experience the high school/early year relationship drama that makes her music so relatable to many young people. However, none of that really matters when you can make an absolute monster of a jam, which she's managed to do on multiple occasions. "deja vu" was one of my favorite songs of 2021 and "good 4 u" is a decent track. In 2023, Olivia's second album GUTS started off with "Vampire", a track I wasn't particularly fond of, so when the second single came out, let's just say I was a bit relieved it wasn't anything like the first.

9. bad idea, right? - Olivia Rodrigo

Is there anything a bit of rock can't fix? Olivia Rodrigo doesn't seem to think so, as she's become enthusiastic about incorporating it into her music. "good 4 u", her Paramore-inspired single from 2021, managed to help kick off Olivia's stardom, while "bad idea, right?", which draws more into 90s rock, further confirms it. Her skills as an actress are key here, as she sounds genuinely conflicted about whether seeing this guy is a bad idea. The raging confusion is common among young adults, and she manages to convey this perfectly. That's helped by some of the catchiest guitar work of the decade so far, and some lines that come off as genuine earworms (such as "the biggest lie I've ever said" and "just tripped and fell into his bed") making the chorus that much catchier. The build-up in the bridge before finally settling on a decision seems to represent the anxiety Olivia gets while making the decision, and it's wonderful to see that represented in song form. I can tell Olivia's got a bright career ahead of her, and if she keeps making so

ngs like this, it'll be well-received.

#8

I mentioned earlier about the resurgence of covers to the Hot 100 this year, with Luke Combs' "Fast Car" being the highlight. Personally, I love a cover that manages to respect the original while also providing its own unique twist. While neither of "Fast Car" or "Creepin'" manage to upgrade on the original, there was one cover this year that did manage to outshine the original in almost every way. The funny thing is I don't think many people even realized that it was a cover at all.

8. Wild As Her - Corey Kent

Corey Kent's breakout single being this is astonishing to me. The original, by Tyler Joe Miller, is a pretty good song in its own right, but it was really brought to prominence by Kent, who adds a rock flair that isn't entirely present in the original. I love the way the guitars sound on this, as they provide an edgy, moody vibe that contrasts well with Kent's voice. The song is about this girl who is willing to take risks in life, and how Kent is looking for somebody as "wild" as she is. The two guitar solos near the end of the song are both incredible, adding to the rock flair I mentioned earlier. What's funny is that this song was written by and originally meant for Morgan Wallen, and I can absolutely imagine him singing something like this (mostly because you can find his demos of it on YouTube). I do think Kent does the best job, however, as his version sounds the most polished and well-produced. I really hope Kent isn't a one-hit wonder, as his second single "Something's Gonna Kill Me" is arguably just as good as this. Here's to a long, stable career, Corey. You definitely have that potential.

#7

Morgan Wallen may have had the best year of any country artist, but it's hard to argue that any artist in general had a bigger year than Taylor Swift. Between the Eras Tour being consistently promoted, her relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and a whole movie releasing in theaters, Swift has become a superstar on the level of Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Rick Astley. It only makes sense that her fans would decide to resurrect one of her old hits. I'm just glad it was one of the good ones.

7. Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift

It's incredible how much a dedicated fanbase can accomplish. Even though this was never officially released as a single, the "Swifties" decided that "Cruel Summer" was worth giving an extended chart run in 2023 - four years after its release. Out of all of Taylor's hits this year, this was easily the best. The groove is as catchy as any good pop song, but the lyrical content is where this shines. The song is about what appears to be a fling, based on the lyric "I don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you", and how her secret summer affair makes her feel vulnerable and somewhat conflicted. It's a wonderful pop song that allows Taylor to display a high amount of emotion in a way that's both personal and enjoyable to listen to. She manages to restrict these feelings in a 4-minute timeframe, which is a feat in and of itself. I'm glad this got a second chance, as it did not deserve to get shelved in favor of "ME!" and "You Need To Calm Down". With how powerful the Taylor Swift phenomenon has become, I'm kind of scared of what she's gonna do next. Buy the Chiefs? Run for President? Take over Europe? Anything is on the table. It could be a cruel summer in 2024 if we're not careful.

#6

Hip-hop in 2023 was very... odd. Many of the big releases this year were disappointing from a longevity standpoint, including releases from Drake, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert, which only featured a few songs that even made the year-end list. I liked a lot of the songs from these albums (including Travis Scott's "Modern Jam" and Uzi's "Just Wanna Rock"), but I didn't really feel any of them were particularly notable enough to include on the list. So what was? Well...

6. Fukumean - Gunna

I should not like this as much as I do. There are so many musical decisions made in this song that I would normally dislike, but Gunna somehow makes it work. This makes the list mostly because it was one of the few rap songs that were actually fun to listen to, which is a blessed contradiction from the moodiness that many of the other rap hits of the year brought out. Gunna isn't an artist I've listened to a lot of, so I couldn't tell you where this lands on his musical spectrum, but this seems very promising. It's an absolutely excellent pop rap entry that uses one of the catchiest gimmicks of the year. The consistent "ee-yuh"s are somehow not annoying and actually work in the song's favor. The production is also really good, as it has a high enough BPM to keep it exceedingly catchy. There are some weird lyrics throughout, and you'll know them when you hear them, but they just come across as more funny than anything. Ee-yuh indeed, Gunna, keep it going.

#5

You know, the Post Malone saga has been very confusing. Posty seemed like he was on track to become as top-heavy of a pop star as Drake or Taylor Swift, an artist who could write chart-toppers in a moment's notice. In 2019, he released multiple songs that have become staples in my playlists, including "Sunflower", "Circles", and "Take What You Want", the last of which I consider to be one of the best songs of the entire 2010s. That makes it even more confusing how it seems like he has sort of quieted down, as his 2022 was quite bleak. Neither "One Right Now" or "I Like You" were great tracks, and I began to get concerned about where his career was heading. In 2023, however, he released his new album "Austin", which, while it wasn't as commercially successful as his previous albums, brought him back to life on the music-making side of things, as he released one of my favorite songs of the year.

5. Mourning - Post Malone

"Mourning" feels like an anomaly. It's a song about the partying lifestyle in which Post Malone laments about "friends" only wanting him for his money and how he doesn't want to stop drinking because he doesn't know how to express his emotions to others. It's somewhat of a powerful message, and "Threw my bottle at the sky, said 'God that's a warning'" is one of my favorite lyrics of the year. That being said, the message is only part of the song. I just love the way this song sounds. The spacey vibe Malone goes for is immaculately executed, and the bass has enough kick to make this really stand out in my eyes. It may sound a bit over-processed, but that works in its favor. I'm sad this wasn't more popular. This could've been an excellent radio hit, as it's one of the catchier songs of the year. I'm glad it seems like Posty is making the music he wants to make now because it's been absolutely incredible.

#4

And speaking of Post Malone, I'm not done discussing him. That's because he managed to make what was already one of the best songs of the year even better.

4. Dial Drunk (Remix) - Noah Kahan & Post Malone

The rise of folk-style alternative music was so fun to experience this year, and Noah Kahan has been one of my favorite artists of 2023. I enjoyed "Stick Season", but "Dial Drunk" was easily the highlight. The folk-pop sound works exceptionally well here, and it's both catchy and powerful at the same time. From the excellent banjo instrumentation to Noah's lyricism, every element in this song feels so precise yet so relaxed. Everything comes together in the final chorus when Kahan and Post Malone harmonize the line "I no longer know", which is my pick for the best 2 seconds of pop music this year. The song's lyrics are great, as Kahan relents about getting arrested for drunk driving and then giving his ex's number as his emergency contact before watching the cops call her without receiving an answer. Post Malone's added verse is also excellent, as it provides a different flow and feel from the rest of the song. It feels like a natural fit despite their differences, and you can tell that Post Malone feels right at home in this environment. "Dial Drunk" shows the potential that folk-pop has as a genre, and I hope we see more of it sooner rather than later. 

#3

I want to begin this entry by saying that I was never a huge country music fan. Growing up, I thought country music was very corny and I was very narrow-minded in that view. That's why this year felt so weird for me. I've already featured 2 country songs on this list, and the next two entries are both country songs that I felt connected with me on a personal level. The first of these comes from one of the biggest breakout stars of the last couple of years, and it is what I find to be easily his best song.

3. Religiously - Bailey Zimmerman

The feeling you get when you've screwed up a perfect situation is one of the worst, especially when it comes to relationships. The title track from Bailey Zimmerman's debut album is an interesting case as this is what it attempts to replicate. I'd argue it does a great job of that, as Zimmerman's voice manages to convey the feeling of guilt and begging for forgiveness quite well. Based on the lyrics, it's been a few years since this relationship occurred, but Bailey is still hung up over it. Some people find the idea of comparing a relationship to religion a little strange, but I think it works. It signals to me that they were devoted to each other, but Bailey broke that trust. Adding to the guilt and shame Bailey shows throughout the song are the instrumentals, which complement the lyrics very well. The guitars do a great job of conveying the same emotions as Bailey. Overall, "Religiously" works as a powerful reminder of what guilt can do to you after a failed relationship.

#2

I started college in 2022, and it was a difficult transition for me. It felt like my high school career went by so quickly and I didn't really utilize it to the best of my ability. That's the thing about life. Things can go by quickly. I started to struggle with that thought. Every single day I would worry about what was coming next. In 2023, a song came out that expressed a similar feeling, and it became one of my favorite songs of the year. It felt comforting in a way to have a song that shows that others feel the same way, even though it's a feeling that I've been conflicted with. And it comes from someone I never would've expected.

2. Next Thing You Know - Jordan Davis

Jordan Davis isn't a particularly interesting presence in country music, but his last album Bluebird Days was decently successful. "Next Thing You Know", the album's 3rd single, is the one that caught my attention. The song documents a man's life as he falls in love, gets married, has a kid, and eventually has grandkids. The song features some real emotional weight, as I truly felt like I was living through this guy's life throughout the song. Weirdly, this resonates with me even though I'm clearly not the target demographic for this (I'm a college student who's never been in a relationship), but it is a very powerful piece of music. The guitars add to this by being constructed in a way that fits the emotive feel the song is going for, and Jordan Davis pulls out all the stops in his delivery. I'm glad this was a hit this year, as knowing that others feel like life is going by fast as well gives me a little bit of comfort. This probably would've been my number one in either of the last two years, but that isn't the case this year.

So now, before I reveal my pick for the single best hit song of 2023, here are some honorable mentions that just barely missed the list.

Honorable Mentions

HM. Dance The Night - Dua Lipa

This song is one unfortunate choice away from being a part of the actual list. Unfortunately, the fact that the title is "Dance The Night" instead of "Dance The Night Away" bothers me wayyyy more than it should. Other than that, this is a typical Dua Lipa throwback disco track that doesn't attempt to be more than it is. It's catchy pop music that has high-quality production and a good vocal performance. I'm definitely a fan of this, but please guys, pick a title that actually makes sense.

HM. Lovin On Me - Jack Harlow

I first heard this at the halftime of the Lions Thanksgiving game this year. I figured it would be a lock for my worst list based on that performance alone, but then I listened to the studio version. The studio version actually makes it work in a way. I think the bass on this sounds great, and the sample fits well into the song. Speaking as somebody who hated "First Class", I'm surprised I liked this as much as I did. Maybe Jack just isn't an artist who's built for live performances, as none of his songs really worked at that halftime show. I'm glad it at least sounds good outside of that, otherwise I'd be baffled by it.

HM. Fast Car - Luke Combs

I mean, it's a cover of "Fast Car". Luke Combs is a good singer and performs it essentially the same way Tracy Chapman did when it first came out. It's not on the list proper simply because "Fast Car" isn't a 2023 hit, but a 1980s hit. That being said, the discourse I've heard about this cover became exhausting pretty quick, as it became clear nobody had anything productive to say. There is nothing racist about this cover being successful. The only reason it charted higher than the original is because the standards of the charts have changed tremendously since the original's chart run. I prefer the original, but I would not be mad if you put this on. It's a great cover that's respectful towards the original in every regard, and it seems like something Luke seemed genuinely interested in doing.

HM. All My Life - Lil Durk feat J.Cole

The children's choir has been done to death, but it works fine here. Lil Durk is listenable, but where this really shines is J. Cole's verse where he talks about listening to rappers for the first time after they passed away, something I connect with in a way. My first real experience with popular rap music came after the death of Juice WRLD (I have not been doing this a long time, I know), so it's sad to realize how talented someone truly is too late. Other than that, this is well-produced and catchy enough to be a good pop-rap track.

HM. What Was I Made For? - Billie Eilish

Whereas Rihanna's "Lift Me Up" disappointed me, this one actually surprised me. It's minimalistic, but it fits well with Billie's voice and actually has an emotional connection to the movie it's based on. Sure, it doesn't really do much on an instrumental level, but the lyrics are so touching and make you really consider what the purpose of life is. Billie is the main reason this works, though, as her ability to sing quietly fits perfectly with the light piano. I haven't watched Barbie yet, but based on what I know about it, this is a very good fit in the context of the movie.

HM. America Has A Problem - Beyonce & Kendrick Lamar

And now for my favorite non-hit of the year. This didn't chart long enough for me to consider it for the list, and I'm shocked it didn't. You figure a collaboration between the most critically acclaimed rapper of the 2010s and one of the biggest music personalities of the century would be enough to make a guaranteed smash hit. And, boy, did this deserve it. Kendrick's verse on this is filled with all sorts of clever and interesting lyrics, while Beyonce's parts are immaculately produced and her singing sounds angelic at times. This would've been a lock for the top 3 had it been an actual hit.

And now that the honorable mentions are out of the way, it's time for the big reveal.

#1

If you know me, my pick for number one should come as no surprise. I knew it was a lock for the top spot on this list ever since I heard it for the first time back in March. It was my number one song on my Spotify Wrapped for 2023, and I doubt it was particularly close. The question is: why? Why is this the song that resonated with me so thoroughly over any other song? Hell, I doubt this was even the most liked song on the album it came off. It wasn't even a single! At the end of the day, though, there was only ever going to be one choice for the top of this list. And that would be...

1. I Wrote The Book - Morgan Wallen

So, out of all of the songs this year, why is this my number one? I feel like it's an odd choice in some facets, as it doesn't really seem much different from the rest of Morgan's album. However, there are multiple elements of this song that put it ahead of every other song on this list. The trap production is excellent, with the processed guitar adding a high level of catchiness to the track. This song also features what I consider to be Morgan's best vocal performance by far. The real highlight of this song, though, is the lyrics. "I Wrote The Book" is about how Morgan is so great at all of these things, such as baseball or boating, but the one thing he's not great at doing is following the Bible. As a religious person myself, I connected with this instantly. In the second verse, Morgan discusses how he meets this perfect girl who has everything together, who loves that he seems to be good at so many things, but she breaks it off with him because he isn't reading "the book" enough. I resonate with this message, as I feel like I've done the same thing in a lot of ways. I've struggled with my faith at times throughout the last couple years, and this song inspired me to get back into doing that. On top of all of that, this is one of the most relistenable songs I've ever heard. There's a reason it ended up topping my Spotify Wrapped. I almost guarantee I won't see this on anyone else's best list for this year, but it tops mine and it was not close.

Thank you for reading this far. If you enjoyed it, feel free to leave a comment below. I'll be coming out with more posts soon, so I hope you stick around to read those when they release. I'm Lando of the Landoman Experiment, and I'm signing off.