Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2023 - Revisited
Welcome back! I'm excited for this one. The 2023 worst list was depressing, but the 2023 best list should be one of my most personal and introspective yet. The best songs of 2023 were songs that really forced me to think about my life and my entire personality. This wasn't really reflected in the biggest songs of the year, though. Let's take a look and see why.
Out of the top ten biggest hits of 2023, not a single one of them will be included in my top ten. Other than Luke Combs' "Fast Car", which is a cover of an 80s song, none of these songs really spoke to me or made me want to re-listen to them. I already talked about why I hated "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen, "Calm Down" by Rema, and "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus in my re-visited 2023 worst list, but the other songs also weren't anything special. It even featured my least favorite hit of 2022, "I'm Good (Blue)". It's probably the most depressing year-end top ten of all time, in my opinion.
The best songs of the year weren't mega-hits that conquered the world. They were album tracks or sleeper hits that shined more than the biggest hits of the year could ever dream of. The rules for this list are simple - anything that charted in the top 60 or hit the year-end Hot 100 is eligible. This gives me flexibility to include songs I personally love that weren't necessarily super-huge, but were still somewhat well-known. I think it's time to jump in, because this is going to be a fun list.
THE TOP TEN BEST HIT SONGS OF 2023.
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#10.
The 2020s have been a disaster so far. Going through COVID-19, the Biden administration, and now the 2nd Trump administration have just been... not fun. It seems like every single day, we hear awful news that leave us depressed and anxious. The economy has been terrible. The government has consistently made awful decision after awful decision that makes our lives worse. If only there were some sort of way we could get our minds off of that, a way that we could distract ourselves from the hell that life has been for so long. An... escape, maybe.
10. Escapism. - RAYE feat. 070 Shake
I first heard of Raye on David Guetta and Joel Corry's song "BED", and that song did not prepare me for how truly dynamic of an artist she is. This lady is incredible, and "Escapism" is one of her best songs. One of the best-produced pop songs of 2023, "Escapism." is about using coping mechanisms to get over a recent breakup, including getting drunk and going after one-night stands. The problem is - Raye isn't really enjoying it, she's just using it to escape the pain she's experiencing. That lack of enthusiasm about what she's doing makes this song all the more poignant - we cope to forget, but it's difficult to do so.
I'll get started with the production on this. The synths on this are incredible and really fit the vibes that the lyrics go for. The song gets louder as the actions of Raye's night get crazier, but quiets out when she says "I don't want to feel how I did last night". There are some excellent production techniques utilized throughout this song that really shine throughout. I also love the filter on 070 Shake's voice that make it kind of faded, sort of like the blur that Raye would see after a night of heavy drinking. This is 100% the perfect sound for this kind of song, and it works wonders throughout.
Lyrically, this song is also pretty special. Raye gives the story of what happened. She meets this guy at a bar and tells about how her boyfriend broke up with her, and that she's going out to get wasted and hook up with someone. It's clearly a coping mechanism for how hard she's taking the breakup, giving in to her urges, getting high, drinking, and going out on the town. It's lyrically well-structured and overall a great method of creating a song that discusses this topic. Raye's decision making isn't necessarily healthy, but it shows how heartbreak and overwhelming emotion can lead to using that reckless abandon as a coping mechanism. It's one of the best-written songs of the year, and I praise it for that.
Objectively, "Escapism" should probably be top 5 or top 3 on this list. It does everything incredibly well and creates an incredibly vivid picture of how Raye chooses to get over this breakup. The only reason this isn't higher on the list is because I don't see myself in this situation the way that a lot of other people do. This is a song that was special to so many people. I can't believe I didn't see that back when I originally wrote these lists, and maybe one day I'll see it the way so many others do. Raye is an excellent artist with a lot of potential and talent, and hopefully she gets back into the mainstream the way she did with this very soon. 2025 needs someone like Raye around.
#9.
If 2023 was the year of anything musically (well, other than Taylor Swift), it was country music. 4 different country songs went to #1 ("Last Night" by Morgan Wallen, "Try That In A Small Town" by Jason Aldean, "Rich Men North of Richmond" by Oliver Anthony Music, and "I Remember Everything" by Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves), and there were numerous other top ten hits from the genre. While none of those songs will be on this list, I did find numerous country songs that were worthy of spots on this list. including this one.
9. Handle On You - Parker McCollum
Parker McCollum seems like a chill dude. I've never heard anyone say anything bad about this guy, and he appears to make music for the love of doing so. He was inspired by a ton of classic country musicians, including George Strait, who he called his "musical hero". I definitely hear Strait here in the lyricism and the structure of the song, which is pretty high praise. "Handle On You" is easily Parker's best song, and it's one I find to be truly special. There's a lot of clever lyrics, interesting instrumental choices, and excellent vocal work that comes together to make a wonderful song.
McCollum said that he wanted to write something that differentiated itself from his other music. His brother said that "the best songwriters save their best lines for the verses and the hooks", and I feel like that's done particularly well in this song. The most poignant line to me is "I tell myself that I should quit but I don't listen to drunks", which is as clever as it is heartbreaking. The song is about how Parker's been drinking to forget after a breakup, making this the second song in a row to be about coping mechanisms. It's a very well-written song that makes excellent use of McCollum's vocal and writing talents.
The chorus also features some extremely clever wordplay. It ends with "after all this back-and-forth, a fifth won't do, now I've finally got a handle on you", which both refers to having the situation under control and also the handle of an alcohol bottle. It all culminates in that line, which shows that he doesn't really have a firm grasp on what's going on despite claiming to. The lyrics paint an overall sad picture of how McCollum is dealing with the breakup, and contrasts well with the catchy, produced instrumental.
"Handle On You" was one of the best-produced and best-written country songs of 2023, and it shows how much potential Parker McCollum has as an act in Nashville. I think, just like "Escapism", it paints a vivid picture of how someone deals with a breakup by making unhealthy decisions. In a time where we're coping with our realities, songs about dealing with our problems is an excellent way to help distract us from the issues of our reality. I wish Parker McCollum all the best success in his future, as I think he deserves to be one of the biggest names in Nashville. Love this song.
#8.
One of my favorite trends that began in 2023 was the introduction of country rock into the mainstream. Nate Smith, who's become one of my favorite artists, broke onto the scene during the year with "Whiskey On You", a song that's reminiscent of Morgan Wallen's "Wasted On You" lyrically. Luke Combs has recorded some excellent rock songs ("Ain't No Love In Oklahoma" for example), and Warren Zeiders has become a favorite of mine. There were two country rock songs eligible for this list that I found to be worth a spot, but it was tough for me to decide which one I would put on the list. So, I settled for both of them.
8A. Don't Come Lookin' - Jackson Dean
8B. Wild As Her - Corey Kent
Corey Kent and Jackson Dean are some of my favorite breakout artists of the last few years, with their blends of country and rock making for some amazing music that I've grown to love and appreciate. Both artists came into their own in 2023, with both of these singles peaking at #3 on the U.S. Country Airplay charts and Kent's song scraping onto the year-end list at #93. These two songs have been the highlight of both artists careers so far (sadly in the case of Dean, who I'll be discussing in further detail in my next article) and I find both to be an incredible way to kick off and show their artistic talents.
I'll start with "Wild As Her", which is a cover of a song by Canadian artist Tyler Joe Miller that was partially written by Morgan Wallen. You can definitely hear that in Kent's version, as the lyrics have a pretty similar theme to a lot of Wallen's tracks. This adds more of a rock flair than Miller's version, which I think fits the "wild" aspect a lot better. The lyrics are about a girl who likes to live on the "wild side", and that she's looking for someone just as adventurous as she is. I think it's an excellent premise for a song that's done very well here. Of course, you can do this the wrong way (looking at you, Jessie Murph), but Kent has a nice voice and the guitar instrumentation is awesome.
Meanwhile, "Don't Come Lookin'" is less about finding a partner with a "wild side" but more about having one yourself. Dean sings about wanting to get lost on the highway, and if he doesn't come back, then "don't come lookin". It's a very catchy song with a nice melody that really kicks in past the second chorus, with the sick guitar solo. I also really love the part where Dean starts naming places he could go. "Maybe Moab, maybe the Rockies, maybe the Great Salt Plains, or the hills of Kentucky". This song was used in an episode of the TV series Yellowstone, and this fits that adventurous vibe perfectly.
Both of these songs are "wild" in their own way, but they both have one thing in common. They use country rock instrumentation to its fullest potential and create an awesome listening experience for whoever is lucky enough to hear them. Now, here's hoping "Heavens To Betsy" becomes a bigger hit for Dean, but I'll have a lot more to say about that one in my 100-song ranking. With Kent, I love both "Something's Gonna Kill Me" and "This Heart", but neither of them have gained the traction this one has. I'm hoping that changes soon. Great songs, guys, I'm excited to hear more in the future.
#7.
2023 was a strange year for pop music because, for the first time in a long time, rap wasn't the dominant genre. The highest-charting pure rap song on the Year-End was "Rich Flex" by Drake and 21 Savage at 14, and that was a holdover from the previous year. I suppose "All My Life" by Lil Durk & J.Cole and "Fukumean" by Gunna were pretty big, and those songs are... fine, I guess. I put "Fukumean" at 6 on my original best list, but I've soured on it quite a bit since then. Instead, the best rap song of 2023 was a song that didn't even make the year-end list at all, even though it most definitely deserved to.
7. Too Many Nights - Metro Boomin (feat. Don Toliver & Future)
Have I ever talked about Don Toliver on here? I don't think so, but I like him. He's got an interesting voice and usually has fun, new flows that I enjoy pretty well. He's not a personal favorite or anything, but I will put on his music when I'm in the mood for it. Metro Boomin is one of the best producers in the game currently, so pairing him with Don Toliver is an awesome choice, and it works so well here. I listened to Heroes and Villains, and this was my favorite song from the album pretty easily. It's got some great production techniques that really suit it well.
Lyrically, this song is about the lifestyle of the modern rapper, which is a pretty typical choice. Spending money, doing drugs, going to strip clubs, all the cliches. I don't think it's necessarily anything special from that perspective, but I do think the way Toliver sings it makes it a lot more captivating than it would be from someone like Lil Baby or 21 Savage (I still like those guys, but I'd prefer something like this). There are some parts that make me wonder if Toliver is really enjoying all of this, though ("I guess you got what you wanted" and "Ask me if I'm really okay"), and the introspective angle of that adds so much to the song.
The MVP here is Metro Boomin, though. The production of this song is immaculate. The somewhat beeping noises throughout the back sound great, and the trap beat has very crisp work on it. There's a lot of things to love about this, including the toned-down part on Future's verse (oh yeah, probably should mention him a bit lol). I've seen people describe this song as an "acid trip", and I get that vibe from it. It's got a nice soundscape that really lets you just dive in and immerse yourself, which heightens the senses and creates an awesome experience when you're fully aware of what's going on around you.
In a year devoid of really good music at the top of the rap charts, "Too Many Nights" was an exception. This was the best rap hit of 2023, there is no debate for me. I've grown to really love this song over the past few years, and the combination of Metro's production, Toliver's unique voice, and Future as a closer creates something truly special. Why did "Creepin'" have to be the hit from this album when this exists? This is leagues better than that song. Also, I just realized something. I also put "Like That" at #7 on 2024's best list. Maybe Metro releases something in 2025 that makes it there? Who knows?
#6.
The past few years have been quite interesting in particular for Post Malone. The dude was on top of the world for a bit there in the late 2010s, releasing Beerbongs and Bentleys and Hollywood's Bleeding, which became two of the best albums of the decade (the latter being my personal favorite of the decade). He then went on a bit of a break before releasing Twelve Carat Toothache, which was not nearly as commercially successful as the last two. Then, in 2023, he released Austin, which was his first album to not feature any guest appearances while also being a complete switch-up from anything he had released before. The first single, "Chemical", was pretty good. I liked it. Then, the 2nd single came out, and I liked it even more than the first.
6. Mourning - Post Malone
Austin is Post Malone at his most self-aware. It's the album that most questions the activities and lifestyle that got him the fame and success that completely flipped his life upside down. While I don't think it's better than Hollywood's Bleeding, I do think it's his most introspective album to date and I appreciate it for that. "Mourning" falls right into that category of introspection - with the lyrics subliminally criticizing the drinking, partying, and going out that celebrities do quite often. You can tell Malone doesn't feel fully comfortable with that on this song, so I want to go into the details as to why that is.
"Mourning" is about how Malone has a hangover and how he wasn't "strong enough" to stop himself from getting so overly drunk that it negatively affected the next day. It also discusses how the people he's partying with aren't his real friends ("call my quote-unquote friends, 'do you got plans', turns out everyone's free when the dinner is") and that they're only using them for what he can give them. He struggles to change his lifestyle because it's addictive and fun. It's a powerful message of how addiction can make you rethink who you are, and just makes you feel sorry for the guy even despite how massively successful he is.
I also love how this song sounds. It's got this jumpy, bouncy kind of feel with the trap production that, despite being over-filtered a bit, works really well. It's a lot different than most of Posty's stuff, with more synth-pop elements that he meshes surprisingly well with. The contrast of the upbeat instrumental with the poignant, sad lyrics really makes it stand out. My personal favorite part of the song is where Malone says "threw my bottle at the sky, said 'God that's a warning'", meaning he's basically begging God to help him overcome this addiction and get into a better state.
While this isn't close to my favorite song by Post Malone, it is one of his most emotionally captivating. Addiction is a real struggle in the United States, even amongst our most famous, and hearing him sing about these issues publicly really brought me some sympathy towards him. This feels like something Malone was truly passionate about, and it comes across in how wonderful it sounds and the honestly odd music video where Malone is pushing a block of ice around. I don't know why but I just find that funny. Good work, Posty. I'm excited to see what's coming next.
#5.
In 2023, despite Taylor Swift's dominance in the media, there was only one artist who you could truly say dominated the charts. He had the biggest album of the year, charted all 36 songs from it on the Hot 100 at once, and maintained enough success to get the year-end #1 despite that song being objectively mediocre at best. Of course, I'm talking about Morgan Wallen. I grew to be a huge Wallen fan in 2023, with One Thing At A Time becoming my favorite album of the year in the process. And... yeah, I still love it. Apart from "Last Night" and "Cowgirls", all of the songs on that album are either fun, catchy, or introspective enough for me to love them. This one falls in the first and second categories.
5. One Thing At A Time - Morgan Wallen
"One Thing At A Time" by Morgan Wallen is a song I'm going to have nostalgia for in about 10 years or so. I worked at a gas station in the summer of 2023, and there was a highway I drove every day to work. I'd always play this song when I'd turn on to the highway when I'd have to speed up, and I just felt this rush of adrenaline pump over me as I drove. This is one of the best-sounding pop country hits we've had in years, but I feel like nobody gave it the appreciation it deserves. Well, there's a reason for that, and I'm going to discuss why that reason does not bother me whatsoever below.
Look, I get that this song's lyrics are... problematic to say the least. The entire lyrical conceit of this song is "well, girl, if you leave me, I'm probably going to overdose, and we wouldn't want that, now would we?". That's pretty douchey if you ask me, and should make this a worst list contender rather than #5 on the best list, right? Well... I don't care. Yes, the lyrics could be considered reprehensible, but I'm willing to give Morgan a pass for this one. Trust me, he'll need it considering how bad I'm The Problem was.
The reason this song makes the list is entirely because of how it sounds. That opening riff is a masterpiece, and I'm amazed that no one had thought of it before. Morgan's voice also works amazingly on this song, creating one of the best country-pop crossovers I've ever heard from a musical standpoint. Everything about the way this is produced is immaculate, and it's just so unbelievably catchy. "One Thing At A Time" shows what Morgan Wallen is capable of. At his best, he can create some absolute bangers (look at "Dangerous" and "Me to Me" for more examples). This is him at his best artistically.
"One Thing At A Time" isn't a perfect song, but it's a song I've grown to love over the past few years due to how good of a mood I'm in whenever I hear it. I hear those opening notes and am immediately happy. I'll sing along with the chorus as I'm driving down the road even to this day. There's a reason Morgan Wallen is my most-listened to Spotify artist, and it's songs like these that fulfill that. The title track of the best album of 2023, not surprising that it ends up here whatsoever. Excellent work.
#4.
Folk music just really isn't my thing. There's a lot of good in that genre, but the majority of it just doesn't appeal to me on a musical level. That being said, I find that the best folk songs always do the same thing right - they tell a captivating story. They give me a reason to be invested in the song, and they pay off at the end. The best hit folk song of the year manages to do that in a way that makes it a song that I've continued to return to again and again, even 2 years later. I did not expect that it would come from this guy of all people.
4. Dial Drunk - Noah Kahan (feat. Post Malone)
It's become quite consensus to say that "Dial Drunk" was one of the best hit songs of 2023. In fact, this is lower on my list than it is on the lists of most of the other critics I watch. Not to say that this song isn't incredible, this is still #4 for a reason. It's one of the best folk songs we've seen hit the charts, well, ever. It's got an immediately catchy melody and tells one of the more interesting stories I've heard in a song like this. And Kahan just sells it, giving details that make it more compelling through the verses, while singing the chorus to fully explain the situation and really capping it off with an awesome bridge. I suppose I should go into all of this more thoroughly.
The story of "Dial Drunk" is that the narrator gets arrested by the cops for drunk driving during the rain, and gives his ex's number as the emergency phone call. They call her, but she doesn't pick up, and the cops feel sorry for him because he's just so pathetic. The chorus then caps off with the line "I'll dial drunk, I'll die a drunk, I'll die for you" which is just brilliant song-writing. Utilizing the similarities between "dial" and "die a" to make one of the best writing decisions of the year just works so well and turns an awesome song into an excellent song. The Post Malone remix also kicked this up a notch, adding good chemistry and a unique presence on a song like this. Malone was the best person they could've picked to duet with Kahan on this, and the two go together like ice cream and chocolate syrup.
It also helps that this song sounds awesome. The guitar work is awesome, and the way it builds around the vocals is insanely impressive. The drums are also a work of art that kick it exactly when they need to at all points, knowing exactly where the rhythm should be wherever it need to be. My favorite part of the song is the "I know longer know" harmony part where the music goes along with it. Just an awesome musical moment that shows what Kahan is capable of. It's one of the best-sounding songs of the year easily, and combined with the awesome story, makes it an easy pick for one of the best songs of 2024.
I wish "Dial Drunk" was bigger than "Stick Season" was. I don't really like that song a lot, and I think this song is a better utilization of Kahan's talents as an artist. I'm glad he's gotten multiple hits, don't get me wrong, but that song was nearly a top-ten hit year-end, while this only hit #76 on the year-end. The fact that this song didn't catch on as one of the 10 or so biggest hits of the year just saddens me. I can imagine so many people jamming out to this at a party, getting lost in the story it tells and the rhythmic masterpiece it is. "Dial Drunk" is Noah Kahan's magnum opus, and I'm so glad it exists. God speed, Noah. Here's hoping you can make something this impressive again soon.
#3.
These next three entries are going to get personal. 2023 was a very tough year for me, and I needed music to help me through it. Luckily, I had that. This was the first year that I fully utilized Spotify Premium, and that has helped me discover a lot of new music that I otherwise wouldn't have known about. My #3 entry on this list is a song I find very sentimental. It's a song that focuses on how fast time passes, and the beauty of the overall story of life. I didn't expect this artist to be someone who'd get me emotional, but he managed to do it, and very well at that.
3. Next Thing You Know - Jordan Davis
At the beginning of college, I struggled with the fear of the passage of time. I was worried that my family members were going to die, and that I wasn't going to accomplish what I wanted to throughout my life. When I had that anxiety, "Next Thing You Know" was my comfort song. It felt like a warm hug that was reassuring me that everything was okay. This was a song that gave me peace and quiet from all the noise in my life, reassuring me that things were going to be okay. It's basically telling you, "yeah, life goes by fast, but look at the good things in life, those are what matters". Some find that cynical and obnoxious. I find it calming.
"Next Thing You Know" tells the story of a man who falls in love with a girl, they move in together, get married, have kids, and then, eventually, grandkids. It's done through the structure of "you do this, next thing you know, you do this", and I think that's an interesting way to do this concept of a song. It's done quite well, and the songwriting is excellent throughout. It's got all of these interesting details that make it even more compelling ("there goes the carpet but the deer head stays", "she's saying that USC's too far", "your best man gives a half-drunk speech"). I'd argue that it's the best-written country song of the year from a lyrical standpoint, and it was a song that really hit me emotionally.
I also like how this song sounds a lot. The acoustic guitar is soft and friendly, and his voice feels like a natural fit for this sound. I've heard a lot of people compare this to "Remember When" by Alan Jackson, which is also an awesome song. I'd say that one has a lot more weight to it, but I really think this song comes closer than you would think to matching that level of emotional reminiscing. While Jordan's voice doesn't have the age or wisdom to it that Jackson's does, I do think this softer, more laid-back, guitar-driven ballad works better with Davis' voice for this story.
One of the worst takes I saw with this song was from a critic I watch (who I'll leave nameless for now). He put it as a dishonorable mention on his worst list and essentially said "yeah, you're never challenged, then what? What next?", which I think fundamentally misses the entire point of the song. Davis isn't saying that life is easy. He's saying that you should appreciate all of the good things you have now because, next thing you know, you're on to something else. That's what I took from it, at least. This is one of the best songs of the year, full stop. A song that helped me this much deserves as much success as it got, and more. Keep up the good work, Jordan. I just listened to your new single, "Jesus Wouldn't Do", and I've got to say, it's pretty darn good. Keep going.
#2.
So... this entry is about to be... personal. And I know I said that about the last entry, but trust me. This is going to get heavy. This song was not on my original best list in 2023, not even as an honorable mention. I had barely heard it at the time and I thought it was just okay. Now, I have a lot to say about it and why it's one of the best songs I've ever heard. In fact, it's one of only two songs to ever make me cry. The moment you see what it is, I think you'll understand why.
2. Ceilings - Lizzy McAlpine
Oh, how I missed out on the beauty that is this song. Seriously, this is one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life. Lizzy McAlpine is a folk/indie pop singer who blew up in 2023 when this song went viral on TikTok, and I'm so glad it did because I get to talk about it now. There are so many things I want to, no, have to say about this song. Before that, though, I must say I want to take a less analytical approach with this song and go straight into why this song hit me on such a personal level.
"Ceilings" is about a wonderful night with someone she's with, where she's just truly in love and doesn't want it to end. They hang out in the rain, lay in bed, and Lizzy doesn't want to ruin the moment by saying anything at all. It's truly heartfelt emotion she's laying out here, and it's backed by some awesome acoustic guitar work and strings that make it all the more dramatic. Then, there's a plot twist.
None of it is real.
This entire night. The sitting together in the rain. The kiss in the car. None of it. It was all just a fantasy in one of her daydreams. And that's where I started to break. The amount of times I've just wanted to feel loved. To feel like I'm not completely undesirable. To just feel something. All of it washed over me the moment the song ended, and I broke. I cried for a few minutes before snapping out of it. I can say I've never had a song hit me the way this song does.
"Ceilings" should've been a bigger hit than it was. It only peaked at #54 on the Hot 100, but it deserved so much more than that. It doesn't seem like Lizzy got any momentum from this either, as this is the only song of hers to hit the Hot 100 despite collaborations with Noah Kahan and Niall Horan, both of whom I love. It's a shame, too, because I don't exaggerate when I say this is one of my favorite songs of all time. It's just dumb luck that it was released in a year that featured one of my top 3 favorites ever.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
HM1. Lose Control - Teddy Swims
The biggest song of 2024, "Lose Control" is a soulful pop-rock song that dominated the charts. This debuted in late 2023 and is STILL IN THE TOP TEN TO THIS DAY. Like, what the hell? This song is good, so I'm glad it got big, but this big? Meh. The charts have been so weak recently, so it makes sense that it's still there. Overall I love how this sounds, though. Teddy Swims has a neat voice, and the production is pretty good. I prefer his follow-ups "The Door" and "Guilty" but this is still a nice little song that got wayyy too much radio play.
HM2. Fukumean - Gunna
The popular rap music of 2023 was just not up to par with where it's been in years past, but this was a gem. I like Gunna. A guy like him has a solid place in the modern rap scene as someone who's always there when you need him. The "ee-yuh" noise this song does throughout gets stuck in your head, and the production is pretty good. I don't think this was quite good enough to make the main list anymore, but songs like this are a welcomed presence, especially in a year where the genre was so devoid of anything great at the top of the charts.
HM3. Tennessee Orange - Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney seems like a promising artist. This is a nice little song about switching loyalties to your college football team during a relationship. That premise should make me hate it considering that I would never root for Michigan no matter what any girl tries to do, but it's a pretty charming little song. Apparently this is about Morgan Wallen (lol), but that doesn't make it any less sweet. I also like Moroney's voice and think the production is good, so yeah, this is a nice little song.
HM4. Bad Idea, Right? - Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo is at her best when she avoids the melodrama and gets into the pop-rock of the late 1990s and the early 2000s. This isn't my favorite of hers but it is an absolute blast that shows her props as a performer. The overall story of the song is pretty good and reflects a relationship where, despite everything that's telling her not to, she keeps going with this guy. This is pretty typical for someone in that age group, so having a song that's somewhat relatable like this while also being catchy and fun is just a perfect decision.
HM5. Fast Car - Luke Combs
Luke Combs' cover of "Fast Car" was wildly successful, and I get why. It's pretty much the original song, just with Luke Combs singing it instead, and you can tell how much of a passion he has for the music. He even goes as far as to not change the pronoun on the line "I worked in the market as a checkout girl". I have a lot of respect for Combs as a musician, as he truly loves the art and does everything he can to make good music no matter what. In fact, I can't think of one single Combs song I didn't like at least a little.
HM6. Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift was the biggest artist in the world in 2023, and this felt like a victory lap to all of her successes. This is a well-produced pop song that was originally from her 2019 album Lover was picked by the fans as a surprise hit throughout the year. I've never been a big Swiftie, but I'll admit that this song is pretty special. I think it works well as anthem for all of Taylor's fame and appreciation for her fans, despite that not at all being the intention. Still, though, absolutely love this.
HM7. Me + All Your Reasons - Morgan Wallen
Easily my favorite non-hit off One Thing at a Time, I don't understand why this wasn't released as a single over "Last Night" or "Cowgirls". The production is great and actually has some pretty awesome guitar work that I think makes it super special. If it had actually been a hit, it'd likely be in the top 3 of this list, but it's still mentioned here. The premise of this song is "even though you're leaving me, I've still got all of the things you're leaving me for" and, while that isn't super nice or anything, I still find it to be a clever song with a lot of good songwriting skill.
HM8. Chemical - Post Malone
The other big hit off Austin, this one actually made the year-end list and was miles bigger than "Mourning". I still think this is pretty good, even if I don't have as much love for it as the other song. I still love the guitar work on this, and the lyrics are cool, so, yeah, pretty good. Post Malone has a lot of talent as a singer that makes him work in so many different genres, and that talent is shown very abundantly throughout Austin and F-1 Trillion, so I'm excited for what's next.
HM9. Religiously - Bailey Zimmerman
Looking back, the decision to put this at #3 on my original best list was... stupid. This is a good song, and I like Bailey's voice, but that high? No. Let's not go that far. This is still the best solo song he's ever released, and there's a lot of choices made here that I really like. The production on the chorus is some of the best I've heard in a country song in recent years, and he carries some true emotional weight throughout. 3rd-best song of the year, though? Yeah, not really feeling it that much.
And now, this is the first time I'm writing a precursor to an honorable mention, but I've decided that I'm treating this one more like an actual entry, so... let's do this.
I try to avoid politics as much as possible on this blog. I have become disinterested in political drama and current events due to just how depressing it's become. It's tough when you're seeing headlines every day of some of the most screwed up things known to man. Wars in Israel and Ukraine. People fighting over stuff that should be common sense. It's become tedious and obnoxious, and I find it helps my mental health to stay as far away from it as possible. However, there are some times I find I can't. This one of those times. In 2023, we had two blatantly political songs reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The first one was "Try That In A Small Town" by Jason Aldean, which was just an all-around terrible song that, even if it wasn't about wanting to kill everyone who disagrees with you on gun control, would've been awful no matter what. The second one? It had potential. It was by a guy I could tell genuinely cared and wanted things to change. It could've been the rallying cry of a generation. Instead, it'll probably be one of the most obscure and forgotten #1 hits of all time.
HM10. Rich Men North of Richmond - Oliver Anthony Music
Oliver Anthony Music's "Rich Men North of Richmond" became a huge talking point in 2023 after it was promoted by right-wing podcast hosts like Matt Walsh and Michael Knowles. I originally found it to be atrocious, thinking that his singing just wasn't good and that the spare acoustic wasn't for me. And then, one day, I listened to it again out of boredom, and, it clicked. I finally got it. Let me explain why.
I have come to the conclusion that I just hate politics. I find both sides reprehensible and rather keep my nose out of the discourse. That being said, "Rich Men North of Richmond" is a political anthem, so why did this song click with me all of a sudden? Because I don't think Anthony is on either side. He doesn't have the talking points that Democrats too, but he criticized Republicans when they used this song at the National Convention. Clearly, he doesn't really identify himself with either side. So who is this song for, exactly?
This is a song where a man is angry at the system and rants about it, screaming for change and hoping that something is fixed. He's been "selling [his] soul, working all day, overtime hours, for bullshit pay" and he's just tired of it. This isn't the life he wants for himself or any other Americans. He blames the politicians in Washington D.C. for the struggles of the common man, and wishes that they'd focus on helping the coal miners of America and other people in similar jobs. It's a powerful message about wanting change and how the system is so messed up. It's a brilliantly written song that truly conveys how difficult life can be for those who aren't wealthy. People keep kicking down on men, poor people, and "people like me, and people like you". It also sounds brilliant, with the acoustic guitar really kicking it at points and creating some true emotional tension. It would've been a lock for this list, probably at #1 if I'm being honest, if it wasn't for... the obvious.
The Fudge Rounds bit of "Rich Men North of Richmond" completely takes away from the entire rest of the song. He spends the entire song ranting about how the rich are screwing over the poor only to then turn around and blame the poor for taking too much welfare and buying junk food. It's not their fault that all of the grocery options are filled with chemicals and calories. It's the government's fault for not having enough regulation on that kind of stuff. You should be smart enough to understand this. If you were, you would've written about that instead of referencing Fudge Rounds and completely defeating the entire purpose of your song.
Oliver Anthony is the voice of the confused American who doesn't understand the reality of the situation. He was so close, and he was almost there, but no. Fudge Rounds. And this is the truth of the American situation. "Rich Men North of Richmond" represents how close we are to understanding just how awful the political system of our country is, and yet just how far we are away from fixing it. This could've easily been the best song of the year. Instead, it serves as a reminder that we are an imperfect people, and we have no idea what we're doing. I hope it was worth it, Anthony.
And now, for the best hit song of 2023.
#1.
I come from a very rural area of the United States. I didn't grow up in the city. I grew up in a small town of about 90 people in the middle of one of the poorest counties in the entire country. Despite that, I'd say that I've done pretty well for myself. I earned a full-ride scholarship to one of the best schools in the state. I've been working an internship this summer that has helped me gain experience in my field. I've made new friends throughout my college experience that I hope will be lifelong ones. That's not to say the ride's been easy - it hasn't. I've struggled with a lot of things that I'm trying to fix. I feel like I've grown in a lot of ways that have been very helpful for me. And yet, I still struggle with my faith.
As someone who grew up Christian, I've been trying to keep my faith in check for a while now, and it just simply has not worked. I still have these mental health issues that make me question God and whether I'm making the right decisions in my life. The point is, I'm an imperfect man. I still have doubts and indecisions. I could be good at so many things, and yet I still don't know it all when it comes to faith. Luckily, I'm not the only one.
1. I Wrote The Book - Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen is an artist who I feel somewhat of a connection to on a very specific level. It seems that he's aware of all of his problems and sings about them in his music, hoping to use that as a way to help fix it. I know he's not a great person, but not everybody is. I know a lot of people who have done bad things but turned themselves around after. I myself don't think I'm a great person, so it makes sense that I'd be compelled to listen to an artist who admits their flaws and knows that they aren't some saint. "I Wrote The Book" is the pinnacle of that in Morgan's discography, with the key to it being the faith aspect of his life.
This song discusses all of these things that Morgan is really good at, like baseball or putting a boat into the water, and then flips it by talking about what he's not good at - keeping a good relationship with God. This is something I personally connect with due to the issues I've had in my life keeping the faith I want in my life. Wallen sings here "there's one that lays by the lamp on the nightstand, one that says don't cuss and don't fight, don't let the bottle turn you into a different man, but damn if I don't do that every Friday night", showing how the actions he takes in his life don't really align well with the instructions laid out in the Bible. "Those get you into Heaven letters in red, ain't getting read enough to keep me on a straight line, I'm a jack of all trades, but man I gotta say, that's one book I didn't write" only confirms that Wallen doesn't keep in touch with his faith enough.
It also helps that I find the country trap production on this song to be the best of Wallen's career. The looping guitar in the background is really catchy and immediately draws you in. It's the best-sounding country song of the year in my opinion, and it shows what country/rap fusion has the potential to be when executed perfectly. The verses are more mellow, and the chorus becomes a huge blowout that just sounds great when all put together. It may not be the most polished instrumental of Wallen's career, but it does the job wonderfully and puts a raw, emotional song on its back.
"I Wrote The Book" is the Morgan Wallen song that most connects with me. Since I've struggled with my faith for so long, hearing someone else discuss the same issue despite the clear differences between our situations resonates with me on a personal level. It's also important to note that this song reminds me of my older brother, since we listened to this album together when it first came out and that was my first time really liking any country music.
Out of all of the hit country songs over the past decade, this one is my favorite. Not "A Bar Song (Tipsy)". Not "More Than My Hometown". Not "Something In The Orange". This. Morgan Wallen has captivated the entire country with his music. Even the stuff of his I don't like ("Cowgirls", "Last Night", 90% of I'm The Problem), I understand why they're popular. What I don't understand is why this wasn't more popular. This only reached #18 on the Hot 100 off the strength of the album bomb and barely made the Year-End Hot 100 at #95. This should've been the big crossover hit over "Last Night". Even still, I'm happy this song exists. I don't know if I would've made it through 2023 without it.
I'm so glad you took the time to read my ramblings about pop music. Stay tuned for the biggest project of the experiment so far... coming soon! Have a wonderful day.
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