My Top Music Releases of 2023

2023, the year that Beyonce said we were the visuals and a year of musical discovery. From old favourites making a comeback to new girlies taking the music scene by storm. What a year it has been! As a proud basic bitch when it comes to music, 2023 was a great year for me. I’m not going to sit here and act like the alt life is for me, and that K-Pop hits the spot, but I did try and broaden my horizons and ventured out.

*Let’s just say I’m hoping and praying Kai from Exo’s enlistment is swift and smooth.*

2023, another year without a Normani album. I’m still eagerly awaiting the day I can add a Normani song to end-of-year lists taken from the debut album she has yet to release.

*Can’t wait to be 70 live tweeting my reaction to the album when it’s eventually released.*

I’m a creature of habit and I’m not a massive fan of surprises.

*I’m still recovering from finding out Bon Iver is a band not just one man with a beard who loves skinny people.*

I will say, my Spotify wrapped this year was shameful and my therapist is aware that ‘Matilda’ by Harry Styles has been my top song for 2 years in a row. But she was happy to hear that there were no Glee covers in my Spotify Wrapped, she said ‘wow, I’m so glad we’re making progress.’

*I have no idea what she meant by that.*

This is not Pitchfork or Rolling stone Magazine so if you’re looking for insightful commentary, you will not find that here. Anyway, without further ado, just SOME of my favourite music releases of 2023 :

Honeymoon Avenue (Live From London) by Ariana Grande

Honeymoon Avenue may have been released 10 years ago but Ariana breathed a new lease of life into the song to celebrate 10 years of her debut album ‘Honeymoon Avenue’. Whatever vocal lessons they had her doing on the set of Wicked has turned an already accomplished vocalist into a WEAPON. I have not stopped listening to the re-recording of Honeymoon Avenue since its release.

*I need to know, who was responsible for the vocal arrangement on the song?*

Whoever you are, YOU KILLED IT. MAY YOUR POCKETS ALWAYS BE FULL.

The part where Ariana sings “I could be wrong, but I kNoW I’m rIgHt” is etched into my brain forever. Just know I am SEATED for AG7.

My Love Mine All Mine by Mitski

I love a sad bitch. Yes, make me feel depressed MITSKI.

You by Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus is this generation’s Joni Mitchell and the Princess of Pop Rock. I’m going to say what we’ve all been thinking. Flowers did not deserve the hype it received when You exists. I’m so upset that ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ did not get the promo it deserved. I will say the lies created by Miley stans to promote the song Flowers were so smart and I love them for that. Who needs a PR team when you have fans like that?

*If Liam Hemsworth didn’t do all the horrible stuff to Miley, it does not matter now because history has been rewritten by Miley stans.*

Tummy Hurts by Reneé Rapp

Just Reneé Rapp casually cursing an entire bloodline. She said ‘F u and F them kids’ to her ex. I respect her commitment to being a hater.

Feather by Sabrina Carpenter

This song literally changed lives. Just ask the priest who was fired for granting Sabrina permission to shoot the music video in his church.

On My Mama by Victoria Monét

Victoria Monét is finally getting her flowers. The mastermind behind pop’s biggest hits is now centre stage and I love it! I would personally like to thank her for bringing back dancing in music videos.

Dear Sahana by Sid Sriram

Dear Sahana has a special place in my heart. The soul in Sid’s voice is out of this world, coupled with his Carnatic tone and style makes the song 100 times makes you feel like you’re floating. Seeing the reaction of young South Asian girls with the name Sahana reacting to the song was especially heartwarming. If you haven't heard of Sid, I’m begging you to PLEASE check out his NPR desk performance it’s one of the best to come out of the series. Voting myself head Sid stan.

Die For You Remix by The Weeknd and Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande and Abel are a work wife and husband duo who can do no wrong in my eyes. They’re musical soulmates and just know how to produce hit after hit when working together.

*That one performance of ‘Save Your Tears’ defo inspired the girlies to write Ariana x Abel fanfics (please drop links to any if you know any good ones, asking for a friend).*

What was I made for? by Billie Eilish

*Just hand Billie the Oscar now.* ***STOP MESSING AROUND!***

Is it over now? (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault) by Taylor Swift

It’s been a busy year for Taylor she has been touring, and releasing a couple of albums and breaking a few records. This year was a great year for the girlies with taste because we got 1989 TV and Speak Now TV.

*Scooter Braun, your main source of income is about to become obsolete once we get the last two re-recordings. Count your days.*

Never Felt So Alone by Labrinth

*I’m so glad it was Labyrinth's song over Domnic Fike's 10000-minute, completely random song that the masses chose to as THE song off the Euphoria Soundtrack.*

Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife by LE SSERAFIM

‘Uns Uns music but make it better.’

Rush by Troye Sivan

Troye has been putting male pop stars to shame by actually showing that men in pop can be creative.

Part of Your World by Halle Bailey

*I don’t know what was put into Halle’s version of that song because hearing Halle’s voice automatically brings me to tears.*

Boy’s a liar Pt.2 by Ice Spice and PinkPantheress

*6-year-olds around the world may not know their times tables but they can recite Ice Spice’s verse from memory and that’s what matters.*

Houdini by Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa is the only pop star of this generation. I said what I said.

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia gets her own section because 2023 was really her year. Check out my meme review of ‘Guts’. From ‘Lacy’ to ‘Get Him Back’ she did not disappoint. She has cemented her position in history, not by winning multiple Grammy’s but by being involved in a soundtrack for a Hunger Games movie, the only soundtrack that matters.