The 11 Best Songs of 2023

Listen, I’m allowed to create clickbait every now and then. And here it is—the 11 best best songs of 2023.

Was there a panel? No.

Expert opinion? No.

A list of criteria? No.

There was, however, one random dude with a laptop.

 

“Kristine From the 7th Grade” by Ben Folds

Folds is never going to win any awards for his vocal prowess, but the man can dominate the piano. In recent years, he’s also teamed up with orchestras to bring even more life to his creations. All that is on display here, along with an amusing and thought-provoking take on political polarization.

 

“Autodidacta” by J Noa

If there ever were a rap prodigy, La Hija del Rap (The Daughter of Rap)—born in 2005 in the Dominican Republic—is it. Blending the flow of Ana Tijoux with the speed and angst of Eminem, there was no way J Noa wouldn’t be discovered. The eponymous track from her major label debut EP is a great introduction to her profanity-laden smack talk—fast forward to 2:23 for the full experience.

 

“Get Him Back!” by Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo‘s second album, Guts, is arguably an even better product than Sour, her critically-acclaimed debut. Never shy about divulging her influences, she opens this hilarious pop rock jam with a little flavor of Beck.

 

“We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Fall Out Boy

Released in 1989, Billy Joel’s original was never a personal favorite—heck, he didn’t even like it. That said, it was a fun history lesson, and Fall Out Boy took on the task of updating the song with references from 1989 – 2023. The Chicago band received a lot of heat for not going in chronological order and failing to mention COVID, but the idea is sound.

 

“Walk Around the Moon” by Dave Matthews Band

Keeping Ben Folds company is Dave Matthews, another middle-ager who’s going strong. The humble South African turned American continues to churn out gems—this one with a slow burn and the usual smattering of horns—whether the mainstream is paying attention or not.

 

“$20” by Boygenius

The indie supergroup consisting of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus struck gold with its album The Record, and this song—an homage to self-sabotage—shows that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

 

“Paint the Town Red” by Doja Cat

Doja Cat needs no introduction, nor does this bona fide hit. What is worth pointing out, however, is that by incorporating this piece into the best songs of 2023 list, I have officially proven that I’m on the cutting edge of pop culture.

 

“Jamna Paar” by Tony Kakkar, Neha Kakkar, and Tony Jr. featuring Manisha Rani

The world’s most populous country—India—is also an artistic powerhouse, as prolific in its creative pursuits as it is in its reproductive ones. You’ll recognize the typical concerns here—materialism, lust, and, of course, dance.

 

“A&W” by Lana Del Rey

Fine, Lana Del Rey, who grew up in Upstate New York (Lake Placid), can make you scratch your head, but her artistry cannot be denied. The haunting vocals. The uncomfortable lyrics. The genre-defying twists. This one captures it all.

 

“Fast Car” by Luke Combs

Can a masterpiece be duplicated? By taking on Tracy Chapman’s 1988 classic, the country music star Combs answered that question. Now we have two versions, and you can’t go wrong either way.

 

“Flying Tiger” by Pulseweaver

And finally, the boys from Rochester, New York. Sure, the drummer escaped to Austin, Texas, the guitarist fled to New York City, and the keyboardist (also known as my son) is stuck finishing high school, but that doesn’t take away from the trio’s contribution to instrumental art rock.

 

Feel free to add to the best songs of 2023 in the comments below.