Top 100 Songs of 2023 (40 – 21)

Previously:
Songs 100 – 81
Songs 80 – 61
Songs 60 – 41

40. Naomi Sharon “If This Is Love”

Janet Jackson has a lot of daughters, like Britney Spears and Tinashe.

Whitney Houston has the largest family of daughters, from Mariah Carey to Christina Aguilera.

But you know who doesn’t have enough daughters? Sade. And finally we have Naomi Sharon to carry that mantle, because if you close your eyes and picture what Sade would be doing if she was in her 20s today, you’d probably come up with this album.

39. Casso x Raye x D-Block Europe “Prada”

Currently a contender at the Brit Awards for song of the year, “Prada” was a monster hit all over Europe last year, and, from an American standpoint, it sounds exactly the way we expect a monster European hit to sound. Keep an eye on Raye though — she has 7 nominations this year, which broke the record for the most nominations in a single year.

More from Bad Wolves:
Savior

34. The War and Treaty “The Best That I Have”

Do you remember the duet of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” from Sister Act II? That was Lauryn Hill with Tanya Blount.

The War and Treaty is Tanya Blount (now Tanya Trotter) and her husband, Michael Trotter Jr., who are both equally powerful, soulful vocalists putting some very welcome blues into their country music offerings.

(If you get the chance to see them live, get a ticket immediately.)

More from The War and Treaty:
Lover’s Game
Ain’t No Harmin’ Me

33. Loreen “Tattoo”

Melodifestvalen is a Eurovision precursor in Sweden where the Swedes pick a performer to compete at the big competition. A friend of a friend held a viewing of Melodifestvalen at a bar some years ago and I’ve been watching it every year since because the Swedes just understand how to make good pop music. As soon as Loreen started hollering this song, I knew she would take that crown and have a good shot at Eurovision.

And now, Loreen is now the first woman to win Eurovision twice (she won in 2012 with “Euphoria” which you definitely heard if you were anywhere near a dance floor or gay bar 10 years ago).

32. Pharrell “Cash In Cash Out” (feat. 21 Savage and Tyler, The Creator)

There are a lot of things you can say about Pharrell, but one thing you can’t deny is that man knows how to make a hypnotic production. The sign of a truly masterful production? You could’ve dropped any two rappers on the track and it would still hit (no shade to Tyler and 21).

31. Bronnie “Drown In Your Memory”

I have a playlist on Spotify called Pop Rock Princesses with music from the 00s from Avril Lavigne, Lillix, The Veronicas, Ashlee Simpson, etc. I was in Brooklyn to see some bands play, just bopping to the pre-show playlist somebody had going, and I heard a song that sounded like it belonged on that playlist, but that I had never heard before. I Shazam’d it and it was this girl Bronnie whose biggest song only has 10K view on Youtube, and I do not understand it. This is perfectly produced nostalgic pop-rock and I feel like a personal duty to tell as many people about her as possible.

More from Bronnie:
Back and Forth
Scream
OH!

30. Jorja Smith “She Feels”

It feels like we’ve been waiting ages for Jorja Smith to release a full-length follow up to her debut album, and she didn’t disappoint. I personally don’t vibe with too many of the Singing in Cursive and Umlauts girls, but Jorja does have a musical sensibility that speaks to me.

29. Sho Madjozi “Balotelli”

South Africa’s Sho Madjozi has been such a lovely discovery this year! She first came to attention globally (and briefly) with “John Cena” a few years ago, and you must watch her interview on Kelly Clarkson because:

1) She’s so charming!
2) Kelly is a good interviewer and is good at rallying! Very charming!
3) John Cena surprises her and he is also so charming!

I randomly came across that Kelly Clarkson interview because I was watching clips of Kelly’s show on Youtube, and now I think she is just the most refreshing person! If you’re looking for a lot of lyrical content, she might not be for you, but if you want a vibe, then hop on the winning team.

More from Sho Madjozi:
Chale

28. Raiche “Big Daddy”

Raiche is an R&B singer from Boston who pops up on Instagram every now and then featured on some of the accounts that highlight great vocalists. Her album came out at the tail end of last year so it’s on my list to dig into, but “Big Daddy” was out for the summer and hints at great things.

27. Jam City “Redd St. Turbulence”

Jam City is a British DJ and producer who I first noticed 10 years ago on Kelela’s EP. Since then he’s made some music for Troye Sivan, Olivia Rodrigo, and continues to do his own thing. “Redd St. Turbulence” is one of my Driving Songs — music to listen to on a road trip to make you feel like you’re chased!

26. Tanner Adell “Strawberry Crush”

Buckle Bunny! Tanner Adell is another one of my Black country girls, and this blonde bombshell from out West just signed her first major labor record deal. With a bigger budget and some industry connections, she really feels like the next big thing.

25. The Vaccines “Heartbreak Kid”

The Vaccines have recently lost a guitarist and now they’re down to four men instead of the five we were introduced to when they burst out of London at the tail end of the indie rock explosion of the 00s. Still keeping the torch alive, the lead single off their latest album is very PBR in skinny jeans, which exactly what I want from them.

More from The Vaccines:
Sometimes, I Swear

24. Doja Cat “Fuck The Girls”

Scarlet not being nominated for Best Rap Album was disappointing for me. Of all the rap albums you can put on straight through with no skips, Scarlet feels the most exciting. It’s hard to pick a favorite song, but at the time of this writing, I was currently spinning “Fuck the Girls.” I cycle through most of them though.

23. Calvin Rose “Body Moving” feat. Eliza Rose

DJ Extraordinaire Calvin Harris was playing in Ibiza when Eliza Rose performed. He wanted to catch the energy of her performance and the energy of summer and put it on a record. That’s exactly what this song is and releasing it in November was such a missed opportunity!

22. Madison McFerrin “Run” (feat. Bobby McFerrin)

Don’t worry….be happy!

I grew up with that song, but I have not heard anything about what Bobby McFerrin has been up to.

Spotify suggested Madison McFerrin to me so I put her on one day at the office and thought “hmm…I wonder if her dad is….”

And then “Run” came on and Bobby’s instantly recognizable vocalizations in the background confirmed my hunch immediately. I don’t think I have many father/daughter duos in my music library, but this collaboration is top notch.

More from Madison McFerrin:
(Please Don’t) Leave Me Now
God Herself

21. Kelly Clarkson “Goodbye”

Kelly Clarkson’s tenth studio album, Chemistry, seemed to come and go without a whisper! I didn’t even think anyone else had heard it until it was nominated at the Grammys. There was no big lead single here, but Kelly is trying new things with her production and her voice that are definitely worth a listen. As a divorce album, it ranks up there with the best of them, and the restrained emotion in “goodbye” shows Kelly at her best.