Spotify has been wrapped, Christmas presents opened and now the New Year’s Eve fireworks are up on us, it is truly time to bid a fond farewell to 2023.
As you load those party playlists for one final shebang, CelebMix takes the final two days of the calendar year to look back at some of our favourite music releases in 2023. From number one singles to viral ditties and underrated bops, we run through 50 of the singles that we were obsessed with this year.
Starting the countdown with numbers 50 to 26, these are the songs that we will think of when we look back at the year of 2023 in times to come – and be sure to let us know your favourites on Twitter @CelebMix.
50. ‘Alright’ – Charlotte Sands
Charlotte Sands kicked off 2023 by peeling away the layers of her feisty pop/punk sound. On the atmospheric ‘Alright’ the star grapples with her demons with one of the year’s most cathartic choruses.
49. ‘Where Did All the Guitars Go?’ – McFly
It sounds like McFly simply went into the studio and set about having a whole load of fun before ending up with 2023 record Power to Play. It’s one of the group’s best to date and album opener ‘Where Did All the Guitars Go?’ amps up proceedings with a bang.
48. ‘Nervous (In A Good Way)’ – Mae Muller
Between Eurovision and a debut album, it’s been a pretty stratospheric year for Mae Muller. Deep cut ‘Nervous (In A Good Way)’ was an immediate fan-favourite on Sorry I’m Late and it’s easy to see why. The breezy, lovesick pop track is a real earworm.
47. ‘Stolen Heart’ – HRVY
A quieter year for HRVY, who has teased bigger things to come in 2024, ‘Stolen Heart’ proved that he is still very much the prince of pop. Groovy production and a playful music video made it a hugely confident release – the star fondly refers to the track as ‘Personal 2.0’.
46. ‘Story of a Boy’ – JORDY
It’s been a year of interpolations in 2023, some better than others. JORDY’s ‘Story of a Boy’ is one of the best as he breathes new life into Nine Day’s ‘Absolutely (Story of a Girl)’ with a wink. TikTok loved this feel-good flick and so did we.
45. ‘2009 TOYOTA’ – Thomas Headon
A gloriously catchy early summer single, Thomas Headon references soy milk and the housing market in an anthem for millennials. Lasting just two minutes and 20 seconds, ‘2009 TOYOTA’ has plenty of replay value and showcases the songwriter at his most endearing.
44. ‘We Could Be the One’ – Dannii Minogue
A huge dancefloor filler from Dannii Minogue might not have been on many peoples’ bingo cards for 2023 but boy did she deliver. The soundtrack to BBC show I Kissed A Boy, ‘We Could Be the One’ is a glittering piece of pop perfection.
43. ‘Empire’ – Lucy Spraggan
Lucy Spraggan has proved herself a tour de force in 2023 and ‘Empire’ is a tender anthem to soundtrack that. The singer takes inspiration from The Greatest Showman on the emotional single that showcases the star’s astounding songwriting knack.
42. ‘Call Me By Your Name’ – Omar Rudberg & Claudia Neuser
Young Royals star Omar Rudberg’s voice blends effortlessly with Claudia Neuser on ballad ‘Call Me By Your Name’. Known for his penchant for big pop tracks, Rudberg strips back production as he sounds better than ever before in the yearning song which could soundtrack the film of the same name.
41. ‘Heaven’ – Niall Horan
Niall Horan chose well for his lead single from The Show. On ‘Heaven’ he rids himself of societal pressures to focus on the little things on a sing-a-long ready chorus which simply gets better on every listen.
40. ‘Oscar Winning Tears’ – Raye
Raye opens My 21st Century Blues with a swagger on ‘Oscar Winning Tears’. The star channels Amy Winehouse and Adele with her own authenticity as she rises like a phoenix on the head-turning beginning to her extraordinary debut album.
39. Everybody – Nicki Minaj & Lil Uzi Vert
A lot of people tried their best to hate Nicki Minaj’s corny sampling of Junior Senior’s ‘Move Your Feet’ on ‘Everybody’. Ultimately, the rapper packs the Pink Friday 2 track with so much personality it’s impossible not to be drawn in to one of her album’s most outstanding moments.
38. ‘TOO MANY LIGHTS’ – SOAP
Rising stars SOAP are hit with the weight of expectation on ‘TOO MANY LIGHTS’, which showcases the teens at their most vulnerable yet. The band grapple with life in the big city as lead singer Ryan Lofthouse croons, “It’d be easier to stay in the comfort, but I knew I wouldn’t want to find what I wanted there.”
37. ‘I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)’ – Taylor Swift
Give Taylor Swift a few chords and she’ll make magic happen. ‘I Can See You’ is one of the superstar’s best vault tracks as she hearkens back to the visual and playful ditties that first saw her make her mark on the world.
36. ‘Sorority’ – Elio
Elio decides that all the females around her might actually be friends rather than foes on ‘Sorority’. The star takes a wrecking ball to society’s determination to pit women against one another, armed with heartfelt lyrics and an easy-going riff that hit just right when it landed this autumn.
35. ‘Disconnect’ – Becky Hill & Chase & Status
Becky Hill may have become one of the UK’s biggest pop exports but returned to her drum and bass roots in 2023 with the help of Chase & Status. ‘Disconnect’ is a rip-roaring effort that ignited festival stages this summer and climbed right to the top of BRIT Award winner’s discography.
34. ‘Idolize’ – Dorian Electra
If you’re looking for your next obsession, and are not already worshipping at the church of Dorian Electra, then the shapeshifting genre-bender needs to top your list for 2024. On ‘Idolize’ they play with the notion of fame over a maximalist hyperpop beat. There’s only one word for it – banger.
33. ‘I DON’T WANNA BE LIKE YOU’ – Ruel
Ruel pens a stadium-sized hit on the cinematic ‘I DON’T WANNA BE LIKE YOU’. The 10/10 diss track comes with a monster of a chorus you’ll want to crank up in the car and blast out with the windows down.
32. ‘Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)’ – Taylor Swift
As soon as the opening murmurs of ‘Is It Over Now?’ begin, it’s clear that Taylor Swift has poured generous lashings of her magical storytelling into this one. By the time the forgotten 1989 track hits the bridge we’ve arrived at pop perfection.
31. Car Park – Nieve Ella
The hype around Nieve Ella is real and just what everyone is so excited about is plain to hear on ‘Car Park’. The rising star brilliantly paints a picture of a relationship on the rocks in the intimacy of a deserted car park. There’s something really special here.
30. ‘Air’ – Marcus & Martinus
In any other year, Marcus & Martinus would probably have gone on to won not only Melodifestivalen but the whole of Eurovision with a hit like ‘Air’. The sultry electropop gives way to a spectacular pulsing chorus in the twins’ most forward-thinking release to date.
29. ‘Nothing Hurts Like a Girl’ – GIRLI
It feels like the last four years of GIRLI’s journey as an artist have led up to the smash that is ‘Nothing Hurts Like a Girl’. The star is carefree as she runs at lightspeed into a new love. This feels so, so good.
28. ‘One Of Your Girls’ – Troye Sivan
The internet lost its mind over Troye Sivan’s music video for ‘One Of Your Girls’ and rightly so. But don’t let the star’s drag performance and a shirtless Ross Lynch distract you from a genius pop song that rolls off the Australian’s tongue.
27. Say – Fred Roberts
There are few breakthrough stars more endearing than Fred Roberts. On ‘Say’ the singer seeks validation from an ex as he overthinks himself into a fast-paced anthem. More of this please, Fred.
26. Single Soon – Selena Gomez
There’s an effortless brilliance to Selena Gomez’s ‘Single Soon’. The star preludes a breakup with this seductive hit destined for pre-drink playlists across the world. “I’m picking out this dress, trying on these shoes,” Gomez giddily sings.