Top Songs of 2023 [Team PLAYDATE. Picks]
PLAYDATE. listened to a massive amount of music in 2023. From discovering thousands of slept on songs to immersing in the latest hits from our favorite well-known artists, we fell in love with a ton of music. We don’t want to gatekeep our favorite music of the year, so we made a list of some of the standout tracks of the year. Check out the songs below to see what the PLAYDATE. staff has been bumping this year.
“NEED IT” by Joony
Joony has been one of my favorite artists for a minute now. This song gets me turnt up every time I hear it cuz its like, facts! I really do NEED IT! Joony is from the DMV and you can hear it in his accent which feels like home but he also doesn’t make “traditional DMV” music so it’s really cool to hear. This song expresses the desire for everything that comes out of all of the hard work that was put in and I can’t think of a better representation of what this new year has in store!
“SURVIVOR” by Koolkat!
Koolkat! absolutely slid on this beat. The instrumental on “SURVIVOR” offers dramatic chords with horns reminiscent of a sound Chief Keef made famous. The two of these sounds combine to make an epic intro that Koolkat!’s vocal performance does justice to say the least. The song’s crazy drop sets the stage for the rest of the tune as he delivers a powerful vocal performance while displaying his versatility throughout. Koolkat! shows versatility not only through his flow and rhythm, but also through his capability to dictate his voice in several different ways, each time bringing a new energy to the song.
“MUSTARD” by Jordan Ward and 6lack
2023 was already a staple year for Jordan Ward coming off the release of his critically acclaimed debut album Forward, so when it was time for Jordan to drop the deluxe version of the album he preceded the deluxe with the lead single “Mustard," with a featured assist from 6lack. Mustard was the perfect contender for late song of the summer; the overall slick production and the synthesized vocals just added a really unique layer to the song. I found myself crooning along to it nonstop, and it was probably the main reason it contributed to my Spotify replay. 6lack’s voice and delivery fits so well paired with Jordan’s, it kind of reminded me of J Cole’s flow, and definitely shows why 6lack bodies every feature he does. This is the perfect song that’s meant to be blasted in the car on a warm sunny day, so you can really get the full effect of the song.
“Blame Brett” by The Beaches
After making music together since 2013, Canadian alt-pop band The Beaches finally topped charts with “Blame Brett,” an edgy, name-dropping anthem that celebrates breaking hearts after someone breaks yours. “Blame Brett” declares, “Done being the sad girl / I’m done dating rockstars” and warns future partners “I’m probably gonna let you down / I’m probably gonna sleep around.” These bold declarations captured the attention of established artists like Nelly Furtado and Mark Hoppus, who both posted videos listening to the song. The single springboarded the band’s EP Blame My Ex, featuring more powerhouse tracks from the perspectives of both the brokenhearted and the heartbreaker.
While the song rides the wave of angsty, female-driven pop swarming the mainstream, the four-piece band’s unique charm undeniably contributed to its massive rise in success over the last year, from selling out its first European venue to playing with the Jonas Brothers.
“A Little Love” by Julia Pratt & Mt. Joy
In August of 2023, Julia Pratt and Mt. Joy teamed up to create a magical song called "A Little Love." The song was a hit, capturing the essence of heartbreak and the uncertain feelings that come from change. By blending their voices and harmonies just right, the song became a true gem of 2023. The collaboration of Julia Pratt and Matt Quinn was more than something we wanted, it was something we needed. 2023 has been a ride for us all and this tune truly eased many of us during the ups and downs.
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