tay’s favorite songs of 2023
a gift for you 😘
i’ve never really been one for commercial holidays. i can perform the act of being in the spirit, but the right elements have to align for that to happen.1
admittedly, yesterday was a little hard for me. last Christmas was the last time i had a chance to dance and sing with my aunt Lynn before she transitioned in the spring. while i felt something was a little different in that moment, she showed up that day with so much energy and passion as if she knew it was the last time.
music bonds my family and it’s also my personal safe space. so let’s get into some music that made me feel something this year and recap my favorite songs of 2023 from 23-1. at this point, i’m old enough to know exactly what i like, but young enough to still have passion for seeking out new sounds. and i hope i never grow out of finding new music.
this list is a reflection of the recurring musical elements that persist in my discovery. may you receive this offering in a moment of stillness, even if it’s brief.
23. “White Crocs” by Jordan Ward & Ryan Trey
unofficial petition to bring back choreography like this in music videos.
22. “Gold” by Little Dragon
this song just makes you feel sexy AF!
21. “Actin a Smoochie” by Ice Spice
“UGH! GIMME A TISSUE WHY WOULD I MISS YOU WHEN YOU WAS THE ISSUE?” it’s the way she punctuates everything with “grrah” for me.
20. “Ladies Room” by Olivia Dean
anyone who has been in a ladies room anytime after 9 p.m. knows the sense of community and serendipity that can happen in that space (especially if it’s at the club, a music venue, or any place drinking is involved). becoming best friends in 5 minutes with the drunk lady who complimented your eyeshadow (who you will likely never see again) is a canon event.
19. “The Bus” by Laundry Day
as a longtime public transit girlie, this one is hella relatable. if you haven’t cried on the bus or train, it’s such a simple pleasure. public transit hive, stand up. people who cry in public, stand taller!
18. “Thinking About U” by Dazegxd and gum.mp3
my boyfriend played this in the car and i shazam’d it on the sly, then proceeded to play it all the time.
17. “Cold Milk” by Mach-Hommy and Tha God Fahim
see the description above.
16. “Glass Top Roof” by Lavarr the Starr & Shabazz Palaces
swanky af! this was also my first time seeing the video while preparing for this post and it matched the vibe of the song perfectly.
15. “DRUNK WORDS, SOBER THOUGHTS” by Kari Faux
catharsis in sonic form. “I NEED THE SPACE TO BE SOFT.”
14. “Love Stoned” by Reuben James ft. House of EL
the type of song that makes you wanna fall in love over and over and over again. real lovers only.
13. “Clock Ticking” by Kassa Overall ft. Danny Brown & Wiki
despite being a little cynical, this song has such swagger and a braggadocious vibe. a great song to remind yourself how far you’ve come.
12. “Sweet Harmony” by Sirens of Lesbos
the first time i heard this song, it was an instant classic in my humble opinion!
11. “Hater’s Anthem” by Infinity Song
we don’t often get the perspective of a hater/villian as a protagonist, but this was such a harmonious way to introduce the narrative. and at least they’re honest!
10. “See Ya There” by Genesis Owusu
similarly, to meet people in the fiery depths below us, you have to believe it exists first. i don’t think hell is one central or fixed place. and for many, it can simply be an unfortunate state of mind. but when you sing about it like this, it makes you wonder.
9. “Wild Animals” by Liv.e
this was technically on my 2022 playlist as a single, but it’s still one of my favorites since the album Girl in the Half Pearl came out earlier this year.
8. “Desire” by Cleo Sol
automatic favorite, automatic repeat. this is MY song and no one else’s.
7. “Boomerang” by Jamila Woods
“do you really wanna dance with me?? if you don’t like me then, then you won’t like me now!”a bop for eternity.
6. “Back On 74” by Jungle
on my first listen to this album, i walked around my neighborhood and clocked “Back On 74” as an easy fan favorite.2 a couple weeks following its release, the video and choreography blew up on TikTok and confirmed my sentiments.
5. “Tell Me It’s Real” by Baby Rose
the yearning (and my love for this song) is real if nothing else is.
4. “He Will Follow You With His Eyes” by Corinne Bailey Rae
i see the cinematic world of this song so clearly! a woman trying to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards and (happily) failing/rejecting this notion because nothing compares to the skin she’s in. it begins in a retro setting and shifts to a more modern climate once she breaks free.
3. “Contact” by Kelela
the queen of crying in the club and amazing comebacks. i don’t think y’all really heard her when she said “You see my hips and they sway, now see me walking away!”
2. “Jonathan L. Seagull” by Sampha
i sang this as a lullaby to my baby cousin (my late aunt’s granddaughter) and i believe i made her into a Sampha fan. this song is so earnest and soothing to my grief.
1. “Meshuggah” by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
this is the type of song that you hit replay on before the first run is even done! plus, the video is set in ATL — how could i not love it?
that’s all for now! i’ll be back later this week with my favorite albums list and the december playlist.
it was also hard to genuinely conceptualize enjoying Xmas when Jesus wouldn’t even be safe in his own homeland. free Palestine, liberation for all!
“Beat 54 (All Good Now)” remains my favorite Jungle song, so there’s something in the numerology of it all.