Here we go.
Another year of tracking my favorite songs and albums each month. Another year of trying to predict what flavor will capture my attention. Diving into new releases and old classics. Finding new meanings for old favorites. The potential of 2023 is exciting, and I’m looking forward to a year of musical endorphins.
The year has started off interestingly enough. Due to a change in my schedule, I did have less time to indulge in my daily listens than I would’ve wanted. Additionally, I’ve decided to rig Spotify’s algorithm and choose my own top songs off the year, which means I’m intentionally listening to a few tracks on repeat—which does take away precious discovery time. Overall, this month was full of songs that captured angst, humor, and longing.
Luckily, we have our rules to narrow things down: no more than 20 tracks in a month, only one track per artist (not including features), and no more than three songs from a compilation album. In January, I had to narrow down from over thirty ‘Liked’ songs on Spotify and one song from the very end of 2022 slithered in too. Songs marked with an asterisk* are old favorites and may not qualify for my top list of the year. If previous blogs are any indication, we may see a handful of these holding strong in December.
Let’s give it a listen…
- “Brenda Put Your Bra On” by Ashley McBryde, Caylee Hammack, and Pillbox Patti ~ She always got them good shifts just ’cause she had good tits
- “DEATH OF A PREDATOR” by Banshee ~ May the void swallow you whole
- “Villain” by Bella Poarch ~ You say you hate my guts, but you’re still coming back for more
- “TV” by Billie Eilish* ~ And I’ll be in denial for at least a little while
- “PSYCHO FREAK” by Cailin Russo ~ He likes my waist / He tells me everyday
- “Players” by Coi Leray ~ He thinkin’ he the one, I got like four of him
- “Pretty Women” by Eleri Ward ~ Proof of heaven as you’re living
- “cut my fingers off” by Ethan Bortnick ~ Now I need someone to trust while I lie to myself
- “Love From the Other Side” by Fall Out Boy ~ We were a hammer to the Statue of David
- “Vienna” by Gretta Ray ~ You can’t be everything you want to be before your time
- “Don’t Tell Mama” by Judi Dench ~ Mama / Thinks I’m on a tour of Europe, / With a couple of my school chums / And a lady chaperone
- “Ribs” by Lorde* ~ It feels so scary getting old
- “Haunted House” by Mckenna Grace ~ The silence used to be so loud
- “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus ~ Yeah, I can love me better than you can
- “tired of California” by Nessa Barrett ~ Came here for the weekend, but I haven’t left in years
- “C’est Comme Ça” by Paramore ~ Lucky for me, I run on spite and sweet revenge
- “Colorado” by Reneé Rapp ~ ‘Cause maybe there I’d like myself / Work on my mental health
- “Kill Bill” by SZA ~ I might kill my ex, not the best idea
- “Maroon” by Taylor Swift ~ The burgundy on my T-shirt when you splashed your wine into me
- “hover like a GODDESS” by WILLOW ~ I will never be fine if you won’t be mine
While my selection of songs was pretty standard, I didn’t listen to as many new albums this month. Reneé Rapp’s Everything To Everyone was on solid repeat at the beginning of the year. I’ve been listening to Meg Myers’ Sorry again, which is perfect for brooding. Otherwise, I’m patiently waiting for the next album I’ll obsess over. The biggest surprises of January were the bombshell of “Flowers” and the return of Fall Out Boy.
What do I predict for February? Hopefully, more optimistic love songs, whether old or new. Something with a beat. Something angry and lashing. I want the full human experience captured in music. We’ll see how these predictions work out next month.
Until then, you can find the ongoing What I’m Listening To in 2023 playlist here.
*At first, I debated switching to seasonal playlists—Favorite Songs of Spring 2023—but my friends voted in favor of keeping the monthly format. You can thank them for the later-than-usual-but-still-here post.
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