The 40 best songs of 2023 so far
As we approach the halfway mark of 2023, a few things have become clear: Regional Mexican music is having a moment, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” will never go away and Beyoncé and Taylor Swift probably could fill a stadium each every night for the rest of the year. Also, a ton of great songs have come out, many of them likely to make our year-end list in about six months.
Until then, here are our picks, in alphabetical order by artist’s name, for the best of the year so far.
100 gecs, “Hollywood Baby”
A pop-punk riff so stupid it’s brilliant — and so familiar it’s actionable? — Mikael Wood
Agust D, “Haegeum”
While BTS is cooling its heels (or defending its country via mandatory military service), Suga dusted off his hardcore hip-hop alias for a double entendre aimed at both K-pop’s insane internet culture and a fed-up, burned-out, stifled generation of South Korean youth. — August Brown
Amaarae, “Co-Star”
Leo, Sagittarius, Aries, Aquarius, Libra — all horrible in their own, unique ways, if you take it from Amaarae. Over quickening dance
