Music is one of my absolute favorite things in the world. I feel like I can’t do anything without my current favs playing in the background. Walking to class, doing homework, cleaning my room, driving, and quite literally everything else I do is backed by my current playlist. I absolutely love sharing my music with my friends and honestly whoever will listen. So here are the top ten songs and an album (in no particular order) that have been the soundtrack to my 2023 so far:
1. Gotta get back (feat. pink sweat$) by p1harmony
This chill, but still upbeat song, is perfect for walks to class as the weather starts warming up. The relaxed rap verses compliment the vocals so well. This is the song that originally got me into P1Harmony and I’m still obsessed with it and the elements that Pink Sweat$ added.
2. CASE 143 by stray kids
CASE 143 is a completely different rendition of a love song than the typical. The way love is presented in this song is so interesting and 3RACHA, the members of Stray Kids that write and produce their music, made this song so original. The switch ups in the tempo keep you on your toes and the anti-drop of the chorus adds the perfect element to such an experimental song. Again, the vocals and raps compliment each other and go together very well and the music production takes it to the next level. The live performances with choreography and the music video make it even better.
3. Change pt.2 by rm
I think this was a perfectly executed song on RM’s most recent solo album. It fits into the story of the album perfectly, and I encourage you to listen to the whole thing in order. This song in particular stuck out to me though because of the beginning. The choice to start the song with vocals and delay the back track made it immediately interesting. The back track remains one of my favorite things throughout the whole song.
4. temporary fix by one direction
I’m ashamed to say that this song was never one of my favorites when it was released. A few years later in 2020 I rediscovered the song and I have been obsessed ever since. Screaming this song while driving with the windows down gives me so much happiness.
5. happy fools (feat. coi leray) by txt
This song is a new addition after being released at the beginning of February. While most fans have other favs on the album (ones like Sugar Rush Ride and Devil by the Window which are also fabulous), this is the one that I found myself listening to the most. And Coi Leray’s verse!! Too good!! I’m so glad they chose her to feature on the song because she really takes it to the next level. This song, and honestly this whole album, has done nothing but make my TXT obsession worse.
6. OMG by newjeans
This song has had TikTok in a chokehold recently and it is so easy to see why. The chorus is extremely addicting and the dance challenge is so fun and entertaining. This song gets stuck in my head all the time and was quick to become one of my favorites. I am definitely included in the side of TikTok that is so obsessed with it.
7. lonely by rm
Another song from RM’s recent solo album, it speaks to real feelings that are often so prevalent. Even though the song has a more upbeat back track, RM has a realness to his lyrics and rawness to his voice. RM’s back tracks are one of my favorite things about his music and I think this song meshes that with the vocals so well.
8. Hot by seventeen
Hot was an absolute reset for me. This song will forever be iconic in my book and I will simply never stop listening to it. It mixes impressive vocals, raps, music production, and even a bit of beatboxing together perfectly. I could never say enough about this song. Like CASE 143, the live performances with choreography and the music video concepts make it even better.
9. Vibe (feat. jimin of bts) by taeyang
VIBE was the best way to start 2023 honestly. This song is so fun and happy. It never fails to lift my mood on a rough day. Jimin’s voice is so distinct and works so well as the feature for the song complimenting TAEYANG’s iconic voice extremely well.
10. diana by one direction
Unlike Temporary Fix, I have been obsessed with this song since it was released. I was walking down the halls in my middle school listening to this song and now I get to walk around my college campus enjoying it just as much. After loving it for a decade now, it carries a certain nostalgia and makes me so happy when I listen to it. This is another one to sing while driving with the windows down on a warm day.
11. the entirety of 5sos5 by 5 seconds of summer
A flawless execution of an album. This was the only thing I listened to for weeks after it came out. It takes you through every emotion and tells a story so beautifully. 5SOS5 makes me so proud to be a 5SOS fan. This is a bold statement but it honestly might be my favorite album ever. Some of my favorite songs are BLENDER, Best Friends, and Bleach.