Taylor Swift, SZA, boygenius, Travis Scott, Beyoncé, Noah Kahan—2023 gave us a variety of new music for our ears and some of our favorites from our classic favorite artists.
We asked our staff for their defining song of this year. Here are their responses:
Not Strong Enough: Emme Goelz, Staff Writer
“Not Strong Enough” by boygenius was my year’s defining song. I absolutely love the boys and think that none of their songs are a flop.
“Not Strong Enough” is the kind of song where you blast in the car and yell all of the words. “Car jams” is an adequate title for the playlist this song belongs on, alongside “British Bombs” by Declan McKenna, “Dylan Thomas” by Better Oblivion Community Center and “Ur Mum” by Wet Leg.
Teenage Dream: Chloe Sapp, Staff Writer
“Teenage Dream” by Olivia Rodrigo. Rodrigo’s 2023 release details the imposter syndrome that one gets from being the best at one point, but then always feeling the need to live up to that expectation.
For Sapp, this was the defining song of her year. It brought her feels of immediate depression and anger. Sapp places this song on a playlist she has created entitled “once shiny, now rusted,” an allusion to the 2014 Taylor Swift release, “Bad Blood,” The playlist features songs such as ‘Castles Crumbling’ by Taylor Swift, ‘Nothing New’ by Taylor Swift featuring Phoebe Bridgers and The Archer by Taylor Swift.
FE!N: Griffin Smith, Staff Writer
Smith’s year was made by Travis Scott’s 2023 release, FE!N featuring Playboi Carti. Having been his fourth number-one song on his Spotify Wrapped, Smith believes he has listened to this song over 100 times.
He described it as “pure happy hyped up wild energy.” Smith would place this song among other Travis Scott songs on a playlist such as “STARGAZING” and “Quintana,” which includes Meek Mill.
Break: Lauren Brennecke, News Editor
The “heartbreaking,” “melodramatic” and “scatty” song “Break” by Aphrodite’s Child soundtracked Brennecke’s year. The song is still fresh in her discography as she discovered in the summer of 2023.
Among Brennecke’s weird, monthly or seasonal playlists, she would place this song with “Air Born” by Camel, “Loving Soft” by Please and “Only You” by The Flying Pickles. For Brennecke, these playlists have “no logic, just vibes.”
Fake Happy: Elise Palmer, Culture and Lifestyle Editor
Palmer threw things back to spring 2017 with “Fake Happy” by Paramore. Through the over twenty times Palmer played this song, she felt sadness, angst, validation and happiness (not fake).
Listening to the album all last year, and seeing Paramore in concert led to a favoritism of their After Laughter, and specifically this song.
The title of her playlist? “AHHHHH? featuring “Rose-Colored Boy” by Paramore, “Ribs” by Lorde, “Weary” by Solange and “Normal Girl” by SZA.
Paris, Texas: Alyssa White, Staff Writer
“Paris, Texas” by Lana Del Rey was more than just a song to White this year. The 2023 release just so happens to be named after one of her favorite films.
The song was released in her birthday month, March. White discovered the “fairytale fantasy-esque” song listening to Del Rey’s album, “Did You Know There is a Tunnel Under Ocean Boulevard,” on the day of its release.
You’re Gonna Go Far: Gabrielle Lindemann, Staff Writer
“Hard endings and new beginnings, goodbyes and hellos.” That is how Lindemann would describe her year moving away to college, making new friends and having to say goodbye to the usual.
“You’re Gonna Go Far” by Noah Kahan helped her through these feelings. Change is a bittersweet thing, and that melancholy is something this song helps Lindemann embrace. This song fits the playlist title “Oldest Daughter Core.” On this playlist, there is “You’re on Your Own Kid” by Taylor Swift, “Vienna” by Billy Joel and “Motion Sickness” by Phoebe Bridgers.
Let Me Down Easy: Zoe DeYoung, Editor-in-Chief
“Never stop believing, in truth, in grace, in the grievance.” Those are the lyrics that stand out for DeYoung in Gang of Youths’ “Let Me Down Easy.”
According to DeYoung, the song describes the human desire to be known deeply, to be loved and to give that to others.
Due to the comforting nature of this song, DeYoung has found herself listening to this song at least once a day over the past year. Along with “Let Me Down Easy,” DeYoung would put “Take Me Where Your Heart Is” by Q and “It Almost Worked” by TV Girl.
By Your Side: Carrson McDaniel, Social Media Editor
It has been a chaotic but good year for McDaniel. “By Your Side” by Sade was a song that calmed him down during the chaos. It was by his side as he played the song 50 times this year.
Having always been a big fan of Sade, McDaniel became obsessed with this song when he watched an episode of “Sex and the City” featuring this song. This song produces feelings of calmness and melancholy for McDaniel, and for that reason, he placed the song in a playlist titled “Calm, but kinda sad walk” alongside “Fade Into You.”
Bruises: Brian Rubin, Community Outreach Officer
“Bruises” by Reneé Rapp was Brian’s top song this year. Its lyrics hit close to home for him. One of his friends told him to listen to Reneé.
“While I’ve enjoyed all of the songs I’ve heard by Rapp, this one was my favorite. Even though it isn’t known as the ‘societal norm,’” Brian said. “I am a sensitive soul that thinks a lot about what people say and this song helped me realize that I’m not the only one that overthinks things.”
The song made his top five most-listened songs in 2023, behind two Beatles songs, an Adele song and a country song. For Brian, this 2022 song kept tugging on his heartstrings, and he couldn’t stop listening to it.”
Know Your Name: Josh Wright, Managing Editor
“Euphoric,” “ageless” and “great” are words Wright used to describe his song of the year, “Know Your Name” by The Backseat Lovers.
Due to causing feelings of excitement and energy, Wright played this song over one hundred times this year. Wright was already a seasoned listener of The Backseat Lovers prior to this song’s release in 2022. To go with the 2022 album’s vibe, Wright would place this song in a playlist titled “Autumn Indie Rock.”
Sacrifice: Layla Halilbasic, Staff Writer
Halilbasic’s song of the year, “Sacrifice” by The Weeknd, is not her favorite song. But it was the catchiest song she heard, causing it to be her song of the year.
Every time this song plays, she thinks of the past year. According to Halilbasic, each of the 20 times she played this song, she felt like a badass, like she was a man living in a man’s world, a boss. This song alone went on her “Songs that sound like they could’ve been made by Michael Jackson,” playlist.
Everything I Am: Kellen Furmaniak, Sports Editor
Furmaniak said he does not listen to much music. Regardless, “Everything I Am” by Kanye West put a smile on his face this year.
Happy is a continuous emotion Furmaniak felt going through the year with this song. Furmaniak keeps things simple with his listening. This song would go on a playlist titled “Ghengis Kanye” alongside “Everything I Am” and two other unnamed songs from Kanye’s Graduation album.
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