best songs of the year: 2023

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Spotify Wrapped season! It’s time to discuss all things 2023 music and jams that I loved. Side note: sorry for my absence on the blog lately. School has been taking over my life. Trying to post when I can, but it’s not been easy. Didn’t mean to take a month off, but everytime I thought it would get easier, it just got harder. Some seasons of life keep trying to kick you when you’re just trying to hold on. But here’s to resting as much as I can this winter break.

I will be definitely blogging as much as possible this break! Look forward to the posts that are coming your way!

Spotify Wrapped, here’s to the best songs of the year!

I also want to mention that this post is about my favorite songs and not Billboard’s Top Hits or anything like that. This is just what I like and what I recommend you’d listen to. No worries if it doesn’t resonate or if you like something else better.

Let’s get into it!

In terms of my top 5 songs, it ended up being Abbie Gamboa and Mat Kerekes, which is honestly representative of my taste: it’s either worship music or pop-punk/emo music, and no in-between. So many people ended up having Taylor Swift as their number 1, but I actively avoided listening to Taylor on my Spotify because I knew that having her would skew it (same with Helen Jane Long).

In terms of top artists, I had Abbie, Upperroom, Mat (my peak listening month was May), The Maine (my peak listening month was August), and Citizen. I was supposed to go to the Citizen show in Brooklyn, but due to some last minute reporting needed the next day, I decided to stay in and grind. 

My Top Songs – 

I’m choosing all over the list, not just what Spotify gave me for my top 5.

Window for glory to slide in is my #1 – which did shock me!

Absolutely gorgeous song! This bridge is STILL a bridge that wrecks me. It’s a piano recital and a prayer at the same time. 

Do You have preferences? 

What are Your longings?

What could I say that 

Would beckon Your coming?

…

What did You do to me?

I’m good for nothing else

I’m so far gone, I am fully

Beside myself

When you find love, 

All bets are off

I’ve given in

I Don’t Care if You’re a Monster by Mat Kerekes 

Thought this would be my number 1, but it was my number 2. Still  love it!

Don’t let it all go to your head

Love is a form of weakness

But sometimes I wish I knew

What it meant to you

The Mood I’m In/JSYK by The Maine

Just so you know

If I’ve been unapproachable

If I seem too emotional

Life has been a rollercoaster

This is my favorite song on the self-titled. It’s fun and serious at the same time. Sonically, the Maine’s best work in years. Since Lovely Little Lonely.

Paper Dolls by Mat Kerekes

Now the highway’s my home

I could be wherever you want 

In a second or so

You just gotta let me know

This one is so unique of Mat’s songs. It’s so well done! It’s worthy of a close listen.

Revelation 1 by Jeremy Riddle

I’ll see him coming with the clouds

Every tribe on earth will weep aloud

Before the one who is the first and last

Every knee will bow and tongue confess

I listened to this song so much it could have been in my top 5, it was that close! I love this song so so much. It is pure Scripture (1 Thessolanians, Romans, Philippians, Revelation), and the line about weeping gets me everytime.

Release by Ronnie Freeman

Had my figures wrapped this one thing

For so long it had a hold on me

Used to think it could make me happy

I was blind, thought I could see

This song is way too real for my season, but I’ve mentioned it before and it’s worth mentioning again because Ronnie Freeman deserves more praise.

Rolling Rock by Lily and Madeleine

New Year’s Eve on out the sidewalk

Cut your hand on someone’s Rolling Rock

I had a feeling it would hurt so bad

Stared at the ceiling, it makes it worse

But we both knew that

Rolling Rock is Lily & Madeleine at their best. Sonically and lyrically, it’s one of their most impressive works of art.

Prepare Your Oil by Torchbearers

You’re the steadfast and faithful one

…

The bridegroom is coming

Prepare your oil

There was a point this year where I was absolutely obsessed with this song. It’s 12 minutes long, which is unheard of, but it’s just that good. Spontaneous worship at its best. Torchbearers are the best at spontaneous music I’ve heard in the Christian space. 

Covenant by Rachel Morley

There’s no distance between us

My breath is just your breath
My life is just your life

…

You make covenant with me

If you know me, I’ve mentioned Ms. Morley. I think she was my top artist last year. She released Covenant this year, and though it doesn’t sound like the Instagram version, it’s pretty incredible. Rachel grows in her worship and the way she leads is stunning to hear.

Thank you friends for indulging me in telling you about music I enjoy! Give me some recommendations. I’m always looking for new tunes.

Signing off,

Gigi