best of khalyan’s best of 2023 | top 10 throwbacks! what could be #1?

[K$Ellie]

I forgot Katy B released something this year  sad how she fell off

Cupid is a cute bop! nothing too special but its fun

[ARTPØP]

"Cupid" is def a cute track, for sure! 

 

Excited to see the rest of your list 

[GreatestLoveofAll]

On 12/11/2023 at 10:39 AM, khalyan said:

#43 "Over" CHVRCHES

As an unpopular opinion, but I really did not love Screen Violence much and it did not connect with me which was so sad seeing how everyone else was loving it and my past love for their earlier albums. Over, to me, served as a reintroduction back to the excellence they served with their first three albums, and I was sad there weren't any more tracks that came out this year from them. Hopefully, we'll get an album full of Overs in 2024

 

#42 "Cupid" FIFTY FIFTY

I have always been slightly side-eyeing K-pop since the genre exploded back with the Wonder Girls, but usually each year there are 1 or 2 songs that find their way to me that I love. Cupid does not top the excellence of ITZY's Icy as my all-time favorite K-pop song, but it definitely gets close and it's so nice to see international artists find success worldwide like FIFTY FIFTY did with this classic.

oooh these are my faves out of this bunch. i tell myself i need to get into chvrches since i loved this song and their whitney cover 

 

also love the schedule you made- i WISH i was that organized

[rvx]

Cupid 

[Born to Run]

Side eyeing cupid.

 

[khalyan]

UPDATE #2 - Songs #40-#31

 

#40 "I Used To Be in Love" Jake Shears

My favorite from the Jake Shears album, this song was a perfect mix of his past Scissor Sisters inspired bops with his own vision for music. I had listened to Scissor Sisters so much in high school that his voice in general is very nostalgic for me. A great release overall!

 

#39 "Top Dog" Magdalena Bay

I was obsessed with Mercurial World when it came out and was happy we got something from the duo even if it wasn't a full release. Almost every song is a hit, but I gravitated to Top Dog the most and EXO right behind it. I'm incredibly perched for whatever their next move is, I feel like they are on the cusp of something truly groundbreaking. 

 

#38 "Now U Do" Confidence Man & DJ Seinfeld

If I was an artist, I'd make music exactly like Confidence Man. Their mix of dance, pop, camp, and throwback references ticks every box in terms of what style of music I tend to enjoy. Their droplets this year were all great, including Now U Do. It's just impossible to be in a bad mood listening to them and that's why I am often revisiting them throughout my weeks.

 

#37 "Speed Drive" Charli XCX

Finally, Charli XCX does something good, but I'm not surprised with the massive Hey Mickey sample she was able to use. Charli has to learn to not take herself so seriously, because whenever she thinks she's an *artist* her music starts to get worse.

 

#36 "Carbon Dioxide" Fever Ray

While I did not really love anything else on the Fever Ray album, finding this song at the beginning of the year was really magnificent. The instrumental is superb, one of the few times where I first listened and I toned out the vocals and just concentrated on what was happening in the background. I'll be sure to give Fever Ray more attention in the future!

 

#35 "Contemporary Love" Rêve

The pop album that came and went. Rêve is known for smash hit CTRL + ALT + DEL, and then afterwards she released some of the worst songs known to man - like Whitney and Hypersexual. Thankfully, her full release returns her back to form with Contemporary Love being the easy smash on the album. 

 

#34 "Évidemment" La Zarra

The first of *several* Eurovision songs on my list this year. La Zarra was done so wrong during the Eurovision Contest this year, as this song and the performance were absolutely one of the top 5 songs of the year. As we've already seen, the French delegation has returned to sending absolute snoozes with the song we got this year. It's a shame France's risks never pay off because Èvidemment deserved better.

 

#33 "Shy Boy" Carly Rae Jepsen

I've never loved an entire Carly release in my life. I can usually find a couple of songs that I like but a lot of her songs just don't click with me. Her album this year is probably the most successful for me, and I found myself gravitating to many songs this year including Shy Boy. I hope she keeps the momentum up in the future, because she's on a great path right now.

 

#32 "thicc" Shygirl & Cosha

Ever since Siren was my most played song of 2021, I've been a huge Shygirl fan and enjoy almost everything she puts out. However, I've always gravitated more to her dance music like Siren, Tasty, and Cleo than I do her rap music. Her most recent effort "thicc" is a return to her dance excellence and I hope she keeps exploring this style in the future.

 

#31 "A&W" Lana Del Rey

If y'all know me, you know I am not a Lana stan. I don't dislike her, but I don't understand the praise she gets for some of her recent efforts. I can usually find a song or two on each album and that's about it. However! That is changing with Tunnel, my favorite album from her since her beginnings. It's amazing what she can accomplish when she focuses on making a beautiful project. A&W is one of her best songs, and my only gripe is at times I wish it was two different songs however I can't complain much and find myself listening to the entire track often.

[khalyan]

On 12/11/2023 at 4:56 PM, stupidjock said:

 

yes taste !! Fever especially is such a unexpected bop along with So Hard So Hot 

So Hard So Hot is definitely her second best on the album! Gatto Gelato completes the trinity  

 

21 hours ago, Mr. Blue_Shirt said:

SNL wishes to make a clever parody songs like Planet of the Bass, Even that Big Boy parody song with SZA can't compete with it

 

Back on 74 is a proof that Music Video format is not dying and music is still depend on it like, i've seen so many people including me starts loving the song after seeing the MV

I completely agree about Jungle's music video being proof that MVs aren't dead! It's a shame that a lot of artists do not invest in music videos like that anymore because honestly, without the MV that Jungle track would have gone unnoticed by the majority of the public.

 

10 hours ago, GreatestLoveofAll said:

oooh these are my faves out of this bunch. i tell myself i need to get into chvrches since i loved this song and their whitney cover 

 

also love the schedule you made- i WISH i was that organized

I absolutely love the first two CHVRCHES albums, if you are wanting a place to start with their discography. Their third album was great to me only after seeing them live so I do not know how it'll translate outside of that, and Screen Violence was missing their usual spark for me.

And thanks! If I don't give myself a schedule there would be no chance I could finish the countdown  

 

5 hours ago, Born to Run said:

Side eyeing cupid.

 

I can lowkey understand this

[khalyan]

18 hours ago, K$Ellie said:

I forgot Katy B released something this year  sad how she fell off

Cupid is a cute bop! nothing too special but its fun

She could make a cute return if she gives us another Little Red or On A Mission! Please, she never needs to give us another Honey or Peace & Offerings again 

[Alex]

Contemporary Love + A&W

[Ewan Chaos]

Quote

If I was an artist, I'd make music exactly like Confidence Man. 

100% me too. I saw them when they came to my city on the first of the month and it was also one of the best concerts of my life. Front row doing the dance moves to Now U Do... a highlight of the year.

 

I love almost every song here! Glad to see Jake getting some love this year for that solo album. I'm ready for Magdalena Bay LP2!

[JGibson]

A&W 

[GreatestLoveofAll]

8 hours ago, khalyan said:

I absolutely love the first two CHVRCHES albums, if you are wanting a place to start with their discography. Their third album was great to me only after seeing them live so I do not know how it'll translate outside of that, and Screen Violence was missing their usual spark for me.

And thanks! If I don't give myself a schedule there would be no chance I could finish the countdown  

 

oh ok then! ill actually add them to my saved now so i can remember cause they def sound promising

 

and i totally get that- I even said i was gonna post my update at 9 and ended up doing it 17 hours later-

[GreatestLoveofAll]

8 hours ago, khalyan said:

#37 "Speed Drive" Charli XCX

Finally, Charli XCX does something good, but I'm not surprised with the massive Hey Mickey sample she was able to use. Charli has to learn to not take herself so seriously, because whenever she thinks she's an *artist* her music starts to get worse.

nnn the dragging but i love this song! a highlight

 

8 hours ago, khalyan said:

#33 "Shy Boy" Carly Rae Jepsen

I've never loved an entire Carly release in my life. I can usually find a couple of songs that I like but a lot of her songs just don't click with me. Her album this year is probably the most successful for me, and I found myself gravitating to many songs this year including Shy Boy. I hope she keeps the momentum up in the future, because she's on a great path right now.

oooh taste! i forgot about the loveliest time 

[Alldeezy]

Speed Drive + Shy Boy + A&W

[poki]

OMG so that IS a Hey Mickey sample? 

For once my mind served E=mc^2

[Kern]

15 hours ago, khalyan said:

#33 "Shy Boy" Carly Rae Jepsen

I've never loved an entire Carly release in my life. I can usually find a couple of songs that I like but a lot of her songs just don't click with me. Her album this year is probably the most successful for me, and I found myself gravitating to many songs this year including Shy Boy. I hope she keeps the momentum up in the future, because she's on a great path right now.

15 hours ago, khalyan said:

#37 "Speed Drive" Charli XCX

Finally, Charli XCX does something good, but I'm not surprised with the massive Hey Mickey sample she was able to use. Charli has to learn to not take herself so seriously, because whenever she thinks she's an *artist* her music starts to get worse.

 

15 hours ago, khalyan said:

#39 "Top Dog" Magdalena Bay

I was obsessed with Mercurial World when it came out and was happy we got something from the duo even if it wasn't a full release. Almost every song is a hit, but I gravitated to Top Dog the most and EXO right behind it. I'm incredibly perched for whatever their next move is, I feel like they are on the cusp of something truly groundbreaking

The way all of those might've been written by me  Shy Boy really had be shook as I wasn't that huge of fan of her other songs and the whole album is so good. I also 100% agree about CharlI XCX. And let's be perched for new Magdalena Bay album coming in 2024

[Mr. Blue_Shirt]

I Used To Be in Love, Now U Do, Shy Boy and A&W are soo good

 

The way Speed Drive sample 2 tracks but the song is still feels like a new one. Charli truly studied the Renaissance style to the tea

[Album Leak]

Contemporary Love song is very cute, and the album was definitely an... experience.

 

I was personally not vibing with Fever Ray's newest release, and I think I've just given up on them at this point. Their debut shook me to my very core (If I Had A Heart, When I Grow Up, Concrete Walls, Keep the Streets Empty for Me... just absolutely legendary ), but they just haven't recaptured that magic since, except maybe in The Wolf, which was over a decade ago.

[BlackoutZone]

I SCREAMED at Planet of the Bass, can't deny I was bopping too

 

Many other genuinely great choices tho, so happy to see Paradise even tho miss Katy missed my list  Seen her do it live this year and it knocked even more

[khalyan]

UPDATE #3 - Songs #30-#26

This is the smallest update planned, as next update will be 5 of my current songs and 5 songs from the throwbacks

 

#30 "Can't Tame Her" Zara Larsson

Her best pop song to me since Lush Life? Zara really did that this year. "Can't Tame Her" is fun, addictive, and a perfect direction for Zara to move into. I'm surprised it wasn't more successful on the charts as I feel like so many countries would have ate this up.

 

#29 "Don't Look Down" Jai Wolf ft BANKS

Even after the horrendous flop that was Serpentina, I'm still a huge Banks fan and I loved her vocals featuring on this song by Jai Wolf.  Hopefully this song marks the return of good music for miss Jillian and she'll stop with the Serpentina's and awful Kim Petras features in the future. 

 

#28 "New Bottega" Azealia Banks

Azealia still knows how to make a bop, which is why I will never understand the threads about her saying she's lost it for years. In the past few years she has fed us this masterpiece alongside FHAN, and Tarantula. I do wish she would deliver us another full-length project eventually but for now I just enjoy the ride, and appreciate what she does decide to put out.

 

#27 "On & On (Again)" Confidence Man & Daniel Avery

The second Confidence Man droplet to make my countdown. I'm so incredibly ready to hear the direction they are going to take for their next project. Their droplets this year were more dance than Tilt so I'm curious if they'll continue with that trend or scale back to some more pop ready sound? Regardless, I'll be here to soak it up whatever they do!

 

#26 "My Love Mine All Mine" Mitski

The best track from her most recent album, there is always something incredibly special about Mitski's releases to me. I ended up passing through Valentine, Texas a few weeks after the Laurel Hell album dropped, and I found a rare variant of Be The Cowboy at my local record shop for cheap at the beginning of my record collecting journey. This release I got to see Mitski appreciated by such a global audience with how successful this song became on streaming. Her career just keeps getting better and better and hopefully we won't have to wait long to see what she puts out next.

[khalyan]

On 12/13/2023 at 10:22 AM, Alex said:

Contemporary Love + A&W

Rêve did that  

 

On 12/13/2023 at 12:23 PM, Ewan Chaos said:

100% me too. I saw them when they came to my city on the first of the month and it was also one of the best concerts of my life. Front row doing the dance moves to Now U Do... a highlight of the year.

 

I love almost every song here! Glad to see Jake getting some love this year for that solo album. I'm ready for Magdalena Bay LP2!

Confidence Man is high on my list of artists to see in concert, I'm praying they end up doing a festival tour of the US for their next release!

 

On 12/13/2023 at 3:16 PM, JGibson said:

A&W 

One of Lana's best  

 

On 12/13/2023 at 6:11 PM, GreatestLoveofAll said:

oh ok then! ill actually add them to my saved now so i can remember cause they def sound promising

 

and i totally get that- I even said i was gonna post my update at 9 and ended up doing it 17 hours later-

On 12/13/2023 at 6:13 PM, GreatestLoveofAll said:

nnn the dragging but i love this song! a highlight

 

oooh taste! i forgot about the loveliest time 

Let me know what you think of some of those CHVRCHES albums! I know a lot of people love Screen Violence too so you might give that a try, but I always lean towards fun pop music more than critically acclaimed pieces.

 

And Charlix lowkey deserved the dragging, she's at such a weird place in her career right now and she just need to keep giving us camp.

 

On 12/13/2023 at 11:40 PM, Alldeezy said:

Speed Drive + Shy Boy + A&W

Shy Boy was such a good surprise on the Carly album! I know a lot of people gravitated to other tracks which is why I think this Carly album is more successful than most of her previous ones.

 

On 12/14/2023 at 12:22 AM, Hey Dude said:

OMG so that IS a Hey Mickey sample? 

For once my mind served E=mc^2

You brain always serves that  

 

On 12/14/2023 at 1:28 AM, stupidjock said:

The way all of those might've been written by me  Shy Boy really had be shook as I wasn't that huge of fan of her other songs and the whole album is so good. I also 100% agree about CharlI XCX. And let's be perched for new Magdalena Bay album coming in 2024

Is it coming 2024? I'm so ready for MB2

 

On 12/14/2023 at 6:52 AM, Mr. Blue_Shirt said:

I Used To Be in Love, Now U Do, Shy Boy and A&W are soo good

 

The way Speed Drive sample 2 tracks but the song is still feels like a new one. Charli truly studied the Renaissance style to the tea

Jake really surprised me this year, so happy for that

 

On 12/14/2023 at 7:05 AM, Album Leak said:

Contemporary Love song is very cute, and the album was definitely an... experience.

 

I was personally not vibing with Fever Ray's newest release, and I think I've just given up on them at this point. Their debut shook me to my very core (If I Had A Heart, When I Grow Up, Concrete Walls, Keep the Streets Empty for Me... just absolutely legendary ), but they just haven't recaptured that magic since, except maybe in The Wolf, which was over a decade ago.

I agree about the album overall, experience is such a great way to put it

 

I can kinda agree about the Fever Ray album so I was sad nothing on the album matched Carbon Dioxide's excellence for me. I might check out their debut now after this recommendation!

 

On 12/14/2023 at 9:19 AM, BlackoutZone said:

I SCREAMED at Planet of the Bass, can't deny I was bopping too

 

Many other genuinely great choices tho, so happy to see Paradise even tho miss Katy missed my list  Seen her do it live this year and it knocked even more

Planet of the Bass, the best spoof song this decade  

 

Katy B is also high on my list of artists I'd love to see in person somehow, afraid she'll never make it to the states though  

[worldwide angel]

shy boy

a&w

my hit, mine all mine

[JGibson]

My Love Mine All Mine 

[Legend E]

For me, Screen Violence was an excellent album, and Over continued on that same note  

 

Evidemment was great, but I wouldn't particularly call it a risk. A&W and Shy Boy  

 

My Love Mine All Mine is...okay  

 

Excited for the rest!  

[Kiss It Better]

you just reminded me to add New Bottega to my list cause i forgot it was this year  but we don't claim the Torrent Foot's Version though

My Love Mine All Mine is so good  best song she's released since maybe 2018 

Shy Boy and Speed Drive were nice bops

I'm also not a Lana fan but agreed A&W is so good