best of worldwideangel’s best of…2023 (THEE FINALE)

[worldwide angel]

at number three, we have ...

 

3. PHENOMENAL (FEAT. DOECHII) - JANELLE MONAE 

 

 

'phenomenal' is like one of those songs that you 

dream about. a song where two of your faves 

just hop on an incredible beat and EAT and these

two did just that. easily the best track on the 

seminal age of pleasure record 

[worldwide angel]

at number two, we have ... 

 

2. HAPPY ENDING - KELELA 

 

 

when i say, this is probably kelela's best single released thus far, 

i mean that ****. this takes dance music please don't kill me khalyan 

on a whole new level. its so energetic, kelela sounds perfect per usual 

and this track was clearly for the girls who understand the clubs, 

electronica, and the euphoria that comes with those lived 

experiences. 

[worldwide angel]

AND THE SONG OF THE YEAR GOES TO 

 

1. CO-STAR - AMAARAE 

 

 

now amaarae's debut was beautifully crafted 

but leading into the immaculate fountain baby

with THIS? oh she gagged the live. the best song

of the year is a bold west-african pop song that 

sure covers the sometimes eye-roll inducing 

topic of astrology but like i alluded to earlier -

she ate this the **** up  

[Legend E]

I won't vociferate my opinion on Janelle's music this year as I think you know it

 

Nice to see Happy Ending so high. What Was I Made For? is also absolutely incredible

[Alex]

song of the year, wbk

 

love to see hemlocke, alemeda, janelle, kelela all stomping the top 10 !! 

 

lovely list xx

[Mr. Blue_Shirt]

WWIMF?, Mosquito, Never Lose Me and Happy Ending in the top 10 iktr

 

The way Cobra sounds so good in both version. Truly one of the best comback this year.

 

Co-Star SOTY I used to pray for the times like these! It's such a beautiful song even though she sh*ts on Libras (me) but irdgf

[Alldeezy]

MOSQUITO + EXES

[thecptz]

STAN HEMLOCKE OMGGGG  enknee1 is genuinely her best song i'm so excited for everything she's gonna do

also haven't heard a lot of stuff from ur lists so i'm gonna check them out for sure u always serve taste

[worldwide angel]

and now, for the moment you've been waiting for 

 

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

 

 

 

and a little excerpt from my review of THEE AOTY, Raven - Kelela 

 

 

The best album of the year is easily Raven by Kelela. I don’t know about the rest of #yall but I have been a loyal Kelela stan since 2016. So, when news came out of her comeback. I was excited. The singles range from masterpieces (Washed Away, Happy Ending, Enough For Love) to growers (On The Run) however the album itself was extraordinarily excellent.

The night of the album release, I remember submerging myself in the darkness, listening to the album with the only lights coming from the dim-lit phone screen and the small, green blinks from my AirPods case.

 

The album cover, Kelela’s face floating above black and grey waves, one contained moment that evokes emotions of tranquility and relaxation. The irony seemingly lies in that fact that the rest of her body is submerged in the dark seas, however, a dangerous experience for one could be a moment of serenity for another. Kelela, however, is intentional. Raven exists as a project of reclamation. Many have written about impeccable dance/electronic albums released by black artists, namely Renaissance (Beyoncé’s best album by the way!), and the larger issue of erasure in the entertainment industry.

 

With Raven, Kelela takes it a step further. The title track itself echoes a sentiment that black folks across the diaspora know all too well. Pouring all our energy into falsehoods like the American Dream, formatting our lives after respectability politics, and investing in systems dedicated to viciously tearing us down. Participating in the system leaves us hopeless and often times, creates a bleak yet honest outlook of the world. This experience is best explored in the title track.

 

Quote

Took all my labor
Don't tell me that I'm strong
You'll never wake up
Your silence lasts so long
So long
So long

 

Kelela then provides the ideal solution, looking forward and imagining a world where those that receive your time, energy, your art, and more, are those that have poured into you the way you hope to pour into them.

 

Quote

I separate
Closer to what I need tonight
No other way
Starting to feel my body now

 

The success of this process, detaching oneself from the shackles of systems of oppression, results in a bright, jovial revival of sorts, seeing yourself in a new light among those with a similar desire to build community. This could mean anything from accepting that you may not fall in the restrictive gender roles, breaking away from those, and finding yourself making peace with your butterfly-like transformation. Throughout the album, Kelela captures the tension that comes with the path to self-actualization, however, the perceived sight of a better world is all the more fulfilling.

[worldwide angel]

Spoiler

16 hours ago, Legend E said:

I won't vociferate my opinion on Janelle's music this year as I think you know it

 

Nice to see Happy Ending so high. What Was I Made For? is also absolutely incredible

nnn don't worry, the little monaes will convert you next summer 

 

and yess as two songs of the year 

 

15 hours ago, Alex said:

song of the year, wbk

 

love to see hemlocke, alemeda, janelle, kelela all stomping the top 10 !! 

 

lovely list xx

thank you sis

13 hours ago, Mr. Blue_Shirt said:

WWIMF?, Mosquito, Never Lose Me and Happy Ending in the top 10 iktr

 

The way Cobra sounds so good in both version. Truly one of the best comback this year.

 

Co-Star SOTY I used to pray for the times like these! It's such a beautiful song even though she sh*ts on Libras (me) but irdgf

#WeLoveLibrasHere but amaarae did slay, alongside the other amazing women included   

 

 

12 hours ago, Alldeezy said:

MOSQUITO + EXES

two examples of pop perfection  

 

10 hours ago, thecptz said:

STAN HEMLOCKE OMGGGG  enknee1 is genuinely her best song i'm so excited for everything she's gonna do

also haven't heard a lot of stuff from ur lists so i'm gonna check them out for sure u always serve taste

 yes get into it!!!!

 

[Tsareena]

 your top 3 songs... immaculate 

 

great album list too. I completely forgot TeaMarr existed. need to check out that album

[worldwide angel]

5 minutes ago, Tsareena said:

 your top 3 songs... immaculate 

 

great album list too. I completely forgot TeaMarr existed. need to check out that album

thank you so much  

 

and the teamarr album is really good  shoo fly and not my problem are my top two la la land if singles are included 

[Renzo_]

Caroline, Paramore, Olivia 

[TheWayWeWere]

wait that top 3 is PURE SLAY   Phenomenal is one of the best songs from album, maybe the best one tho  

 

album list is amazing nice to see some love for Tension, Gag Order and The Age of Pleasure, the last one is especially underrated  

[JGibson]

What Was I Made For? top 10 

[Legend E]

Great write-up for Raven, a stunning album and I'm glad it is your AOTY

 

Victoria, Caroline, Kylie, Lana, Paramore, Hannah, Chappell, Olivia, Raye and Kesha  

[Alldeezy]

YES Tinashe

[Chamoy]

Kelela and PinkPantheress stomping!

 

Happy New Year.