Audacy presents our 2023 Top Songs

2011 made quite the resurgence this year with one of Miguel’s debut singles, “Sure Thing,” getting some serious play. The song initially went viral on TikTok, and despite it being released back in the time of MySpace, went on to gain both streaming and sales revenue for the artist. “‘Sure Thing’ had been one of the songs that I always felt had something special” Miguel told NME back in March, and he was clearly proven right. The filtered, mumble-like melody combined with a popping rhythm underneath makes “Sure Thing” the perfect song whether you're in the mood to dance or just vibe.

In another TikTok viral scenario, The Weeknd’s 2017 “Die For You” from his acclaimed album, Starboy, also regained traction this year. The song’s reverb bass and emotionality is hard-hitting while managing to land softly, which is a sound and feeling that The Weeknd has managed to define his entire style by. In a last ditch effort to save a breaking relationship, he sings, “Even though we’re goin’ through it / and it makes you feel alone / Just know that I would die for you.” The Weeknd also released its remix in February with Ariana Grande, marking it the pair’s fourth song collaboration and further cementing the song’s influence with 2023 listeners.

“I just killed my ex, not the best idea” SZA coos in her song “Kill Bill”. With a groovy, laid back tempo and sultry eeriness, SZA takes on the role of an untrustworthy siren, violently obsessed with her ex and new girlfriend. And while taking inspiration from the Kill Bill movie’s lead Beatrix "the Bride" Kiddo may seem twisted, it certainly intrigued listeners. The song remained on Billboard’s US Adult Contemporary charts for an impressive 30 weeks, eventually reaching #1 in the Hot 100 chart and the number 8 spot for most played song in 2023 here at Audacy.

Morgan Wallen’s record breaking single “Last Night” was practically guaranteed to be on our Most Played list this year given its huge fan turnout. The heartbreak song recalls an alcohol-fueled argument with a romantic partner, and Wallen retrospectively doubting the break-up that was mentioned. “Last Night” is straightforward in nature, with producer Joey Moi telling Billboard that the production was “purposefully kept simple” so that focus remained on “the story, the vocal and the instrumental that runs throughout.” Moi believes, however, the single’s greatest asset is the singer. “[Wallen] has one of those magical voices that allows him to span multiple formats, really.”

Though played live in countless concerts, Luke Combs truly made waves when releasing his cover of “Fast Car” this past March. As compared to Tracy Chapman’s original, Combs’ take on the song is much more contemporary and clean in production, with his rough yet balanced voice being the biggest differentiator. Yet the song’s original message of yearning and desperate hope still shines in its powerful lyrics. Tracy Chapman has since made history due to the cover’s popularity and is now the first Black woman to have sole songwriting credits on a Country #1 song. “I’m pumped to see Tracy up there,” Combs said of the record in his Audacy Check In. “She’s one of the first artists that I remember being a huge fan of when I was a kid and she’s an incredible songwriter and she deserves it. She deserves all the accolades, it’s her song and I’m just glad that people have loved this cover of it.”

Thanks to Taylor Swift’s hold on 2023 with her single “Anti-Hero,” you may never hear the phrase “It’s me, hi” the same way again. “Anti-Hero” was the first release from her massively successful album Midnights and has since become her longest-charting Number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. After long being accused of airing her dirty laundry when writing about past relationships, Swift responded by joining in on the hater’s fun. With a sarcastically self-aware twist, she sings, “I’m the problem, it’s me / At tea time, everybody agrees / I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror / It must be exhausting always rooting for the Anti-Hero.” By putting a genuine response over her earworm pop style, Swift practically guaranteed her message would be received with staying power.

You can’t go wrong with a retro sample, or at least, that’s what David Guetta and Bebe Rexha proved this year with “I’m Good (Blue).” Obviously taken from the 1998 hit “Blue Da Ba Dee” by Eiffel 65, the two artists transformed what used to be sad lyrics set in a happy sound to a clubbing, electro-pop banger. It’s numerous drops, combined with Rexha’s new lyrics and unique voice, flip the “Blue” script into a nostalgic Millennial party. Further, “I’m Good (Blue)” marks the fourth collaboration between David Guetta and Bebe Rexha, following the success of 2015’s “Hey Mama” and 2018’s “Say My Name.” “We weren’t like being serious about it, we were just having fun,” Rexha told Audacy back in January, saying she was shocked by the response. “We wrote it, and here we are.” Number 4 most played is not a bad place to be!

In third place for Audacy’s Most Played Songs of 2023 is Rema’s remix of “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez. While “Calm Down” was making waves in the Afrobeat scene, Nigerian musician Rema believed he needed a female voice to elevate the song, and came in contact with Gomez. “I've done a lot of remixes that have never come out,” Rema told NPR in an interview. “But this one, when I heard it, I was like, yeah, this is it. I feel like it's going to touch the world differently.” His instincts were spot on, as Selena’s lyrics and sensual voice have now brought “Calm Down” to the world stage. The song is upbeat yet easy going, and a perfect reflection of Rema’s subgenre of Afro-rave, which he describes as a combination of the US’s R&B and Hip-Hop with African popular music. It is currently being remarked as one of the most successful Afrobeat songs of all time, though Rema says it's much more than just “a sound.” “It's a movement as well, and it's a movement of the youths.” It’s clear that we’re listening either way.

Metro Boomin’s one and only lead single off of his 2023 album Heroes & Villains showed great potential, but it wasn’t until the release of its remix that Metro truly made his mark with listeners this year. Featuring The Weeknd and 21 Savage, the song “Creepin’” was originally interpolated from Mario Winans' "I Don't Wanna Know", which follows the storyline of infidelity and one partner’s attempt to ignore their subsequent pain. The gentle high hat cymbal and drum hits are the only things keeping the song from being a ballad, as the tempo and emotional content itself is rather dramatic. The Weeknd sings in the chorus, “I don't wanna know, if you're playing me / Keep it on the low / Cause my heart can't take it anymore / And if you creeping, please don't let it show” as the rap verses echo the same fearful and heartbroken sentiment. The remix debuted in the number three spot on the Hot 100 Billboard Chart, and is clearly a favorite among Audacy listeners as well.

Coming in first for Audacy’s Most Played Song of 2023 is Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers.” The empowering self-love single was absolutely dominating streaming, radio plays, and pop culture throughout 2023. And it’s easy to see why, as the rhythm within the low bass and high vocal line combine to give Cyrus’ classic pop sound a cocktail bar twist. Yet, the singer revealed that the resilient “Flowers” actually began as a self-defeating anthem. “The chorus was originally: ‘I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand, but I can’t love me better than you can.’ It used to be more, like, 1950s. The saddest song. Like: ‘Sure, I can be my own lover, but you’re so much better’” Cyrus told British Vogue. With the change of just a few words, the song has now become this generation’s version of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. “I can take myself dancing / And I can hold my own hand / Yeah, I can love me better than you can.” Congratulations Miley Cyrus - we will be sure to tune in to whatever you may bring in 2024!