Fan Poll: 5 best songs of 2023 so far
2023 has already been a year of surprises. We witnessed the ferocious reemergence of our favorite 2000s bands. We listened to the mind-bending crossovers of unexpected collaborators and genres. We found solace on the dancefloor, outrage in our bedrooms, and unwavering community on festival grounds. Pop stars sold out stadiums and underground heroes rocked out sweaty basements.
Read more: 25 best albums of 2023 so far
Just over the year’s halfway mark, we asked our readers what their favorite tracks were from the year so far. Find the top fan picks ranked below.
5. “AmEN!”
Bring Me The Horizon, known for their dynamic approach to metalcore, are once again shaking things up with their latest track “AmEN!,” a powerhouse collaboration with Glassjaw’s Daryl Palumbo and emo rapper Lil Uzi Vert. The ferocious track has many high points including a killer verse from Lil Uzi, thick production that layers the track in high-wattage intensity, and a vocal duel between BMTH frontman Oli Sykes and Palumbo for the most murderous scream. As unlikely as the crew of rockers may be, “AmEN!” is a testament to experimenting with new sounds and voices. The result is a wicked explosion of drums, guitars, and screams that fans are calling BMTH’s hardest song to date.
4. “A NIGHT OUT ON EARTH”
Waterparks‘ “A NIGHT OUT ON EARTH” celebrates the iconic marriage of hyperpop and pop punk in this galactic track that closes out their critically acclaimed album Intellectual Property. The song is vintage Waterparks: a combustion of grungy, cyber dance music and thrashing guitars, that is paired with the Houston band’s distinctively cheeky songwriting. Awsten Knight gets vulnerable on the track with sobering lyrics that ground this otherwise space-bound odyssey.
3. “This Is Why”
The title track of Paramore’s most recent album This Is Why, is a thumping anthem with a clear message to all who will listen. “This Is Why” presents a new era of Paramore, one that is political in both sound and in action. After a four-year hiatus, the beloved, punk-rocking band has emerged with something that is fresh and matured. In their latest project, every lyric holds a battle: an ever-changing public persona, a world that has withstood a global pandemic, and the distressing political realities that face their community. The opening lines may be directed at just about anyone: “If you have an opinion/ maybe you should shove it.” “This Is Why” is urgent, yet level-headed— frustrated, yet tender. Sonically, the track leans into a new wave funk that veers away from their pop punk roots, but any fan will be comforted by the raw vulnerability that remains a beacon of Paramore’s songwriting.
2. “Hold Me Like a Grudge”
Fall Out Boy are back, with a vengeance. (And so is the flamethrower bass.) “Hold Me Like a Grudge” feels like the unexpected bridge between the 22-year-old band’s past and present. Playful, danceable and impossibly catchy — the track reflects on growing older and the inevitable passage of time. (Their ambitious music video even acts as a tongue-in-cheek extension of 2007’s “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race” in a campy, alternate universe.) The emo rockers really shine in this track: Pete Wentz drops in with a funky bass line, a groovy iteration of “Another One Bites The Dust,” and Patrick Stump’s searing vocals give the disco pulse a dangerous edge.
1. “Inside of My Head”
One of the great beauties of alternative music is in its fierce and vocal audience members, and the dedicated fanbases and communities built within it. This has been reiterated to us at AP with the number one fan poll song “Inside of My Head” by NITE, the new wave rock band from Texas. Comprised of twin brother producers Myles and Kyle Mendes, who rock matching shoulder-length manes, the group may still be growing their following, however, their fans demand visibility. Mixing bright ’80s synths with an ominous ’90s dark wave edge, “Inside of My Head” is a fun introduction to the band. The nostalgic production and echoing vocals flow through the track in satisfying, unexpected swells that are undeniably catchy.
