Two thousand twenty three brings forth a sense of newness that suggests the idea that, in the following twelve months, absolutely anything is possible. With 2023 comes a blank slate, an air of invincibility and a promise of earnest hope. The following list shares songs for this coming year that aim to reflect the same:
Lose You to Love Me by Selena Gomez // emails I can’t send by Sabrina Carpenter
New beginnings often hold the realization that the past truly needs to stay in the past. January is named for the Roman god Janus who is known to be the protector of gates and doorways — symbolizing beginnings and endings. Janus is often depicted with two faces, one that looks into the past, the other looking forward to the future — just as these songs do.
Cloud 9 by Beach Bunny // Love Grows by Edison Lighthouse
During March, with the blooming of flowers and the melting snow, the world comes alive again. Hope is once again renewed. These songs make you want to take your favorite hairbrush and sing into it as you dance around your bedroom.
Bambi by Hippo Campus // Cinnamon Girl by Lana Del Rey
With May comes different forms of self-destruction. Stress emanates in the air as deadlines are missed and half-drunken cups of coffee sit for days on messy desks. There is more to life than numbers and figures, but as of right now, there are only too-hard math equations, grammar mistakes, skipped problems on finals and headaches that don’t seem to go away.
Heat Waves by Glass Animal // Electric Love BØRNS // The One That Got Away by Katy Perry
July brings forth quintessential summer songs and scenes — here’s to convertibles, road trips, ice cream that melts too quickly and being surrounded by overflowing warmth and nostalgia from your childhood friends who are all back in town at the same time.
right where you left me by Taylor Swift // 90s Country by Walker Hayes
It’s September, and the trees outside bedroom windows slowly turn from green to yellow to orange to red — a transitional time. Now is a good time for haircuts, room reorganizing and, of course, pumpkin spice.
Writer in the Dark by Lorde // July by Noah Cyrus // Stay by Rihanna
The winter blues hit in November. As the days get colder and darker, it’s harder to hold onto things that feel warm and soft. But neighbors put up their Christmas lights as they do each year, the same cheesy Hallmark movies play on TV and local coffee shops start advertising all things peppermint, cinnamon, and ginger. There is a certain sense of resilience in winter. Even when the blues hit, there is always peace in knowing that come January, Janus will open his doors again, and with the new year comes yet another fresh start.
