The Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2023

Wait, was this year good actually?
Get Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription! nebula.tv/todd-in-the-shadows
Watch The Ballad of John and Yoko: nebula.tv/videos/lindsayellis...
Mashup by DylanGLC: • Ain't Over Yet | Top P...
Support Todd on Patreon! / toddintheshadows

[@ToddintheShadows]

Thank you to DylanGLC who provides the mashups I use. I think these have gotten really good and this year's is the best yet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imKalqWnm9aneZo

[@TMNWG]

For the record, I couldn't care less if the top ten lists came out in July. Take your time. :)

[@TheComicbookguy78]

Todd start a new video series called VS example Taylor vs Avril, Justin T VS Justin B. And so on.

[@user-nl1pg9yt4h]

his podcast Song vs Song is basically already that

[@Nonesuch03]

You've got some good talent. Thanks Dylan!

[@iamcasihart]

21:35 I think you meant “Grammy” when you said “Oscar.”

[@CustardCream515]

Todd telling his non-US fans they'll be constantly hearing a country song that we'll never hear is an annual tradition at this point

[@canyounotmydude9155]

If you're referring to Noah Kahan, then please note that his song "Stick Season" is currently doing better worldwide than it is in the US

[@AnInsideJoke]

Wish I could be in that boat. I DESPISE Country music, or, more accurately, the shambling Bro Country monster that's walking about wearing the skin of what used to be country music. Because as much as twangy "deep country" accents naturally grate on my ears, I can admit that the older, pre-90's country could be really good at times, especially Johnny Cash.

[@casteanpreswyn7528]

​@@AnInsideJokeold country(pre 70s) is some of the best music ever made in the US. The fall from grace it had is terrible. All the meaning and depth has been sucked out.

[@matti...]

well wishes, all nineteen international viewers!

[@AlexM-ky8on]

@@AnInsideJoke Thanks for making the same point that everyone always makes about country music.

[@joelkearsley3137]

Todd: "Sabrina carpenter will reach the A-list" Sabrina: "Hold my espresso."

[@robotcombathub]

🤣

[@BeniRoseMusic]

Every time I hear Espresso I think about how Todd was right for once.

[@trixxart777]

​@BeniRoseMusic honestly he's been correct more times than you would expect

[@BALTHAZAAR58]

I think the key to Usher's longevity is that he never overstays his welcome, ya know? He drops a hit or two every 5-10 years and then disappears into the ether.

[@madabanda1921]

and just when we need him the most, he returns like he never left!

[@Falxifer95]

His Superbowl show was suprisingly good.

[@SeanStrife]

Great art takes time to craft.

[@diogenesrex7847]

"How can I miss you if you won't go away?" Man goes away every so often, and damn do people realize they missed him when he comes back.

[@rangerkasdorf4476]

"So deep in my bag like a grandma with a peppermint" is a strong candidate for the best two seconds of the year

[@JenniferBrigitteOpticalVortex]

It just sounded so cool and cute!

[@killingthemood2000]

My favorite line in the song/2023 follows afterwards: They say "ooh she smell good," that's because I'm heaven-sent(scent)

[@RenaldyCalixte]

​@@killingthemood2000👏 👏...to Victoria Monet. That's the opposite of the song writing you hear from a song on Todd's worst list.

[@taylorlove7684]

its really cool that 2023 was the year todd finally became him true self, a 15 year old girl

[@robswystun2766]

Better that a 15 year old girl be inside Todd than the other way 'round.

[@SurgingSpecs]

@@robswystun2766AYO

[@SurgingSpecs]

i remember one of the top comments on last year’s best list was about him having the taste of a 45 year old man and a 15 year old girl at the same time. Pretty clear which side he leaned into for this list

[@comfeycanto8427]

Yo, how is this so true? The disney princesses. Taylor. TikTok music? surficial country? Kpop? Todd is ALL 15yo girls... love it...

[@finnjanus4334]

I mean on the one hand yes, but on the other hand he also put two country songs that are much more for 45 year olds than 15 year olds.

[@AntiCensorshipProKindness]

As I get older, Todd's Best and Worst of the Year lists are increasingly becoming my sole source on what music even came out that year lol

[@adderous]

Yeah, not having to use the car radio for music while driving has fully disconnected me from what's actually coming out these days. Well, what's coming out that's popular.

[@trunkage]

I have never felt more seen

[@jonathanbarr9764]

Same here, ever since I left my retail job a couple of years ago my only source of current music is his videos.

[@AntiCensorshipProKindness]

@@adderous Exactly! And I've avoided TikTok cuz I know how easily I'd lose hours to that app lol. So yeah, I just never know what's going on in the music world unless it's HUGE or has some sort of controversy attached.

[@vivi_stardust]

same lol

[@JoshuaFagan]

I don't think Olivia gets enough credit for just being a hilarious writer. Every line in "bad idea, right?" is brilliant, sharp comedy. Not a lot of popstars willingly make fun of themselves like that.

[@BaileyVogtOut]

“Tripped and fell into his bed.” “Never said where or in whose sheets.” “I’m sensing some undertone.” “The biggest lie I ever said.” “I’m sure I’ve seen such hotter men.” “Fuck it it’s fine.” Truly it’s a joke a second

[@tayloreh]

Not that she necessarily wrote that line. Every popstar is 50 people in a trenchcoat. Don't fall for the illusion.

[@vgolf10]

@@taylorehthat may be true for many pop artists. but artists like Taylor, Billie, and Olivia have the track record and credits to prove that they write their own melodies and lyrics.

[@cdm966]

I feel like people focus too much on her more serious songs to notice it, but imo irony and humor are definitely her strongest suits. Not that I hated Driver's License or good 4 u, but songs like bad idea and brutal are just so incredibly on point from start to finish.

[@tayloreh]

@@vgolf10 Often times the prerequisite for an artist to cover someones song is that they have a credit as a writer on it, even if they changed one word. There's also ghostwriters, and sometimes for larger projects producers might contribute things that are really writing contributions that aren't counted towards the writers share since they're already getting other shares in the recording itself. I suspect ones like T Swift, and sure maybe Olivia are more involved though. The illusion of the industry is deep, and committees are there bending and sculpting every step of the way for most major artists.

[@kgldude]

Given Todd’s prediction track record, Cupid will be remembered as the greatest song of the 2020’s and will be made into the official national anthem of South Korea.

[@nandayane]

It’s gonna be a one hit wonder, a cringe anthem for Vtubers for decades

[@StarryHoshi]

that ship sailed a long time ago since fiftyfifty is essentially dead now lol. those girls are not coming back to the entertainment industry and whoever they try and replace them with be boycotted by old fans.

[@aria2436]

​​​​​​@@StarryHoshi They don't really seem that dead to me though, the last upload on their channel was like a week ago and they're still releasing "stuff". If they were done with the industry, I'm sure their company would drop them, or at least stop promoting them the very next second. Especially if you take into consideration how quick kpop companies are willing to change up on their idols because of how fragile these groups' reputations actually are and how fast the industry moves. To keep them going right now means that their company still sees potential (money) in them, even if they're on bad terms. Oc that doesn't guarantee further success for them, but for now they're still hanging on to the scene by a thread. Edit: I just realized I wrote a whole ass paragraph on possibly the most uninteresting subject I've ever encountered on the internet. If only I gave so much attention to bullshit topics at school 😭

[@StarryHoshi]

@kalliroi sure they're releasing videos but they're only of Keena, because she's the only one who kept her contract with the company. The rest of them are still going on with their lawsuit and they've openly spoken about their mistreatment and mishandling of their wellbeing while fiftyfifty og lineup was active (which in the kpop world is pretty much a sign of never reconciling with the company). Not to mention, when news of the lawsuit broke out the Korean public generally turned against them because they believed the other members betrayed the company by attempting to move to a different one. They already put out a notice ab how they're gonna replace everyone but Keena and make fiftyfifty 2.0 so they pretty much already did drop them. MAYBE it will turn out okay but I doubt it since fans are already actively boycotting and Keena alone isn't strong enough to continue the "legacy" considering she wasn't even on the English version of Cupid. Their company is just trying to milk the fiftyfifty name till it isn't possible anymore.

[@aria2436]

@@StarryHoshi I see. I didn't know things were that bad for them in Korea, I guess by not actually being deep in their fandom I just got a very watered-down version of what went on between them and their company. It's looking grim for them I'm afraid :")

[@lucdhecc9398]

It was a brave decision for Todd to put the entire Barbie movie soundtrack as the whole top 10 list

[@WaveShock007]

It was kenough.

[@emmettyoung7603]

the barbie soundtrack is absolutely amazing, insane we got tame impala, nikki manaj, dua lipa, charlie xcx, and billie ellish on the same album, mark ronson really curated an album with something for everyone

[@assboi]

This isn't even a joke, the soundtrack is very good. Take your stale fantano memes elsewhere, Jeremy

[@kokotheclown2588]

@@WaveShock007but it’s Todd Kenough

[@MisterJackTheAttack]

Brave and predictable

[@idab9958]

A momentous occasion in Todd's career: The two artists who topped each list both also making an appearance on the other list in the same year. King of refusing to pick a side.

[@kimorayn1733]

Anarchy! Anarchy!

[@roddorfj]

Radical centrism

[@mischakonovalov9888]

his side is radical anti maroon5ism

[@Pimp.My.Forklift]

King of the fence

[@TacticusPrime]

Different songs by the same people can vary wildly in quality.

[@Forceprincess]

I was here, I saw in real time when Todd declared taylor Swifts career to be "over" when the reputation album came out. So this full 180 really gives me life!

[@seanmcloughlin5983]

I am positive he’s kinda disappointed Like he was 100% working on a trainwreckords for Reputation some time during the Lovers era

[@gracel4120]

It was rare you were there, you remember it all too well, even?

[@danielesquivel9326]

Makes sense as to why he thought it would be over, though, Reputation is a pretty grating album to listen to at its worst and an otherwise bland album at its best. I'm ultimately glad it didn't end up being the death knell, otherwise Folklore might not have existed and we wouldn't have gotten great songs like Betty or August.

[@pinkcupcake4717]

Reputation and Lover *should* have been the end, especially from the singles advertising the albums. But no, Taylor Swift is still here, a terror to all who oppose her.

[@TacticusPrime]

Reputation is still fucking awful though. Just a total trainwreck on every level. She recovered, because she's just built so much steam and she had the fanbase to carry her through some terrible music that Katy Perry just didn't have.

[@KingofIgors]

Something Todd didn’t mention about Nonsense (I wonder if he knows) is that when Sabrina performs it live, she changes the outro lyrics to be about whatever city she’s performing in. Very funny, silly stuff

[@Gingerm0nster]

“Boy that thing so big I have to share it What’s ménage a trois go ask your parents voulez-vous coucher avec moi, Paris?” I love it

[@thechannelwithweirdthemes9990]

damn, incredibly bold of todd to put whistle by josh hutcherson in all the spots!

[@drakeburnett7254]

69th like

[@philly_sports1558]

This is turning more and more like Fantano’s comment section every day lol

[@yeszoplusfriends]

@@philly_sports1558 Every music channel’s comments have been increasingly just become Fantano comment sections over the past few years.

[@randomdude0121]

wasn't whistle on one of his worst lists before?

[@UnorthodoxIndividual]

@@randomdude0121 It was, this is the redemption arc 💯

[@DoktorEmilSchuffhausen]

I fully support Todd going to all the concerts in LA in order to find out who has the it factor and who doesn't.

[@erikdaniels0n]

Sabrina Carpenter has the it factor. I can’t even describe it, she just does

[@hannahmoran3660]

A recurring series perhaps??

[@normalizenatalie]

@@erikdaniels0nshe's hot and sings great and dresses consistently well and people like when someone can do all 3?

[@Myfacewhen1]

Same. It's definitely feeding my wish fufillment.

[@OliverHeikkinen]

​@@normalizenatalieshe's also charismatic and charming based on every interview clip I've seen of her

[@kierrathorn5945]

sabrina carpenter prediction is looking pretty accurate in june 2024, feather and espresso CONSTANTLY on the radio, now let's see how long it sticks

[@rodneyote]

Todd putting Morgan Wallen in the best list after putting him at number 1 on the worst list feels like someone knowing a relationship is falling apart but he's still trying to salvage it by trying to find the last few things between them that worked and have in common with. It's great.

[@familyguyfreemoviedownload8314]

deep blue something - breakfast at tiffany’s plays in the distance

[@grahamkristensen9301]

I was there for his love hate fling with Katy Perry. This is just history repeating itself.

[@serahne]

The bait and switch with Ryan Gosling was perfect. I'm 80% convinced the only reason the Oscars nominated him for this song was to see him perform it on stage !

[@Mchannnel]

I’m honestly happy that he can finally embrace his Disney days…haha :)

[@Asaji05]

And I bet there’s not going to be with all those POC actors that appear on the movie like Simu Liu or the new new Doctor Who

[@iwolf6645]

I feel like the reason was purely financial. Its literally the only story about the award shows I've seen in normal media this year.

[@heave-ho6864]

It didn't need to be nominated for him to perform it. They performed We Don't Talk About Bruno last year and that wasn't nominated

[@DaviniaHill]

The Oscars don't usually have the nominees perform. Robin Williams performed Blame Canada.

[@DiamondAxeStudiosMusic]

This series has REALLY benefited from you expanding your criteria. Most of these songs did not make Billboard's Year-End list, and yet I'd say it's still accurate to call them hit pop songs, plus it lets you talk about shit you're actually passionate about.

[@RyanTheSharkie69]

HI SEAN

[@dreamusmenus3759]

THE FABLED SEAN KINGSTON

[@gordonstearns2232]

To be fair, as recently as five years ago, the year-end list was dramatically less awful at its job than it is now

[@steveerickson411]

What does a hit song mean these days? Kylie Minogue's "Padam Padam" has 107 million Spotify streams, and it made the biggest splash of any song last summer in LGBTQ communities. It will go gold any second. Still, it could not even crack the Billboard hot 100.

[@riverAmazonNZ]

@@steveerickson411her new album is so much fun love it

[@zbr76]

"Disembodied voice of social media that haunts my psyche" may just be THE most apt quote of the 2020s so far! Bravo, Todd!

[@Ghost-lt4sf]

omg, as a Latino person whose whole world back home in Puerto Rico was quaking over Shakira's diss track, I'm so glad you made an honorary mention! It is SO GOOD

[@somehistorynerd]

Boricua Despierta!

[@RenaldyCalixte]

It's funny how Shakira succeeds at making a diss track but Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter fail at it.

[@CallMeMaddiePie.]

16:09 cannot believe Todd didn't mention that the reason the Nonsense outro is iconic is because she comes up with a new one for every concert, and those videos blow up on tiktok

[@erikdaniels0n]

Some of the outros are so unhinged, chaotic and innuendo filled, my friend and I jokingly send each other tik toks of her outros and are like “today on ‘OH MY GOD SOMEBODY PLEASE HAVE SEX WITH HER ALREADY’” 😂😂

[@lol88133]

Or the fact that she recently released a new Christmas version. No, really. Look it up.

[@jaeson559]

That Christmas version was freaking great. I first listened it on the radio last December

[@judgesaturn507]

@@lol88133 That version is hilarious, especially the Charles Dickens line

[@chuckbatmangaming]

Is this why my only exposure to her music is random TikTok clips of her concerts? I am so not the target demographic for her stuff the fact that I keep getting shown so much of it is proof enough to me that Todd's prediction about her is gonna come true

[@claras1401]

can’t believe closer by the chainsmokers is number 1 again! It’s been like 8 years of it being his number one, great choice as always todd!

[@diamondman8]

halsey is crying

[@mrdsjenzie]

god what an annoying song that is, they annoyed me up until the sublime paris and the fantastic sick boy

[@pickles224]

I think you just perfectly explained why Olivia has so much credibility with getting all these alt/rock songs to chart so high all of a sudden. She’s a popstar who happens to make rock music. She’s the Avril Lavigne of our time.

[@heymistercarter.]

Well, I at least hope Olivia’s career goes better than Avril’s as time goes on. I swear, if Olivia ends up with her own Hello Kitty-type song… WOOF!

[@bananawal8215]

Can't believe Todd called the Fifty-fifty situation repeating with NewJeans a whole 3 months early 😅

[@carolynnewton9335]

Yo, as soon as the HYBE debacle popped off, one of my first thoughts was this -> 30:37. WOOOOOOFFFFF!!!

[@niko-jg5uc]

i just feel so awful for fifty fifty…..todd idk if u know this but them suing their company bc they wanted fair treatment has more or less made them public enemy number 1 in the korean music industry like theyre rolling out laws to protect music agencies that abuse their idols and the girls themselves have been all but completely blacklisted. its so incredibly heart wrenching to watch and i hope all of them r doing ok

[@JenniferBrigitteOpticalVortex]

We need to rally around them and make them invincible in America. Poor girls.

[@hyperdrive282]

As annoying as the k pop fanbase is, that’s just messed up. I hope that group gets justice

[@TheEvilCheesecake]

what do you do with all the time that you save by typing bc and r instead of the actual words friend.

[@VultureSkins]

@@TheEvilCheesecakewhat would you do with all the time you’d save if you just moved on from it?

[@TheEvilCheesecake]

@@VultureSkins same question to you. you and me, we're both trying to clean up the internet, but if they go away then so do i.

[@MeanMrMstrdd]

That Mitski tease was cruel, Todd

[@ShrodingersCatgirl]

I know right? He didn't have to do us like that 😭

[@awesomealiza4351]

FOR REAL

[@tirone7520]

i really hoped..

[@arcats9004]

Well it’s on my top ten

[@geekygecko1849]

Ikr, as someone for who the only modern artist I listen to it Mitski he really trolled me.

[@rangerkasdorf4476]

As someone who works really hard to write memorable songs in my own band, "Bad Idea, Right?" gets the highest praise I can give it: it reminds me of how good it feels to write something fast, catchy, and fun, and it makes it sound so easy.

[@GeoLol9657]

Wow his prediction about Sabrina was perfect

[@ikethenerd8942]

Todd's relationship to T Swift's music isn't a healthy relationship, but is sure is an entertaining one.

[@boohooter23]

You should see his with Katy Perry 😂😂

[@JFairy189]

One could say they got ... bad blood.

[@antitheticaldreamgirl]

i think that's what being a taylor fan is like in general 🤣

[@michaeladkins6]

@@antitheticaldreamgirl Imagine not being a Taylor fan.

[@antitheticaldreamgirl]

@@michaeladkins6 look at my @ and profile pic, i'm obviously speaking from personal experience of being a swiftie lol

[@thepeopleonthecouch2928]

Todd saying that he never wanted to hear from Morgan Wallen again and then putting him on this list is honestly the biggest twist I've ever seen.

[@louisduarte8763]

"WHAT A TWEEST!"

[@phastinemoon]

He’s consistently said the same about Drake, so it’s not THAT big of a twist

[@MACMAMI]

Especially when Todd mentioned in his Worst Hit Singles Of 2023 video that he felt apologetic for talking about country music so much in 2022 that he would limit conversation about country music to the Worst List in 2023.

[@wtfareperfectplaces]

I think that's just how bad of a year this is lol

[@ambriaashley3383]

Hate that guy. Morgan, not Todd

[@teilanittv]

Todd 2 months ago: Morgan if you f'in embarrass me again...I swear to god. Today: Country star Morgan Wallen arrested after throwing chair off rooftop for 'no legitimate purpose'. To add to this hilarity, he threw the chair off a 6 story building, a bar known as Chiefs Bar. Which happens to be owned by Eric Church. 🤣 Apparently, man made a bar so Morgan Wallen could throw chairs off of it.🤣🤣🤣

[@hawleyolsen170]

I couldn't believe this was real, so I googled it, and my gosh. Wallen threw a chair off a roof. For the hell of it, it sounds like. He's offficially an embarrassing person, and I hope he doesn't make any more music Todd will be forced to enjoy and add to a top ten list.

[@phastinemoon]

That’s at least a charmingly stupid thing to do, instead of, y’know, racist.

[@hawleyolsen170]

@@phastinemoon Charmingly stupid? That could have killed somebody.

[@Altmetalpunk]

K-pop does tend to have more complex harmonies than American pop but that fifty fifty song does have this fun old school feel to it. Couldn't put my finger on why it seemed different but you nailed it.

[@Musicanimedork01]

Consider: its got the same vibe as "lovefool" by the cardigans

[@psychedelicyeti6053]

It makes me think of Mandy Moore singing Stupid Cupid in Princess Diaries.

[@Harbinger_Hunter]

Can we apreciate how Todd never fails to be In The Shadows?

[@applemask]

If he wanted it, he'd use it @@HoltAllen

[@mierardi88]

Talk about consistency!

[@morganhay3968]

I want to make a Hank Marvin joke but I can't quite make it work.

[@xisco5525]

@@HoltAllen That way he won't have to power his microphone and camera with just his pure hatred for Maroon 5 lol

[@Headbanger142]

And when he isn't, he has his hood on. 😆

[@FelixHawthorne]

Watching Noah Kahan go from "that guy with a catchy song on the rock alternative station" to "that guy with several top 40 hits in a quick span" in just 6 months was surreal

[@ashen_roses]

I cannot CANNOT believe that 2023 that we got our first mainstream Folk Artist in decades. And Mumford and Sons barely counts as more than indie.

[@craigmoon2121]

@@ashen_roses I mean, if you looked at the trends it's not super surprising. Taylor Swift even released 2 #1 hit folk albums, both with a #1 song.

[@ashen_roses]

@@craigmoon2121 I would easily guess that's just because she's Taylor Swift and one of the biggest things to happen this year was her going to her boyfriend's football games

[@craigmoon2121]

@@ashen_roses Yes, but I will say that genre has been trending upwards for a few years now, even before Taylor tried it.

[@againstthepods4316]

There are people in Africa who don’t even know what electricity is and things like THESE is what y’all are focusing on? Focus on real world issues. Thanks.

[@geese5061]

The best song in the Barbie soundtrack for me was Gosling doing his version of Push by Matchbox 20. I’ve never heard a cover song that’s dripping in sarcasm like that, it’s so funny and so good.

[@jumpingoversundials]

like thom yorke's cover of wonderwall

[@Patrick-jd1ku]

I am obsessed with how he says "granted" in that. It's so fucking weird.

[@geese5061]

@@Patrick-jd1ku man took the word “granted” and made a whole new noise with it.

[@ashen_roses]

Dude did what I didn't think was possible- he overexaggerated a song that Rob Thomas already sang. Rob puts so much emphasis on every syllable that I didn't think it was possible to emphasize even further, especially in the WHALE EYE WHALE WHALE EYE WHALE song

[@saral8625]

The reason I continue to appreciate Todd's critiques from year to year is that it feels truly honest. No artist is ever guaranteed to make the best or worst list, so it never feels like playing favorites

[@KilljoyRPMX]

Morgan Wallen making it on the best list after getting number 1 on the worst list is already the biggest redemption arc of 2024

[@pkmnherofan22]

Just like Harry Styles last year

[@squishy3248]

Morgan Wallen is such trash, I genuinely don’t understand the hype…

[@lunarumbreon7699]

@@squishy3248he’s a hot country guy. That’s why

[@squishy3248]

@@lunarumbreon7699wait people thing he’s hot??? I legit never even considered that being why he’s famous, he’s like the most average looking guy I can picture😭😭😭

[@lunarumbreon7699]

@@squishy3248 idk I grew up in the country and the only people I know that like his music were all women with a clear type

[@Supernova-rb5fp]

Todd becoming a Swiftie over years is definitely a transformation.

[@Roserae16]

I vividly remember how much he disliked Taylor in her early years - Love Story, Mean, and You Belong with Me in particular. To be fair, I can understand why, but look at our man now.

[@samuelterry6354]

A tragic one.

[@officharlottestorm]

As a 32 yo straight white guy, Midnights is easily the first time I've been like oh I get it. I still only like a few older songs, but I'm a little embarrassed to admit how many times I listened to that album in 2023.

[@dinosaur___7209]

@@officharlottestormdon't be embarassed by music that connects with you!

[@duyanhng8430]

​​@@officharlottestormas a fellow straight guy, Folklore hit like a damn truck

[@rebeccachurch89]

omg the prediction on sabrina carpenter being super accurate. nice job!

[@zachstutzman4059]

So happy to see that Todd finally recognized the genius of 100 gecs, putting their hit song "Frog on the Floor" to number 1; naturally preceded by all other 99 gecs.

[@diddyknux]

"Bad Idea Right?" sounds like something you'd hear in the soundtrack of a 2000's sports video game, like SSX or something. I love it!

[@bubblegumbitch2191]

For me it instantly reminded me of the wild child soundtrack and instantly reminded me of early Florence and the machine

[@gingersnap189]

Song would’ve fucked so unbelievably hard in Jennifer’s Body

[@RariettyC]

petition to get Olivia Rodrigo to write a song for a Sonic game

[@mishaoosterhuis5260]

'One of many concerts I was at last year where I was the only straight guy there that wasn't chaperoning his daughter. Surprise I didn't got arrested.' Oh Todd, never change!

[@NicoleH1209]

You were right about Sabrina, Espresso is taking the world by storm!

[@BeniRoseMusic]

Every time I hear Espresso I think about how Todd was right for once.

[@bingoblackdynomite]

I'm so happy that Todd put Cupid and Super Shy on the list because as a fellow "I don't quite get it" guy with K-pop, those two songs were super catchy and got super stuck in my head for the rest of 2023 after I first heard them

[@MrAwombat]

Keep giving it a chance! There's some really good stuff coming Korea these days. If you want to hear more, I'd recommend "I Do" by G-idle, "3D" by Jungkook, and "Nobody Knows" by Kiss Of Life. Those songs are mostly in English.

[@bopete3204]

I think if you want another group to check out, STAYC is probably the most similar. Like Todd mentioned about Fifty Fifty their popularity is more from the music being good. So Bad and Run 2 U are more 80s pop whole ASAP and Stereotype are more of a TikTok sound.

[@sopranoshelley]

@@bopete3204 Agreed. STAYC was my gateway drug into kpop.

[@kevinross6235]

​@@bopete3204I would add CSR and H1-KEY to that recommendation list

[@Zooropa_Station]

Honeslty gi-dle and stayc still have a lot of kpop songwriting cliches that might be a bit overwhelming for non-kpop fans. I'd recommend stuff like TripleS (Generation, Girls' Capitalism, Rising) or ARTMS (Air Force One, Girl Front, Algorithm). Solo artists also tend to have music that sounds more "normal" and prioritizes strong songwriting, compared to the groups.

[@lol88133]

Please tell me the honorable mention section ending with Olivia going "you thought this was the end" before transitioning to #1 being Olivia again was intentional. It had to be.

[@lv3212]

Pretty good call on Sabrina Carpenter to be honest

[@mirabell-1306]

Also the way Usher is totally going along with the anime memes is brilliant in my opinion. I'm too young to remember Usher at his peak, but his interactions with the jjk fandom got me into his music and now I'm a fan

[@thewingedporpoise]

what did he do with the jjk fandom?

[@LukeTansiongco]

​@@thewingedporpoiseBasically spoiled the death of a beloved character in the fandom(won't tell you yet unless you've caught up with the manga for the most part)

[@sappy_]

The "You should see her in a crown" at 22:21 was SUCH a good line

[@Octodactylpus]

It was a beautiful throw-away

[@JohnKramer42]

“Durrrrr reference = good” 🤤

[@xrrgr]

@@JohnKramer42 - 🤓

[@Mr96POP]

“Cupid” truly is a one-hit wonder in the sense that the group (as we knew them) didn’t have a chance to get another hit. The ironic thing is that the English version of “Cupid” cuts out the rap verse by Keena, yet Keena is the only one of the 4 who is still with the group.

[@canyounotmydude9155]

They “broke up” right the song even peaked in the US too

[@stellaluna92]

I will say that the english translation works really well, compared to some of the other weaker attempts from amazing kpop songs that are great in Korean but not translate well and usually wish that they didn't bother with a translated version

[@hurryhurryhurryhurry]

​No. They broke up after the success of cupid was kinda dieing. I'm a pretty hardcore kpop fan and knew them before their debut. You should listen to tell me, I like it more than cupid. But it seems that the company is shit​@@canyounotmydude9155 it's not their fault for leaving and now they have to pay a very big fine. Even the member keena who came back to the company

[@minzyGG]

@@stellaluna92i think probably because it was presumedly originally in English since it was purchased from foreign composers?

[@stellaluna92]

oh cool fact, I hadn't heard of that 😊 . Make sense why the English twin version works so well then @@minzyGG

[@pompousproductions]

“I think Sabrina Carpenter was on Lab Rats” Thanks a lot Todd, you just revived the ear worm in my brain that plays the Lab Rats theme song.

[@thechap82]

Cha Cha Cha by Käärijä could have been an honourable mention for 2023. The song that broke the Eurovision Song Contest. ESC has had many controversies over the years but this one really upset so many people.

[@FaithTheFallen]

We were robbed, still mad

[@Speccy94]

I love Todd's best lists because he goes through all the reasons why he shouldn't like something before superceding them with why he likes it anyway

[@lukahmei2000]

Perfectly well said

[@stephenwilliams163]

New pet theory. Olivia follows Todd and deliberately tries to impress him. I was convinced of it when I heard that "stop."

[@LimeyLassen]

This somehow reminds me of all the crazy Carly Rae theories

[@RenaldyCalixte]

​@@LimeyLassenI'm a straight adult male that is a Carly Rae fan. Crazy huh? 😅

[@celineee__]

todd you get an additional million points hovering over your head rn purely for putting bad idea right at number one IT’S ONE OF HER BEST SONGS IT’S BEEN DRIVING ME CRAZY THAT BARELY ANYBODY REALLY APPRECIATES IT IT’S GREAT

[@lucase.2546]

Todd seems like he’s being way more open in connecting songs to his own emotions. I support it!

[@Memorial24]

Ewwwww

[@funkunko]

@@Memorial24are you eight years old..??

[@Memorial24]

@@funkunko For what? Not liking this trash list

[@user-er5mg6zj4v]

@@Memorial24ow the edge

[@RenaldyCalixte]

​@@Memorial24There's a troll.....in the comment section!

[@dutty721307]

Imagine going to the Eras Tour and a shadow is screaming at the top of its lungs

[@RenaldyCalixte]

That's scarier than Taylor Swift being Queen of the Earth.

[@tylerf.145]

wish that "my love mine all mine" by mitski was on this list (not disagreeing with your picks btw, that's just my top pick of this year). it's such a genuine love song. not just about a person, but the whole world. as someone who's struggled with depression, recognizing the love you have for the world and everyone in it just brings me to tears

[@psychicbyinternet]

I agree that that song is lovely but I don't think it was on the charts, was it?

[@rebeccaucich1290]

@@psychicbyinternetit did chart on billboard!

[@elll2184]

tiktok audio =/= hit song

[@thatoneguy9582]

​@@elll2184 peaked at #26 on the billboard chart and at #12 on the global chart

[@deeplyconcerned9306]

Iwish it had been "Heaven" that blew up. That was my favorite off that album.

[@scooterwearssocks]

One cool thing about the cruel summer entry that he didn’t mention: before the song originally released, Todd asked “is the Taylor Swift moment over?”

[@sattamax]

My Atiny flight or fight instinct kicked in when Hongjoong’s face suddenly appeared. Also Cupid’s a completely deserved top ten pick, one of the only songs that made Walmart Radio not make my want to claw my ears off during my shift. Edit: ATEEZ getting a honorable mention for a good use of “STOP” in a song omfg Todd being so aware of ATEEZ is giving me psychic damage, I wasn’t expecting this crossover.

[@Redoaltor]

All the more interesting giving how little he was aware of the Stray Kids (VMA podcast). I guess it was a recommendation OR he'd saw Ateez live in LA since he goes to gigs a lot nowadays.

[@18becbec]

Same! And Don't Stop isn't like an obvious starting place for Ateez, which makes me wonder which other tracks he's heard 👀

[@illusionhong18]

Oh he totally gonna hear more about them after coachella

[@anisevandonk6376]

For like a good 5 seconds, I thought Bouncy or made the list.

[@geekwhoeatsrice]

"So deep in my bag like a grandma with a peppermint" This is literature here. It needs to be studied.

[@samuelstensgaard4828]

SHE'S SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF THE GODS

[@reginaldcampos5762]

It is actually witty, just lacking in subtlety.

[@LISE_NR]

the line right after it fucks too

[@greenbeany]

Bro cooked and served to the teen girlies this year and its the best meal he's ever made

[@sd_wafiya6018]

REAL

[@psychicbyinternet]

And sad alcoholics. Weird combo haha.

[@c.jhamblin5759]

What is a sad alcholic if not a teen girl perservering​@psychicbyinternet

[@sahildesai2313]

idk how you always predict future a listers. watching this during the espresso craze

[@benevans4500]

27:40 The mass popularity of Mumford & Sons from over a decade go already feels inexplicable

[@m3rrys0ngstr3ss]

I had thought that Lavender Haze would be more your taste! "What Was I Made For" didn't hit me properly watching the Barbie movie - but on a random drive home from getting pregnancy bloodwork done one night in October, it came on and nearly had me in tears. (My son is due in April).

[@araline2905]

Best of luck with your pregnancy

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Is your pregnancy progressing well? I'm 2 months late but was moved by your post.

[@m3rrys0ngstr3ss]

@@RenaldyCalixte Hi Ren - yes, going well, got my C section on the books per medical advice, that's going to be in about three weeks.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

@@m3rrys0ngstr3ss that's good.

[@saharadesert2933]

Baby good?

[@chrisquinlan6527]

I also, unironically and completely, loved the living hell out of "Nonsence". Just gleeful, silly, catchy bubblegum pop at its finest.

[@SoVidushi]

no idea why you spelled it like that but yesss

[@chrisquinlan6527]

@@SoVidushi The answer to your question is ADHD, but I'll fix it

[@ltbq]

23:36 can't believe Todd missed Man Made a Barbie

[@yagayeet77]

Now that I can't go five minutes without hearing Espresso on TikTok, I blame Todd for getting that one right...

[@pinkcupcake4717]

Todd's recommendations for "Brutal" and "Bad Idea, Right" have been game changers for me. Olivia is going to make the 90s Rock Nostalgia happen, even if she has to do it herself.

[@ashen_roses]

Oooooh that's really interesting, I think a common thought we had this year regarding music criticism (me included) was about how bad idea right? fully cashed in on the punk princess promise of Brutal. But now that you actively visually see it reflected here, it really hits home like FUCK YES THAT ONE THING TODD AND I BOTH WANTED WAS DELIVERED ON

[@komos3719]

Seriously, he put me onto her and I love her stuff!

[@RatzaChewy]

The 90s alt-revival was pushed hard in the UK, especially with beebadoobie's EPs, but it never stuck.

[@Starkweather133]

If you want some 90’s rock throwback stuff, Fleshwater are the kings of that

[@capo3645]

I wish that these two songs represented more of her actual albums thought... sadly a lot of it is mopey ballads that I can't really get into

[@noviatoria2436]

Todd's ongoing saga of guiltily enjoying Morgan Wallen is always so entertaining

[@MChuck-]

After the N-word debacle, Todd was probably looking for reasons to feel justified for not liking his music and got it with "Last Night." Then he listened to "Man Made a Bar" and was dragged back in for another Morgan Wallen album to see if he could find another song he would like and not replace Maroon 5 with Wallen.

[@broombromel]

that Sabrina Carpenter prediction i think kind of came true now

[@SergioMach7]

Toddstradamus seems to be accurate with Sabrina Carpenter. Espresso seems like the summer pop jam.

[@philly_sports1558]

Olivia really impressed me with her second album. I thought Sour was pretty good but Guts is really what made me into a true believer and a fan. More energy and attitude, more catchy hooks, more clever storytelling, etc. I also am probably biased but I like that it learned even more into a 90s/2000s alt-rock direction. Coming from someone whose music taste has been formed by that era of music, “Bad Idea Right” is one of the best rock hits of the 21st century. That might be lofty praise but I think it’s earned. That song rips.

[@squishy3248]

I’m not a fan of her at all, I think she’s extremely generic. But Vampire and get him back! kinda won me over, even if I think she’s still really overrated😂

[@louisduarte8763]

And there is a stunning LACK of rock on the charts, and on this list, so I'll take what I can get.

[@breawycker]

I love her. I want her to go even more punk and rock

[@markjames8664]

Almost all of my other favorite artists are in the hard rock area. Olivia is just so damn good-and I love her humorous side.

[@Roserae16]

I didn't think I would like Guts as much as Sour, but holy sh*t Olivia really impressed me, I've honestly been listening on loop to it

[@mix3k818]

2023 felt like 2015 all over again for Taylor, given how much of a phenomenon she was then and now. Let's hope her next few years won't go in the same order as what happened in 2016-2019.

[@leoprince691]

I have to admit I'm annoyed by her overexposure, but I can't deny she released some good hits this past year.

[@craigstephenson7676]

@@leoprince691I’m only annoyed at how ubiquitous she is at Chiefs games, I watch football for football. If the Chiefs win against the Ravens the Super Bowl broadcast is gonna suck. So now I’m torn because the 9ers have a better chance of beating the Chiefs than the Ravens imo, but I don’t want to have to sit through another Chiefs Super Bowl, this time with Taylor Swift every 5 minutes.

[@themusicofthenight2778]

@@craigstephenson7676honestly i doubt she has any control over how much the nfl is obsessed with her im sure it’s annoying for her too

[@Rettfet7265]

@@craigstephenson7676The thing is tho, Taylor is essentially a “victim” of the same thing annoyed football fans are. She can’t control how often they show her or how many media publications write pieces afterwards about her reactions or what she wore. It’s really just a product of her immense fame and every media outlet knowing that her name gets clicks. They’re just exploiting her, and the only way to get that to stop would be for her to go into hiding or something. But who wants to live like that?

[@craigstephenson7676]

@@Rettfet7265 I’m not annoyed at Taylor swift I’m annoyed at the broadcasts. If I owned that stadium I’d give Taylor Swift a room with one way glass to keep the TVs away.

[@AB365_Official]

Legit was so ecstatic that Noah Kahan made this list. I mean he had likely the biggest album released by a "new" artist this past year (despite the original releasing in '22😬), and despite it being leveraged by Post Malone to hit the radio, I think that entire album can stand strong on its own. It deserves a listen and Kahan is definitely an artist worth investing in 1,000,000%. If he keeps doing what he did here, he's gonna be huge.

[@kingvampstan]

I don’t think any track, can ever match the extreme sadness I felt when I listened to What Was I Made For for the first time, I was actually on the brink of tears, and crying my eyes out, as I’ve felt that exact feeling too many times, and it was the saddest song I’ve heard from this past year, the genuine sadness, that it can apply to almost any situation, despite being quite specific, and the fact that the writing is so simple, yet so beautiful.

[@UnorthodoxIndividual]

10 Taylor Swift songs??? I mean I guess she did have a lot of hits this year but damn! Having one artist be the entire list has gotta be a first for Todd

[@kimorayn1733]

Called it.

[@pepperreynolds9319]

I think the idea of ceilings is that she's staring at the ceiling lost in this daydream of having this movie-like romance, but when she snaps out of it, it hits her how empty she feels without love, perhaps coupled with that idea of a one-night-stand or a fleeting fling

[@erikdaniels0n]

That’s EXACTLY How I interpret it too

[@Thaddeus.]

Me popping my head out of my power metal hole in the ground to see Todd's new yearly list of songs I've never heard of before: 🙂

[@elizabethdevido2081]

The way I fist-pumped the air when you mentioned Noah Kahan-and pointed out the best parts of Dial Drunk! I’m glad NK is getting his flowers this year.

[@duarte2140]

It's almost moving to see the 2020s gain their own distinct musical identity, mood and landscape. Feels like the decade's coming into its own, even if a lot of the biggest pop stars carry over from the 2010s.

[@kingvampstan]

well, I’d say 2020’s identity has been, that it has no identity, that it can’t be boxed in, or that they can have a Dance track, a Rap track, a Pop track, a RnB track, a hyperpop track, a bimbo core track, a pov: indie track, (still don’t know wtf that is, and i don’t think spotify knows either) the weirdest genre you’ve never heard of, all in the top 25, of the charts. But I think sad girl indie type music, is very much one of the defining genres of the generation.

[@erikdaniels0n]

As someone who has been on Team Lizzy McAlpine since I first heard her album five seconds flat, when Todd started talking about the surge of slower songs blowing up on Tik Tok, I was like “oh god, PLEASE tell me he’s gonna talk about ceilings. I know it didn’t make the year end top 100 but..”, and words can not describe the size of the smile that spread across my face when he revealed it as his #8. I saw Lizzy live in 2023, and while obviously, the Eras Tour was the best concert I saw last year, I’d actually make the argument that I enjoyed the Lizzy Mcalpine show *more*. The Eras Tour is pure pop specticle and I love it for that, but I went into Lizzy’s show a fairly big fan and left a stan. It gave me such an appreciation for her as an artist and a performer. Given that I don’t have Toddstradamus’ track record for predictions, let me just say this: buy stock in Lizzy McAlpine. Girl is gonna be HUGE, mark my words. Buy stock in Sabrina Carpenter too, she’s got the it factor, she’s going places

[@MikeyMak2214]

Same I love her so much and was so happy that he talked about her

[@one-onessadhalf3393]

Ngl, I really was hoping that it was going to be a Mitski pick, but I’m happy for you

[@SoVidushi]

Sabrina has been around for a while so she knows what she's doing. I am hoping she doesn't box herself based on Nonsense and Feather for her next album, but I trust her to deliver good music no matter what.

[@erikdaniels0n]

@@SoVidushiI know that, but emails i can’t send really skyrocketed her into the mainstream and I feel like she’ll stay there

[@SoVidushi]

@@erikdaniels0n yess for sure

[@dtpugliese318]

Coming from the future, I can tell you that Sabrina Carpenter has the best song right now in “Espresso” I can’t stop listening to it. I predict it’ll be 1# on you list for 2024.

[@spiffywoahitsspiffy]

i'm kinda sad we didn't get to see "This Is Why" on the list, that one really hit

[@IvyroseGullwhacker]

The Morgan Wallen "whiskey" mini-compilation sent me.

[@Littlestraincloud]

Re: Cruel Summer. It's not about heartbreak, it's about "HE LOOKS UP GRINNING LIKE THE DEVIL"

[@bentownsend4017]

tiktok brain

[@approx4ft]

Oral then

[@ChristieBrewster]

Todd does?

[@ncisfan1002]

Wait the line isn't "you look so pretty like the devil"? Wow that makes MUCH more sense

[@vee1545]

@@ncisfan1002until this comment i too thought this was the lyric 😂😂😂 well, that changes things!

[@qazasdr7014]

Fun fact: on Morgan Wallen’s album One Thing At A Time, out of all 36 tracks, only one does not mention alcohol, “98 Braves”

[@petewajda3083]

One of the best songs on the album

[@LISE_NR]

36 tracks is insane

[@matthewturcotte5079]

Honestly, one song that I would have added on the Honourable Mentions list was Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam”. It’s cool, catchy, and it’s probably one of the best songs she’s released…and she’s been in the business for almost four decades now!

[@LISE_NR]

as gay dance anthems of the summer go my pick would’ve been troye sivan’s rush lik

[@nevenmusic3024]

Self-reflection about heartbreak? Drowning your self-pity with alcohol? A folksy instrumental? It's like Dial Drunk was made to be on Todd's best list.

[@jacobmtcastle5741]

I think one of the key differences that separates Noah Kahan from other people in his genre is his songwriting skills. Not only do his songs have interesting meaning, but they sound interesting. They have a beat, they have life. You can listen to the same song multiple times and find new lines and clever analogies you missed on the first listen, but they aren’t so weighed down by their own poetics and intricate meanings that they become out of touch to the average radio listener. He knows when to take jabs at himself, self-deprecating enough to emphasize with but relatable enough to ultimately still root for.

[@timstronghp]

exactly this. he's such a talented songwriter

[@rinaxused]

I don't even think he's mainly country, right? I think of him more as a man doing what Gracie Abrams or even boygenius and its members do. More folksy indie singer-songwriter.

[@MrMallard19]

The thing is, I don't really go for the Mumford and Sons "white shirt suspended brown slacks stomp-clap banjo" kind of song. I actually really dislike Mumford and Sons. Hearing Todd compare this Dial Drunk song to them was... not a great feeling? Like I'll bump a Brandi Carlile album or something, but Mumford and Sons just isn't me. But honestly, I kinda get what he's saying. And the reason that comparison was initially so off-putting is because I did like this song to a point. That part after the second verse with the jangly fuckin guitar/banjo riff lives in my brain rent free. I think it's a much more wild, exciting and - arguably - coherent than that Little Lion Man song or I Will Wait. It goes off, and it goes hard. So like - if this guy can fill the same niche of Mumford and Sons with high-energy and technical playing like in Dial Drunk, the world would probably be a better place. Out with the old, in with the new.

[@FelixHawthorne]

He said that Paul Simon was a huge inspiration, and you can tell because Simon does a lot of stuff you said. That and how a lot of his songs sound like you're hearing a story sung to you

[@jbwolf4]

Noah Kahn is my ex girlfriends favorite artist, she treated me super badly and hearing his music really stings sometimes, so believe me when I say I HATE how good his music is, I wanna never listen to him again but my god he is like a Pokémon mega evolution for Ed sheeran, we had no idea we needed him but now it’s a wonder we made it this far without him.

[@juankocens532]

i can't believe this man predicted sabrina carpenter's rise in the charts

[@osbornej2]

I know people love the worst list but I always look forward to the Best more. I tend to find a song or two I missed through the year, that sometimes becomes one of my favorites. Thanks Todd!

[@goldengrapes7180]

When I tell you I look forward to this list more than the Grammys. Punchy, clever, and as entertaining as always. Watching this channel over the years is undoubtedly the reason why I have such a strong passion for pop history and writing about music. Great work, and thank you!

[@sovietcanuckistanian]

Poor Usher, has a comeback all setup only for it to be cursed by Toddstradamus

[@jthecharter]

Can't Catch Me Now deserves so much better I'm glad you mentioned it. Also Jaded is objectively better than Flowers

[@ethanschoales6563]

This video was down for copyright, but now it’s back

[@johngleason1776]

The 20 year nostalgia cycle is about to hit Confessions and I cannot wait for it. There is no doubt in my mind Usher is going to kill it at the Super Bowl this year.

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

Honestly "On My Mama" is my favorite song of 2023, period. I love Victoria Monét so much! She is super talented as a singer/rapper, songwriter and dancer and I am so excited to see her star continue rising! She absolutely deserves all the accolades she gets! ❤️‍🔥

[@psychicbyinternet]

Yeah as soon as I heard it on Todd's list I was like "wow."

[@astrohaute]

I got “We Might Even Be Falling In Love” by her recommended to me on Spotify and it’s been on repeat ever since, I wish that song was longer!!

[@RapsandRiffs]

I had to look up the sample, I remember hearing it a lot but for some reason I thought it was boosie and Nelly 😅 I suck, anyway shoutout Charlie boy, still goes

[@mochibun3890]

Her music has been amazing for years now. I'm so glad she's finally getting the attention she deserves!

[@oliviacarter1517]

Okay but Party Girls is also such a banger as well

[@poihpioakarp8845]

I love how quickly Todd's Sabrina Carpenter prediction came true, actually took me a moment to figure out it's not a joke