More Favorite Songs of 2023

    I recently listed my Top 10 Favorite Songs of 2023. Just for clarification let me explain that those songs all had to meet the eligibility for that list by reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard HOT 100 during 2023. I happen to be one of those people that believes that "It's not a hit until it's a hit on Billboard". Just in case you don't know, in order to reach the top of the Billboard HOT 100, a song must get the most sales, streams and radio airplay for any given week.

There were lots of other songs that I loved in 2023 that failed to make the top 10 on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart. Here's a list of some of my other favorites in 2023. One thing that I can say about all of these songs is that it's a shame it didn't get more sales and airplay to do better on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart.

In the ideal world, great songs from Country, Pop, Dance and R and B would all find their way to the upper positions of the Billboard HOT 100.

If You Go Down (I'm Goin Down Too) - Kelsea Ballerini: Just listening to this song is a lot of fun, but Kelsea took us a step further and delivered the visuals to elevate this to best of the year status! The official video is comedic, campy fun and entertainment perfection. But her performance of the song on the CMT Video Music Awards was a grand slam hitting it out of the park. The joyful exuberance of seeing so many of our favorite drag performers on stage with her was the cherry on the top of this fantastic song.         

In Your Love - Tyler Childers: This is genuinely the most truly heartfelt and wonderful love song ever. But the fact that this love is conveyed with a music video showing two men who find each other, share their love for each other and heartbreaking lose each other makes it a cinematic work of art worthy of awards.         

Dancing In The Country - Tyler Hubbard: First and foremost, a favorite song of the year has to be catchy with a great beat that makes me want to dance and sing along with it. From the first time I heard this to the millionth time I simply had fun and enjoyed it. It has a really fun and entertaining video as well.      

I'm Not Here To Make Friends - Sam Smith: Starting out the year with a #1 hit (Unholy) didn't necessarily mean that the follow up singles were going to get support. This one is preferred to have been the big hit, but the fickle fans didn't agree with me.        

Same Here - Brad Paisley: When country music gets it right it's able to tell stories that bring diverse people together. This is a beautiful song that illustrates how we fundamentally have so much in common with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their country. This song not only gets it right - it exemplifies country music at its best.      

Lottery - Latto: Talk about a pop anthem that checks all the boxes! This one has it all. A great beat. Fun lyrics. Catchy hook. It is absolutely mind boggling how it went overlooked on the charts this year! I am very happy that I found it and at least had it in heavy rotation on my own playlist.      

Tell Me Ray - Jon Wayne Hatfield: With a song this great it's shocking to believe that this American Idol contestant didn't even make the Top 20! But the love and support he has for his grandpa, Ray, comes through so beautifully in every word. For this reason alone, he will always be a winner.      

Waffle House - Jonas Brothers: This boy-band of brothers do a great job not just serving up the fun pop jams, but also serving them up with a little unexpected twist that keeps them from being basic cookie cutter, run of the mill songs. After enjoying this song I have never wanted to have a deep conversation at a Waffle House this much!       

Rock and a Hard Place - Bailey Zimmerman: This new guy comes along with this great song that is all over the place. That's it. It's a good song.       

Thank God - Kane Brown: Despite his ever-growing catalog of great music, Kane remains one of the most underrated artists out there. When he should be getting nominations and winning CMA's, ACM's and Grammy's he remains completely over-looked. But at least this song, with his wife as his duet partner, took home the (fan voted) 2023 CMT Award for Video of the Year.     

More Favorite Songs of 2021

  I recently listed my Top 10 Favorite Songs of 2021. Just for clarification let me explain that those songs all had to meet the eligibility for that list by reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard HOT 100 during 2021. I happen to be one of those people that believes that "It's not a hit until it's a hit on Billboard". Just in case you don't know, in order to reach the top of the Billboard HOT 100, a song must get the most sales, streams and radio airplay for any given week.

There were lots of other songs that I loved in 2021 that failed to make the top 10 on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart. Here's a list of some of my other favorites in 2021. One thing that I can say about all of these songs is that it's a shame it didn't get more sales and airplay to do better on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart.

In the ideal world, great songs from Country, Pop, Dance and R and B would all find their way to the upper positions of the Billboard HOT 100.

Next Girl - Carly Pearce: I am so happy that this amazing strong female singer songwriter is continuing to get more recognition and accolades. She won the CMA for Female Vocalist of the Year and she deserves to keep going up on to the next level.       

Whiskey and Rain - Michael Ray: There's just something about a song having the perfect shuffle beat for a stationary cha cha that makes it an instant favorite. This is one of the best to come out in a long time.       

Martha Divine - Ashley McBryde: Another strong female singer songwriter delivering the classic story song of revenge on cheating hearts. A great beat with impressive vocals to perfectly tell the dark tale of getting away with murder.    

Undivided - Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard: This is the perfect anthem of hope for a better future. You can't live in denial that the country is more divided and polarized than ever so hearing this on repeat all year shined a glimmer of optimism that we can all come together.      

Somebody Like That - Tenille Arts: It's so refreshing to hear a strong female singer songwriter deliver a fantastic song that comes from her heart and also serves impressive vocals with a great beat for a two-step. .    

Freedom Was A Highway - Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley: Jimmie is having a great year appearing on Dancing With The Stars, having hit songs and earning a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. This is a great song with the nostalgia of the old days and a welcome return of Brad Paisley.    

The Good Ones - Gabby Barrett: This former American Idol finalist came back with another amazing song to prove that her big hit last year was not a fluke. She's a strong female singer songwriter who is the real deal.    

Younger Me - Brothers Osbourne: Coming out as gay this year, TJ Osbourne and his brother John give us a heartfelt anthem of inspiration to hang in there confident that life gets better no matter how rough it was when we were younger.    

Famous Friends - Chris Young and Kane Brown: Great music is a celebration of living our best lives with all the special people who mean so much to us. This is the song to enjoy when you get together with all of yours.     

GOOD TIME - Niko Moon: During the hard times we need this song to allow us to take a breath, relax and just have that GOOD TIME.