The worst songs of 2023 reveal everything that’s broken in modern music right now. Big names like Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Miley Cyrus put out tracks that seemed designed for TikTok moments instead of actual enjoyment. Somehow these songs still collected streaming records, Grammy nominations, and platinum certifications despite being obviously subpar. It’s honestly shocking how many hit songs barely last two minutes now. It’s almost as if artists know we won’t stick around for anything longer.
This look at last year’s musical disasters shows exactly why chart position has absolutely nothing to do with quality anymore.
10: Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Record-breaking streams couldn’t save ‘Flowers‘ from feeling like a calculated, inauthentic response to Bruno Mars. The empowerment message comes across as manufactured, with vocals lacking the raw edge that made her earlier work compelling. Despite breaking Spotify’s streaming records and winning Record of the Year at the 66th Grammy Awards, the track sits there gathering dust on playlists, a shallow imitation masquerading as something revolutionary. The disco-influenced production can’t save lyrics that many critics found cliché.
9: Coi Leray – Players
The iconic Grandmaster Flash sample in ‘Players‘ transforms meaningful social commentary into shallow materialism that somehow went 2x Platinum. This jarring disconnect shows how a powerful musical foundation can be stripped of its meaning for a quick hit. And quick it was – at just 2 minutes and 19 seconds, it barely develops before ending. Despite going 2x Platinum and peaking at #9 on Billboard, this represents everything wrong with sample-based modern hits.
8: Olivia Rodrigo – Bad Idea Right?
Ever watched someone try too hard to be retro? That’s ‘Bad Idea Right?‘ failing to capture the essence of decades past while earning a #1 Billboard debut. Rodrigo’s vocals lack conviction, and the whole package falls short of similar songs like Dua Lipa’s “New Rules.” Critics noted its similarity to other pop-punk songs and repetitive lyrics. Even with its #1 Billboard debut and Gold certification, this 3-minute derivative package shows little growth from her previous work.
7: Jason Aldean – Try That In A Small Town
If you’re looking for nuanced portrayals of rural America, ‘Try That In A Small Town‘ offers the exact opposite with its glorified vigilante justice that still peaked at #1. The song ignores the actual complexities of rural communities in favor of an idealized, simplified vision. CMT temporarily pulled the music video due to controversy, yet the song still peaked at #1 on Billboard and went Platinum. The racial undertones and violent messaging sparked intense debate about content in country music, all while Aldean delivered what his core fans wanted.
6: Sam Smith & Jesse Reyes – Gimme What I Want
In a year of questionable releases, ‘Gimme‘ stands out as perhaps the most sonically grating collaboration to barely chart at #65 in the UK. “Gimme” lacks melody, inspiration, or anything resembling enjoyment. The irritating production and grating performance create an experience with zero redeeming qualities. Though meant to be sex-positive and LGBTQ+ representative, the explicit lyrics and provocative themes turned many listeners off. It peaked at just #65 in the UK and failed to make an impact in the US market.
5: Will.i.am & Britney Spears – Mind Your Business
Freedom from conservatorship should’ve led to musical rebirth, but ‘Mind Your Business‘ buries Britney’s voice under excessive autotune and failed to chart entirely. The track lacks any semblance of a memorable melody or spark. The song squanders the potential of both artists, resulting in a forgettable mess. Despite attempting to address privacy themes, the repetitive lyrics lack depth. It failed to chart on Billboard and received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics.
4: Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice ft. Aqua – Barbie World
At a painfully brief 1 minute and 49 seconds, ‘Barbie World‘ manages to strip everything interesting from Aqua’s original while earning a Grammy nomination anyway. The lyrics feel phoned in, and the production lacks creativity or originality. And no, slapping on new verses doesn’t make it innovative – it just makes it a bad rendition of a song we already know. Despite its Platinum certification and Grammy nomination, this Barbie movie tie-in feels like a cash grab.
3: Drake ft. Little Yachty – Another Late Night
Trapped in a song with Drake’s misogynistic lyrics? That’s Lil Yachty’s reality in ‘Another Late Night,’ a track that somehow debuted at #13 on Billboard. It embraces questionable values and wraps them in unpleasant production. Despite smooth beats from producers Vinylz, Boi-1da, and Tay Keith, the content sparked discussions about harmful stereotypes in mainstream hip-hop. Debuting at #13 on Billboard and appearing on Drake’s eighth consecutive #1 album, this collaborative miss gives listeners zero reason to subject themselves to repeat plays.
2: Fallout Boy – We Didn’t Start the Fire
The challenge of covering an iconic song requires respect for the original, but Fall Out Boy’s ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire‘ bizarrely rhymes ‘George Floyd’ with ‘Metroid’ instead. Fall Out Boy’s version misunderstands what made Billy Joel’s original work, with lyrics that feel out of order and questionable choices throughout. The band omitted significant events like COVID-19. This uninspired take earns its spot at #2 through sheer musical misjudgment. It failed to chart on Billboard and landed on multiple “Worst Songs” lists, virtually guaranteeing it won’t have any lasting impact.
1: Meghan Trainor – Mother
Viral TikTok success couldn’t prevent ‘Mother’ from becoming 2023’s worst song, with its painful ‘Mr. Sandman’ sample and cringe-worthy lyrics peaking at just #62 on Billboard. The appropriation of “mother” as a concept feels hypocritical, and the “Mr. Sandman” sample by The Chordettes is borderline unforgivable. This painful concoction of unpleasant sounds and lyrics deservedly claims the title of worst song of 2023. Despite being certified Gold and creating a TikTok viral moment with over 1 million video creations, its peak of #62 on Billboard shows that even social media success can’t save a truly bad song. Tired of reading about 2023’s failures? Here are the most-streamed albums of 2024.
