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From several UFO sightings to Beyoncé and Taylor’s world tours to Doja Cat as a literal cat at the Met Gala, 2023 has been full of drama so far. While for me every year since 2020 has been a blur, 2023 has so far felt a bit unhinged and manic.
We’re still scrambling to get back to “normal,” but “normal” never worked in the first place. Turns out, everything is indeed chaos. It’s a good thing some of us are still making good music!
We’ve already heard some incredible albums so far this year — my personal favorites are Kali Uchis’ Red Moon in Venus and Emily King’s Special Occasion. We’ve also had dancey bangers like Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” from the Barbie movie, and Glass Animals’ “Heat Wave” has stayed at the top of the charts since last year. But, we need to find the real DRAMA!
While drama can be defined differently by different folks, I like to think of it as a heart-wrenching, core-shaking emotion that takes shape in the external world. In the best of cases, it comes through thematically in a beautiful song, film, play, painting, or any other art form. In the worst of cases, it takes the form of a public fight with your ex (certainly not speaking from personal experience…).
Without further ado, here are the most dramatic songs of 2023 (so far). *Note: Some of these tunes were technically released before 2023, but they have nevertheless been very much a part of the cultural zeitgeist.
SZA – “Kill Bill”
I mean, “I just killed my ex/Not the best idea” and “If I can’t have you no one should”? How much more dramatic can we get? This is the perfect encapsulation of drama, rage, and the glory that is SZA. Her vocal delivery in the verses is so perfectly timed and I love her juicy imagery (ie: “You was at the farmer’s market with your perfect peach”). I think we can all relate to the feeling of complete indignation when losing a lover to someone else, and even more of us can relate to wanting to end their lives by ripping out their heart with your bare hands and a samurai sword.
+ Read more on Flypaper: “Here’s Why Your Song Title Matters…”
David Kushner – “Daylight”
David Kushner encapsulates the feeling of darkness and temptation in this haunting ballad. This song is laced with religious connotations related to shame, guilt, good/evil. While we may all differ on our thoughts on this, I think we can all relate to the feeling of duality–struggling with different parts of ourselves that might be both “good” and “bad.” The soaring, intimate vocals with layered harmonies that start out with minimal piano accompaniment but build into a dramatic masterpiece are just *chef’s kiss*. Plus, his delivery makes me feel like crying in a cold shower.
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
The absolute PERFECT song to blast in your car, scream-crying past your ex’s house or driving away from your hometown to escape your heartbreak. A sweet, warm bop perfect for a reminder of the love that wasn’t as great as you remember, Miley gives you permission to look inside yourself for love. Sometimes the most dramatic moments are the introspective ones. “Flowers” feels super cinematic to me – it’s giving driving into the sunset, right after you’ve robbed a bank (or maybe your ex’s bank) to start a new life in a new city.
+ Read more on Flypaper: “3 Ways to Grip Your Listeners With Opening Lines.”
All Time Low – “Calm Down”
“It’s freaking me out that you’re not freaking out” — what an absolutely impeccable and relatable line. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt this way. This song explores the fun moment when you realize “oh, I AM the drama.” But hey, drama happens for a reason and I’d rather live a dramatic life than a boring one. All Time Low’s diary entry-like lyrics combined with big, theatrical drums (and just the right amount of screaming) are a perfect way of expressing no, I am NOT okay and I am NOT going to pretend I am, OKAY?!
boygenius – “Satanist”
I love the drama that simply is Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus. Their album is full of such heart-wrenching and vulnerable lyrics that fit so well with their crunchy guitars and angelic harmonies. “Will you be a satanist with me?” strikes me as a song describing the tests you give your potential romantic partner to see just how committed they are to your crazy. As a self-described drama queen (and a Leo), I can attest to this feeling. There’s nothing wrong with needing to prove your loyalty, right? So let’s go burn stuff down.
+ Read more on Flypaper: “6 Bad Habits in Songwriting, and How to Break Them.”
Post Malone – “Chemical”
The production and vibe of this song is chill, but the lyrics are the drama. We’ve all had our fair share of toxic relationships, and Posty certainly knows how to get right to the point. This low key smash paints the picture of the on again, off again lover you can’t let go because of (ahem) ”chemistry”. Sometimes the hottest nights of your life happen with people you know are bad for you. For some folks, drama is the thing that feeds a relationship. We all see the red flags, but they sure make for great song content.
Labrinth – “Never Felt So Alone”
Labrinth ALWAYS punches me right in the gut. I sobbed like a baby when I first heard his song “Jealous” (from 2014). His production is so unique and has an impeccable amount of intensity. With Billie Eilish featured, the two of them tell such a beautiful story of the highs and lows that come with relationships. The lyric “I thought you were my new best friend/Wish I knew better then/Who knew you were just out to get me? My whole world just fell apart”?! It’s impossible to hear that verse and feel like your whole world isn’t falling apart.
We’re only halfway through 2023, but we already have plenty of drama under our belts. There’s nothing like a powerful song to put you right into the front row of your own personal theatrical production. I hope this list has inspired you to blast your own playlist and proceed to dance, cry, or scream at the top of your lungs.
Don’t stop here!
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