After a number of years listening virtually solely to Okay-pop, I’m in a enjoyable house the place my playlist is open to any music from any nation. This brings added focus to world pop, which I function on the weblog every month.

And now that world pop has its personal year-end countdown on the weblog, I assumed I’d do a fast mid-year round-up as nicely!

What had been your favourite singles and albums in the course of the first half of 2023?

Alok & Ava Max – Automobile Keys (Ayla)

This has solely been out for a couple of days but it surely already owns my coronary heart. Ava’s album is implausible (extra on that under), however I believe this can be even higher. What can I say? I’m a large fan of trance music.

Bebe Rexha – Satellite tv for pc (ft. Snoop Dogg)

This has ‘track of summer time 2023’ written throughout it. It’s a lot enjoyable.

Benjamin – Hoida Mut

My most-played pop track of the 12 months to this point, and deservedly so. It’s just about excellent.

Calvin Harris – Miracle (ft. Ellie Goulding)

Trance music once more! I’ll maintain my fingers crossed, but it surely appears we may very well be in for a trance revival, and Miracle‘s European success provides gasoline to that fireplace.

Dagny – Similar Once more (For Love)

My favourite Dagny track but. I’m a sucker for traditional pop melodies, and Similar Once more feels completely timeless in sound and execution.

Jake Shears – I Used To Be In Love

It’s all about that huge strings pattern in the course of the refrain. It’s a disco inferno — each bit as tacky and pleasant as that time period suggests.

Loreen – Tattoo

A deserved Eurovision winner, bringing widescreen, megawatt pop drama again into vogue.

Neea River – All The Method

Finland’s been on fireplace this 12 months, embracing driving synthwave parts and fusing them to epic pop tracks like this one.

Portion Boys – Samaa taivasta katsotaan

Talking of Finland, I’m smitten with how huge and bombastic they’re keen to go together with their pop music. That is pure 80’s schlock rock with pomp and circumstance to spare

Slayyyter – Out Of Time

Slayyyter’s music will get a propulsive makeover with this tease of her upcoming album. That is my favourite sort of pop beat.

Tyla – Been Considering

An intoxicating groove that grows extra sturdy and addictive because it goes. Tyla is one to observe this 12 months!

The Weeknd – Standard (ft. Madonna & Playboi Carti)

I didn’t watch The Idol (nor do I care to), however I’m blissful for its existence if just for this track. The early-00’s hip-hop beat is so nostalgic.

Ava Max – Diamonds & Dancefloors

I’ve seen approach too many individuals attempting to filter Ava Max via some bizarre vital lens. It’s a lot less complicated than that. She delivers well-crafted, catchy dancefloor bangers — and this album options one after one other.

Bebe Rexha – Bebe

That is approach stronger than it has any proper to be. Bebe Rexha wasn’t on my radar earlier than this 12 months, however she’s discovered her voice with this pleasant mix of dance, disco and nation.

Ellie Goulding – Greater Than Heaven

An ethereal assortment of slick synthpop and dance music. This is likely one of the 12 months’s most constant albums.

Jake Shears – Final Man Dancing

That is my favourite pop album of 2023 to this point. I like the way it’s divided in half — the primary part delivering six excellent pop tracks and the second segueing right into a bizarre, twisted suite of nonstop dance music.