Let’s be clear. You don’t really need to have been gone to have a comeback. But you do need to have made a bigger splash and provided a greater pop cultural footprint than before. 2023 has been a year of many such success stories.
HBO’s critically panned “The Idol” put singer Troye Sivan in the acting spotlight but also seemed to jumpstart a new era with the release of his now Grammy-nominated single “Rush”. The show also featured a soundtrack featuring another great comeback story—that of Madonna. The Weeknd, alongside Playboy Carti, got Madge to join on the “Popular” track, which ended up becoming the series’ most successful and Madonna’s most celebrated song in years (heck, decades!).
But even bigger than these artists were the following. Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Comeback Singles of 2023
NOW AND THEN – The Beatles
Don’t call it a comeback; they’ve been here for decades, but a new track? A highly regarded new track with a dose of AI, “Now And Then” by The Beatles proved to be the biggest comeback single of the year, mainly because we never expected there to be another single, ever. The track became an instant classic, helping the Fab 4 hit the Top 40 all over again, further expanding their chart run and their legacy. Sure it’s likely there is nothing more ahead but for a minute, it got us all smiling and wondering what if… and reflection is always good to have, now and then.
FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus
Without a doubt, the biggest comeback of the year has to go to Miley Cyrus, and her single “Flowers” proved to be such a towering force on the charts this year, she really does deserve all the flowers she is receiving at the year’s end and hopefully come the Grammy Awards. Not since her “Bangerz” era has Cyrus delivered such a winner and the fact that “Flowers” was just the beginning proves how the perfect song with the perfect video with the perfect message at the perfect time can get any artist back on track commercially and critically.
MISSIN U – Tori Kelly
Tori Kelly had quite the year. With a health scare that could have derailed the artist completely, Kelly came roaring back with her most solid pop/soul/Top 40 record in years. “Missin U” gave us a 90’s vibe we’ve been missing badly on the radio, and the track (co-written and co-produced by ace pop producer Jon Bellion) showcased why we needed Kelly back on the mainstream charts after her successful Grammy-winning pivot to gospel. While the track didn’t blow up the way it deserved, it was still a welcome return to an underrated artist who is one of our top vocal slayers!
PADAM PADAM – Kylie Minogue
You can’t really call “Padam Padam” a comeback for me, as I’ve been a loyal Kylie Minogue through all her eras. But when a song goes viral, the corresponding dance becomes a phenomenon, Minogue scores a Top 10 hit and the singer introduces herself to a whole new generation of fans, you just have to call it a comeback. The success of “Padam Padam” must wholly be attributed to Minogue’s gay fans, who really took the song into their hearts instantly and made it their anthem, but somewhere along the way of the thousands of viral videos, the track turned mainstream giving Minogue a much-deserved commercial global resurrection.
ANGRY – The Rolling Stones
What are the chances that The Rolling Stones and The Beatles would have new music out in the same year, and that year would be 2023? While “Now And Then” was just a single, Mick Jagger and team gave us an entire (possibly final?) album. “Angry”, the first single was a fantastic reintroduction to the rockers who’ve lasted longer than… is there any correct way to end that statement? This was a spectacular surprise this year, and it did not disappoint.
TATTOO – Loreen
11 years after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 with “Euphoria”, Swedish pop artist Loreen did it again, winning in 2023 for “Tattoo”. While I’ve been a loyal Loreen fan through the years, it was so great to see the star get her due, again. Winning the second time and being the only female artist to do it twice, this was a great comeback for the singer, who honestly has been giving us hits for years, but sadly, they didn’t make an impact on the global charts. I’m still quite not sure why Loreen hasn’t become a certified hitmaker like Dua Lipa but it’s not for the lack of bangers – she’s amazing.
ORAL – Bjork, Rosalía
A song that has been in the Bjork archives since the late 1990s finally made its way to us with a little help from Rosalia. The single “Oral” happens to be one of the most pop-friendly tunes to ever be released by the Icelandic icon. Released as a statement against salmon farming, the track and its instantly iconic music video (barring some minor Madonna “Die Another Day” inspiration) proved yet again that years can go by without a release and Bjork will always be welcomed back with open arms. Every release feels like a comeback, but this time, it was wonderful to see a collaboration—something we really get from the star.
ONE MORE TIME – blink-182
With the original lineup back together, Blink-182 enjoyed a comeback this year, thanks in no small part to “One More Time,” a reflective ballad that focuses on the band’s troubled history. The pop-punk ballad showcased great maturity and synergy between the bandmates, which we thought would never come back but thankfully it did. While the rest of the album perhaps failed to hit the same emotional note, this comeback single hit the mark, and here’s hoping the success of this single leads to the next album being more reflective in tone.
GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode
Another band that fails to quit (and we’re not asking them, but still!) is Depeche Mode. As the first single released after the death of co-founder and keyboard great Any Fletcher, the melancholic single became the band’s biggest hit in years, a well-deserved comeback to the Top 40. Depeche Mode have always been in their own world, but this single yet again showcased their ability to create symphonies out of the synth-pop world, leading us to reflect on life and death, what’s important and not, and most importantly, it keeps us moving and moving on…no matter what.
GOOD GOOD – Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
Everyone gets their flowers, and Usher most certainly did back in the day when he was slaying the charts in the early 2000s. But time seemed to usher (no pun intended) a whole new class of R&B stars, and while Usher managed to always get respect, he didn’t get the acclaim he still deserved. But a Vegas residency, some smart collabs, and now the upcoming half-time Super Bowl show have all but cemented Usher’s reclamation as a superstar. “Good Good” featuring Summer Walker and 21 Savage was a Top 40 comeback for the singer who seemingly disappeared from the mainstream charts over the past years, and here’s hoping the ageism that has stopped artists like Kylie Minogue and even Madonna from enjoying multiple innings doesn’t stop Usher from getting played!
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