All Songs Considered

Our No. 1 songs: 2023

December 22, 2025

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  • The hosts of "All Songs Considered" are discussing their personal number one songs from 2023 as part of a series celebrating the show's 25th anniversary, emphasizing these choices reflect personal meaning over commercial success. 
  • Stephen Thompson selected Chapel Roan's "Red Wine Supernova" as his top song for 2023, highlighting her rise as an artist who successfully blended artier pop sensibilities with mainstream success, partly aided by a Tiny Desk performance. 
  • Robin Hilton chose a song by Ben Folds dealing with grief and isolation, which deeply resonated with him as a commentary on the importance of human connection, contrasting with Stephen's selection. 

Segments

Episode Context and 2023 Setup
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(00:00:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The ‘No. 1 songs’ for the “All Songs Considered” 25th anniversary series are personal favorites, not Billboard chart toppers.
  • Summary: Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson introduced the segment focusing on their number one songs from 2023. These selections are defined as songs that held the most personal meaning or spoke to the identity of the show over its 25-year run. The hosts confirmed they were nearing the end of this retrospective series.
Chapel Roan’s Rise
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(00:00:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Chapel Roan’s album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess exemplified a successful, art-forward pop star breakthrough despite streaming algorithm challenges.
  • Summary: Stephen chose Chapel Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova,” noting the album’s slow burn that exploded in 2024. Her rise was seen as significant because it countered the narrative that streaming made new star creation impossible. Her performance at the Tiny Desk helped showcase her 360-degree persona and vocal talent.
Ben Folds Song on Grief
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(00:04:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Robin’s choice, a Ben Folds song about grief and isolation, emphasizes the necessity of human connection and finding joy in small, real-world moments.
  • Summary: Robin selected a Ben Folds song about grief, which deeply affected him, causing him to bury his head in his hands. The song speaks to the danger of withdrawal and isolation, contrasting it with the beauty of the world, such as warm smiles and hellos. Robin related to the song’s message about connection being vital to the human experience.
Other 2023 Mentions
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(00:11:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts briefly mentioned several other notable 2023 releases, including The Japanese House, Boygenius, and Wednesday.
  • Summary: The hosts acknowledged that their selections are not definitive, listing other significant 2023 records from artists like The Japanese House, Boygenius, and Wednesday. Luke Holmes’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” was also highlighted, leading to a brief play of the original song.
The Beaches’ “Blame Brett”
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(00:13:39)
  • Key Takeaway: The Beaches’ song “Blame Brett” from the album Blame My Ex is a humorous track where the singer explicitly tells a partner not to blame her for future poor behavior.
  • Summary: Stephen played “Blame Brett” by The Beaches from the album Blame My Ex. The song features lyrics where the narrator preemptively warns the listener that she will let them down, sleep around, and advises them to ‘Blame Brett’ instead of her. The song was noted for its humor and relatability for those with an ex named Brett.
Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Bad Idea Right?’
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(00:15:32)
  • Key Takeaway: Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts album, particularly “Bad Idea Right?”, represented a leveling up in her artistry, showcasing more of her personality.
  • Summary: The final song played was Olivia Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea Right?” from the album Guts. The hosts felt this album showed a significant step forward, revealing more of her personality despite her background as a child star. They expressed excitement for her future output, given her dynamic presence.