It’s pretty much a given that on New Year’s Eve, you will stay up until midnight, regardless of whether you’re throwing a massive house party for everyone you’ve ever known or just spending a quiet evening at home with a few close friends and family. We’ve gathered the top 10 New Year’s songs to countdown to 2023! So scroll down to listen to the ultimate New Year’s eve songs.
“1999” By Prince
Even two decades after Millennium Eve, Prince’s party song still resonates strongly each year. Just be careful not to take Purple One’s very fatalistic lyrics like “judgment day” and “dancing my life away” too seriously.
“New Year’s Resolution” By Camera Obscura
Want something Scottish and twee yet sick of Belle & Sebastian? You can start by listening to this 2013 song from “Desire Lines” by 4AD’s Camera Obscura, who have made five excellent albums of indie pop with titles like “Let’s Get Out of This Country” and “Underachievers Please Try Harder.”
“Let’s Start the New Year Right” By Bing Crosby
In the 1942 movie Holiday Inn, which also starred Marjorie Reynolds and Bing Crosby’s friend Fred Astaire, Mr. Holiday himself, Bing Crosby, sang this Irving Berlin song. The movie also included the Academy Award-winning song “White Christmas,” the b-side of which was also available on vinyl at 78 RPM (RIP).
“New Year’s Resolution” By Otis Redding And Carla Thomas
Stax Records united two of its top talents to put together an album in an effort to emulate the success of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (as well as Kim Weston and other artists). In six days, Thomas and Redding recorded 1967’s minor soul hit “King & Queen” with the assistance of Isaac Hayes and Booker T & the MGs. A year before his terrible aircraft crash, Redding’s career was greatly aided by the LP.
“Happy New Year” By Abba
This anthem for the new year was included on the famed Swedish hitmakers’ 1980 album “Super Trouper,” which marked the start of the decade. The Euro megastars sing, “It’s the end of a decade / In another 10 years, who can say what we’ll find,” in a type of reflection on the end of the ’70s.
“The Final Countdown” By Europe
There isn’t much information about the Swedish rock band outside of Europe. Except for one thing: in 1986, they wrote this magnificent global hit that, upon closer study, appears to be about launching a rocket to Venus (!), but has been accepted forever as the thunderous official music to every celebration centered around a countdown.
“Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem)” By Mariah Carey
In spite of the fact that it is definitely not a song for Robert Burns purists, she delivered the perfect Christmas song, which is close enough to the perfect New Year’s Eve song. There are countless variations of “Auld Lang Syne,” so it’s not surprising that Mariah’s 2010 house-inspired rendition caused some controversy. However, this has it all if you’re in the mood for a heartfelt, sing-along song.
“Bringing In A Brand New Year” By Charles Brown
Before being discovered, Texas-born blues musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tony “Charles” Brown worked as a mustard gas worker, high school chemistry instructor, and apprentice electrician in the 1940s. This is just one of the many holiday songs he has recorded over the course of his obscenely fruitful career as a solo artist and as a member of the Three Blazers, which includes over 100 singles on various labels.
“Funky New Year” By The Eagles
This tune, the b-side to the group’s 1977 single “Please Come Home For Christmas,” is a non-album gem from the L.A. white-funk lords. For their commercially successful 1979 album “The Long Run,” the band spent two years recording both holiday songs.
“Gonna Make It Through This Year” By Great Lake Swimmers
Americana for those who despise Tony Dekker’s Great Lake Swimmers can be characterized as Americana. The irony in that is that despite being from Ontario, Canada, the decade-old pastoral band is here showcasing the greatest features of our wonderful nation.
Final Thoughts
The holiday season just wouldn’t be the same without the above tunes! Make sure you check out our blog and Instagram for more music-related topics.
Subscribe To Our Music Marketing Newsletter!
News about music marketing strategies to the music business and beyond.
Delivered to your inbox once a week.
