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Global Pop Round-Up: October 2023 Edition

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Global Pop Round-Up

The Bias List is a K-pop blog that also covers a fair amount of J-pop. But just like most music fans, I enjoy tracks from all around the world. So, I thought I’d start a monthly round-up of some of the non-K-pop songs that have caught my ear. No ratings — just highlights!

February 2022 Edition // March 2022 Edition // April 2022 Edition // May 2022 Edition // June 2022 Edition // July 2022 Edition // August 2022 Edition // September 2022 Edition // October 2022 Edition // November 2022 Edition // January 2023 Edition // February 2023 // March 2023 // April 2023 // May 2023 // June 2023 // July 2023 // August 2023 // September 2023

Arwin – More Than Just A Feeling

A great dance pop track with a standout chorus. Sometimes that’s all you need!

Chappell Roan – Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl

Possibly the best chorus of the year? “Massive” doesn’t even begin to describe how gargantuan this hook is. It punches you right in the face in the best way possible.

Gunship – Unicorn (Album)

It’s been a long time since an album impressed me this much on first listen. There are many synthwave groups out there, but most are either entirely instrumental or very downtempo. Gunship delivers 80’s anthems with rock intensity. I’m totally smitten with these songs.

I’m going to include one of the album’s most instant b-sides, the excellent opener that was released back in July and a sampler of all the tracks. Get into it!

(and thanks to the reader who initially brought the group to my attention in the comments section!)



Jax Jones – Won’t Forget You (ft. D.O.D & Ina Wroldsen)

You can’t go wrong with cheesy, late-90’s dance sounds. If you liked Alice Deejay, you’ll love this.

Kylie Minogue – Tension (Album)

I say this as a fan for twenty-three years, but this may just be my favorite Kylie album. It’s certainly in the top five. There’s a certain style of wistful, euphoric pop she executes on tracks like Hold On To Now, Things We Do For Love, You Still Get Me High, Story and Somebody To Love that’s simply perfection. It’s one of the best albums of the year.


Lenny Kravitz – TK421

This groove is as Prince as Lenny’s ever gotten, and that’s saying something!

Loreen – Is It Love

A definite comedown after the excellent Tattoo, but I’m always happy to have more music from Loreen.

Madison Rose – Girls Girls Girls

Madison Rose has to be the most underrated pop artist working today. She continues to deliver maximalist excellence with this new single. SO catchy.

Neea River – Burned CD

Finland’s Neea River is officially three for three with another fantastic electro banger!

Oscar Zia – Heartbreakmiljonär

Oscar Zia’s new album is really strong, stuffed with numerous dance pop highlights. Heartbreakmiljonär has that effortlessly cool Swedish touch with rave-like intensity.

Rêve – Saturn Return (Album)

Released just yesterday, Rêve’s debut album will please fans of disco and electro. I especially love the more melodically  ambitious tracks, such as the choir-meets-dancefloor theatrics of opener Breaking Up With Jesus and the pop perfection of this summer’s single Contemporary Love.

Slayyyter – Starfucker (Album)

It’s been a STRONG month for dance pop albums, and Slayyyter sits comfortably among her bigger-named peers. There’s a ton of Gaga influence on this album but it’s dirtier and even more tongue-in-cheek. I’ve already featured the singles on this blog, but I’ll include a few choice b-sides here.


SVEA – Dead Man Walking

A bulletproof pop banger with a stomping glam beat. Great for Halloween!

Troye Sivan – Got Me Started

His album’s pretty good if you remove three dull songs from the middle of the tracklist, but this single is absolutely fantastic. THIS is how you do laidback grooves. Everything is on point, from the addictive melodies to the vocal filter on the chorus.

29 thoughts on “Global Pop Round-Up: October 2023 Edition”

  1. I might get booed for this but the pop song I’ve listened to the most this month was… SUCKER 4 GREEN by Lil Tay. sure, her performance is flat, but the hooks are pretty catchy and the production is good.

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  2. I’ve been listening to Chappell Roan’s new album non-stop since you posted Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl on Twitter a few weeks ago. That song is undoubtedly the highlight, but the rest of the album has been a great pop surprise as well!

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    • So I posted the above before checking out the rest of the list, but the inclusion of multiple albums has got me excited to check the rest of this list out. Thanks to you and the community you’ve built for being a great source of pop recommendations!

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  3. and now, the obligatory just dance 2024 ranking

    amazing i love it so much omg (10-9): i wanna dance with somebody – whitney houston (10), shine a little love – electric light orchestra (9), rapper’s delight – the sugarhill gang (10), survivor – destiny’s child (9.25), don’t cha – the pussycat dolls (9), canned heat – jamiroquai (9)

    i think it’s good (8.75-8): flowers – miley cyrus (8), i’m not here to make friends – sam smith (8.25), gimme more – britney spears (8.75), butter – bts (8.75), i am my own muse – fall out boy (8.25), say my name – ateez (8.75), after party – banx & ranx (8), can’t tame her – zara larsson (8.75), whitney – rêve (8.5), otonablue – atarashii gakko (8.5), treasure – bruno mars (8.5), kill bill – sza (8), woof – sofi tukker feat. kahlo (8.25), vampire – olivia rodrigo (8.25)

    mid (7.75-7): sail – awolnation (7.5), it’s the most wonderful time of the year- andy williams (7), calm down – rema (7.5), cure for me – aurora (7.75), wasabi – little mix (7), a queda – gloria groove (7.5), chaise longue – wet leg (7.25), stronger (what doesn’t kill you) – kelly clarkson (7.25), never be like you – flume feat. kai (7), you should see me in a crown – billie eilish – (7.25), makeba – jain (7.75), despecha – rosalia (7.5)

    no likey (6.75-6): how you like that – blackpink (6.25), cradles – sub urban (6.75), i’m good (blue) – david guetta & bebe rexha (6.75)

    go to hell (5.75-): titi me pregunto – bad bunny (5.5), my name is – d billions (5.25)

    not ranked: swan lake (remix) – tchaikovsky

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  4. Man Troye’s music this year has been stellar! I haven’t listened to much of his songs but boy his newest album hits me different!

    “Got Me Started” is a contender for my SOTY. We’ll see if it holds up for another month.

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  6. also i listened to dream’s mini album “to whomever wants to hear” last month (god help me)

    its not horrible horrible like some internet commentators are saying, but none of the songs do anything for me. its all a bunch of generic bedroom pop music hampered with a performance as lively as a stick on the ground and lyrics that sound like an emo teenager tryna be deep and meaningful

    my rating on each song:
    1. slow down – 7.25
    2. kind far away – 7.25
    3. paranoid – 7.75
    4. spotlight – 7.5
    5. everest (feat. yung gravy) – 6.75
    6. invincible (like u) – 7
    7. until i end up dead – 7.25

    rating: 7.2

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  7. I’m glad you liked Gunship! We have pretty similar taste in music but I hadn’t heard of them until this summer, so I was curious to see if you had.

    Fury Weekend is a similar project you might like:

    Clearly I can’t get enough of that enormous Tim Cappello-esque sax haha.

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      • I can get behind the instrumentation on almost all the songs but the hooks are really weak for most of it. There’s none I particularly enjoyed or want to comeback to.

        But the chance of even 1 new song for me to add to my playlist is what makes me check these out so it’s only natural that once in a while there’s none and every other time there’s more. I’ll keep tuning in!

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  9. I would like to recommend Movies, Cars & Heartbreak from Moyka.
    It sounds like Tove Lo, mixing synthwave with more heavy electro beats.
    These are 2 singles from the album:

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  10. Gosh I just love Madison Rose, Girls Girls Girls is awesome! For anyone in need of a spooky banger she also just released Ghouls Ghouls Ghouls which is the same song but with an absolutely brilliant Halloween themed lyrical switch up.

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  12. Glad to see Troye Sivan is on the list
    But just wondering which 3 dull songs that you found out quite uninterested and why?
    Hmmm… Guessing Still Got It would be one of it due to lack of vocal in the entire song?

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    • I find the run of In My Room to Can’t Go Back, Baby quite dull. It really kills the momentum of the album and I think it would be stronger without those tracks (or maybe just not having all three back to back)

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  13. Omg i was not expecting Chapell Roan here! i hadnt heard of her until a mutual on twitter posted this exact song but i love it, one of my favorites of the year.

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  14. Just out of curiousity, but have you ever listened to Lexie Liu’s music? I listened to her most recent Happy Star a little while ago and its excellent, easily one of my favorites from the past couple years.

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  15. just gonna drop some songs from this year i absolutely adore here that i think nick would love

    late 2000s electro pop sound EXCELLENCE like i have no idea how aldn hasnt blown tf up yet

    this gives early kesha in the best possible way and when it goes off dear GOD does it go off. underscores we fucking love u

    if this doesnt get stuck in ur heard for the next 6 months there is something seriously wrong w u

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