New Year’s Eve Songs: Taylor Swift, Abba, and More

Who wants “Auld Lang Syne” if you’ve bought Mariah Carey, ’NSync, and Taylor Swift?

December 31 continues to be awash within the echoes of Christmas music, however there are many New Year’s Eve songs to blast as the ultimate seconds of the 12 months whittle down. Yes, there’s outdated standby “Auld Lang Syne” — a tune written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788 — however there are extra up to date New Year’s Eve songs to play as you pop champagne whereas rocking these novelty 2024 glasses.

There are traditional tracks from Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Otis Redding and Carla Thomas. Death Cab for Cutie has a fuzz-drenched anthem for the broke and brokenhearted. There’s even a wonderful ska observe from Montreal’s The Planet Smashers, one thing to play forward of Carey’s membership banger. There are even some gradual tracks from Abba and Barry Manilow for these quieter moments.

In addition to the next strategies on your NYE playlist, there are many songs unrelated to the vacation that you would embody. Prince’s “Kiss” at all times makes for a superb tune to blast when the clock strikes midnight and you’re speculated to kiss somebody for good luck. Europe’s “The Final Countdown” is sweet for those who’re in a hair-metal temper. R.E.M’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” started as an ironic tune for New Year’s Eve, however in latest instances of political and environmental upheaval, the 1987 observe is extra acceptable than ever.

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However grim the long run could also be, New Year’s Eve is a time to have fun the potential that lies earlier than us all. So, to get you within the temper, listed below are just a few songs to placed on earlier than the Times Square ball drops — and one to blast after it’s all mentioned and finished:

Taylor Swift, “New Year’s Day”

Swift has seemingly confirmed that her 2017 album, Reputation, would be the subsequent entry within the Taylor’s Version sequence. This means Swift’s self-described “goth-punk moment” would be the penultimate launch earlier than she completes the rerecording sequence with a brand new version of her 2006 self-titled album. So, with Reputation (Taylor’s Version) on faucet for 2024, Swifties can play “New Year’s Day,” a somber and reflective lower from the album, in keen anticipation — and in celebration of the monster 12 months that noticed now-billionaire Swift conquer the world.

Mariah Carey, “Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem)”

Every December, Carey guidelines the world’s minds, hearts and charts with “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” But the long-lasting singer doubled down on her position as Queen of Christmas in 2010 with the discharge of her second vacation album, Merry Christmas II You. The album of largely Christmas classics ends along with her performing “Auld Lang Syne (The New Year’s Anthem).” She, after all, put her personal spin on it, turning the tune right into a membership banger.

Ella Fitzgerald, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”

The timeless tune from Fitzgerald is ideal for any cocktail hour earlier than the complete social gathering. Or, for those who’re throwing an aesthetic soirée, this jazzy, romantic tune is important on your playlist — and for those who’re scrambling for a option to ask your crush out on a date, it is a nice icebreaker. “Ah, but in case I stand one little chance,” she sings. “Here comes the jackpot question in advance / What are you doing New Year’s / New Year’s Eve?”

Snoop Dogg that includes Marty James, “New Year’s Eve”

Every season has a Snoop Dogg, together with “New Year’s Eve.” On this vacation observe, the “Doggfather” romances his boo (“On New Year’s Eve, and I do believe / On New Year’s Eve, we can live forever”) whereas counting down the seconds to a brand new 12 months. Helping the rap icon out is singer-songwriter/producer Marty James (who cowrote the Justin Bieber and Daddy Yankee–powered remix of Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito”). It’s a observe filled with attraction, confidence and cool that solely Snoop Dogg can carry.

Barry Manilow, “It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve”

Manilow’s “It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve” is a should for those who plan to maintain it mellow whereas greeting 2024. With a downtrodden piano melody and Manilow’s crooning, the tune guides listeners to the opposite aspect of this vacation. “It’s just another New Year’s Eve / It’s just another Auld Lang Syne / But when we’re through this New Year / You’ll see we’ll be just fine,” he sings.

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Death Cab for Cutie, “The New Year”

“So this is the new year / And I don’t feel any different / The clanking of crystal / Explosions off in the distance,” sings Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie on “The New Year,” the opening observe to the band’s critically acclaimed 2003 album, Transatlanticism. With its fuzzed-out guitars and pining vocals equally filled with marvel and melancholy, it’s a superb tune for these getting into January with combined emotions.

‘NSync, “Kiss Me at Midnight”

While it’s a bit on the nostril, ‘NSync’s “Kiss Me at Midnight” — from Home for Christmas, the band’s 1998 vacation album — ought to scratch the itch for individuals who need to have fun the brand new 12 months with boy-band goodness. Starting with a countdown, the tune kicks into that pre-millennium pop that may make you nostalgic for frosted suggestions and TRL (which is suitable since NYE is all about remembering the nice instances).

Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, “New Year’s Resolution”

If you need one thing that can assist you hold your decision this 12 months, play this tune by Redding and Thomas. “New Year’s Resolution” makes turning over a brand new leaf appear believable. The tune is a duet about two lovers acknowledging their faults. “Oh, let’s try it again,” Redding and Thomas sing within the refrain. “Just you and me / And, baby, let’s see how happy honey / That we can be / And call it a New Year’s resolution.”

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Nat King Cole, “Happy New Year”

Forget the When We Were Young competition: Nat King Cole bought emo on New Year’s Eve in 1966. While heartbroken and bitter about dropping his love, Cole bitterly curses “the gay ones [who] don their silly paper hats / And blow their stupid little horns” whereas he’s sitting alone by the hearth with a glass of wine in his hand.

From there, he sings, “I wish you a Happy New Year, darling / May your new love be bright and fair / I hope he’ll do those special things for you / That I would do if I were there.” While this could be a buzzkill for some, that is the tune for you for those who’re in an analogous boat as Cole was.

The Planet Smashers, “Happy New Year’s”

With a jovial beat and tongues firmly of their cheeks, ska-punk legends The Planet Smashers present that “new year, new me” doesn’t apply to everybody. “Happy New Year’s, baby,” croons lead singer Matt Collyer. “Too bad this year I’m gonna make you crazy / I already messed up, and it’s minutes past midnight.” If you’re partying this New Year’s Eve with individuals who assume resolutions are a joke, that is the tune to play.

Abba, “Happy New Year”

What makes New Year’s Eve a particular vacation is that it may be so miserable — and it’s completely positive to have fun this unhappy a part of the night time. If the prior 12 months have gone sideways and you’re ending the 12 months worse for put on, celebrating is usually a drag.

It even bought joyous disco darlings Abba down in 1980. “No more champagne / And the fireworks are through / Here we are, me and you / Feeling lost and feeling blue,” sings Agnetha Fältskog. “It’s the end of the party / And the morning seems so gray / So unlike yesterday / Now’s the time for us to say.”

“Happy new year, happy new year,” Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad sing on the refrain. “May we all have our hopes, our will to try / If we don’t, we might as well lay down and die / You and I.”

Judas Priest, “Living After Midnight”

There are loads of songs to play after the clock strikes 12, ushering in January 1. Pink’s “Raise Your Glass,” Prince’s “1999” or Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” could be good methods to kick off the precise New Year. But if you wish to have fun the spirit of appreciating the second earlier than it’s gone and how restricted our time on this planet is, go together with Judas Priest’s “Living After Midnight.”

“Living after midnight / Rocking to the dawn / Loving till the morning / Then I’m gone, I’m gone,” sings Rob Halford, a.okay.a. The Metal God. The heavy steel anthem will hold your social gathering going properly into the early hours. Isn’t that one of the simplest ways to begin the brand new 12 months anyway?