2023 was by far one of the biggest years for country music in Canada.
Canadian artists made history, climbed the charts, and released some of the best country songs, and had more commercial success than we’ve seen in years.
Particularly for independent artists …
This year, we shared a lot of great music, and introduced you to some incredible new artists. Of all the songs we shared this year, there were some that you couldn’t get enough of! So many people came, that the website even broke.
Seriously …
Every year around this time, we take a look at the top Canadian country songs of the past year.
We look at all of our music reviews, and take the top performing ones to create this list of the Top 10 Canadian Country Songs of 2023 from the Front Porch. This is determined based on how many people saw the feature on our website (Page Views).
So here are the top singles from 2023 on Front Porch Music.
Top Canadian Country Songs for 2023
10. Raquel Cole – “All To Yourself”
This past Summer Raquel released “All To Yourself” and had her leaning into a more sultry side of her music.
We talked to her about this song when it was released and she told us that it was musically inspired by The Beatles.
“Musically is where I spent the most time messing around with the song, trying to mirror the way The Beatles would often use a lot of interesting chord changes while still keeping it very melodic and easy to listen to,” she says.
Lyrically, “All To Yourself” is about admitting to feelings for someone and not wanting them to share their heart with anyone but you.
RELATED: We had a really great conversation with Raquel as one of our Women In Country Spotlight artists …
Raquel is a one-of-a-kind artist. A fantastic guitarist, great lyricist, and a killer voice that makes it clear why this song is one of the top songs of the year.
RELATED: Catch our full coverage of “All To Yourself” when it was released …
9. Hailey Benedict – “Damn You July”
One of the breakout indie artists of 2023, Hailey Benedict released her single “Damn You July” and was a hit with fans and critics alike.
On the track, she says, “It’s about dealing with the feelings of resentment after a breakup and how that person is still attached to the memories. The person is gone but those memories stay.”
RELATED: Hailey Benedict was one of our artists to watch in 2022 …
“I have also been inspired by some ’90s country lately, so I enjoyed exploring and bringing some of those classic sonic elements into this song. It’s unlike anything I’ve released before, and although that can be a bit daunting, it makes me even more excited to showcase this new era of my music,” says Hailey.
It’s been a huge year for Hailey, so it’s no surprise that this song made our top 10 for 2023.
RELATED: We had a chat with Hailey when this song first came out. Check out our conversation …
Listen To Our Chat With Hailey Benedict On Our Podcast
8. Ben Chase – “Saltwater Cowboy”
From Canada’s East Coast, Ben Chase released a song that perfectly sums up his place in the world of country music.
“Saltwater Cowboy” is a heartfelt tribute to Ben’s journey, blending the rugged charm of island life, the thrill of fishing, and, of course, the soulful essence of country music.
The inspiration behind the song came from an interaction Ben had with someone in Alberta after one of his shows. Ben was asked how he was so knowledgable of good country music if he’s from the East Coast. Ben’s response “I’m a saltwater cowboy!”
RELATED: We were excited to be able to premiere the music video for this single. Give it a watch …
That became the foundation for this song.
This song resonated with people across the country, but looking at the analytics, people on the Canadian coasts flocked to this song. This is the reason it’s deservedly placed in the top 10.
7. River Town Saints – “She Got That”
River Town Saints have been a consistent staple in Canadian country music over the last little while.
They’re a high energy band that will never disappoint in getting a crowd going.
RELATED: See the full coverage of their single “She Got That” from when it first debuted …
The song is about a girl who possesses a special allure that drives men to acts of foolishness. With infectious melodies and a vibrant atmosphere, the song is sure to become a staple for summer playlists.
Known for songs that match perfect summer nights, bonfires, and nights out on the town, “She Got That” reminds listeners that River Town Saints are here to make music that makes people feel good and want to have a good time.
And the proof is in the numbers! They have rightfully claimed their spot in our top 10 for 2023.
Listen To Us Talk About Chris’ Butt In Our Chat With The Guys From River Town Saints
6. Lemon Cash – “Breakup Song”
Brother duo Lemon Cash have had a big year!
They signed with Sakamoto Music, and released their hit “Breakup Song”.
This one captures the bittersweet emotions of a relationship ending prematurely. Cleverly penned, it’s about the relationship ending before the song could even be written.
Optimistic about a new relationship, and then blindsided by the end before it could even evolve.
This song did well for them this year and placed them solidly in our top songs of the year.
We Played A Drinking Game With Lemon Cash – Listen To It Here
5. Aaron Goodvin – “Country Dance”
“Country Dance” is a nod to Goodvin’s desire for a follow-up to his massive, dance-inspiring hit “Lonely Drum”.
The inspiration for this song emerged as he joked about his inability to perform the “Lonely Drum” line dance, despite its global popularity.
“Country Dance” features his signature blend of modern country and gritty soulful vocals. The song not only showcases his musical talents but also the quirky nature many fans love about him.
RELATED: We talked to Aaron about the creation of this song. Catch our coverage here …
This has been a good year for Aaron!
Not only has he released some great music, and found himself on our top 10 list, but he also became a dad!
4. Teigen Gayse – “If You Show Me Yours”
It has been a breakout year for Teigen Gayse!
And this song is just one of the many reasons for her success over the past year.
On “If You Show Me Yours”, Teigen digs deep to connect with her own heartbreak on a track oozing with emotion around the fears of love and loss. The song lyrically and musically captures the raw struggle between the desire for true love and the risks that inevitably come when you gamble with your heart.
RELATED: Watch the music video for this song in our original coverage of the song here …
Teigen Made Logan and Jenna Try Gross Food Combinations – Listen Here
“I wrote this song with Chad Kroeger and Simon Clow, and it’s one of my favourites to date,” Teigen shares. “It was so fun to create this song with them and bring out this level of vulnerability. After we finished writing, Chad and Chris Baseford ended up producing it. They are both so talented and it’s honestly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I hope you love the song as much as I do!”
There’s no question why this song was so popular this year. It sits deservedly within the top 10 songs of the year on Front Porch Music.
3. Amanda Kind – “Slow Dance”
When you hear a song from Amanda Kind, you can expect two thing: 1. a soulful song that perfectly showcases Amanda’s unparalleled vocals, and 2. a genuine, authentic range of emotions that reach out through the lyrics.
“Slow Dance” is no exception.
RELATED: Watch the music video for “Slow Dance” which we premiered back in January …
It’s a great song about taking your time to fall in love.
But our audience took no time at all to fall in love with this song. Over the last year since its release in January, it has consistently been one of the most visited music reviews on the website month over month.
We can’t wait to see what the New Year has in store for Amanda.
2. Tim Hicks – “Talk To Time”
Tim Hicks’ single, “Talk to Time” reflects on the passing of a decade since his label debut.
He describes the song as hitting home for him, as he is a father of two and a musician with a decade-long career.
“Did you ever wish you could slow down time? I think about it often. As a father of two, and a musician 10 years into his career, this song means a lot to me, and really hits home,” Hicks shares. “The video turned out awesome too! We shot it on a REALLY cold and windy day underneath the Burlington Skyway. Somehow, through the magic of film making, you can’t even tell I was frozen to the bone!”
RELATED: Watch the music video for “Talk To Time” by Tim Hicks …
We can all relate to wanting to slow down time. Actually, after the last few years most of us wish we could get the last few years back.
This is one reason this song resonated so much with fans over the past year and why the song took the number 2 spot in our top songs for the year.
Tim Hicks Was Our Guest For The Season 1 Finale Of Our Podcast
1. Owen Riegling – “Old Dirt Roads”
This has been a wild 24 months for Ontario’s Owen Riegling.
Ever since he won the 2022 Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase, he’s been on a roller coaster ride. From being signed to Universal Music, releasing his debut label song “Love (The Sweater Song)”, to playing tons of shows, it’s been hard to keep up with him over the past year.
Just like Owen, “Old Dirt Roads” is as down to earth as it gets.
This song paints a humble picture of his favourite place … home.
Owen Wrote The Theme Song For Our Podcast On The Porch – Listen To His Episode
“I wrote this song at a time when I was living in the city for school. I was real sick of all the cars and traffic and started reminiscing on home, land, how I grew up. Thinking about my friends and how we used to drive around backroads cause there was nothing else to do. My family has a 100-acre farm, the view from the back window of the wheat field — and just how peaceful that really is. Sometimes it’s easy to take for granted the simple things like that. But being away from it for a while sure made me want it back,” shares Riegling. “‘Old Dirt Roads’ paints the picture of where I grew up and where I currently still live, a place that is a part of me, a place that I plan to settle down and raise kids so they can have the luxury of growing up in a wide open space like I did. The ‘land of the wicked’ if you will.”
Our coverage of this song took off as soon as the song was released. There’s no question that this is the top song of 2023 on Front Porch Music.
When we look back at the year, it’s hard not to smile a bit when you listen to all the great songs these Canadian country artists have shared with us.
What do you think? What songs were your favourite this year? We’d love to hear from you.
We can’t wait to hear what 2024 has in store for us.
Be sure to follow along all year with the top music by listening to our Top Canadian Country playlist on Spotify
In country music, the Front Porch has long been a place of reflection. A place where you can look at the life you have inside that front door. A place where time almost seems to stand still, where you can get away. It’s also a place where you can go to observe the world as it passes by you. To think about your place out there beyond the driveway.
