The 2023 Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize: a shortlist

Twelve very good pop singles.

Hello to you,

I’ve been very well thanks for asking.

‘I’m emailing you today’ because it is my pleasure, privilege and solemn responsibility to bring to you the shortlist for the 2023 Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize.

Housekeeping to begin with:

• Every year for the past TWO DECADES Popjustice has given £20 (cash) to the artist responsible for the best British and Irish pop single of the last twelve months.

• The judging this year will take place on Thursday, September 7. It’ll be in the evening, on Zoom, and you’re invited to take part: email me on peter.robinson@popjustice.com (or reply to this email) to get your name on the list.

• There’s a football song on this year’s shortlist and I have mixed feelings about this but let’s just go with it.

And the shortlisted singles are…

Body Better
by Maisie Peters

Writers: Ines Dunn, Matias Tellez, Maisie Peters
Producers: Matias Tellez

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Double Denim
by SKYLAR

Writers: Hight, Charlie Martin, Joe Housley, SKYLAR
Producers: The Nocturns

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Easy Lover
by Ellie Goulding feat Big Sean

Writers: Julia Michaels, Ellie Goulding, Greg Kurstin, Big Sean
Producer: Greg Kurstin

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Escapism.
by RAYE and 070 Shake

Writers: RAYE, 070 Shake, Mike Sabath
Producer: Mike Sabath

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Falling In Love Again
by Leif Coffield and Wuh Oh

Writers: Leif Coffield, Wuh Oh
Producer: Leif Coffield

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Forget Me
by Lewis Capaldi

Writers: Michael Pollack, Philip Plested, TMS
Producers: TMS, Lewis Capaldi

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Free Yourself
by Jessie Ware

Writers: Clarence Coffee Jr, Jessie Ware, Stuart Price
Producer: Stuart Price

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Light It Up
by Moss Kena and SUPER-Hi

Writers: SUPER-Hi, Moss Kena
Producers: Red Triangle

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Lionheart (Fearless)
by Joel Corry and Tom Grennan

Writers: Lewis Thompson, Digital Farm Animals, James Murray, Jamie Scott, Joel Corry, Mike Needle, Mustafa Omer, Neave Applebaum, Tom Grennan
Producers: Digital Farm Animals, Joel Corry, Lewis Thompson, Neave Applebaum

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Nothing Lasts Forever
by Dylan

Writers: Dylan, King Ed, Martin Luke Brown
Producer: King Ed

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Nothing Left To Lose
by Everything But The Girl

Writers: Everything But The Girl
Producers: Everything But The Girl

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Weightless
by Arlo Parks

Writers: Arlo Parks, Paul Epworth
Producer: Paul Epworth

Twelve very amazing songs, I’m sure you’ll not entirely agree. Here is a playlist of the whole lot.

Do drop me a line if you’d like to help with the judging in September.

As for this Substack, normal service should resume shortly although I don’t think I ever really established what normal service looked like, did I? I expect I’ll probably send something next week.

Bye for now,

Peter x