The Very best of 2023´s Midnight Gems Sessions

How many sessions did I write till now?
Well, at least 52 as the year is coming to an end and I created a session every week. But I must have over 120 playlists on YouTube by now and nothing's gonna stop me from making that 200.
Creating these shows was never a challenge, more like Therapy? a way of letting go. I love to dive into that YouTube rabbit hole and see where I end up.

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Now I love my sessions and they hold awesome new finds every week, so tonight is gonna be a challenge collecting the 12 best songs out of 52 sessions.

Well no, let's do it differently. Doing the standard thing, would not be my style.

I started 10 months ago with the new style Midnight Gems, including Spotify Playlists and a bit more behind-the-song info.

So I am gonna do 13, yes 13 a dirty dozen songs from the last 42 Midnight Gems Sessions, and then I will play you the song of the year.

Although those who follow me already know what band it is, but you Dear Reader might need to wait till the end of the year to find out.

Now you should know that the MG sessions focus on new and unknown songs so that is what these 14 songs will be about.

Let´s start with #1 coming from Episode One:

Midnight Gems - Your free weekly Mix-Tape with a story - E 01 "Back To Basic"

I started so nice and fresh so many sessions ago but this rock & roll lifestyle took its toll on me, still, this song was such a wonderful discovery back then.

Hannes ft. waterbaby - Stockholmsvy

I know not what you expect me to start with but you also know Dear Reader that with me you should expect the unexpected.

#2 coming from Episode Three:

Midnight Gems - Your free weekly Mix-Tape with a story - E 03 "Going Above & Beyond"

This band will probably be in my top 3 great discoveries of 2023. I love the sound and the bite they have. It has that Brit Pop, Synth, Shoegaze vibe with just a pinch of Spice Girls.

Heartworms - 24 hours

#3 from Episode Six:

Midnight Gems - Your free weekly Mix-Tape Show - E 06 "Pardon My French"

Now you know that I don´t like to limit myself, not by genre and not by language. That Episode included two awesome French songs but I had to limit myself to only one. This Madam represented France with a different song on Eurovision, she ended up second. I think this one would have gotten her the #1 position.

Barbara Pravi - Lève-toi

#4 from Episode Ten and what a title that show had:

Midnight Gems - Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 10 "Eternal Sadness of A Beautiful Mind"

Now this was a very emotional session, there were a couple of really personal songs about mental troubles. And this one was also about a different type of mental illness. Also very personal as I saw my dad aging rapidly this year.

Irene Hin - Blijf Nog Even - Live @ Circuit Zandvoort

Lyrics for those, not native Dutch speakers:

Do you remember
That summer night
In the cellar
Where I sat
You came to me
And guided

I guitar and you the drums
Something with roses

Something with guns
And you told me
Listen girl

Take a good look at what I'm doing
And watch the rhythm
Then you can do it alone
When I pass the baton
Because while I still can
I still want to teach you all those things
Before I slowly
Slowly forget everything

Stay a while
Even though I know what time it is
You can forget me
But before this moment is buried again
I want one more time
Know that you see who is in front of you
Stay a while
Before going back to the dark again

Again
Feel how your eyes are with me
Again
That you look at me like you used to

Again
Feel how your eyes are with me
Again
That you look at me like you used to

Where are you going
If you disappear
Tell me how
The sun is shining there
I carry you with me
Till the end

Every time I see you
Am I scared
And I don't know
Or you my words
Can still hear

Take a good look at what I'm doing
I watch the rhythm
Because of you I can do it alone
Now that I'm taking over
When you still could
Did you manage to teach me so much
But now you slow
Slowly forget everything

Stay a while
Even though I know what time it is
You can forget me
But before this moment is buried again
I want one more time
Know that you see who is in front of you
Stay a while
Before going back to the dark again

Again
Feel how your eyes are with me
Again
That you look at me like you used to

Again
Feel how your eyes are with me
Again
That you look at me like you used to

#5 from Episode Twelve:

Midnight Gems - Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 12 "Under A Killing Moon"

It´s a pretty big jump from that intimate piano to these cold synths, but that is the thing with lists like this they don´t make pretty playlists like I do.
Anyhow, this is probably my favorite cover found in 2023, I love the original, and this one does it so much justice while feeling unique.

Soulsavers & Dave Gahan - a Man Needs a Maid

#6 from that ancient Rome Episode Nineteen:

Midnight Gems - Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 19 "When in Rome"

But it had to battle this one, but lost as I found this song in 2023 but it was a lot older. So no competition but an honorable mention is required.

This session contained many older songs that crossed my path that week and made a lasting impression, so might be worth another listen Dear Reader.

Death In Rome feat. By The Spirits - You're My Heart, You're My Soul

#7 from Episode Twentytwo (no pilots):

Midnight Gems - Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 22 "Blood, Daemons & a troubled man"

Let´s start the favorite part, the spooky phase, those stories about ladies that keep wandering the earth as their love will never die. This was such a Gem when I found it and it only grew since then.

AG - My Love Will Never Die

#8 from that diabolical Episode TwentySix:

Midnight Gems - Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 26 "My diabolical Dilemma"

Can´t get enough of those little succubus's and Demons, and the hottest demons are those Frenchies my goodness dark, scary, and sophisticated. Love the weirdness of it all in this next Midnight Freak song.

Odelly • Mon Demon

#9 from the wettest Episode Twentyeight:

Midnight Gems - Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 28 "Rainy Nights in Small cabins"

A lovely little melody, that eats its way into your ear but it´s the last stop before we get disturbingly awesome. This was another little gem that you will find nowhere else, even if you love the smell of rain.

Alysia Trombla - Smell of Rain

#10 from the most disturbing Episode ever Episode Thirtytwo:

Midnight Gems - Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 32 " A Most Disturbing Trip"

That was a Disturbing show, but I went beyond and made the most disturbing show possible. That show must have made some listeners sick to their stomachs. This next song definitely contributed to that unsettling feeling.

I suggest the faint of heart skip that show, as it´s insanely sick and disturbing. Maybe you even wanna skip the Frankie song....maybe you can´t .....maybe you are passed and have to listen to how it ends for Frankie.

Suicide - Frankie Teardrop

#11 from Episode Thirty-four:

Midnight Gems - Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 34 " Halloween Leftovers"

I had a lovely build-up to Halloween this year, and then that little scary personal story with a soundtrack, and even after Halloween I had some scary shitshow leftovers.

It featured the sick Russian Version of Die Antwoord, yes I am talking about IC3PEAK. Another of my favorite top 3 finds of this year, and then just FYI this is probably the sweetest song they have out there.

IC3PEAK - СКАЗКА / FAIRYTALE

#12 from Episode Thirty-six:

Midnight Gems - Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 36 "Harley Made me Do It"

I agree many weird little girls featured in my show this year, guess I have a soft spot for Harley Q, and that slightly disturbing look in those eyes. Now this neck one looks beyond disturbing but the song is so all over the place that I can only love it.

SKYND - 'Bianca Devins'

And that last one the #13 from Episode Forty:

Midnight Gems -Your Free Mix-Tape Show - E 40 "All Over The Space Place"

There were also quite a few German influences throughout the year, and its guy is probably popular with Grannies and Mommies all over the former DDR but it´s my guilty pleasure. That voice and the pumping beats, sometimes simple taste so sweet....like raw meat.

Alexander Eder - Fur Diesn Moment

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That was a very nice mix of what My Midnight Gems Sessions should sound like, although I prefer to mix them a bit better so it has a more fluent touch when they kiss your eardrums.

I already mentioned it, it´s not gonna be a surprise what the biggest discovery of 2023 was. I call dips on being the first on HIVE to list these Jane Austin Little Witches and damn they get better with every song.

And every song was featured in one of my Friday shows, but they deserved a special.

Biggest Discovery in 2023 - 𝕃𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝔻𝕚𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕣 ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕪 𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 (Not The Last Of Them)

Now the only reason I play this one and not any of the other gems is that I have not been able to get this song out of my head since I heard it.

Midnight Gems #1 Song of 2023

Happy New Year Y´All and expect the unexpected!
Thank goodness you made it till the end Pees, Love and I am out of here!

[Source Pic](All pictures are by Meme, MyI & AI unless source is listed)