The 2023 summer anthem - Techno's back in the spotlight!

As is the case yearly, summer came and went, and we got a new summer hit. The choice for the official German summer hit of 2023 was "Mädchen auf dem Pferd," which officially replaced "Layla" from the previous year. But where do we know the new summer hit, whose melody may seem familiar to many of us? And why has this song managed to represent our summer like no other? In this article we will show you what the new summer hit offers, where it comes from, and why it appeals to so many.

Mädchen auf dem Pferd - the successor to Layla

Never before has a summer hit been as controversial as it was last year in 2022. At the latest since then, the summer hit has become a household name for everyone. While the wave of indignation surrounding "Layla" has since cooled down, however, another ear worm takes the mantle this year. The current hit is "Mädchen auf dem Pferd" - an exciting new edition that will be familiar above all to children and young people. But despite childish lyrics, the beats and drops are absolutely worthy of a party.

Where does the popular summer hit 2023 come from?

After the party hit "Layla" triggered controversial discussions last year and was ultimately chosen as the official summer hit of 2022, a surprisingly nostalgic sound has conquered the charts in 2023. The song whose title means "Girl on Horseback"—originally known from the soundtrack of the 2014 children's film "Bibi & Tina"—has returned in an electrifying techno remix. This innovative approach, led by German newcomers Luca-Dante Spadafora, Niklas Dee and singer-songwriter Octavian, has turned the song into a viral phenomenon - through platforms like TikTok.

The remix, originally created as a birthday present for a friend of DJ and producer Spadafora, has become a massive phenomenon, with an impressive 35 million streams on Spotify. Rank 1 in the charts was certainly not something the two had dreamed of, making it all the better that the new summer hit 2023 became an unforeseen but gigantic success for the team. So it's quite conceivable that the two DJs will land a few more hits in the future.

The DJs behind the remake of the popular song

Niklas Dee and Luca-Dante Spadafora are not quite as well known as other big names in the industry, despite their recent successes. Yet the duo has been around for a bit longer. The two DJs from Bavaria have been working together for several years and released their first tracks in 2020. However, "Mädchen auf dem Pferd" was the real breakthrough, while many previous songs only met with approval in the depths of the techno scene. The new orientation based on party, disco, and techno, on the other hand, makes the songs attractive to a much larger target group and therefore more successful.

More vibey tracks from the duo

However, a look at the portfolio and playlists of the two artists shows that, in addition to the new summer hit, they've penned a few other successful songs. Niklas Dee is currently gaining popularity mainly due to the songs "Not Fair" and "Monsoon" with Leony and Vize feat. Tokio Hotel, which were also released this year. If you are also interested in the earlier collaborations and songs of the two DJs, then it's best to listen to a few of the following tracks:

• 2021: Before You Go (with DeejaVu)

• 2021: Side Effects (with Bastiqe)

• 2022: We Are the People (with Junar and Menno)

• 2022: Kaiserschmarrn (with Sääftig and Luca-Dante Spadafora)

• 2022: Better Off Alone (with Luca-Dante Spadafora and Popcorn!)

• 2023: Einmal um die Welt 2k23 (with Nikster)

• 2023: Tabu RMX (with Yung Yury, Lena & Luca-Dante Spadafora)

The summer hits of years gone-by

But it's not just "Layla" and "Mädchen auf dem Pferd" that the summer hit 2023 has been a guarantee for an earworm during the hot season. In the years before, too, people voted diligently, following the criteria of a catchy and summery melody. Tell us how many of the last summer hits are still in your head and whether you knew them before. The following songs were voted summer hit of the year the years before "Mädchen auf dem Pferd":

2021: Bad Habits

Ed Sheeran returned in 2021 with "Bad Habits", a song about nocturnal escapades and seductive misbehavior. With its luminous melody and distinctive sound, the track became the soundtrack of many summer nights. Especially in a year when people celebrated the newfound freedom after the lockdown, it created a lot of atmosphere.

2020: Savage Love

Jason Derulo collaborated with New Zealand music producer Jawsh 685 to create "Savage Love." The song, about a complicated romance, was brought to life by a viral TikTok trend and quickly exploded into a worldwide summer hit in 2020. The combo of a catchy beat and the touch of Jason's distinctive voice led to its success.

2019: Señorita

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello teamed up for "Señorita," a hot duet that reminds listeners of tropical locales and passionate romances. The chemistry between the two was palpable in both the music video and the song's lyrics, sparking speculation about their actual relationship and giving the catchy song extra attention.

2018: Bella Ciao (HUGEL Remix)

A traditional Italian resistance song, "Bella Ciao," was introduced into the modern canon through a remix by DJ HUGEL. The lively track, which gained new popularity through its prominent use in the TV series "Money Heist," combined the deep history of the original with modern, danceable beats embodied in the new remix.

2017: Despacito

Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee presented the world with "Despacito," an irresistible reggaeton-pop crossover. With a catchy rhythm and seductive lyrics, the song quickly became a summer anthem. The song's later remix with Justin Bieber took it to a new level, bridging and inspiring across musical cultures.

How exactly was the summer hit of 2023 chosen?

While the songs featured should be familiar to all music lovers, many are wondering how the summer hit of 2023 was chosen. A variety of criteria are taken into account, such as a summery and catchy melody, but also the necessary chart position. Social media and current trends also play a role that should not be underestimated. For example, "Mädchen auf dem Pferd" embodies freedom and love, which—in conjunction with the vividly integrated techno elements and the catchy melodies—created recognition value.

The danceability of the songs must not be neglected either. After all, the summer hits should also be well received in the popular vacation regions to embody party and exuberant mood. While hardly any hit will come close to DJ Robin's Malle success with "Layla," it's hard to imagine clubs and big parties without "Mädchen auf dem Pferd." So it is not surprising, based on the multi-layered criteria, that the choice fell on this song.

Why techno and dance always perform better

Since "Layla" at the latest, it has become apparent that party and dance are extremely popular in this area. After all, Germans would rather dance and party in the summer than move slowly to sluggish and heavy melodies. So it is probably no coincidence that especially party songs are so popular in summer. Especially during the festival and club season, there should be no lack of catchy melodies and easy-to-remember lyrics. This is exactly what the summer hits of the last few years fulfill in detail, whereby many of the songs are certainly still buzzing around as earworms in our auditory canals.

So it is already foreseeable that the summer hits also in the coming years will pay homage to disco, party, and the many beautiful events that make every summer so unique. Summer Hit 2023 "Mädchen auf dem Pferd" hits the right note at the right time, making it easy to see why it reached number 1 in the German single charts. We are excited to see what DJs Niklas Dee and Luca-Dante Spadafora will present to us in the coming months and years—the techno genre is better because of them.

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Read more about famous artists now!

While the summer and also the summer hit 2023 has now slowly said goodbye, the musical trends are also slowly but surely shifting back towards winter. Still, we can already look forward to what we can expect next year for a summer hit. Right here in mukken magazine we will keep you up to date and bring you musically into the summer. Here you can find out all about the latest albums and singles, read concert reviews, or even take a listen to our mukken podcast.