The year didn't just have plenty for 'pop' fans, there have also been plenty of brilliant, slightly more 'alternative' tracks/albums. VV Brown made a comeback with the surprisingly incredible Samson & Delilah. Kanye West kept rap fans happy with his new album Yeezus which contains elements of punk-rap and newcomers HAIM proved that playing your own instruments and writing your own
alt-pop songs is still cool and can produce amazing results.
alt-pop songs is still cool and can produce amazing results.
The big news though, you know what's coming, was the surprise release of Beyoncé's 5th studio album Beyoncé. It turned out to be a surprise in more ways than one and is her best album to date (fact). If it had come out a few weeks earlier I would have included a couple of the songs on here because they really are that good, but it wouldn't be fair so late in the year and so close to the publishing of this post. So, Beyoncé, release some amazing cuts next year and you will surely find yourself on this list.
Kick back and have a read through my top 25 singles from 2013. There may be some surprises in there, there may not. We know MKS are going to fare well don't we? Here we go:
TWENTYFIVE. Heart Attack - Demi Lovato
A far cry from the antics of Miley, Demi Lovato maintained pure pop in 2013 and gained herself some new fans in the process. Brilliant track Heart Attack hooked thousands when it came out earlier this year, with its heaving pop production and catchy lyrics. It was just what the charts needed, frivolous pop fun from a well respected vocalist.
TWENTYFOUR. You (Ha ha ha) - Charli XCX
She's not very well known at all bar a credit on Icona Pop's mammoth hit I love It. She does have an album of her own though and it's quite good. You is one of the quirkiest tracks from the album, sampling Gold Panda's eastern sitar arrangement to add a bit more flavour to her electronic synth stylings. This is begging for a club spin.
TWENTYTHREE. Can't Hold Us - Macklemore ft Ryan Lewis
His second single from The Heist, this is a Brazilian flavoured, dance floor filling extravaganza that is literally impossible to resist. It's not as tongue in cheek as Thrift Shop but what it lacks in humour it makes up for with sheer ass shaking genius.
TWENTYTWO. Thunder - Jessie J
Jessie J came back in 2013 with her second album Alive, releasing new hit singles Wild and It's My Party. She decided for a third single though that she'd prove her new album isn't all about being famous and being amazing. Thunder is a thumping pop anthem with some of the best vocals of her career on the best song of her career so far (bar Domino).
TWENTYONE. The Apple - VV Brown
This is one of those songs that will struggle because the artist it's attached to has a minimal public profile. It's the most commercial cut from her new concept album Samson & Delilah but retains enough 'alternative' flavour to keep the snobs happy. With its heaving beats and synths, along with an opera inspired vocal, this won't grab everyone at first but give it a chance and you'll find yourself very surprised.
TWENTY. I Love It - Icona Pop
A kinda surprise number 1 in the UK, I love It put this dj duo on the pop map. It opens with a standout ignition riff that repeats throughout the song and bursts into a roaring, chanting chorus about throwing someone's "shit down the stairs". Now that is stuff, not actual shit... I think? It's doubtful they could ever match the success of this single. It could be a trip to the one hit wonder hall of fame for these ladies.
NINETEEN. Black Skinhead - Kanye West
It's the only time you'll get some solid punk-rap in 2013. It opens sounding a bit like a Marylin Manson track before erupting into an aggressive race rap. I love it and I am not a Kanye West fan. He might be a dick but the guy sure does know his way around a recording studio. Now, to erase Bound 2 from my mind.
EIGHTEEN. Hold On, We're Going Home - Drake
Drake could have struggled to match the awesomeness of Take Care but thankfully he didn't. This is an incredible R&B dance track and it's actually quite beautiful to behold. Drake shows off his actual singing/not rapping talent and his voice sounds pretty nice. This song shows exactly why people like Rihanna and Beyoncé want him on their albums.
SEVENTEEN. 5am - Katy B
5am is the second cut from her new album Little Red. It reinforces the promise made by the lead single What Love Is Made of, with gorgeous dance production and wonderful vocal control throughout. It's another should have been top ten song, but we can at least rest assured that Katy is still writing brilliant music. Just wait till you hit the chorus, wow.
SIXTEEN. Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell
Controversy aside, Blurred Lines is a damn well constructed song with a disco-R&B sound. It won't inspire any positive response from feminists, but it's so catchy I defy even the haters of the track's controversial lyricism not to sing along. It's the biggest selling song of the year, so it must be pleasing someone. "Everybody get up!"
SIXTEEN. Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell
Controversy aside, Blurred Lines is a damn well constructed song with a disco-R&B sound. It won't inspire any positive response from feminists, but it's so catchy I defy even the haters of the track's controversial lyricism not to sing along. It's the biggest selling song of the year, so it must be pleasing someone. "Everybody get up!"
FIFTEEN. We Can't Stop - Miley Cyrus
No one predicted that Miley Cyrus would ever have a number 1 in the UK, far less across the globe. She did just that with We Can't Stop, a catchy wee bitch of a song that won't leave your head for months, maybe years! She couldn't have launched the new hip-hop aesthetic phase of her career with anything more suitable, more relevant, if she tried. She might tongue the air too much and twerking certainly isn't her strong point, but Miley... this is a class A song.
FOURTEEN. Thrift Shop - Macklemore ft Wanz
It's those damn horns. As soon as you hear them you're fucked. This is one of the year's catchiest songs and one of the most genius. It set the bar high for commercial hip-hop with its brilliant lyrics and a convincing, charismatic performance from Macklemore. It's the "I'm gonna pop some tags..." chorus that steals the show though.
THIRTEEN. Applause - Lady Gaga
The lead single from not very likeable album ARTPOP. Applause was a pleasant revelation and set the bar quite high for the new album, how mislead we were. It's a strong electro pop song with typical Gaga stylings and a wacky video where she has a swan's body. It's one of the year's most indentifiable songs and a massive club anthem. It's just a shame the album turned out to be pish.
TWELVE. The Wire - Haim
Haim were one of 2013's most hyped new artists/bands. They play their own instruments and write their own songs, which is a good start. One of them sings with Michael Jackson style gasps & chokes. One of them looks quite grumpy, although none of them is a ray of sunshine. Their single The Wire got heavy airplay on commercial radio and charted moderately, but it could and should have done a lot better. Even at first when you don't really know what they're singing on the chorus, you still think it's brilliantly catchy.
ELEVEN. Body Party - Ciara
Ciara was written off by music fans and critics until 2013 saw the release of her comeback album Ciara. The album was a start to finish R&B masterpiece that put her bump and grind hyperactivity behind her. Gone are the cocaine fuelled rave-hop productions and in are the dirty, mid tempo, roaring R&B synths suitable for an underground car park party. Body Party isn't illustrative of the tone of Ciara, but it's a fantastic introduction to this new phase of the artist. It's a classic sounding R&B slow jam in the stylings of classic Janet Jackson only with more vocal prowess. What a beauty.
TEN. Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus
Never did I predict that I'd have two Miley songs on this countdown in one year. NEVER. The second single from her album Bangerz was a huge hit across the world and is even more loveable than the lead. It's a much more serious affair and the video reveals that she has trained as a construction worker in case the music thing doesn't work out. Lovely, personal, decent singing and a booming bass on the chorus make this a very memorable tune indeed.
NINE. Imagine It Was Us - Jessie Ware
Jessie Ware may release a new album in 2014 (we can only hope!) and when she does there is no chance it could be shit in any way at all. It will be brilliant. It has no choice. She didn't quite make number one in my 2013 countdown, but she did in 2012 with the epic Wildest Moments. Imagine It Was Us is one of those songs that deserved to be number one in the sales charts but didn't even get close. Honestly, it's a fucking travesty, but I won't lose sleep over it. This is a disco infused masterpiece and if I could give 6 out of 5 I would, but I can't. I bloody can't!
EIGHT. Pompeii - Bastille
This song launched Bastille on the charts when they hit number 2 earlier in the year. The echoing "ey oh"s and the exhilarating production make this one of the year's most perfect songs. The chorus explodes into earshot in orgasmic fashion with drums, synths, vocals and cult style chants and the run up to the closing seconds is just so bloody fantastic. Uh.
SEVEN. Overdose - Ciara
Ciara was the surprise album of 2013. A triumph of R&B, packed with sass and much more laid back than Ciara's back catalogue of hyper active wannabe-anthems. Lead single Body Party has already charted in this countdown and Overdose couldn't be more different if it tried. It's pure pop perfection with a catchy chorus and brilliant pop production. With some promotion behind it this could be a huge hit single. It's already Ciara's best song, at least by my standards; which are high.
SIX. Roar - Katy Perry
Katy Perry released her fourth studio album this year, Prism. It wasn't perfect and it probably won't have the same success as her last album Teenage Dream, however it does feature some brilliant tracks. Lead single Roar annihilated the charts when it was released, hitting number one all over the world and selling millions of copies. It's a self empowerment anthem that sounds different to everything she's done before and it's one of her best songs to date. Everytime I hear it I feel better about life in general and the next time I have a job interview I'm going to stand up and perform it.
FIVE. Everything Is Embarrassing - Sky Ferreira
Her career has had a few false starts, but amidst the lack of chart success there have been some brilliant songs. Everything Is Embarrassing is one of those tracks, with a pumping 80s synth beat and hypnotic vocals, it should have been a hit. Unfortunately, for many artists, marketing teams are on a prolonged hiatus / can't do their jobs properly / are fucking idiots. This song is so impressive it was, at one point, number one on this list but it lost out after frequent reshuffles. Sky's first full length album Night Time, My Time is out now, but doesn't quite live up to the standard set by EIE. We can expect enormous things from this youngster in the coming years though. I hope.
FOUR. Flatline - Mutya Keisha Siobhan
This was number one on this countdown for a time, however after much deliberation things had to change. It was exactly the comeback we wanted in terms of quality because, let's face it, Flatline is stunning. It's a shame it lost its puff on the climb up the charts, stalling at number 50 and turning back without another thought. The song is glorious, exciting and the Dev Hynes production makes it completely different to everything else out right now. Let's hope the momentum gets back into this MKS project and we at least get the album in 2014 before they really cock things up.
THREE. Elastic Heart - Sia/The Weeknd/Diplo
Sia is probably rolling about in a pile of money right now. She's bagged herself some massive hits over the past few years, all of which are collaborations. The others are for song writing (Rihanna's Diamonds'). All of this credibility and success and she's managed to remain off the media radar, maintaining her artistic authenticity. Her latest single, a contribution to the new Hunger Games film soundtrack is a beauty. Elastic Heart features vocals from the lady herself, as well as Canadian PBR&B band The Weeknd and some solid production from Diplo. The song itself is a gorgeous ode to breakups and Sia's vocals soar right through to the end.
TWO. Do What U Want - Lady Gaga feat R Kelly
ARTPOP was not what many expected, unless of course you were expecting substandard, pretentiously crap electro-pop music and non-relatable lyricism. It wasn't a complete disaster though. The album birthed Do What U Want, an instantly awesome pop song with a rumbling bassline and infectious lyrics. R Kelly jumps in for support too and gives us a club friendly verse about being in a club and being naughty (obviously). It's as close to The Fame Gaga as we're going to get for a long time so let's just enjoy how amazing it is and recall how amazing she was.
ONE. Mirrors - Justin Timberlake
2013 was certainly a huge year for comebacks and JT's was one of the most welcome. Lead single from the 20/20 Experience Suit & Tie wasn't quite the anthem people had hoped for, but it was enjoyable enough. Mirrors however proves that record company execs and artists don't always think about what they're doing when releasing the first single. It's the most moving and emotive song of JT's career, with bags of feeling and some lovely lyrics about losing someone. It's also got a really sad video too with old people in it. Old people in love make me feel very emotional. If there was ever a perfect song, this is it.
Oh Lord.
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