2013 has been a transitional time for pop music. For several years, beats trumping melodies and songs that people could hardly sing along dominated music charts. This year, songs that people could enjoy singing have returned and become in vogue yet again. At the height of trend this 2013 are tunes that music lovers could easily hum such as mid-tempo ballads, of which the most popular are Wrecking Ball of Miley Cyrus, Stay of Rihanna and Mirrors of Justin Timberlake. These songs dominated radios and the Billboard Hot 100 along with songs such as Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke and Pharrell which spent several weeks at No. 1. Aside from Miley Cyrus and Rihanna, other female artists like Katy Perry also sizzled to the charts with Roar and We Can’t Stop. Domestic talent has also seen resurgence, although several new British singers and songwriters have risen to fame and become worthy contenders over the course of the year. New songwriters have also made it to the charts, including Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe and Brandy Clark. The top 10 songs of 2013 include songs that have created much hype this year and have dominated music charts for several weeks. Here is a list of the top 10 hit songs of 2013:
10. Royals by Lorde
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A song recorded by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, Royals is included in her debut studio album Pure Heroine which was released this year. This best hit song was written by Lorde and Joel Little and serves as “a response to everything that is on pop radio,” according to both artists. It was praised by many critics because of its overall production and message. It became so popular around the world that it was listed as one of the best’s best songs by several media outlets, including Rolling Stone, Time and Spin. This song also won the APRA Silver Scrol Award and peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks. It also dominated music charts in Belgium, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland.
9. Cups by Anna Kendrick
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More commonly known as Pitch’s Perfect’s When I’m Gone, Cups is a song that was popularized by American actress Anna Kendrick who starred the movie Pitch Perfect. This song was written by A.P. Carter and was originally recorded by the Carter Family. It was released as a single this 2013 and became very popular because of the cup game percussion beat that came with it. Prior to its release, the song debuted at No. 93 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the course of the year, it had a steady ascent up the chart, and on its 32nd week, it reached No. 6. As of October this year, the song had sold 2.5 million downloads in the United States. It also dominated Australian music sales charts and now as part of the hit songs 2013 list.
8. Love is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy) by David Bowie
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Taken from the album of David Bowie entitled The Next Day, Love is Lost is a song by the English rock musician that was released as the fifth single from his studio album and stood as a promotion for The Next Day Extra, which was a special edition of bonus tracks, remixes and music videos. This single release was also an edited version of the remix of James Murphy’s Hello Steve Reich. Bowie debuted the video of this song at the Mercury Prize Ceremony last October, where his song was recognized as the Album of the Year.
7. We Can’t Stop by Miley Cyrus
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Released on June 3, 2013, We Can’t Stop is a song by American recording artist Miley Cyrus. It was included in her fourth studio album, Bangerz, and served as its lead single. This hit song 2013 was released following Miley Cryrus’ departure from Hollywood Records early this year. Written by Mike L. Williams II, Pierre Ramon Slaughter, Timothy Thomas and Theron Thomas, Cyrus, Doughlas Davis and Ricky Walters, this song received generally mixed reviews from music critics and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 of the United States. Since its release, the song has exceeded sales of two million copies and topped the national singles charts of New Zealand, United Kingdom and Scotland. It also had first-week sales of 240,000 downloads and took the third spot on the Hot Digital Components chart.
6. Cut Copy Me by Petula Clark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iM48qNM8xI
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Petula Clark was 80 years old when she released this hit song. This song rose to popularity primarily because of the romantic conceit of its title. The voice of Clark in this crazy little song is digitally pixilated, and it involves a quiet synthetic line that suggests the echo of electronic dance clubs.
5. I Got a Boy by Girl’s Generation
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This song is the fourth Korean studio album of South Korean girl group Girl’s Generation that was released in 2013. According to Billboard, I Got a Boy contains “polished K-pop confections” that combine a range of musical elements such as 1980s new wave, electronic dance, music and modern R&B, which allows it to appeal to not just K-pop fans but also the listeners of popular music as well. Los Angeles Times also described this song as something “as strange and structurally progressive as anything in the current commercial pop realm.” This song was also likened to a modern-day “Bohemian Rhapsody”. It got high praise as one of the most forward-thinking lead pop singles heard in any country because of its intense mix of various sounds and melodies.
4. Ohm by Yo La Tengo
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This song by Hoboken rock trio tells about surrendering to change as well as mortality. It is boldly electric and is popular because of Kaplan’s free-form scrawl of guitar. In one way or another, it is also mantic, and is built on the oneness of the band’s three members’ voices.
3. Control by Big Sean feat. Jay Eleectronica & Kendrick Lamar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkZZo0XSm5s
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A song by American hip hop recording artist Big Sean, Control features American rappers Kendrick Lamar and Jay ELectronica. It was originally intended to be included in the second studio album of Sean entitled Hall of Fame but was ultimately taken out from the final track listing due to clearance issues. This song impacted American mainstream urban radio in 2013 as a promotional single for Hall of Fame. It was also serviced by Def Jam Recordings to American mainstream urban radio last August, and peaked at number 11 on the United States Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. Control also reached No. 43 on the Billboard Hot R&B and Hip-Hop Songs charts.
2. The Wire by Haim
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The Wire is the fourth single of American rock and Haim from its studio album entitled Days are Gone, which it released in the United Kingdom this 2013. On the first few weeks of its release, this song took the No. 16 spot in the United Kingdom Singles Chart and No. 25 in the Billboard Hot Rock Songs. It went platinum even in Australia and reached No. 16 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s 100 Best Songs of 2013 List. Aside from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, the song also became very popular in other countries, including Belgium, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and Scotland. The music video of this song was released in August 2013 and featured comedian Jorma Taccone.
1. Get Lucky by Daft Punk
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This song by French house music duo Daft Punk which features Pharrell Williams was written by Nile Rodgers. This is the lead single from the fourth studio album of the band, entitled Random Access Memories. Prior to its release as a single, it was first featured in television advertisements broadcast such as Saturday Night Live. This disco and funk song tells about the fortune of connecting with someone and not just about physical chemistry. Since its release, it has earned acclaim from music critics; it has reached the top ten in the music charts of over 32 countries around the world, and has sold over 7.3 million copies.