34 Songs That We Loved In 2013
2013 has given us some incredible music, so we thought we'd round up the songs we've been loving from January through to December.
-
1. J Cole feat. TLC - 'Crooked Smile'
J. Cole and TLC on the same track was always going to promise big things - and that's exactly what 'Crooked Smile' did.
-
2. Eminem - 'Rap God'
Eminem made his huge comeback in 2013 with new album 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2' and it was 'Rap God' that came as an early single. The hard-hitting track saw Eminem on fierce form, spitting quick lyrics about his position in the rap game.
-
3. Storm Queen - 'Look Right Through' (MK Remix)
The lyrics to 'Look Right Through' - "They look right through, They don't talk to me" - have been on everyone's lips since the summer and it was the MK remix of the track that really did it for us this year.
-
4. Disclosure feat. Eliza Doolittle - 'You & Me'
-
5. Major Lazer - 'Bubble Butt'
Major Lazer's 'Bubble Butt' landed hard this year, with Switch and Diplo hooking up on an infectiously catchy anthem - and lets not even get started on the video!
-
-
6. Atumpan - 'The Thing'
Despite being released two years ago, 'The Thing' took Atumpan into the Afrobeats mainstream in 2013 and was a regular feature on Abrantee's Afrobeats show on Capital XTRA.
-
7. Kanye West - 'Bound 2'
There are so many talking points from Kanye's year that it's easy to forget that he dropped the incredible 'Yeezus'. The album's standout track 'Bound 2' saw Kanye back on top form and even featured a video cameo from his soon to be wife Kim Kardashian.
-
8. Fuse ODG - 'Antenna'
When it comes to Afrobeats stars, they don't come much bigger than Fuse ODG. After the huge success of 'Azonto' in 2012, Fuse followed it up in style this year with 'Antenna'. It's an anthem.
-
9. Rihanna - 'Pour It Up'
On the grand scale of Rihanna years, 2013 was a relatively quiet one. But that didn't stop Ri from delivering the incredible 'Pour It Up'.
-
10. Beyonce Feat. Jay Z - 'Drunk In Love'
Arriving late to the party in 2013, Beyonce made sure that when she did arrive she came armed with the incredible surprise of a self-titled album that featured the Jay Z collaboration 'Drunk In Love'. We have a feeling this will still be doing the rounds long into 2014.
-
-
11. Wookie Feat. Eliza Doolittle - 'The Hype'
2013 was somewhat of a re-birth for Wookie, who produced some of the biggest tracks and remixes of the year. 'The Hype' (how apt is that title!?) is one of our favourites, with the legendary garage producer hooking up with Eliza Doolittle.
-
12. Wilkinson - 'Afterglow'
Drum and bass is back - and make no mistake, Wilkinson's one of the producers leading the charge. 'Afterglow' owned 2013.
-
13. Zedd Feat. Foxes - 'Clarity'
Zedd burst onto the scene in 2013 and on 'Clarity' brought the hotly-tipped vocals of Foxes to his big room audience. Quite simply, this is an anthem.
-
14. Drake - 'Hold On We're Going Home'
Drake continued to make his name as one of hip-hop's greats in 2013 thanks to singles like 'Hold On We're Going Home'. The track featured on his incredible album 'Nothing Was The Same'.
-
15. Julio Bashmore - 'Au Seve'
Julio Bashmore's 'Au Seve' was an underground sensation towards the end of last year, but it was really 2013 when the song attracted wider attention. Featuring Julio's signature 90s-influenced sound, it's guaranteed to get any dancefloor going.
-
-
16. Ben Pearce - 'What I Might Do'
As any hardcore Ben Pearce fans will know, 'What I Might Do' has been around for a while, but it was this year that something very special happened with the song that might just have the best bassline of the year.
-
17. Chase & Status - 'Count On Me'
Chase & Status returned with with a bang in 2013 with new album 'Brand New Machine', which featured the infectious 'Count On Me'. The track fused the duo's signature sound with nostalgic 90s rhythms.
-
18. Justin Timberlake feat. Jay Z - 'Suit & Tie'
After concentrating on acting, Justin Timberlake's return to music in 2013 was a BIG deal. On 'Suit & Tie' he dipped his feet back into the musical water with Jay Z by his side.
-
19. Martin Garrix - 'Animals'
17-year-old Martin Garrix had a year to remember in 2013. as well as signing to Scooter Braun's management label, he released the massive club hit 'Animals', which went straight to number one in the UK. Watch out for him in 2014.
-
20. Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre - 'Waiting All Night'
What a year Rudimental have had! The London production outfit hit the mainstream in 2013 thanks to the hugely successful album 'Home' and we were loving 'Waiting All Night', which saw them team up with Ella Eyre.
-
-
21. DJ Fresh feat. Diplo - 'Earthquake'
A collaboration between DJ Fresh and Diplo was always going to epic - and 'Earthquake' certainly tipped that box this year.
-
22. Kendrick Lamar feat. Jay Z - 'Don't Kill My Vibe'
Kendrick Lamar's rise to become one of the best rappers in the world has been unstoppable in 2013, but when you've got songs like 'Don't Kill My Vibe', it's hardly surprising, is it?
-
23. All About She - 'Higher'
Coming straight out of the Disturbing London stable, All About She soundtracked our year with 'Higher'. The effortless sounding track is a must-own and get ready to hear more from this trio in 2013.
-
24. Le Youth - 'Cool'
Living up to its title, Le Youth's 'Cool' is the kind of effortless jam that stands out in the electro world. Your 2013 isn't complete until you've heard it.
-
25. Jason Derulo feat. 2 Chainz - 'Talk Dirty'
Jason Derulo asked us to 'Talk Dirty' to him on his single of the name - and millions did. Jason Derulo bounced back from injury to reaffirm his position at the top of the game this year.
-
-
26. Fatboy Slim - 'Eat Sleep Rave Repeat' (Calvin Harris Remix)
There's just no stopping Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim. The producer/DJ/general all round dance music legend delivered 'Eat Sleep Rave Repeat' in 2013 and the world went crazy. iIt was the Calvin Harris remix that did it for us the most.
-
27. Wretch 32 - 'Blackout'
Wretch 32 dropped 'Blackout' in May this year as the lead single from his album 'Growing Over Life' - and what a single it was!
-
28. Miguel feat. Kendrick Lamar - 'How Many Drinks'
Miguel and Kendrick on one track? Yep, that happened.
-
29. Calvin Harris & Alesso Feat. Hurts' Theo Hutchcraft - 'Under Control'
What do you get if you cross two superstar DJs with a member of Hurts? The answer is an anthem called 'Under Control'. The song sees Theo Hutchcraft shine on a dance track that has killed it on just about every dancefloor around.
-
30. Jay Z - 'Tom Ford'
Not content with just featuring on other artists' songs in 2013, Jay Z dropped 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' and with it the massive 'Tom Ford'. Suit sales rose accordingly.
-
31. Lorde - 'Royals' (The Weeknd Remix)
One of this year's biggest breakthroughs, Lorde seem to arrive from no where with the incredible 'Royals', which featured an almighty remix from The Weeknd.
-
32. Macklemore Feat. Ryan Lewis - 'Thrift Shop'
Macklemore brought so much to the game in 2013, but it was 'Thrift Shop' where the rapper and his collaborator Ryan Lewis truly excelled.
-
33. Naughty Boy feat. Wiz Khalifa & Ella Eyre - 'Think About It'
Naughty Boy quickly asserted himself as a super-producer in 2013 following his work on Emeli Sande's all-conquering debut album 'Our Version Of Events'. On 'Think About It' he was joined by Wiz Khalifa and Ella Eyre. We loved it.
-
34. Avicii - 'Wake Me Up'
The Capital XTRA presenter isn't just one of the biggest DJs in the world, as 'Wake Me Up' shows he's one of the biggest producers as well. The DJ's track crossed just about every genre boundary in 2013.