You survived my list of the best music videos from 2013 (in my opinion at least) and this week I present my favorite tracks of the year. Songs released between January and December were considered for this prestigious recognition (note obvious sarcasm). Many singles that were serviced in 2013 from a parent album released in 2012 did not make the final cut. They were probably included last year (ex. "Just Give Me a Reason" by P!nk, "Woman's World" by Cher).
Many artists appear on the new list more than once, a few indie artists impressed me this year with their respective offerings, and tracks from the country, dance, hip-hop and pop genres are all included. With the year coming to a close, the recent Grammy Award nominations and Beyonce's surprise chart-topping album cementing the end, it's fun to look back at what 2013 brought us all.
Honorable Mentions:
"Alien" by Britney Spears
"Fade Into the Light" by Adam Tyler
#50. "Walking On Air" by Katy Perry
Prism was not one of my favorite albums of 2013, even though Katy Perry scored the biggest first week for an album by a female this year (until Beyonce's record numbers are finalized). However, the album did have a few bright moments that I found myself coming back to. "Walking On Air" is not a perfect track, it is better when you analyze each component individually, but the 90s dance inspired cut is a fun, light and club-ready production that showed a different side of the pop artist.
#49. "Call Me On the Ouija Board" by Sharon Needles
The fierce horror queen from season four of RuPaul's Drag Race surprised everyone when she released an album actually worth listening to. Included in the impressive mix was the campy pop tune "Call Me On the Ouija Board". Yes, the chorus is just the repeating of the alphabet. Yes, it is a bit silly. Yet the song is incredibly infectious with numerous film references thrown in for good measure. Needles offered a dark track and I was gladly accepting.
#48. "Far Away From Home" by will.i.am feat. Nicole Scherzinger
While he was annoyingly telling everyone to scream and shout with Britney Spears in 2012, will.i.am eventually released an album that went by without much notice. Along with "Fall Down", the Nicole Scherzinger-assisted "Far Away From Home" should have been serviced as a single to help give the project some needed credibility. The song was the highlight of the effort, a beautiful piece of meaningful pop with lyrical merit and gorgeous backing vocals from Scherzinger.
#47. "One Woman Army" by Porcelain Black
Porcelain Black has had a tough time getting her debut album out to the masses. A few singles failed to ignite interest, but when "One Woman Army" surfaced this year, the buzz started swirling for the unconventional pop singer. Not only is the track a loud, catchy, empowerment anthem, the hope-to-be single represents the artist's hip-hop/rock/pop background and influences perfectly. Black's vocals are strong and distinct and that hook is a real party starter.
#46. "Come With Me" by Ricky Martin
In 2013, Latin heartthrob Ricky Martin made temperatures rise to a boil with the release of "Come With Me", a sexual pop track supposedly taken from his upcoming English-language album.With Martin's sultry vocals throwing out no-so-subtle lyrics, the true dancefloor smash had enough energy to be a real hit. From the moment it begins, the climatic soaring vocals and sexual innuendos keep listeners intrigued and moving to the catchy production.
#45. "Devils Don't Fly" by Natalia Kills
She is primarily known for her tough, bad girl exterior, but pop princess Natalia Kills showed fans a softer side to her personality with depressing ballads such as "Devils Don't Fly" from her last record. Kills may not be blowing up the charts, however, she has the vocal talent to prove she should be. The somber track with minimal production was a personal look into the artist's life and seemed to be one big self-inflicted wound as Kills described herself as a devil.
#44. "Wasting All These Tears" by Cassadee Pope
Since her time of The Voice, eventual winner Cassadee Pope seemed like a for sure candidate for a successful career. Her debut single, "Wasting All These Tears", is a country break up song, a vast departure from her past pop/rock releases with her former band. The surprise was the choice of genre, but Pope held her own with impressive vocals and a release that many listeners could relate to. Though it was brought on by depressing events, the track is a message of empowerment.
#43. "Chasing Shadows" by Frankmusik
The near perfect "Chasing Shadows" by Frankmusik was a glorious, show-stopping opener for his acclaimed 2013 album. The four-minute track immediately warranted the artist's entire career as soaring vocals encompassed the listener. The climatic production helped the song become a true moment, one that needed to be heard for all the right reasons. Though the year was overtaken by dance-floor ready beats, Frankmusik kept it simple on the beautiful ballad of an endless chase.
#42. "Outta Nowhere" by KennyD
Indie pop artist KennyD is kicking off his promising career by currently promoting debut single "Outta Nowhere", a fast-paced, energetic pop track that grabs hold with the first few notes. Surrounded by catchy beats, the song succeeds thanks to the artist's vocals on the hook and final bridge. The finished product is an adorable love song that showcases KennyD's ear for radio-friendly production and the ability to craft an earworm of a chorus that stays lodged in your brain long after it 's over.
#41. "Fernando" by Wilson Knight
Wilson Knight impressed with his debut single, "Stable Ground", but it was his follow-up effort, the sexually-charged "Fernando" that showed development as an artist. Originally penned for inclusion on Britney Spears' lackluster Britney Jean, the uptempo pop/R&B hybrid is carried by an addictive hook and impressive bridge one would repeat for days. Though not completely flawless, the single represents risk, talent and is the perfect song to blast on the road.
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