The 22 Songs That Defined 2013

Ok, some of these are from late 2012 but w/e they are still awesome and amazing.

Updated 11 years ago, December 10, 2013

In 22 days it’s going to be 2014. That’s huge you guys. As a child of the 80s myself I never really thought as far ahead as fricken 2014. People born in 1990 are hitting their mid 20s and people born in 1995 will have just cracked 19 which…is crazy. As for 2013, though, it has been a great year for music, giving us songs from as far away as New Zealand and others that aren’t as good but are played in every restaurant, car, DJ set and cafe in the universe. Here are 22 songs that defined 2013 — musically, culturally, and aesthetically.

1. “Royals,” Lorde

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFasFq4GJYM&w=584&h=390]

2. “This Is What It Feels Like,” BANKS

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naMvm2DUKiE&w=584&h=390]

3. “Thrift Shop,” Macklemore And Ryan Lewis

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK8mJJJvaes&w=584&h=390]

4. “Retrograde,” James Blake

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p6PcFFUm5I&w=584&h=390]

5. “Lovers In The Parking Lot,” Solange

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed0BMSfEwuI&w=584&h=390]

6. “Collider,” Jon Hopkins

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XtqUOegCv8&w=584&h=390]

7. “Lessons,” S O H N

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e17iXDf0NGE&w=584&h=390]

8. “Decal,” Nick Höppner

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uoXH_dSMcA&w=584&h=390]

9. “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU&w=584&h=390]

10. “Boy Is A Bottom,” DWV

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0kqobQRcUo&w=584&h=390]

11. “Can’t Hold Us,” Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zNSgSzhBfM&w=584&h=390]

12. “I Love It,” Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY&w=584&h=390]

13. “DRKLNG,” Zebra Katz

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajPGIRIuL8g&w=584&h=390]

14. “I Miss You,” Ta-Ku

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrdNo1UJID4&w=584&h=390]

15. “We Can’t Stop,” Miley Cyrus

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrUvu1mlWco&w=584&h=390]

16. “Next To Me,” Emeli Sandé

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nwdjQmc_N8&w=584&h=390]

17. “Recover,” Chvrches

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyqemIbjcfg&w=584&h=390]

18. “Suit & Tie,” Justin Timberlake

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsUsVbTj2AY&w=584&h=390]

19. “Bitter Rivals,” Sleigh Bells

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr-ahiFDkts&w=584&h=390]

20. “Started From The Bottom,” Drake

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RubBzkZzpUA&w=584&h=390]

21. “Closer,” Tegan And Sara

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e9NSMY8QiQ&w=584&h=390]

22. “Grown Woman,” Beyoncé

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQOoJelhoPA&w=584&h=390]

Even though she has yet to give us/announce plans for a new album, did you really think that Beyoncé would let us leave 2013 without having something to talk about?