2013 was a great year for music. Not necessarily mainstream pop songs by artists like Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus or Bruno Mars (those songs weren't so great) but there were many indie bands that emerged, partially thanks to Indie88, the Toronto indie rock radio station that came to life in the summer. Aside from the indie tunes, there were also a few hip-hop songs that were not the biggest hits of the year, but did not go unnoticed either. Here are, in my humble opinion, the 10 best songs of the year.
10. John Newman - Love Me Again
The British singer's unique singing accent combined with a piano riff that makes you wanna dance and a chorus that was made to belt out made for a radio hit in the summer and later in the year.
9. Eminem - Headlights (feat. Nate Ruess)
In this emotional, passion-filled, heartfelt song, Eminem apologizes to his mother who he has verbally bruised and beaten in his songs and interviews in the past. He comments on how her "mental state is deteriorating slow/and I'm way too old to cry this shit is painful though!" and how he will not perform songs like Cleanin Out My Closet anymore at concerts. Nate Ruess of
fun. lends his vocals for a memorable hook that could even lead some diehard Shady fans to shed a tear or two.
8. Vampire Weekend - Unbelievers
"I know I love you/and you love the sea.../but what Holy Water contains a little drop, little drop for me?"
A brief and catchy chorus along with a steady drum beat throughout the song puts this song at number 8. Although it did not get as much recognition as it should have, this song along with all of Modern Vampires of the City was thoroughly excellent.
7. Cayucas - High School Lover
The indie pop quartet from California provide a song that is sure to make adults in their 20s or 30s think back to their first high school crush or boyfriend/girlfriend. "The words came out, one after another/you shoulda been my high school lover."
6. Tyler, the Creator - 48
The always enthusiastic rapper (you'll know what I mean if you follow him on Twitter) writes a song from the perspective of a cocaine dealer who knows the evil he is doing by selling this drug to the youth of America and watching it destroy their lives. The title of the song come from the chorus, where he and Frank Ocean sing "48 states I get it in," meaning that the dealer is selling in 48 states excluding Hawaii and Alaska.
5. 50 Cent - We Up (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
The rapper who was once on top of the game collaborates with the rapper who is currently on top to create a song with an incredible beat and a mesmerizing hook. Although 50 has experienced his ups and downs in the past few years, he and Kendrick combine for something very special in
We Up. With two rappers as prominent and prolific as 50 and Kendrick, it's a wonder how this song did not receive more recognition.
4. The Darcys - The River
The Toronto indie quartet who have gone touring across the globe in the past year go back to their roots with an extremely cool video shot at Etobicoke Creek. The video features lead singer Jason Couse being pushed into the water-- however, it is in super slow-motion and starts with the shot of him being pushed in reverse, making it look like he is coming out of the water. The Darcys also toured at high schools across the GTA to raise awareness for music programs in public schools.
3. New Politics - Harlem
Not to be confused with the Harlem Shake (ugh), the Danish trio provide a very catchy tune with lyrics that don't really make sense-- "here come the jets hide your money in the tube socks/run like me, like hell, like everybody else" makes absolutely none until you realize English is not actually their first language. A very quirky song that makes you want to dance like no one's watching.
2. Phoenix - Trying To Be Cool
The band's fifth album is one of their best, only behind 2009's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. This song in particular features a very smooth synth line, especially at the beginning of the song. Phoenix is another band whose lyrics don't really make that much sense- for example "They teach you suffer to resist/too much intention Presbyterian/mint julep testosterone/tell me that you want me, tell me that you want me." This is mainly because Phoenix, like New Politics do not speak English as their first language-- Phoenix are from France.
1. Vampire Weekend - Diane Young
Vampire Weekend create one the catchiest choruses ever and only use three words.
"Baby, baby, baby, baby right on" is repeated constantly and somehow gets better and better each time you listen to it, unlike a certain other song that repeats the word "baby" over and over. Vampire Weekend's second song on this countdown is truly the best song of 2013, with the chorus, clever lyrics and an irresistible drum beat, it is nothing short of a masterpiece.
No comments:
Post a Comment