Top 10 Best Hit Songs of 2013

Pop music has been part of my life ever since I was adolescene and that makes it a difficult for me as a music critic. Part of the reasons why I'm doing a retrospective list like this is to learn more about the year I was covering. I wanna know more about the history, the reason why a song can become a hit, and also the cultural zeitgeist at the time. But sometimes you cover a year that was a pivotal part of your life and the emotional feeling that you have to that year might clouded your judgement. Now if you are music historian that can be a problem, but I'm merely a critic and as objective as I can be, in the end subjectivity won out. I bring all that up because 2013 was the first year that I got into music criticism.

It was the first year of middle school and the first time I wondered out into the wilderness since my school was like half an hour away. I was watching YouTube after school and during day off (sometimes at the computer lab) and I found a channel called Nostalgia Critic. The channel was actually called Channel Awesome and because of him I found a certain someone named Todd In The Shadow and it was his worst list of 2013 that I began taking pop music more seriously. Flash forward to now and here I am talking about pop music in 2013, it's funny how that works huh?

Enough personal stuff, how's 2013 for pop music as a whole? Well I can say that this year really encapsulated the millennials and even zillennials cultural influence for the best...and for the worst. Even with my nostalgia glasses on, I can't helped but noticed that something was a miss here. What I will say is that 2013 was shaped by the internet. After Billboard implemented YouTube numbers in their calculation this year, it was in the middle of Harlem Shake trend which catapulted that song to #1 for four weeks. Because of the nature of the internet in 2013 where it started to goes corporate but not yet, you can see that some of these stuff are very dated. But I will say that 2013 is the most varied year that I have covered thus far. Practically all genres here are represented like pop, rock, country, indie, RnB, rap, folk, americana, dubstep, EDM, and even experimental stuff slipped through the crack. What this means for the best list is that some of the best songs of the decade are on this year and the variety is ultimately the reason why I can say that this year was good. 

Again some ground rules I'm only using songs that debuted on the Hot 100 and in the top 100 most streamed songs of 2013 according to Spotify. I know that this meant I'm basically included half of AM but that's just how the year goes in people's eyes. Alright now let's shake off this year where Tumblr just started to have cultural impact and Flappy Bird was the biggest mobile game of all time as we count down!

THE TOP 10 BEST HIT SONGS OF 2013

10. If there's one breakthrough from this year is the transition between the club to EDM and the festival scenes. This was the soundtrack for my childhood most of them are since I played Just Dance games and this was in Just Dance 2014 era. Now a lot of the EDM stuff can be dated and very cheesy especially with the drops. But I still do have the fondness for them especially when they're very earnest and find the balance between corny and genuine. So let's talk about one of those songs that became DLC for that Just Dance game shall we?

10. Wake Me Up - Avicii ft. Aloe Blacc

It has been almost 8 years since the tragic passing of Avicii. Since then I think his legacy are kinda weird in hindsight. Yes Avicii was pivotal in the popularization of EDM and you can't knocked the guy when he made Levels. But there are certain datedness that I don't think aged well especially with the 2015 album Stories. And that kinda sucks to me because I do believe that Avicii was above level in terms of EDM producers especially within his contemporaries. 

And with his album True, he cemented himself as one of the most influential producer of our time. Mixing together the rootsy and Americana sounds like folk, country, and bluegrass with the electronica beats seems to be the cheat code because now we have that sound back in 2024. And I do believe that Wake Me Up was that catalyst while also being a great song. This is not the best one though when Hey Brother exist but that's for 2014 list. What I love about this song has always been the balance between the organic and the mechanical. I love how the drop here is based around the keyboard yet still have that sandy touch. I love the lyrics about how you are still young and yet trying all these different things and that making you wiser. And most of all Aloe Blacc gave the performance of a lifetime that's very suited towards this song. Look you certainly can have disagreement with me for a lot of this list fair warned, but when the optimism is this good how can I complain? 

9. The tragic tale of Macklemore needs to be studied. It seems like after the Grammys win beating Kendrick Lamar (we'll get to him soon) in both rap album and best new artist, his confident as an MC just plummeted. After that win, he released "This Unruly Mess I Made" which I would describes as career suicide that basically broke up the partnership between him and Ryan Lewis. That was very unfortunate since both of them knew each other's strength. And this song is a shining example as to why.

9. Can't Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton

This becoming #1 hit kinda surprised me since people still remembered Thrift Shop and on the same level of Same Love in terms of their relevancy. But then I saw the Spotify numbers and listening to this song again with fresh ears and yeah I get it. Man I missed it when pop music sounds very huge and anthemic. Ryan Lewis bringing his A game with this one because this production is very pulsating. That piano line alone already pumped people up but then we got the steady percussion, the very big brass section, and trumpets breakdown that feels so earned. Pop rap have never sounded so good ever again like this and I have to cherish that.

Macklemore here is actually better than I remembered. Tight flow as he talked about his come up and this is definitely veered towards "I'm back bitch" singles dynamic, but it felt earned. What I love about his bragging is that he really doesn't talked down on his opponent but still hungry for more. That's the best part of Macklemore is that his ambitions and hunger that he would replicated in his activism. Oh and also Ray Dalton giving a great performance too and I just at awe with the scope of this song. Again pop music has never been this anthemic and after the turgid year that was 2025 where everyone just not trying anymore, we need more energy like this song.

8. 2025 most talked about and maybe the most infamous topic is Generative AI. Right out of the gate I have stated that I don't fuck with Generative AI at all. I think art should be made by human for human. "art" being generated by a machine is just the same shit as you made processed foods. Techinally filling but you feel hollow inside. So when I assembled this list I heard a murmur that a song eligible for this list went viral...but it's not the original version, it's the AI cover version. And that's the reason why this song is on this list because Stromae deserved so much better.

8. Papaoutai - Stromae

Ahh yes another song that I got introduced from Just Dance game...seems to be the pattern for most of this list fair warned. But yeah the story of Stromae is quite something and it's not positive. He got big from Alors On Danse which is a club song that absolutely hates the club. After Papaoutai was released he released his second album and was actually gaining in America with his appearance on the Hunger Games soundtrack. But, after he took anti-malaria drug he got a lot of health problems like hallucinations that really hindered his career. Only just this decade that he's as productive as he is now. And the fact that one of his biggest hits got an AI cover and seems to dwarved the original song is infuriating to me.

This song is a beautiful look at grief while also moving along. This song is about Stromae's father that was tragically killed in the Rwandan Genocide and the meaning of the title is "Where are you father". What I love about this song is that he went through a lot of emotions here even the five stages of grief from denial to anger and then sadness in the bridge then the last prechorus is the acceptance. Even though this song is still very europop, there are some elements that's distinctly African like the drums and the plucky instrumentations. It has a certain home spun feel that I really admire. So please listen to this and not the AI cover ahhhhh.

7. Let's get back to EDM again for a sec. Spoiler alert there will be a lot of songs made by electronica artists be warned. The one good thing about the EDM craze at the time, especially looking at the year end list this year is that It became a vehicle for indie pop or artists that are on the cusp of mainstream attention at least in the US. The only Lana Del Rey song that hit the top 20 is the remix of Summertime Sadness for example. There will be some songs like that on this list, but let's start with one of the bonkers one. 

7. Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch

The fact that this became a hit at all is still baffling. The song have atonal drop, the lyrics here is kinda nondescript, and who in the right mind said that Calvin Harris should work with Florence Welch? Well whoever  they are, thank you because this is excellent. I think it's also due to the novelty of a voice as tasteful and heavy in this messy EDM productions. It gave a surprising amount of depth to the subject matter here. Yeah it can be nondescript, but with the messiness of the production especially that drop, The song about a broken relationship became a messy canvas that you can't helped to admire really.

The main show here however is Florence Welch. It's something worth to point out that these DJs are usually wanna worked with a cleaner more lighter palette for the singers. But the fact that he chose Florence Welch of all people I think it's genius. her big voice cut through that drop and it's glorious. By 2016 I think this trend are on its last legs, but during its height EDM can transport you to another dimension of possibility and this song is one of them. Nothing much to say here except go listen to it now it's something special.

6. Another song that I got introduced from Just Dance game and this one has fluctuate on me for the longest time. I thought this was a magical at first. And then this song kinda shrunk on me because I was edgy teenager and I need to be contrarian. And I just say screw it because Swedish House Mafia gave us one of the best songs of 2013.

6. Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia ft. John Martin

Sometimes there's a magic in the ordinary and this song proved that in the best way possible. Swedish House Mafia were an EDM collective consisted of Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso that has been one of the pioneers of EDM as we know today. Big festival and anthemic songs that could last hours, yeah that's the influences from these guys along with Avicii whom we talked about earlier. So it came as a surprise to a lot of people that when the EDM genre that they helped build from the ground up got some success, they decided to retire the SHM name after the success of "Greyhound" and announced their last tour dates. This song is the last singles from them that they're debuted on that tour and paradoxically became their biggest hit of their career. And I'd say as a farewell anthem, this one is a great one.

There's a certain good feeling about this song that could only came out during the EDM earnesty era. The sense of longing and reassurance that everything will be alright in the end, that sense of optimism of what comes ahead. We really haven't had anything like that since probably when pop music became a monogenre mess in the late 2010s. And that earnesty conveyed well with the seemingly basic progressive house beat. But John Martin brings the swell and the grandiose that this song really needed to soar high. You know, in a world getting bleaker and just plain don't make sense anymore, I'll always remember to not worry about it too much because in the end good people win. And that's how I felt about this song now and why this one is on the list. Never succumb to darkness my dear reader.

5. These three songs are such a critic bait it's not even funny. But hey a soft rock song featuring Julian Casablancas of The Strokes with an autotune is still one of the most yearning love song of the 2010s and I have to acknowledge that.

5. Instant Crush - Daft Punk ft. Julian Casablancas

I think Daft Punk is a great producers. I know shocking of me to say, a music critic that Daft Punk is really good. There has been a retrospection of Daft Punk's work over the years after they announced their disbandment. For me there's a distinct part of Daft Punk that I do like from every era. Their debut album "Homework" is a great example of their work within the electronica and French House scene. "Discovery" is definitely a magnum opus of sound and productions. "Human After All" is their most flawed album but still pack some punch. and this album "Random Access Memories" combining disco, funk, and soft rock of the 70s and 80s and put it over the top with the 2010s productions. We will talk more about the biggest hit from the album later, but now let's talk about this one.

This song really captured what I like about Daft Punk in general. The tight productions that harkened back the soft rock of the 80s where the glossy synth and plucky guitar is a plenty. Meanwhile, Julian Casablancas drenched in autotune bringing this song to a more contemporary time but still bringing in vulnerability that was needed for a song about longing and yearning. The well timed guitar solo is just perfect and honestly one of Daft Punk's most underrated moments. This song is so sweeping that it didn't feel like almost six minutes. Daft Punk had this knack of pop sensibility without sacrificing texture and melody and this is a prime example as to how. There's not much else to talk about here it's just a great song all around. Again we'll come back to this album soon.

4. There has been a report that the alcohol industry are experiencing loss never seen since the prohibition era (probably). It's not even the tariff issue as this problem isn't contained to USA alone. Part of this because well Gen Z are drinking less and less alcohol by the minute. You know I was wondering why is our generation doesn't go out and drink as much as any other generation did. I mean if you asked me it's because our generation can't afford those or our vices has changed. But a funny theory is that Kendrick Lamar did this because he made a song about alcoholism and it was his first hit.

4. Swimming Pools (Drank) - Kendrick Lamar

Okay maybe that's a stretch but it's a fun theory nonetheless. Anyways yeah 2012-13 was the breakthrough of one Kendrick Lamar with his landmark sophomore album "Good Kid. m.A.A.d City" which tackled how is it growing up in Compton with stunning beats and good lyricism. Sure I don't hate Macklemore but I think because of the debacle that The Heist won over this album that really changed it for the Grammys for mostly the better. I actually first knew of Kendrick Lamar from the defunct YouTube Music Awards in 2013 and also from watching Todd In The Shadows video. What an introduction though because this song is still one of his best

Like I said, this song is basically about alcoholism while also sounding like a song you can turnt up to. Yeah this song really used the trap production really well here with the ominous synth, the chopped up voices, and it all wrapped up in this thick haze of smoke. It just captured the debauchery and the heaviness of the song while also goes hard at the same time. The usage of the trap rap production really bring this song to life as something you can vibe to, but if you look deeper, you find that this life is not fun at all and you can lose in it. Now this concept would be turned to 11 with Lucy on To Pimp A Butterfly which was the first album that really made me fall in love with music even further. But this one is an opening salvo that I really like the most even till this day.

3. It really was interesting watching in real time how people have a retrospective praise for disco. I was 13 when all of this are happening in the 2010s, so looking at those disco throwback having critical acclaim was a given. Like oh this beloved genre is making a comeback and people reminiscing this bygone era with glee and excitements. Maybe because I lived outside of the US where disco did have a longer time to evolved in Europe, but the disco backlash was so confusing to me. You tell me that y'all actually hate good music like this?

3. Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell & Nile Rodgers

Yeah this is the last critic bait song on the list but really it's so endearing seeing the trajectory of Daft Punk. In a way the popularity of the song in the US really was a long time coming for these two robots. When they were first started, they are strictly very French House and in turn only seeing success in Europe and UK. But with Discovery, their mix of house music with other genres like funk, disco, and distinct imagery really bringing in new fans from all over the world. Now in America they're still hesitant to embrace the disco aspect of the album. But, One More Time did charted in the US so there's that. But in the 2010s? Yeah this type of disco is back in the mainstream and it's fully embraced across the globe.

I honestly just waffling at this point because I don't really have anything else to say here. It's a great disco throwback with the guitar from a member of Chic and great vocal performance by Pharrell. It's very tight and the bridge with the robot voice is iconic till this day. I do think it's a shame that after this, their works are only consisted of working with The Weeknd and one offs before their departure. Even with that, this song and the album as a whole are always a perfect example of doing retro pastiche correctly. Sure Bruno Mars is a king for that now, but I will always choose this one over Unorthodox Jukebox anyday of the week. 

2. These two songs though? These are the songs that really transcended their medium for me to create masterpieces in their own genres. Sure it might be a bit personal for me but these two soared unlike any other songs from this year has to offer. This song right here captured what the thesis of what this band set out to do. And if this song is the last hurrah of this once brief project, what a way to go out on.

2. Carry On - fun.

The lore-making behind fun. has always strike me as something we might never seen again. I mean one member of this band went on and making millions off of writing and producing songs for pop girlies and subsequently frustrated their fanbases. With that kind of success and accolades, we probably won't see a reunion of this band project. Which is kinda ashamed because if there's an indie band that should be on top of the world now, it should be fun. fun. is one of those indie bands that just gets what they're trying to do and make it work. Their influence is Queen and I can really see that with Nate Ruess vocal and trying to make something grandiose. Some Nights would've been on this list if it wasn't a hit the year before, but this one is still the better track.

I love it how a pop song can soared so high and yet it's probably the most personal thing you have listened to. This song is a perfect example as to how that can work. To the Queen example, this song reminded me of "We Are The Champion" where it can be played for the commonality and universality, but the grandiose and the swell of the song is so massive that you really relate to the sentiment that yeah we really are the champion or we do need to carry on after out past mistakes. It starts out small with only guitar and piano and in here we are starting at the rock bottom. And then the drums and the synth organ started to fill in giving you the sense of ease that you are not the only one here. It swelled more and more till that guitar solo coming in and you feel untouchable. But, even then the singalong chorus anchored all this song into something more powerful. 

This year is full of self empowerment anthems and a lot of them don't hold the candle to this one. The universality, the grandiose, and the hope that we can come out of this alive is something we really needed right now. No one really can't stop us indeed and really what could be better than this? Well before we get there some honorable mentions that just missed this list.

Safe and Sound - Capital Cities

This song is a good enough indie pop with a great saxophone. But the original music video of this song is fantastic. It's just footage of dance crazes throughout history mixed in with footage of war that happened during said crazes. Heck I could make that edits today with TikTok dances and the war footage happened in 2020s but that's just reaching it. 

The Other Side - Jason Derulo

This was my first impression of Jason Derulo and I thought this is just pop perfection. Yes you can thanked Just Dance for that but really what a good find for them. Now that I have familiar myself with his work I can say that this is the only great Jason Derulo singles that became a hit. Love Cheyenne forever.

The Way - Ariana Grande ft. Mac Miller

And this was my first impression of Ariana Grande and Mac Miller. The fact that her first hit is this love duet with gentle productions to highlighted her vocal chops is delightful. Rest in peace Mac Miller you would've love the current crop of white rappers here.

Still Into You - Paramore

The competition here is so fierce that this song missed this list despite the fact that this is definitely the best song in the history of #100 on Hot 100 Year-ends. In a worse year this would've been top 5 easily. Also fun fact but the self titled album is by and away the best performing album of Paramore's career. So why y'all ditched them after making Hard Times I have no idea.

Counting Stars - OneRepublic

You know it's kinda funny how the indie folk boom gave this band more edge than they deserved. Like the line "take that money and watch it burn" should've never came out of Ryan Tedder's boring ass mouth but here we are. Their next singles would take turn for even darker territory but we won't talk about 2014 yet. Also seems like Ryan Tedder is a weeb now since this band's output have been soundtracking anime and gacha game...you okay Ryan? Did working with Tate McRae drained you so much?

I Love It - Icona Pop ft. Charli xcx

Interesting to see the reappraisal for this song especially after Charli's journey with hyperpop and 2024. I have always maintained that this is one of the best songs of 2013 and it showed how you can make a song like Wannabe by Spice Girls and make it hardcore. Sure you can say this is proto hyperpop but in reality this is just a great buzzy little tune that I will always cherish.

Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men 

Definitely a better version of Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes just for the fact that there's an accordion in this. But also this song is a dark yet triumphant take on death I have ever heard in any genres ever especially in indie folk. This one is actually close to make my list but again the competition here is very tight. 

Now with that out of the way, let's get to what's my personal best song of 2013.

1. Note there I said personal. I think what writing consistently for over three years now has taught me that it's better off to be genuine rather than chasing what's popular in the space of music critic. Sometimes your emotional instinct won out against the "objective" quality of a song. With that being said, while this song has certainly got a lot of acclaimed from the people in the know, It hasn't been canonized yet in the pantheon of great songs of 2013 or even the year before. If my job here is to be the tastemaker, then it's time to give flowers to one of my all time favorites.

1. Clarity - Zedd ft. Foxes

On this list, you have seen what kind of songs that really work for me. Anthemic, giving off whimsy, and someone punching above their weights to give you the full experience. Well this song hit all three and more because this is a pop music classic in the making. Zedd frustrates me through the 2010s because of what he can do as an EDM producer. He was on the same environment as Madeon and Porter Robinson (more on him in the little bit) and it's a damn shame that he ditched that to make some of the most sterile EDM imaginable. I definitely prefer his era before the ticking clock thank you very much. And yet still he hasn't managed to get the high that this song managed to achieve. 

It has been noted that this song was co-produced by Porter Robinson and you can really hear that with that twee sense of longing in the composition. That synth touch up on the drop with the millennial whoop is really something that was cooked up by him. But just explaining that won't be enough for me to praise this song high enough. I just love how this song evoke the simplicity and yet the complexity of a relationship very well. The production here is just the right amount of emotionality especially with how anthemic it is. And the glue to all of it is Foxes' all time performance. It's something that I can't even describe how much does it work for me and yet it does. Sometimes you just let the song sit with out till you found that magical touch. And that's why it's my personal best song of 2013 and honestly I wouldn't trade this for the rest of the world.

That's the best list done. I can't believe that I might churned out best and worst lists this much but hey at least I can maintained my sanity in this current time even if it's fleeting. Speaking of which this worst list will be miserable so stay tune for that.