The Best Electronic Pop Music of 2013
Contents
A list of the best electronic pop music of 2013.
Introduction
2013 was a banner year for electronic pop music. We saw the rise of exciting new artists like Halsey and Kid Cudi, the return of established stars like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, and the continued dominance of EDM megastars like Calvin Harris and Avicii.
It was also a year that saw electronic pop music branch out into new and exciting directions, with artists like Lorde and CHVRCHES experiment with new sounds and styles.
And finally, it was a year that saw some of the biggest names in pop music embrace their inner nerdy side, with everyone from Justin Timberlake to Miley Cyrus declaring their love for all things geeky.
In short, it was a great year for electronic pop music, and we here at NME are proud to present our list of the 50 best songs of the year.
The Best Electronic Pop Songs of 2013
It’s been a great year for electronic pop music. We’ve seen a resurgence of interest in the genre, with new and exciting artists emerging and releasing some truly great music. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the 10 best electronic pop songs of 2013.
“Get Lucky” by Daft Punk
“Get Lucky” is a song by French electronic duo Daft Punk, featuring vocals by American singer Pharrell Williams and co-written by the duo, Williams, and Nile Rodgers. It is the lead single from Daft Punk’s fourth studio album, Random Access Memories (2013). Before its release as a single, “Get Lucky” premiered on BBC Radio 1 on April 19, 2013, and was released for digital download on April 21. Rodgers said that the song was about chemistry and features disco flavoring similar to that of his band Chic.
The song reached number one in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two in the UK Singles Chart. The Recording Industry Association of America certified “Get Lucky” diamond in October 2013, making it only the 30th song to reach that level since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991. The song has sold 9.7 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time. A live version of “Get Lucky” was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
“Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke
“Blurred Lines” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, featuring American rappers T.I. and Pharrell Williams. The song was produced by Thicke and Williams with an additional production by Dutch DJ Funk Flex. It was released on March 26, 2013 through Pharrell’s label Star Trak Recordings and distributed by Interscope Records. The lyrical content of “Blurred Lines” has been the subject of controversy with some people claiming that it is misogynistic.
The song debuted at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and eventually peaked at number one for twelve non-consecutive weeks. The single also peaked at number one in thirteen other countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
“Safe and Sound” by Capital Cities
“Safe and Sound” is a song by American indie pop duo Capital Cities. The song was released as the lead single from their debut studio album, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery (2013). It peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
In an interview with MTV, Capital Cities member Ryan Merchant explained that “Safe and Sound” is “a feel-good song about living life to the fullest and being grateful for the good things that happen to us.” He also said that the song is “about finding your place in the world and not being afraid to aspire to be something great.”
The song’s music video was directed by Grady Hendrix and stars actor Seth Rogen. The video features Rogen as a man who discovers he has the ability to time travel when he hears “Safe and Sound”. He then uses his power to travel back in time to various moments in his life, including his first date with his wife, the birth of his children, and meeting President Barack Obama.
“I Love It” by Icona Pop
“I Love It” is a song by Swedish duo Icona Pop, released as their debut single in May 2012. The song charted in several countries, reaching the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it peaked at number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
“Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake
“Mirrors” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake for his third studio album, The 20/20 Experience (2013). It was written and produced by Timberlake, Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley, and Jerome “J-Roc” Harmon, with additional writing from James Fauntleroy. The song was released as the album’s second single on February 21, 2013. “Mirrors” is a pop and R&B ballad that contains elements of synthpop. Lyrically, it is devoted to Timberlake’s wife Jessica Biel and talks about self-reflection, self-improvement, and gratitude.
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics; many complimented its lyrical content while others felt that it was too similar to Timberlake’s previous work. The track peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, becoming Timberlake’s twentieth top ten single on that chart as well as his eighth number-one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Globally, it reached the top five of several national record charts including Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. An accompanying music video was directed by Floria Sigismondi and premiered on March 21, 2013; it depicts two timelines starring Timberlake who plays both his younger self and an elderly man. The video received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics who called it visually stunning but noted that it does not touch upon the song’s themes of aging or nostalgia.
The Best Electronic Pop Albums of 2013
It’s been an amazing year for electronic pop music. We’ve seen a resurgence of synth-pop, with new and innovative sounds coming from all over the world. In this article, we’ll be counting down our picks for the best electronic pop albums of 2013.
“Random Access Memories” by Daft Punk
Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories” won Album of the Year at the 2014 Grammy Awards. The album is a critical and commercial success, and is often lauded as one of the best pop albums of all time.
“The 20/20 Experience” by Justin Timberlake
Released in March, “The 20/20 Experience” is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. Following the success of his previous two albums, “FutureSex/LoveSounds” (2006) and “Justified” (2002), “The 20/20 Experience” debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 968,000 copies in its first week. The album’s first single, “Suit & Tie”, featuring American rapper Jay-Z, peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Four additional singles were released from the album: “Mirrors”, “Summer Love”, “Take Back the Night”, and “LoveStoned”.
“Yeezus” by Kanye West
Yeezus is the sixth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on June 18, 2013, by Def Jam Recordings. West gathered a number of artists and close collaborators for production on the album, including Mike Dean, Daft Punk, Noah Goldstein, Arca, Hudson Mohawke, and Travis Scott. He continued to develop the opulent style he experimented with on Watch the Throne (2011), while taking inspiration from industrial and Chicago house. Yeezus also features guest vocals from Justin Vernon, Frank Ocean, Chief Keef, Kid Cudi, Assassin, King L, and Charlie Wilson. The album was mixed mainly by Andrew Dawson at Pacifique Recording Studios in Los Angeles, with additional help from Mike Dean.
Critical reaction to Yeezus was immediate and divided upon its release: many music critics praised its boldness and densely layered production while others found its sonic palette harsh and preferred West’s previous work. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 327,000 copies; it also topped Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart and Canada’s Top Hip-Hop Albums chart. By October 2013 Yeezus had sold over 1 million copies in the US alone; it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 8 of that year. “Black Skinhead” peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; one week later its remix feature Miley Cyrus reached number two on Rhythmic radio airplay chart helping Yeezus become West’s third consecutive album to contain two top 40 hit singles—following 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (with “Power” featuring Dwele) and 2011’s Watch the Throne (“Otis” featuring Jay Z). The album also generated controversies due to its experimental aesthetics; it was banned in Walmart stores for having profanity in its artwork—a painting by Wes Lang—and references to drug culture in some of its lyrics; “I Am a God”, which features vocals from God himself talking about his pet peeves regarding mankind such as being late for appointments or not respecting him properly despite all that he does for humanity caused further controversy as well as accusations of blasphemy due to Kanye apparently portraying himself as God during parts of it causing parts of the Christian community to brand him evil despite Kanye claiming that it was not meant to be taken literally but rather metaphorically such as calling himself a rapper who is misunderstood much like how Jesus Christ was crucified without understanding despite all he did for mankind and that he feels like a god because he can do whatever he wants much like how actual gods have power over mortals but are supposedly benevolent towards them regardless.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best electronic pop music of 2013 was a great year for the genre. With new and innovative artists emerging, it was hard to keep up with all the great music that came out. But, we’ve managed to narrow it down to our top 10 list. We hope you enjoy our selections!
