The Best Pop Music of 2013

A look at the best pop music of 2013, including hits from Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, and Justin Timberlake.

Introduction

The pop music scene in 2013 was marked by the rise of new stars like Lorde and Miley Cyrus, the continued domination of Justin Bieber and One Direction, and the sad passing of music legend Lou Reed. Here’s a look at the best pop music of 2013.

Bieber, Bieber, Bieber
There’s no denying that Justin Bieber was one of the biggest stories in pop music this year, for better or for worse. From his appearance on Saturday Night Live to his string of hits like “Beauty and a Beat” and “Sorry,” Bieber continued to dominate the charts in 2013. He also made headlines with his antics offstage, getting into trouble with the law on multiple occasions. Whether you love him or hate him, it’s tough to deny that Bieber had a big impact on pop music this year.

One Direction: The boys are back
Another group that had a huge impact on pop music in 2013 was One Direction. The British boy band released their second album, “Take Me Home,” in November of 2012, but the album’s singles like “Kiss You” and “Best Song Ever” continued to dominate radio airwaves throughout 2013. One Direction also embarked on a massive world tour this year, which only added to their already enormous popularity. It’s safe to say that these five boys are here to stay.

Lorde: The new queen of pop?
2013 also saw the rise of a new pop star: 17-year-old New Zealand singer Lorde. Lorde burst onto the scene with her debut single “Royals,” which shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September of this year. She followed up her success with her debut album, “Pure Heroine,” which was released in October and received critical acclaim from both fans and critics alike. With her unique sound and fresh perspective, Lorde is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new voices in pop music today.

Miley Cyrus: Twerking her way into our hearts?
Miley Cyrus made waves in 2013 with her outrageous behavior both onstage and offstage. She frequently made headlines for twerking (a dancing style involving shaking your butt), making obscene gestures during live performances, and posing nude in magazines like Rolling Stone and W magazine. While some people were turned off by her antics, others found them strangely intriguing. Love her or hate her, there’s no denying that Miley Cyrus had a big impact on pop culture this year.

Lou Reed: A legend gone too soon
One of the biggest stories in music this year was the death of Lou Reed, frontman of influential ’70s rock group The Velvet Underground. Reed passed away in October at the age of 71 after suffering from liver disease for several years. His death sent shockwaves through the music community, as fans and fellow musicians paid tribute to one of rock’s most innovative artists.

Best Pop Songs of 2013

The year 2013 was an amazing year for pop music. So many great artists released incredible songs that it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few. However, we’ve managed to do just that. Here are our picks for the best pop songs of 2013.

“Get Lucky” by Daft Punk

“Get Lucky” is a song by French electronic music duo Daft Punk, featuring American R&B singer Pharrell Williams and English guitarist Nile Rodgers. It is the lead single from Daft Punk’s fourth studio album, Random Access Memories. The song peaked at number one in several countries, including Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 68 and eventually peaked at number two for six non-consecutive weeks behind Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) later certified it double platinum for selling over two million copies in that country. Internationally, “Get Lucky” became one of Daft Punk’s most commercially successful songs and helped revive interest in disco and 1980s electronic music.

“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 released on March 26, 2013, through Star Trak Recordings. It was produced by Williams and mixed by Andrew Coleman and Mike Larson. The song’s lyrics and music drew controversy with some suggesting they are misogynistic and promote date rape. “Blurred Lines” peaked at number one in at least 25 countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

“Royals” by Lorde

Lorde’s “Royals” was one of the breakout hits of 2013, and with good reason. The song is a smart and sassy commentary on consumer culture, set to a catchy pop melody. It’s no wonder that the song quickly rose to the top of the charts in several countries.

“Wake Me Up” by Avicii

“Wake Me Up” is a song by Swedish DJ Avicii, released as the lead single from his debut studio album True. The track was written by Avicii, Mike Einziger of Incubus, and Aloe Blacc. It was produced by Avicii and blacc. It peaked at number one in more than 20 countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand and United States.

The song samples soul singer Etta James’s 1960s hit “Something’s Got a Hold on Me”, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. The music video for “Wake Me Up” was directed by Sidartha Tall Produced by Erik Wernquist and was shot in various locations in Iceland.

Best Pop Albums of 2013

These are the best pop albums of 2013. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, these are the albums you need to hear. From Taylor Swift to Bruno Mars, these are the best of the best.

“Unorthodox Jukebox” by Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars’s second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox, was one of the best pop albums of 2013. The album featured a wide range of styles, from the retro-influenced “Locked Out of Heaven” to the reggae-tinged “Treasure.” Mars also experimented with R&B on tracks like “When I Was Your Man” and “Gorilla.” Unorthodox Jukebox was a huge commercial success, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 2 million copies in the US.

“Prism” by Katy Perry

In October 2013, Katy Perry released her fourth studio album, Prism. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 286,000 copies in its first week. It was Perry’s second No. 1 album in the United States, and it became the fourth best-selling album of 2013 with more than 2 million copies sold. Prism was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards, and “Dark Horse” won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Prism was Perry’s first album to feature more personal and introspective songwriting, with songs inspired by her divorce from actor Russell Brand and her religious upbringing. The album’s lead single, “Roar”, was an instant success, reaching No. 1 in several countries and selling more than 5 million copies worldwide. The second single, “Dark Horse”, was also a commercial success, reaching No. 1 in multiple countries and becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time with more than 10 million copies sold worldwide. Prism also includes the singles “Unconditionally” and “Birthday”.

“Random Access Memories” by Daft Punk

“Random Access Memories” by Daft Punk was one of the best pop albums of 2013. The album was a critical and commercial success, winning five Grammy Awards and becoming one of the best-selling albums of the year. It featured collaborations with a number of other artists, including Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, and Julian Casablancas.

Conclusion

It’s been an amazing year for pop music, with new artists andestablished superstars alike delivering some of the best music we’ve ever heard. From catchy summer anthems to heart-wrenching ballads, 2013 has had it all.

But as the year comes to a close, it’s time to take a look back at the best pop music of 2013. These are the songs that defined the year, that made us dance, that made us cry, and that we just couldn’t get out of our heads.

So without further ado, here are the best pop songs of 2013:

1. “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams
2. “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell
3. “Royals” by Lorde
4. “Wake Me Up” by Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc
5. “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake
6. “We Can’t Stop” by Miley Cyrus
7. “Roar” by Katy Perry
8. “Same Love” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat Mary Lambert
9. “Let Her Go” by Passenger
10. “Come & Get It” by Selena Gomez