I know I'm not as prolific as others on this page, but given the calibre of music in 2013 (ie VERY high calibre), I'm determined to change this for 2014 (quality of music permitting!).

 

Anyway, this is my top 40 of 2013. And to think I could not only do a top 40 of the year easily and struggle to choose which make the list and don't, is frankly astonishing! A blindin year helped somewhat by two unassuming siblings from Surrey... they feature more than once in this list... But I digress, let's go!!!

 

:yahoo:

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by ScottyEm

40 - 31

 

 

40: MKS / FLATLINE

A small army of predominantly gay men sadly isn't enough to warrant a successful "comeback". I guess there is never a good time to launch an aloof girl band. But at least they did things there way and "Flatline" is a jaunty pop gem!

 

39: MARTIN GARRIX / ANIMALS

Children are making tracks designed for arena-sized clubs with aplomb? And translating to pop success?? Stop the world, I want to get off!

 

38: ALUNAGEORGE / ATTRACTING FLIES

They frankly have even better to offer on their bloody brilliant album "Bodymusic", however, they should be absolutely enormous.

37: NAUGHTY BOY FEAT EMELI SANDE / LIFTED

Emeli Sande briefly ditched the ballads (thank god!) for something on par with her dazzling "Heaven". It's also the 121,545th track so sample James Browms "Funky Drummer" (of thereabouts)

36: CALVIN HARRIS / THINKING ABOUT YOU

Far from world changing, even for Calvins standards. But Calvin understands you cannot go wrong with a generic female vocal and cheesy piano - as long as you do it RIGHT!

 

35: JESSIE WARE / IMAGINE IT WAS US

The best "inbetween albums song to keep the momentum going but I'll stick it on a special edition version 3 weeks later" single of 2013.

 

34: LITTLE MIX / MOVE

Move being the operative word. Also getting over the fact an X Factor product is gracing my top 40 but a good tune is a good tune at the end of the day.

 

33: WILKINSON / AFTERGLOW

Was it just me who thought Adele make drum & bass record on the sly? Perhaps she should!

 

32: MONSIEUR ADI FEAT A*M*E / WHAT'S GOING ON?

Soul II Soul's evergreen classic given a sultry makeover by some bloke and guest vocalist who must now be obliged to launch her own solo career.

 

31: VALENTINA MONETTA / CRISALIDE (VOLA)

So ridiculously naff and dated even Eurovision couldn't find space for it on the grand final! Fear not, Valentina has now secured her place as a micro gay icon Western Europe. Perhaps she'll send a deep house shaker for this years Eurovision. Let's see...

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by ScottyEm

Sorry I don't know why the font sizes are all skee-wiff. Oh well, we'll get over it...

30 - 21

 

30: HAIM / FALLING (DUKE DUMONT MIX)

Dance mixes of pop/rock songs used to be a stuff of all kinds of evil. Nowadays, you're better off skipping straight to track 2 and beyond on your EP MP3s.

 

29: LITTLE BOOTS / MOTORWAY

It's amazing what you can achieve when you haven't got some fat-bast*rd record company executive breathing down your neck.

 

28: CHASE AND STATUS / LOST AND NOT FOUND

Rather like someone opening a large window in a dark and stuffy room. Chase and Status may have almost completely ditched their DnB roots but I don't give a shit if this is what they are capable of!

 

27: LORDE / ROYALS

Children are making intelligent pop songs with a social conscious with aplomb? And setting the charts alight on both sides of the pond?? Stop the world, I want to get off.

 

26: CHVRCHES / LIES

It still requires a bit of thinking to spell their name right, but these Scottish electroclash darlings have got me excited on more than one occasion this year.

 

25: KATY B / 5AM

After wobbly start, Kathleen quickly gets things back on track with the marvellous 5am. And what she has in store for this year is getting me all hot and bothered!

 

24: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE / TAKE BACK THE NIGHT

The "Don't Stop "Til You Get Enough" for the new generation. Uninspiring on first listen, but my god does it grow on you, like a happy trousersnake...

 

23: LOREEN / WE GOT THE POWER

"Eurporia" it isn't, but a Eurovision winner that remains interesting beyond the month of May deserves a vast amount of applause.

 

22: DUKE DUMONT FEAT A*M*E / (NEED U) 100%

Music comes in circa 20-year cycles and it's time for the early 90s to get a fair bit of a bashing. Now how about an albums worth of this Duke pal?

 

21: ZEDD / CLARITY

Russian dance music, anyone? Again, this also features guest vocalist who must therefore launch solo career... but was it worth it?

Edited January 1, 201411 yr by ScottyEm

20 - 11

 

 

20: CALVIN HARRIS/HURTS/ALESSO / UNDER CONTROL

Getting Hurts and Calvin Harris in a studio wasn't exactly gonna end in disaster, was it? At least one week in the future at number one was ringfenced - needless to say, the results were epic.

 

19: AVICII VS NICKI ROMERO / I COULD BE THE ONE

Not quite hitting the euphoric heights of "Seek Bromance", but thankfully not anywhere near as woeful as nearly everything else the young Swede has made. Like David Guetta, mostly shite but capable of the occasional belter.

 

18: DISCLOSURE FEAT LONDON GRAMMAR / HELP ME LOSE MY MIND

I indeed lost my mind on several occasions to the seminal "Settle" album. Even the token slowy ballad, which by rights should be shit, is still bloody marvellous!

17: RUDIMENTAL / WAITING ALL NIGHT

A stone-cold classic and also blindin live, I was lucky enough to see them live at Parklife in a very hot and sunny afternoon in June. Ella Eyre also has the most amazing hair in pop.

 

16: CASCADA / GLORIOUS

Surely they ditched their usual producer on this one off occasion or spent too much time listening to Swedish House Mafia's "Don't You Worry Child"? My memories of dancing to this, rather legless, in Copenhagen square will be cherished for life.

 

15: DISCLOSURE FEAT ELIZA DOOLITTLE / YOU AND ME

And the Eurovision connection continues, for Eliza is the daughter of (the much under-rated) 1994 UK entry Francis Rufelle. But I digress, these two middleclass brothers seem to turn their hand at any subgenre of dance music with complete ease. It's like UK garage never happened.

 

14: SAM SMITH / NIRVANA

In 12 months time, we could be suffering from Sam Smith fatigue as this bloke is about to explode. A white man from Cambridgeshire who can sing like a black woman and make you cry in the process. And to think "Nirvana" is essentially about having a quick shag with someone you don't know.

 

13: MARGARET BERGER / I FEED YOU MY LOVE

Not just a spectacular Eurovision entry - a spectacular track. Period. Norweigen ice-queen (I'm sure she's lovely really) battles it out with a production that almost feels like big North Sea waves crashing against a ship. A 4th place finish, which for Norway was a victory, was an injustice.

 

12: LANA DEL RAY VS CEDRIC GERVAIS / SUMMERTIME SADNESS

Moody songstress Lana is dragged kicking and screaming to the white isle with results resembling amazeballs.

 

11: BREACH / EVERYTHING YOU NEVER HAD (WE HAD IT ALL)

Another house anthem sounding like it was made in 1990 and later passed as something new 23 years later, but with a dash of fresh lime on top. Of course, 1990 was a seminal year for dance music so we needn't complain.

Edited January 2, 201411 yr by ScottyEm

HEY Scott here's what I like from 40-21. ^_^

 

40. MKS / Flatline

38. ALUNAGEORGE / Attracling Flies

37. NAUGHTY BOY FEAT EMELI SANDE / LITED

36. CALVIN HARRIS - Thinking About You

34. LITTLE MIX / MOVE

27. LORDE / Royals

24. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE / Take Back The Night

22. DUKE DUMONTE FEAT A*M*E (NEED U 100%)

21. ZEDD / CLARITY

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the input Santa Gary. I just hope the momentum of 2013 continues into '14.

Before I dish out the final top ten, here are the worst of 2013 in my humble (expert) opinion.

 

5: AVICII / WAKE ME UP

Slap a donk on a country/western song shouldn't work. And to my ears, it didn't. The fact 1.2million people disagreed doesn't change things. One of the most irritating sounds of the year.

 

4: THE WANTED / SHE WALKS LIKE RHIANNA

All those involved need a good shaking. And since when did Rhianna have such a distinguised "walk" anyway? I bet 1D were proper smug when they heard this!

 

3: ROBBIE WILLIAMS / GO GENTLE

Yes, go gentle... and then attack repeatedly with something very sharp and hefty.

 

2: YLVIS / WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY

A not even remotely funny joke then enhanced into a "conventional" pop/dance single. A very uncomfortable listen.

 

1: JESSIE J / IT'S MY PARTY

Odious, obnoxious and narcissistic. Jessie I'd rather roll around in my own faeces than attend your party.

10 - 1 coming up tomorrow...

10 - 6

 

 

10: CHVRCHES / THE MOTHER WE SHARE

It seems the world just wasn't quite ready for Chvrches in 2013 but "The Mother We Share" can safely claim the title of cult classic, thanks to it's whirling, wonderous electro fuzzy production and a hook big enough to hang your coat on.

 

 

09: JOHN NEWMAN / LOVE ME AGAIN

Let's put the "artist" to one side, for John Newman sounds like a drunk Ronan Keating when performing live - depsite his record company trying to palm him off as some nu-northern soul sensation. A sad reality, considering the sheer force of this "let's throw everything in, along with the iamspamamispamwhoamspam sink" anthem. The song will live on beyond Mr Newman.

 

 

08: CHRIS MALINCHAK / SO GOOD TO ME

You know change is upon us when a song as cool and laid back as "So Good To Me" can come sooo close to topping the charts. Quite a feat, once upon a time this wouldn't trouble anywhere beyond Cafe Mambo.

 

 

07: LONDON GRAMMAR / STRONG

Stripped back, minimal, atmospheric sounds is a crowded market to enter but luckily London Grammar remembered to bring substance.

 

 

06: CHASE AND STATUS FEAT MOKO / COUNT ON ME

Everyone loves a rave up in an early 90s sort of way. "Count On Me" united balding, chubby 40-somethings who were there the first time together with ripped, tan-tastic 19 year olds who were discovering the sound of 1991-breakbeat rave for the first time. Also, how amazing is Mokos hair?? VERY!

 

Edited January 2, 201411 yr by ScottyEm

5 - 1

 

5: FOXES / YOUTH (SEAMUS HAJI MIX)

Well, the answer to the question in track No.21 is a resounding yes! After paying her way as a feature vocalist with Zedd and Rudimental (of course), she went it alone on the rather lovely "Youth". However, it's long-established remixer to the stars Seamus Haji that really takes this to a new stratosphere! Rather like his stupidly amazing mix of Roisin Murphy "Overpowered", Haji adds plenty of drops and fizz to keep hands firmly in the air.

 

 

4: DISCLOSURE / F FOR YOU

If there is one thing these superhero's of dance are capable of, it's making everything sound unbelievably lush and crisp. Initially intended to be sung by someone else, it was eventually decided younger brother Howard would remain the vocalist (he sounds effortlessly cool) after all. Underground sounding, but still managed to trouble the top 20.

 

 

3: BEN PEARCE / WHAT I MIGHT DO

I will always be in debt to Tesco -_-

 

 

2: STORM QUEEN / LOOK RIGHT THROUGH (MK REMIX)

It's another one of those house tracks that was probably made in 1991 but left to gather dust and later passed on as something new to an unassuming public. Just a touch of spit and polish and, a second verse and a number one hit. It really is like phase 2 of house music - records grow organically from the underground to the mainstream. Still not sure what the video is about though...

 

 

1: DISCLOSURE FEAT ALUNAGEORGE / WHITE NOISE

It really could not be anything else. The soundtrack to every bar, club, festival and just about every public space with a sound system in 2013. I was blown away by "Latch" in 2012 but this was what really created the love affair with the Lawrence brothers. The genius of "White Noise" still blows me away after hundreds of listens. It's the second drop that really makes this excellent track into something truly unbelievable. And one of the best selling singles of the year - Joe Public did good! Bloody rubbish video though...

Excellent chart, a lot of commercial house here. I'm more into trance and dance-pop but I do absolutely LOVE the Disclosure album and it's great to see F For You so high as I know a lot of people don't seem too fussed by it but it's an alnbum highlight for me.

Excellent chart, a lot of commercial house here. I'm more into trance and dance-pop but I do absolutely LOVE the Disclosure album and it's great to see F For You so high as I know a lot of people don't seem too fussed by it but it's an alnbum highlight for me.

 

Cheers buddy, yes I can see some similarities with your year-end chart too - both of us rating Margaret Berger at exactly 13th place! Blindin track agreed! I like a bit of trance, though to be fair it's the trance of 99/00 I like rather than of late.

 

I'm actually obsessed with Disclosure!