'So Good To Me' is an all-time favourite for me. That song is the purest form of summer

Like all those 5 #2s a lot but my favourites are “White Noise” and “Pompeii”.

“I love It” is very good and “Mirrors” is epic.

I was never that big a fan of Just Give Me a Reason and overplay didn't help, but I really like the other four of those #2 picks. White Noise is my favourite, Disclosure's first album was a big favourite for me back in the day, Latch and You & Me were also wonderful singles I still enjoy today.

Of course, Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead is probably the most notable just for how much of a unique, polarising chart event it was, the news announcement in the place of the song was quite something to behold, entirely impossible to judge it purely musically in the circumstances, but a great one for chart historians.

For the number 1s, I Love It and Mirrors are both great songs that managed to survive the Kiss FM overplay, for how amazing Macklemore's come across recently, I've never been that big on his music, Can't Hold Us got ludicrously overplayed, Thrift Shop is his best though, still very fun and quotable.

My three favourite #2s of the year actually aren't on your list:

1 Avicii - Hey Brother

2 Passenger - Let Her Go

3 Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man

However all those on your list are great too and aren't far behind for me - 'Pompeii' would be next.

Interesting that 'Just Give Me A Reason' was the only #2 to peak there for multiple weeks in 2013. I think there must be at least two in every other year (if we count 'APT.' last year, as it first made #2 in 2024 and 'Love Me Not' was last year's only other).

Edit: 2011 has just one multi-week #2 also with 'Moves Like Jagger'. Although 2013 still had more #2s overall, so a lower percentage with more than a week.

2 Royals - Lorde.

Number one for 1 week

Year end number 44 (98 in 2014)

Number 2 watch -

You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You - James Arthur

My top two are both brilliant and worthy of 10s.

Royals was the debut single by New Zealand singer songwriter Lorde (real name Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor) and was initially included on her debut EP The Love Club and then also her debut album Pure Heroine. It was her first, and so far criminally, her only UK number one.

At 16 Lorde became the youngest solo artist to score a UK number one single since 15 year old Billie Piper in 1998.

In short it’s a brilliant and groundbreaking song, both lyrically and musically. The lyrics critique the extravagant lifestyle (cars, jewellery, clothes etc) presented in songs and music videos by popular musicians, making them appear like modern day royalty. It is also a class and social commentary on how this pretty much unobtainable life doesn’t reflect most young people’s reality, growing up in drab circumstances, amid a popular culture that flaunts luxury brands and celebrates consumerism.

For the music Lorde said she took her inspiration from both indie pop (like Lana Del Ray) and hip hop (such as Jay-Z and Kanye West), with a minimalistic wonderfully stark sound. I particularly love the percussion, the hip hop beats, the rhythmical finger clicks, the bass and most of all the fantastic

s   p   a   c   e  in the song, Lorde not being frightened to leave silence throughout. The vocals are also great, especially the fantastic layers of harmonies in the chorus.

Aside from being a such brilliant song it became one of the most influential of the decade with many artists, such as the equally fantastic Billie Eilish, going on to adopt its minimalist style. It completely rewrote the rules for young women making radio-friendly pop, but perhaps the ultimate accolade (especially for Lorde herself, who was a huge fan) was the late great David Bowie describing her as the future of music.

Amazingly (or maybe obviously?) it was just the beginning, Lorde would next go on to make the best pop album of the century so far.….

10

Quiz -

1. Answer - Harlem Shake  - Baauer

2. Robbie Williams' album "Swings Both Ways" became the 1000th to reach the UK number one spot in November 2013. What was the first album to top the UK charts back in 1956?

1 Get Lucky - Daft Punk Feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers.

Number one for 4 weeks

Year end number 2

Number 2 watch -

So Good To Me - Chris Malinchak

Let Her Go - Passenger

Get Lucky was the lead single from Daft Punk’s fourth and final studio album, Random Access Memories. It was Daft Punks first and only UK number one but Pharrell’s first of four, and I’ve just realised he has bookended my countdown (and appeared in the middle too), that’s quite an achievement, to have both the best and worst number one of the year! The collaboration between them all apparently came about after many years of friendship and previous remix and production work together.

Daft Punk were obviously already a groundbreaking electronic band especially on their early albums, but on their final album Random Access Memories they moved towards warmer analog instrumentation and ‘live’ music. I love both, though I know not everyone does.

I’ve always been a huge fan and it was great to see them get such success at the end of their careers. Looking backwards to their own influences, to go forwards. What a swansong!

The lyrics according to Williams, are about connecting with someone, as well as sexual chemistry. It’s full also of great positive sentiments like ‘We’ve come too far to give up who we are’.

The music really sounds like a jam session revolving around Rodgers’ fantastic immediately recognisable funky rhythmic guitar. Weaved around this are 70s disco pop with house music influences all adding to the sense of euphoria. It feels futuristic but also nostalgic at the same time.

Everything is in its right place, a fantastic summery hit. Daft Punk’s brilliant futuristic funk, Pharrell’s great falsetto with Michael Jackson like vocal ad libs and of course Rodger’s signature guitar style holding the whole thing together. There was even a trend on YouTube for looping that wonderful melody on and on forever, the longer the better as far as I’m concerned! The gorgeous lifting pre chorus is also one of my particularly favourite parts. Then you’ve got the typically excellent Daft Punk vocoder-laden outro. Overall I love that, although it’s uptempo, dancy and full of optimistic hedonistic lyrics it somehow, to me, all still sounds a bit melancholic?

A great way to finish the countdown, the best song of the decade!

10

Quiz -

1. Answer - “Songs for Swingin' Lovers" by Frank Sinatra.

2. Lou Reed passed away in October 2013, with which seminal band of the 1960s was he a founder member?

The full list:-

1. Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers (10)

2. Royals - Lorde (10)

3. Mirrors - Justin Timberlake (9)

4. I Love It - Icona Pop ft Charli XCX (9)

5. Thrift Shop -  Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft Wanz (8)

6. Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus (8)

7. Somewhere Only We Know - Lily Allen (7)

8. Roar - Katy Perry (7)

9. La La La - Naughty Boy ft Sam Smith (7)

10. Look Right Through - Storm Queen (7)

11. Waiting All Night - Rudimental ft Ella Eyre (7)

12. Love Me Again - John Newman (6)

13. Get Up (Rattle) - Bingo Players ft Far East Movement (6)

14. Need U (100%) - Duke Dumont ft A*M*E (6)

15. We Can’t Stop - Miley Cyrus (6)

16. Animals - Michael Garrix (6)

17. Wake Me Up - Avicii (5)

18. Burn - Ellie Goulding (5)

19. Happy - Pharrell Williams (5)

20. Under Control - Calvin Harris & Alesso ft Hurts (5)

21. What About Us - The Saturdays ft Sean  Paul (5)

22. Counting Stars - OneRepublic (4)

23. I Could Be The One - Avicii & Nicky Romero (4)

24. The Monster - Eminem ft Rihanna (4)

25. Impossible - James Arthur (4)

26. Scream & Shout - will.i.am ft Britney Spears (4)

27. Skyscraper - Sam Bailey (3)

28. Talk Dirty - Jason Derulo ft 2 Chainz (3)

29. Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble - PJ & Duncan (2)

30. One Way Or Another (Teenage Kicks) - One Direction (2)

31. Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke ft T.I. &                                 Pharrell Williams (2)

So that’s the full countdown, thanks for the chance to do this Julian, it was a bit of a journey and a whole lot of fun. And thanks everyone for all your comments, contributions and support, it’s much appreciated!

Finally, the last quiz answer -

1. Velvet Underground.

I’m not sure if anyone was following along with the quiz, but I’d already done the work so decided to continue with it! Hope someone enjoyed it! If so, how many did you get right?

Anyway it’s time to pass the baton on to Jester for a 2014 number one ranking. I’m confident it will be fantastic!

But I’d love to see all your rankings too, if you feel inclined!

Eventhough Royals is a cool piece of music, it never clicked with me 100%, so this is just my #16. However, this already correspondents to the range very good. Get Lucky is of cause a brilliant pop songs and also a standout for me with final ranking #4.

So this is my final ranking with Jaz's ranking in brackets.

01. Icona Pop Feat. Charlie XCX - I Love It (4)

02. Naughty Boy, Sam Smith - La La La (9)

03. Avicii - Wake Me Up (17)

04. Daft Punk Feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers - Get Lucky (1)

05. One Republic - Counting Stars (22)

06. John Newman - Love Me Again (12)

07. Katy Perry - Roar (8)

08. Eminem Feat. Rihanna - The Monster (24)

09. Lily Allen - Somewhere Only We Know (7)

10. Jason Derulo Feat. 2 Chainz - Talk Dirty (28)

11. Ellie Goulding - Burn (18)

12. Storm Queen - Look Right Through (MK Remix) (10)

13. Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball (6)

14. Martin Garrix - Animals (16)

15. Duke Dumont Feat. A*M*E - Need You (100%) (14)

16. Lorde - Royals (2)

17. Pharrell Williams - Happy (19)

18. Rudimental Feat. Ella Eyre - Waiting For You (11)

19. Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop (15)

20. Avicii & Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One (23)

21. The Saturdays Feat. Sean Paul - What About Us (21)

22. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Feat. Wanz - Thrift Shop (5)

23. Calvin Harris & Alesso Feat. Hurts - Under Control (20)

24. Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams – Blurred Lines (31)

25. Will.I.Am Featuring Britney Spears - Scream & Shout (26)

26. Justin Timberlake - Mirrors (3)

27. Sam Bailey - Skyscraper (27)

28. One Direction – One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks) (30)

29. PJ & Duncan – Let's Get Ready to Rhumble (29)

30. James Arthur - Impossible (25)

31. Bingo Players Feat. Far East Movement - Get Up (Rattle) (13)

Thank you @Jaz13music for this brilliant ride through 2013 and looking forward to Jester and 2014.

Thanks for following along @DaTilt. It was lovely seeing your list gradually evolving through the thread!

Get Lucky would be top 5, fab track, it's all done beautifully, Royals I never quite got, more midtable for me I think.

Great rundown Jaz!

Happy to see the Lorde and saviour so high up I was instantly fond of 'Royals' for all the reasons you stated and it's held up so well. Her career has been really special for me to follow, as we're the same age, so I feel like I've grown into adulthood alongside her lyrics since I was 16. I understand 'Royals' didn't perform too well in BJSC, before I joined, so the forum is not always ahead of the curve!

'Get Lucky' is amazing too <3 for some reason it was a slow burner for me so not sure what planet I was originally on. But it's timeless. Wonderful winner here!

I think my own top 10 would look something like this:

01 Lorde - Royals 👑

02 Daft Punk - Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers)

03 Duke Dumont - Need U (100%) (feat. A*M*E)

04 Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

05 Naughty Boy - La La La (feat. Sam Smith)

06 Storm Queen - Look Right Through

07 Martin Garrix - Animals

08 Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball

09 John Newman - Love Me Again

10 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz)

Great job with this countdown, Jaz 👏 I really enjoyed reading your thoughts.

'Royals' I like in a way, but she'd go on to have much better than this.

'Get Lucky' was a defining song of the year, unexpectedly blew up from nowhere at the time! I always feel it works better with a more dancy remix though, which I'd often hear out.

I've never really get a fan of Get Lucky, but I did go through a phase of liking Royals. Actually it's still pretty decent.

Great pick for #1. 'Get Lucky' is a funky jam.

'Royals' is unfortunately one I never quite 'got' but it is still fine enough. Agree with Jessie Where on Lorde having better to come!

My rank

2013

1 Avicii - Wake Me Up

2 OneRepublic - Counting Stars

3 Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball

4 John Newman - Love Me Again

5 Daft Punk Ft Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers - Get Lucky

6 Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

7 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Ft Wanz - Thrift Shop

8 Avicii Ft Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One

9 Katy Perry - Roar

10 Rudimental Ft Ella Eyre - Waiting All Night

11 Naughty Boy Ft Sam Smith - La La La

12 Eminem Ft Rihanna - The Monster

13 Lorde - Royals

14 Icona Pop Ft Charli XCX - I Love It

15 James Arthur - Impossible

16 Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and T.I. - Blurred Lines

17 Calvin Harris Ft Hurts & Alesso - Under Control

18 will.i.am Ft Britney Spears - Scream & Shout

19 Storm Queen - Look Right Through

20 Martin Garrix - Animals

21 PJ and Duncan - Let's Get Ready To Rhumble

22 Duke Dumont Ft A*M*E - Need U (100%)

23 The Saturdays Ft Sean Paul - What About Us

24 Ellie Goulding - Burn

25 Lily Allen - Somewhere Only We Know

26 Pharrell Williams - Happy

27 Sam Bailey - Skyscraper

28 Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop

29 One Direction - One Way Or Another (Teenage Kicks)

30 Bingo Players Ft Far East Movement - Get Up (Rattle)

31 Jason Derulo Ft 2 Chainz - Talk Dirty

Thanks for presenting Jaz, liked the added quiz element too!

Fantastic #1. 'Get Lucky' drew together all those house and funk influences and still made it sound futuristic - and somewhat melancholic as you say. Not only did it give Daft Punk a long-deserved #1, but also Nile Rodgers as a performer since Chic never got there, also he produced several #1s before. 'Royals' is great too - unbelievable that after opening Lorde's career at #1, she hasn't yet had even another Top 10 hit ('What Was That?' was robbed of that last year).

I think my top 10 might be:

1. Pharrell Williams - Happy

2. Daft Punk ft Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers - Get Lucky

3. Avicii - Wake Me Up

4. Avicii & Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One

5. Lorde - Royals

6. Icona Pop ft Charli XCX - I Love It

7. OneRepublic - Counting Stars

8. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft Wanz - Thrift Shop

9. Naughty Boy ft Sam Smith - La La La

10. Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

Thanks Jaz for the countdown, I enjoyed your commentaries throughout!

Great countdown to follow Jaz, and a brilliant finish with two of my big favourites too. Royals is unbelievable for all the reasons you mentioned, I love the minimal feel to it with the clicking, and the lyrics are amazing. Get Lucky was such a good comeback single, a breath of fresh air when it came out, very funky, feelgood and quotable lyrics. Here is my list:

1. Lorde - Royals

2. Avicii Ft Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One

3. Avicii - Wake Me Up

4. Katy Perry - Roar

5. Daft Punk Ft Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers - Get Lucky

6. will.i.am Ft Britney Spears - Scream & Shout

7. Icona Pop Ft Charli XCX - I Love It

8. OneRepublic - Counting Stars

9. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Ft Wanz - Thrift Shop

10. Pharrell Williams - Happy

11. Lily Allen - Somewhere Only We Know

12. Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and T.I. - Blurred Lines

13. Martin Garrix - Animals

14. Naughty Boy Ft Sam Smith - La La La

15. Ellie Goulding - Burn

16. Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball

17. John Newman - Love Me Again

18. Duke Dumont Ft A*M*E - Need U (100%)

19. The Saturdays Ft Sean Paul - What About Us

20. Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

21. Rudimental Ft Ella Eyre - Waiting All Night

22. Sam Bailey - Skyscraper

23. PJ and Duncan - Let's Get Ready To Rhumble

24. Storm Queen - Look Right Through

25. Calvin Harris Ft Hurts & Alesso - Under Control

26. Eminem Ft Rihanna - The Monster

27. Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop

28. Jason Derulo Ft 2 Chainz - Talk Dirty

29. One Direction - One Way Or Another (Teenage Kicks)

30. James Arthur - Impossible

31. Bingo Players Ft Far East Movement - Get Up (Rattle)

Love the top 10, I like down to PJ and Duncan, don't mind Storm Queen, Calvin and Eminem, and can definitely leave the bottom five.

My pick for number 1 as well so great choice!

Fab countdown, thanks Jaz.

Great countdown @Jaz13music, I really enjoyed following along.

My top 15 would be:

1. The Saturdays Ft Sean Paul - What About Us

2. Ellie Goulding - Burn

3. Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Ft Wanz - Thrift Shop

5. Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball

6. Lily Allen - Somewhere Only We Know

7. John Newman - Love Me Again

8. Icona Pop Ft Charli XCX - I Love It

9. OneRepublic - Counting Stars

10. Lorde - Royals

11. Jason Derulo Ft 2 Chainz - Talk Dirty

12. Naughty Boy Ft Sam Smith - La La La

13. Eminem Ft Rihanna - The Monster

14. Avicii - Wake Me Up

15. Rudimental Ft Ella Eyre - Waiting All Night

'Royals' was absolute brilliance from a 16 year old, Lorde was so ahead of her time. It was incredible enough she got to #1 in her own country, let alone both sides of the pond. My #1 for sure!