What a year for music! If 2012 was the year of hipster nonsense, then 2013 was all about divas and trap music.
Here are my favorite songs of 2013:
1. Banks – Fall Over (Djemba Djemba Remix)
Banks’ entire album was basically on repeat during my trip to Iowa this summer. This remix was playing when I got pulled over and slapped with a speeding ticket.
2. Beyonce – Partition
2013 will officially go down as the year Beyonce won everything. In this video, she takes us to the strip club, Weimar Cinema style.
3. Iggy Azalea – Work
This song is totally appropriate given the amount of consulting work that I picked up this year. I also love the Miami shoutout in the chorus!
4. Ciara – I’m Out
I had written Ciara off until she came out with this video. Check out the epic tennis skirt!
5. Janelle Monae / Erykah Badu – Queen
I was lukewarm about Janelle until this collaboration with Erykah Badu.
6. Rihanna – Pour it Up
An Augies’ favorite since last year, in this video RiRi gives us some Joseline Hernandez realness. Where’s Stevie?
7. Machine – There But For the Grace of God
This song started appearing in several DJ sets this year. I love the lyric: “Let’s find a place they say/ somewhere far away / with no blacks, no Jews and no Gays!”
8. Josef Salvat – Hustler (Kry Wolf Remix)
Josef is a guilty pleasure. Like Lykke Li, I prefer him remixed.
9. Brooke Candy – Das Me
What hasn’t been said about the Hoodrat Drew Barrymore?
10. Lorde – Bravado (FFFRRANNNO Remix)
This was the breakout year for Lorde. I prefer this song (and in particular, this remix) to Royals though.
11. French Montana – Marble Floors
Rick Ross makes this song. I will forever associate this song with this summer’s trip to Chicago Gay Pride. I may have been blasting this, windows-down, while driving through South Side Chicago in a rented BMW. Class and elegance.
12. Roosevelt – Soleil
This song was an essential part of many DJ sets this year. I think I prefer the typical 1 minute clip to the full thing though.
13. Disclosure – January (Kaytranada Edition)
Disclosure was also mainstay of many of this year’s best DJ sets. I remember describing this remix of January as “romantic.” – Unlike other artists on this list, Disclosure songs are great in their original format as well.
14. French Montana / Nicki Minaj – Freaks
French Montana got a lot of help this year. Impeccable production and heavy-hitting guest stars. His verses are forgettable but the chorus and Nicki’s part made this song amazing.
15. 2 Chainz – Birthday Song
2 Chainz is another artist that I was lukewarm about until this year. His guest spots were alright but his singles were boring…until now. Although his lyrics are random at best, the chorus is hilarious. Check out the video too…
16. Grum – In Love
This song reminds me of the type of house music I loved when I first moved to Miami. The extended remixes are great for long drives home from the bar.
17. Banks – Work
Banks’ only non-remixed club song. I think it should be in every drag queen’s repatriate.
18. Robyn – Dancing On My Own (Fred Falke Remix)
I know this is an old song, but I only got around to truly appreciating it this year. This is the song you’re playing on repeat after a horrible date (which there were a lot of this year.)
19. Chris Brown – Love More (Famous Affairs Remix)
Everyone else has moved on, but I’m still salty with Chris Brown. Can’t deny the awesomeness of the chorus and this trap mix.
20. Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball (Caked Up Remix)
It was a strange year for Miley. She went from annoying, to lurid and boring (the worst possible mix.) She’s also the reason why every black person got to explain twerking to their white friends. This trap remix of Wrecking Ball almost makes her annoying shenanigans worth it. Almost. Just keep your tongue in your mouth, girl.
21. KLP – Hands (Dcup Deep Bitch Remix)
This is another under-appreciated artist and drag mainstay. She’s Australian, so I’m not sure if she’s every fully going to blow up in America. Check out the rest of her music here.
22. School of the Seven Bells – The Night
I have loved this band since I first saw them on MTVU in college. The Ben Curtis, one half of the duo, just died last night. I hope to see more music from Alejandra Deheza soon though, either under as SVIIB or a solo artist.
23. Lorde – Million Dollar Bills
This is my second favorite Lorde song. It reminds me a lot of old school M.I.A.
24. London Future / Djemba Djemba – Look at Me Now
Djemba Djemba produced some of the best trap remixes of 2012 and 2013. I’m hoping he does more collaborations with this singer because this song is amazing. Another banger for a long drive home.
25. Katy B – 5AM
Oh, Katy B has come a long way since her dubstep queen days. She’s released a string of consistently good “It’s the weekend and let’s dance” songs, (and 5AM is one of them.) I’m almost bored, but still amused.
26. Danny Brown – Dip
Danny Brown is crazy. I was first exposed to him at Augies and at the hiphop floor of the Gay 90’s – he makes those awesome songs that you’re desperately trying to Google the next day. Dip is the highlight of this album, and he’s released several similar singles.
27. Fergie – A Little Party Never Killed Nobody
Oh Fergie. Whatever happened to Fergie? This song was the leading anthem for the Great Gatsby, which is the only movie that I was truly excited to see this year. Like the movie, it’s fluff, but fun. Maybe this single would have done better if she wasn’t preggers and could have promoted it more.
28. Major Lazer – Get Free
This is another song that came out last year but which I only got around to in 2013. I love the video and the melancholy feel of the track.
29. Zedd – Clarity (Brillz Remix)
This was the top 40 house song which everyone wanted to hate, but couldn’t. I just want to go to Oak City Grill and party with the broskis when I hear this track.
30. Eva Simons – I Don’t Like You (Falke Remix)
I blame Lush Bar for this track. Lush and the Saloon had Eva Simons videos on repeat this year. After seeing her videos 1,000 times I finally got over the awful hair and downloaded her music.
31. Dillon Francis – Masta Blasta
Dillon Francis is one of the latest Diplo proteges to make an impact on the trap music scene. My only gripe is that his music doesn’t sound much different than something Diplo could have produced himself.
32. Beyonce – Beauty Hurts
Oh Yonce. This is my second favorite track on the album. You can catch me singing it throughout my parking ramp before the cops come.
33. Robin Thicke – Give It 2 U
Robin Thicke is like that borderline sketchy guy at the bar who you’ll flirt with, but never leave your drink unattended around. We are charmed, but wary.
34. School of the Seven Bells – Secret Days
Another quality SVIIB track. The best part is the melody right before the chorus.
35. 2 Chainz – I’m Different
This was another one of those songs that I’d tried to desperately Google the next day. I misheard the lyrics 20 different ways before finally finding it. It’s the perfect 1 a.m. anthem.
36. TNGHT – Higher Ground
Trap music was really important this year. THGHT’s “Higher Ground” is responsible for many of my neighbors’ noise complaints.
37. Florence and the Machine – Spectrum (Calvin Harris Edit)
I wish Florence and Calvin would do an entire album together. This is the best thing since Sweet Nothing.
38. Die Antwoord – Fatty Boom Boom
This is possibly the best video of the year. Check out the contacts!
39. Tyga – Molly
I don’t care for the drug reference, but the chorus is certainly catchy.
40. MIA. – Fallschirm
Surprisingly the only German entry on this year’s chart, Fallschirm probably has the strongest lyrics of any of the songs.
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