Review: Top 100 Songs of 2013

Here I've combined all the parts of my reviews of the top 100 songs of 2013 according to Billboard. 







1. Thrift Shop - Macklemore 
I love Macklemore. I just had to get that out there. He raps about real issues and not just about some hot chick he's banging in the club or whatever normal rap is about. A lot of people think Thrift Shop is just a funny song, and it is funny. It's hilarious. But I personally think that, like most of Macklemore's songs, this is making a statement about our country and how much we spend on clothes.

2. Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke feat. T.I + Pharrell
Oh.... oh. Can we just go back to Macklemore? No but really. I really have nothing good to say about this song. The beat and the tone of Thicke's voice annoy me, the video is just ridiculous, but more than anything the lyrics creep me out. There was actually an article written, where the lyrics of this song were compared to things rape victims were told by their rapists. Some of the gems include "I know you want it", "you're a good girl", "do it like it hurt, what you don't like work?", "I'll give you something to tear your *** in two", etc. The title of the song even implies that lines CAN be blurred and that no doesn't really mean no.

3. Radioactive - Imagine Dragons
That's better. I personally love this song. An ex-boyfriend of mine introduced me to Imagine Dragons back before they even surfaced on Top 40 stations and were merely playing on our local indie rock station, and I've been in love with them since. This is a wonderful song. The video's kind of weird, but good, indie-vibe, quirky weird, in my opinion.

4. Harlem Shake - Baauer
I don't even.... I really didn't know this was considered a song people listened to. I thought it was some weird craze thing for people to upload to Youtube. And like lots of other fads, I never really got it and kind of thought it was done.

5. Can't Hold Us - Macklemore feat. Ray Dalton 
Maybe it's just my fondness of Macklemore, but I love this song, too. The inhuman speed with which he raps and just the overall party-vibe, carefree feel of the song is great.

6. Mirrors - Justin Timberlake
Honestly, I had to look up the lyrics to this song to even be able to review it at all. The lyrics themselves are nice, sweet, blah blah blah, and the video that I've seen a number of times is nice. I'm just not a big Justin Timberlake fan and never really was, but I don't find anything inherently wrong with this song except maybe that it's just another generic Timberlake song.

7. Just Give Me a Reason - P!nk feat. Nate Ruess of fun. 
I lovelovelove this song. I love Pink in general, so I guess it's kind of a give in, but still. Nate and Pink's voices sound like angels singing, especially together, the lyrics are beautiful and proof that love isn't always easy or simple but worth working and fighting for, and the music video is a beautiful concept. A+.

8. Bruno Mars - When I Was Your Man
Meh. To me, with his latest album Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars has kind of lost a lot of what I liked about him with his first album. All his videos look like he's trying to be the next Michael Jackson and the lyrics to his songs all kind of blend together. He loves a girl, I understand. The concept of the song is fine, I guess, with him pining over what he should've could've would've done, but really, let's go back to Just the Way You Are. Please.

9. Cruise - Florida Georgia Line feat. Nelly
This song, in one word summarized, would be overplayed. Maybe it's just because I had a mother, younger brother, and boyfriend in 2013 all obsessed with country so I heard this song more than it was actually played on the Top 40 radio stations, but I'm just tired of it. There's nothing terribly wrong with it, except maybe the over-sexualization of girls in the video, but that's just the feminist in me I guess. My hope is this song dies down in 2014, because FGL has some great songs (go listen to 'Stay') but this is by no means their best.

10. Roar - Katy Perry
Roar is kind of another victim of overplayed, but not to the point that I hate it. My problem with Katy Perry is her lyrics are oftentimes so beautiful and amazing but get lost in a bubblegum pop beat so that most people aren't even hearing her. I personally do love this song for its anthem of empowerment, as well as a cute video with a sexy but not exploited Katy. I love Katy in general because most of her songs seem like anthems for the heartbroken teenager in us all - Boys suck, girls rock, let's go take over a rainforest. Or something.

11. Locked Out Of Heaven - Bruno Mars
My opinion still stands on Bruno, and the fact that I've already said most of what I wanted to about him in my previous snippet is kind of sad. The song's alright, kind of makes girls into sex objects which I'm not all for but it's fine. He just needs to lose the 'fro and the 70s/80s vibe of his videos and go back to volunteering to catch grenades here in 2013.


12. Ho Hey - The Lumineers
I really like this song, I do, but to me it falls victim of Top 40 trying to broaden it's horizons and pick up the catchiest indie song they can and smack it in the middle of the fray. The Lumineers have so many beautiful songs and this is by no means their best. The song itself actually has really beautiful lyrics but the only lyrics most seem to know is "Hey hey!"

13. Stay - Rihanna
I'm not a huge fan of Rihanna, honestly, for no reason really other than I'm not a fan of that style of music in general, but this is a really unexpectedly beautiful song with a simple, beautiful video. There isn't much else to stay, the lyrics, concept, video, etc., are all pretty straightforward. She wants you to stay.

14. Get Lucky - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams
This is a cool song with a cool beat and cool video - it's not something I regularly listen to, or even really irregularly listen to, but there's nothing really all that wrong with it. Pentatonix, an acapella group, do an amazing cover of it that I prefer, honestly, but the original is just... meh. It doesn't disgust me, but it doesn't impress me either.

15. Royals - Lorde
I adore this song. There's a lot of controversy with people saying that Lorde is now living the kind of lifestyle she's dissing in the song, but I don't think that's true, and I think many are missing the point. She's not saying it's bad to live comfortably, only to feel so entitled and privileged that you drown in excess wealth and do things like trash hotel rooms. I hope to hear more from her in 2014 because she bridges the gap between indie pop/rock and Top 40 pop music very effectively.

16. I Knew You Were Trouble - Taylor Swift
It's hard to review this song from a neuteral perspective because, as anyone who knows me knows, I'm a closet die-hard T.Swift fan. This song isn't my favorite, for the same reason I don't ADORE Katy Perry's Roar- the lyrics, at least to me, are very beautiful and meaningful but don't at all match the tempo of the song. This is evidenced even further by the video, in which Taylor wakes up in a wasteland and delivers a heartfelt monologue before the song lapses into bubblegum pop.

17. We Can't Stop - Miley Cyrus
This just makes me sad. I was a big Hannah Montana / Miley fan when I was younger, and seeing her being the way she is now just makes me sad. This isn't me saying she's not allowed to grow up, I just wish she'd done it a little more gracefully. She did, for a bit, with Who Owns My Heart and Can't Be Tamed, but then this appeared and... no. It just makes me sad.

18. Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus
Ugh. Back to back? This song is actually really, really beautiful. I heard it for the first time on the radio and didn't even know it was Miley, I just thought it was a beautiful, relatable song. And then I saw the video. It wasn't her nakedness that turned me off of it, honestly. I've seen many celebrities use nudity in the same way and wasn't taken aback, so I'd be wrong to be disgusted by Miley. (See Katy and Britney for examples.) It was just the entire concept of the video, that seemed like a parody. It was as if she was making fun of herself, and not taking it seriously. She had the opportunity for a beautiful video and, in my opinion, threw it away.

19. Wake Me Up - Avicii
I actually really like this song, I just think it caught the overplayed bug. However, I don't cringe when it comes on the radio so maybe it's not TERRIBLY overplayed. The video is a nice concept, and the lyrics are actually really meaningful which you find less and less in music nowadays. Avicii is another that I'd never heard of before, but I definitely hope we hear more of in the future.

20. Suit & Tie - Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z
Yawn. This is just kind of another one of what I in my head call "generic radio songs"- I hear it and could honestly probably sing along with some of the lyrics if I thought about it but it doesn't really do anything for me. Maybe it's Justin Timberlake, I don't know. I'm just neutral on this song.

21. Cups - Anna Kendrick (From Pitch Perfect) 
This is a cute song. I loved Pitch Perfect (and I'm only a little ashamed of that...) and it was great in the movie, the full song and the video are cute. My only beef with this is how overdone it is. During my senior year of high school I literally couldn't sit through an entire lunch period without some girl at some table trying to impress someone that she could do the cup song.

22. Holy Grail - Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake 
I just don't get this song. In reading the lyrics, at least Justin Timberlake's first two verses, I understand the 'meaning', it's about a girl who keeps going back and forth in a relationship and can't make up her mind. But there's that part and then Jay-Z comes in with his profanity-laced verse and then Justin comes back and sings part of a Nirvana song? I prefer Kurt Cobain to this nonsense any day.... at least Cobain's nonsense was passionate. (and heroin-laced, true.)

23. Scream & Shout - will.i.am feat. Britney Spears
This song gets on my nerves more than it should for just a generic party anthem. I've been looking up the lyrics for each of the songs I've been reviewing in order to give a fair and informed review, and except for one verse that will.i.am raps in this song, the ENTIRE song is the same two lines. Over. and over. When there's so much music in the world, it irks me that something I could've written in 1st grade makes number 23 for the whole year.

24. Clarity - Zedd feat. Foxes
I have to say, I really like that 2013 saw so many breakout stars, and that among the predicted Taylor Swifts and Katy Perrys of these songs there are a bunch of artists I'd never heard before. The beat and sound of this song are kind of generic, but I really like this song and it's actually one I listen to on a regular basis. The lyrics have a meaning I relate to a lot, Zedd has a beautiful voice and she's a beautiful lady. I hope to hear more from her.

25. Sail - AWOLNATION
This is another example, much like The Lumineers' 'Ho Hey', that is an example of Top 40 picking up a really fantastic indie artist's most popular-sounding song and slapping it on popular radio. Don't get me wrong, I like Sail, the lyrics and beat. I just think that people who have only heard this one song by AWOLNATION should explore some more of his music because it's fantastic. And hey, maybe this is the first step in getting some good indie music in the mainstream.

26. Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia
Surprising to me is how many people I've come across who really don't like this song. I quite enjoy it. I like that the mainstream music so many people like right now are getting back some meaningful lyrics, and to me this is an inspiring song lyrically, even if it gets a little repetitive.

27. Diamonds - Rihanna
Let me just say, I am SO tired of hearing "shine bright like a diamond!" It's on clothes, and I feel like I hear it everywhere, all the time. I don't know what my opinion is of this song, honestly, because I'm just so sick of it. Just reading the lyrics, they're not too shabby, especially for a lady who sings about sex and whips and chains and S&M and whatnot. But seriously. Can we retire this song for the year?

28. I Love It - Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX
This is one of those songs that I don't really have an opinion on. Do I adore it? Not really, it's kind of just a generic pop song to me. I could get up on my high horse and talk about how I don't like how entitled the artist(s?) sound by saying they don't care that they 'crashed their car into a bridge', I won't. It's a generic party song and it does what it's supposed to do well.

29. Safe and Sound - Capital Cities
I have to say, again, that I really, really like that there are so many not-generic-bubblegum pop songs creeping into the mainstream, as well as those with REAL lyrics. This is another song I listen to not just by force, and I like it a lot.

30. Treasure - Bruno Mars
I get more and more tired of seeing Bruno Mars' name and smarmy little photo next to his songs on this billboard list every single time they pop up. My opinion on him still stands, it's a generic song without too much depth and a dumb MJ-wannabe feel to the video. (Sorry, Bruno Mars fans.)

31. The Way - Ariana Grande & Mac Miller
Ahhh, Ariana Grande. I have no qualms about admitting that I adore this little cutie. I followed her from Nickelodeon and I love that she broke out and is a 'real' artist. I know many find her voice annoying but I think she's full of talent, and her soulfulness pairs well with Mac Miller's verses. The video's adorable too, and if the two of them aren't dating, I totally am all for that.

32. Started From The Bottom - Drake
I've never really listened to Drake, on account of the fact that I'll always see him as Jimmy from Degrassi and his name will always be Aubrey Graham and not Drake to me, but this song, and Drake as a rapper in general, don't actually bother me despite my general avoidance of the genre. Perhaps it's because Drake seems a little bit more ... real? Than most rappers. However I feel the need to point out that he didn't really "start from the bottom", he started from a very successful TV show that helped launch his rap career.

33. Come & Get It - Selena Gomez
So I can't say I'm a total fan of this song, just because if I loved this then my basis for many of the songs I dislike would be completely unfounded. But I can't help it, I love this song. Selena Gomez, along with Demi Lovato, to me are the anti-Mileys of the world. They've aged out of their Disney era gracefully and with this video, Selena shows exactly how to be sexy without being skanky.

34. Hold On, We're Going Home - Drake feat. Majid Jordan
This song is very reminiscent of Suit & Tie for me in that if it played, I would know it and could sing along with it, but it doesn't really stick in my mind to be quite honest. I don't have any strong opinions on this, it's a song.

  35. Daylight - Maroon 5
Based on the lyrics of this song, I'd assume Adam Levine's "one more night" turned into quite a few more nights. I know that Maroon 5 actually write their own lyrics, so maybe Adam's really just having a hard time leaving a girl.... although you'd think with him being in a famous band and releasing two songs about wanting to leave would give her a hint? All joking a song I like this song. It's a solid Maroon 5 song and I've been a fan of them since I was in grade school.

36. Feel This Moment - Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera
I think this is the first song on this list that I'd actually never heard and I listened to it. I'm not impressed... it's what I was expecting from two celebrities who I rarely actually see just singing a song on their own anymore, but it's yet another generic pop song, repetitive without any kind of deeper meaning, which is something I just can't seem to latch on to.

37. Applause - Lady Gaga
Oh, dear, Lady Gaga. This song is just another Lady Gaga song to me, I honestly stopped paying attention to her around Poker Face. She's gone from strange and quirky to that weird aunt that no one really likes that much but comes around drunk and rambling about God knows what on holidays. She's trying, I guess I'll give her that much (??)

38. One More Night - Maroon 5 
Again, this is a solid Maroon 5 song. This is another one of the few Top 100 songs that I actually listen to of my own volition on my own time and it's good. Adam Levine is one of the few people who I think can put emotion, legitimate emotion, into his catchy-upbeat lyrics. So, good job, boys.

39. Love Me - Lil Wayne feat. Drake
I don't even know how this managed to make its way onto mainstream radio/top any songs. It's so profanity laden that I can't even get through it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not some uppity old lady who can't stand cussing, but this song is ridiculous. The entire premise of the song is "f--- the haters as long as [Lil Wayne's] b------ love him." Reading the lyrics for this too long make me want to puke a little.

40. My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark - Fall Out Boy
Yay, yay, yay. I love Fall Out Boy. I love that 2013 brought about the end of Fall Out Boy's hiatus. Most people didn't really like this song at first, or at least diehard Fall Out Boy fans didn't, and to be honest, I didn't either, but it definitely grew on me. And, despite the annoyingly repetitive chorus, the verses are full of Fall Out Boy's typical beautiful artistry.

41. F***** Problems - A$AP feat. Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar
This is another song that I'm surprised made it onto any top lists, because it's riddled with profanity. All I've ever gotten out of the song is he "Loves bad b*****, that's his f****** problem". I'm not a huge fan of this song personally but there's nothing that makes it any worse than any of the meaningless rap out there.

42. Beauty and a Beat - Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj
I really don't like either of these 'artists', so to me putting them together is just... bad. I actually like the title and the chorus of the song, if it were sung by people who actually possessed a modicum of talent, but as it is I think lyrics that might've actually been good get lost in the cliche pop-rap-hip-hop-whatever of Biebz and Nicki.

43. Same Love - Macklemore feat. Mary Lambert
I LOVE this song. First of all it's Macklemore and if you've been following my reviews you know that I love him. But it's such a powerful anthem for the LGBT movement. Macklemore delivers beautifully witty lyrics, catching listeners' attention with the first line, "When I was in the third grade, I thought that I was gay, cause I could draw, my uncle was, and I kept my room straight." The music video is additionally powerful and wonderful and amazing.

44. Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch
This song is alright, to me. It feels as though it's trying to cross mainstream pop with indie pop to me and it does a decent job at that, if it was the intention of the song. However, personally, I think that they're genres best left to their own devices.

45. Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey
I really like Lana Del Rey. I know many have mixed opinions about her, but I'm a big fan of her personally. And for once, mainstream media actually picked a good song of a breakout artist's to hype up. Maybe it's her wit or personality or something, I don't know, but for me in this song the meaningful lyrics paired with the up-tempo beat actually really work for once.

46. Home - Phillip Phillips
This is the kind of music I wish populated the charts more frequently. I love-love-love this song, although maybe it's just because I'm a sucker for these kind of feel-good acoustic songs in general. Phillip Phillips doesn't really have much competition in this particular niche of music right now, at least in the mainstream, so hopefully he'll do well.

47. It's Time - Imagine Dragons
I'm glad that so many Imagine Dragons songs are on these charts, because they're really a unique band with cool videos and imaginative lyrics. I also love any little snippets of lyrics that are all about empowerment, and as It's Time croons, "I'm never changing who I am."

 48. Power Trip - J. Cole feat. Miguel
This is the second song on this list that I've never ever heard/heard of, so I gave it a listen. I have to say I'm not impressed, honestly. The lyrics don't seem to fit together, although maybe as a rare connoisseur of rap music i just haven't really gotten the hang of deciphering it correctly. It's repetitive and kind of annoying, but whatever floats your boat, I suppose.

49. Girl on Fire - Alicia Keys feat. Nicki Minaj
This is another one I'm just so sick of hearing. It's definitely an Alicia Keys song, nothing really pops out as super interesting or unique in it to me. Maybe it's because The Hunger Games and this song came out so close together but I don't know, this song has gotten to internet-meme point and passed likeability for just being a song.

50. Heart Attack - Demi Lovato
Well I've been a Demi fan since she went into rehab for an eating disorder and came out with her story of a broken family, anorexia/bulima and self harm- she's always been one of my favorites because she's actually 'been through' stuff. This song is great, in my opinion, because it knocks down some of the 'expectations' of females, and talks about how it's a CHOICE girls make to 'wear perfume' and high heels.

51. Love Somebody - Maroon 5
While I do like this song, I'm not as big of a fan of it as I am as some of the other Maroon 5 songs that have hopped on this list. It's a decent song though, and the video concept in my opinion is very very cool.

52. I Will Wait - Mumford & Sons
To me this is a huge example of great band, not-great song to represent them. Honestly, I know there are other lyrics but the band repeats "I will wait, I will wait, I will wait for you" so many times that any other creative or imaginative lyrics drown in the midst. It might've been saved by a cool concept video, but it was just a live video, which to me are annoying from any artist, across any genre.

53. Try - P!nk
I LOVE this song. The lyrics, the video, plus just the fact in general that it's Pink, make me so happy. This year saw a lot more female empowerment and a lot less oppression in the lyrics coming from lots of women, in my opinion. Pink's always kind of been that way, but it's nice to see a softer side in the lyrics vs. just "I'm gonna get in trouble, I'm gonna start a fight."

54. Wagon Wheel - Darius Rucker
This is a song I've heard quite a lot because of the aforementioned obsession with country music my family and many of my close friends have. I actually didn't know it'd ever made its way onto mainstream radio but I have to say, I'd rather hear this kind of country than things like 'Cruise'. Rucker has a unique voice, a contagious happy-go-lucky personality and this song is just cute.

55. Gangnam Style - PSY
I just don't know. This is like the Harlem Shake to me- why is it even on this chart? The entire song except for "Eeeey, sexy lady!" and "Op, op, gangnam style!" is in a different language, the video's disturbing, the dance associated with it is weird and I'm just not a fan.

56. I Need Your Love - Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding
I really like Goulding, and this song is a good blend of styles and voices to me. With repeated listening it can get a little annoying but I kind of like it- I'll definitely rock out to it when it comes on the radio.

57. Die Young - Ke$ha
Die Young is just... a typical song, for Ke$ha. It has that carefree, party vibe so many have come to expect from her and I'm guessing it works for her considering she continues to release songs that make their way onto the charts. The video matches the song, with Ke$ha and a bunch of people partying and making the most of the night, like they're gonna die young. Personally I'd be doing something more meaningful with my life if I were going to die young, but to each her own.

58. Some Nights - fun.
I really, really like fun. They're a fantastic band with a unique sound and something different to say in each one of their songs. This song in particular I like, especially the little bit where he's talking in the middle. The Civil War era video is unique as well. It's a good song from a good band and I hope their fame continues into 2014.

59. Bad - Wale feat. Tiara Thomas
This song ... I don't like it. From the first line, "Monogamy or whatever you call it/I'm starting to think it ain't for everybody"... what? I understand the entire song is supposed to be about the rapper being 'bad', but to me this seems like those douche-y guys in high school who are trying to impress everybody by how much of a rebel they are.

60. Boys Round Here - Blake Shelton feat. Pistol Annies
I'll have to admit, I really didn't like this song when I first heard it, but for some inexplicable reason, it grew on me. The chant of "red-red-red-red-redneck" does get annoying, but having grown up and gone to high school in a small country town, this song has a wave of nostalgia for me. However it is the kind of twangy country that doesn't particularly appeal to me.


61. Gone, Gone, Gone - Phillip Phillips
I must say I am so happy this handsome, talented young lad has two songs on the charts this year after no one had even heard of him last year. Like Home, Gone has the sweet, happy acoustic melody that has placed Phillip Phillips on the charts. The video matches the song beautifully and I'm a huge fan of this man.

62. Demons - Imagine Dragons
Another artist who's made it on the charts, this is the third song from Imagine Dragons we're seeing, and personally my favorite. The lyrics to this song are haunting and beautiful, and you can really hear the struggle in the narration.

63. Counting Stars - OneRepublic
You literally cannot turn the radio on nowadays without this song playing on one of the Top 40 stations. I really do like the song and the message of it - that memories are more important than money- unfortunately it's just fallen another unfortunate victim of the curse of overplaying.

64. I Cry - Flo Rida
It's always impressed me how artists can ping pong from singing about things like the applebottom jeans and the boots with the fur, to a song and video as powerful as this. After seeing the video and hearing the song, I must say I gained a lot more respect for Flo Rida as an artist and a person.

65. Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men
I adore this song to death. Of Monsters and Men is a wonderful band completely deserving of even more than the modest amount of fame this song has earned them. Their quirky sound and innovative lyrics just really work, and work well.

66. The Other Side - Jason Derulo
For me, Jason Derulo is one of those artists whose songs all kind of blend together into one long background track for a party where everyone's talking over the music and not really impressed by it. It's... a Jason Derulo track. He is an attractive man and maybe that's part of the reason he does so well despite being quite uninspiring.

67. Berzerk - Eminem
Now, let me preface this by saying I'm a big Eminem fan. Besides Macklemore, he's probably the only rapper that I could name all the albums and most of the songs of- 8 Mile is one of my favorite movies and I think Eminem's just awesome. However, I've always been a fan of his 'deeper' tracks and I'm not a huge fan of songs done in the perspective of Slim Shady. I'd much prefer Monster or even Rap God be his name to fame this year, but at least he's back!

68. Catch My Breath - Kelly Clarkson
I love Kelly. She's such a beautiful young lady, and I've always loved that the only times I hear about her are in reguards to her music or something nice, like her wedding or pregnancy. She rises above celebrity gossip, and has a beautiful voice to boot. Her past 4 singles have all had a theme of empowerment and I love that. I love her. Nice job, Mrs. Clarkson.

69. Crash My Party - Luke Bryan
This song is actually a nice one coming from Mr. Bryan, who normally sings about partying and has more of the party anthems of country music. The song and video both are very geniune and profess Bryan's true love for whoever the lucky lady he's singing to is- I personally know *I'd* never leave the "front row of the best show" for my significant other, so kudos to him for being able to do so.

70. Pour It Up - Rihanna 
Taking a break, perhaps exhausted by the actual talent that went into "Stay", Rihanna returns with her typically boring lyrics about strip clubs and drinking, etc. etc. We understand, Rihanna, you like to have a good time. Go back to the beautiful simplicity of Stay. Please.

71. 22 - Taylor Swift
It disappoints me, as a T.Swift fan who really knows her full range of talent, that the songs that have made her most famous this year are all of her annoying bubblegum pop songs. 22 is a cute song with a cute music video, and I definitely like it, but she has so many more beautiful songs that I think would earn her more respect as an artist.

72. I Want Crazy - Hunter Hayes
Ever since I heard Wanted for the first time on the radio, I've been in love with Hunter Hayes. I think he's an extremely talented young man and a cutie to boot. This song didn't disappoint- and it's refreshing to actually hear a guy sing about being willing to work for love instead of expecting that of the girl.

73. What Does The Fox Say - Ylvis
No. Just no.

74. Best Song Ever - One Direction
I never really got drawn into the 1D phenomenon, thank goodness. From what I've heard of them, however, this is a solid, normal One Direction song. The lyrics are unimaginative as always but that's kind of to be expected, isn't it? (I'll be hiding from the hordes of mad preteen girls in my basement)

75. The A Team - Ed Sheeran
Unf. If any single person on this list could make me swoon, it would definitely be Ed Sheeran. I love every single one of his songs, every single thing about him in general is spectacular. This song in particular is really beautiful, and was written after Sheeran lived with the homeless for a few weeks to gain perspective for the song. Love.

76. Carry On - fun.
Well, if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm a sucker for inspiring/empowering songs, and this one is no exception. As someone who's been through stuff in life, I really love songs with the message you can keep going. Plus it's fun., and that's always a great thing, too.

77. Highway Don't Care - Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
This song and video concept, illustrating the dangers of texting and driving, are beautifully tragic. It doesn't have the annoying twangy country vibe that annoys me in so many country songs, it's simply a beautiful song from three beautifully talented people that gets the idea across very effectively.

78. That's My Kind Of Night - Luke Bryan
The amount of country on the charts this year is nearly unprecedented... I can't say I mind, if it's replacing the typical hiphop/rap. Next step - more indie rock! Anyway. This is... a typical Luke Bryan song. He's drinking beer with his friends and hanging out with his girl. Reminiscent of everyone I ever knew in high school, I think.

79. Swimming Pools - Kendrick Lamar
There was a kid in one of my classes my senior year who would sing this song every single day, and maybe that's the reason I'm so tired of hearing it. Or maybe because I'm tired of rap/hip hop songs in general that just discuss the absurd amount of liquor consumed by the artist. I get it. You like to get drunk. Next?

80. Sure Be Cool If You Did - Blake Shelton
Don't get me wrong, I actually kind of like this song. I think it's a cute song and for a country song it really isn't that annoying. It's just kind of weird, to me, that a nearly 40 year old man who's married is singing about picking up some girl in a bar... I'm not sure at what age exactly you're too old to pick up girls in bars but I feel like 40 is bordering on it.

81. #Beautiful - Mariah Carey feat. Miguel
I have to admit, the hashtag turned me off of the song immediately. Of all the trends that I hope are retired in 2014, that has to be one of the main ones. The lyrics of this song don't exactly jive with me - I feel like it should be a song a little less demeaning to women if it's called beautiful. Maybe #Sexy would've been a more proper name?

82. Troublemaker - Olly Murs feat. Flo Rida
I'd never heard this song before and I didn't go into it expecting a lot, but I was pleasantly surprised. This might actually be a song that I'd listen to on my own time. Murs kind of has a Maroon 5 sound about him, that I actually like, and the video was cute.

83. Body Party - Ciara
Maybe it's just the feminist in me but I really don't like songs where women turn themselves into nothing more than a sex object, almost as much as I don't like songs where men do the same thing. So, needless to say, this song gets a thumbs down from me.

84. Adorn - Miguel
Okay so this is just a typical I-want-sex song, whatever- but it really bothers me that I don't think Miguel knows what the word 'adorn' means. I don't know if he was trying to be original because Miley released a song singing about how "I adore you" earlier this year, but he keeps singing "I adorn you", and I don't know if he's stupid or being witty. But adorn and adore? Not the same thing.

85. Hall Of Fame - The Script feat. will.i.am
Maybe it's just nostalgia because this was our senior song and the song we walked to at graduation, but I love this song. It's a great song for anyone moving on to something different in their lives and has those empowering lyrics I keep praising.

86. Let Me Love You - Ne-Yo
This, like I Cry by Flo Rida, is an unexpected surprise from an artist like Ne-Yo, but one that I quite enjoy. Far from just making women sex objects, he sings about loving a girl until she learns to love herself, which is a concept not enough people nowadays understand- that girls don't need to always be saved, but rather just need someone to stand by them while they save themselves. I like this song.


87. U.O.E.N.O - Rocko feat. Future, Rick Ross
This is just a weird song, or maybe just a weird video. I can barely understand the lyrics but from what I gather it's just about having a lot of money. And I didn't make it through the whole song but Rick Ross? Really? Is slapping washed up artists with unknowns just a good way to make money now?

88. Next To Me - Emeli Sande
This woman definitely does have a beautiful voice and a lot of talent, and I'd love to hear her sing on some sort of ballad, but this is a little too annoying of a song for me. It's like Adele and Rolling in the Deep - I love Adele, but Rolling in the Deep just got tedious. So too, does Next To Me. Hopefully Sande will get another chance to prove herself in 2014 because I think she could do great things.

89. Mama's Broken Heart - Miranda Lambert
I LOVE this song- I love Lambert in general, but this song is just five stars. Too often girls are told, whether it be by their mothers or society or whoever, that they should just sit pretty and be quiet and accept whatever they're given. Miranda in this song and matching video gives the whole world a big F you on that front, and I couldn't agree more with her.

90. It Goes Like This - Thomas Rhett
Rhett is a new name to country and as such, I feel like he just wanted to release a safe, normal country song with nothing too unique about it. It worked for him, I guess, because he obviously made the charts, but for me personally I like breakout stars who do something a little original. I guess time will tell about Rhett.

91. Bugatti - Ace Hood feat. Future & Rick Ross
Again with Future and Rick Ross? No matter. This song and U.O.E.N.O. literally have very few differences for me, they're both obnoxious rappers who think waaaay too highly of themselves bragging about their infinite wealth. Yawn.

92. Wanted - Hunter Hayes
This is such a beautiful song, to me. Maybe it really isn't a unique concept, but it feels like one to me - instead of just singing to the love interest of the song about how she is beautiful and amazing and everything, Hayes specifies that he wants to make HER feel like she is those things. Maybe an insignificant difference to some, but as a young girl, it really does make all the difference.

93. Downtown - Lady Antebellum
Maybe it's just because I have a personal connection to this song (Girls, never be with a guy who says he 'doesn't like going out' or 'doesn't like dates' - it's code for plays video games 24/7) but this is a cute, upbeat, fun song in my opinion. Not Lady Antebellum's best, but by no means their worst.

94. Get Your Shine On - Florida Georgia Line
Maybe it's just that I don't really like FGL that much in the first place but this song is only slightly less annoying than Cruise. THIS is the kind of twangy country I keep dissing, folks.

96. Brave - Sara Bareilles
I must say I LOVE all the empowering songs that surfaced in 2013. This is no exception. I haven't really heard much from/about Bareilles since Love Song in 2008, but I'm glad she's still doing well because she has a fresh clean voice that I really enjoy hearing.

97. Let Her Go - Passenger
Some may be turned of by the slightly nasally sound of the lead singer of Passenger, but I really like them and this song. The meaning is true, and it's a nice video and nice song. Passenger is another I hope we hear more from because I think they could do great things.

98. Runnin' Outta Moonlight - Randy Houser
This, to me, is another generic country song, although the music video with the digitally altered sky is pretty cool. But, yeah, country song, guy's in love with girl and they're sneaking off to do ~whatever~ at night. Fine.

99. I'm Different - 2 Chainz
I love how the title of the song defies the entire song. He claims that he's different, yet the entire song sounds like a generic, normal, plain, profane rap song singing about f---in' your girl and all that. So, no, 2 Chainz, I hate to break it to you, you're not different.


100. Still Into You - Paramore
Paramore's new album with their new sound took a while to grow on me, and whether it be the departure of the Farro brothers or just the band growing up, I'll always be nostalgic for their emo-punk-rock sound. However, Still Into You is a great song and I like that there's another song about relationships being difficult at times.


Well, there you have it. The good, the bad, and the ugly, of mainstream music in 2013. I hope my opinions didn't offend anybody too much and take them all with a grain of salt- except for the few songs that I really adore, I'm not a big listener of Top 40. I hope you enjoyed my reviews, and my normal rants about all things music will return... with my next blog post. 

Go listen to some good music now!