Ciara - Body Party
I tried to pick something less predictable, but it's only fair to give this song some honorable mention. Not eligible for an R&B Grammy because of the "My Boo" sample? That's rude. This was the only #1 charting R&B song that sounded good all damn year. Then it got remixed a million times and it still sounded good. Now play the song again right now, and it still sounds really fucking good.
Cumbia Tornado [E+E Remix]
Elijah speaking some dead language, as usual... This one just always gets me smiling, tears in my eyes.
Selena Gomez - Come and Get It
Come & Get It" is based on a hybrid of Eurosynth and Ethnotech templates created for Selena Gomez by Stargate. The video is an amalgam of several fantasyscapes revolving around the idea of tropical sensuality and dancing. There is also an expository segment before the song starts which features Selena in a meadow of blue flowers. This is likely a reference to Substance D, the drum n bass comp by Dieselboy.
Artful & Ridney feat. Terri Walker - Missing You
Grows more and more on you with each repeated listen. “Missing You” has fairly sparse instrumentation with a catching beat that gradually builds up and is dominated by Terri Walker's great voice.
Beyonce - Blow
Best track for me this year was Fantasia’s "Without Me" until Beyonce hit me with "Blow" (prod. by Pharrell, B, Timbaland and J-Roc). Both songs have head-bitch/boss-bitch themes (which is always good), but B might have taken the cake because she has a million+ women in their rooms/cars/the club singing about how much they love getting head (which has very exciting social implications).
James Blake - Life Round Here feat. Chance The Rapper
Sometimes you can't explain why you love something, you just know you do. That’s how great music is supposed to be: like falling in love. A wonderful and unlikely collaboration between two really talented artists from opposite ends of the game and world - a hybrid. Finally something that feels like what 2013 was supposed to sound like.
Lil Silva - No Doubt (feat. Rosie Lowe)
From my first listen, this one hooked me - those chords! The vocal parts are so tasteful and it builds very nicely into a bass heavy slammer. Most importantly, it created a vibe that I wanted to experience again and again. Timeless music.
Drake - Own It
The song is airy yet surprisingly layered – filled with lo-fi textures that conjure up emotional nostalgia for a past lover and reflections of the present echoing Drake's voice drenched in reverb and lo-pass filters. Together Sheibib and Drake are in full command of the song’s evolution, complete with tasteful mini crescendos. This track represents why Nothing Was The Same is truly a turning point for pop music – Drake has the ability to turn the avant garde into the status quo and that’s great art.
FKA Twigs - Water Me
“Water Me” by Twigs makes me feel sort of sad for her but I don’t know quite what’s going on. Arca's production is so delicate and visceral - it’s like a dream.
K.O The God - Got Dat Bag
In 2013 trap music became my grime. It has that energy where it’s just people doing what feels natural, not thought out. K.O The God blends that Chicago singing style with rap but what I like most about him is he can actually sing, bringing in harmonies etc. Also, 2013 was all about designers, so "you know I got that bag"...