40 Songs I've 👍 in 2013

40.  Carrie Underwood "See You Again" - Nobody does a mainstream country ballad like Carrie does and this is no exception.

39.  Karmin "Acapella"

38.  The Lumineers "Hey Ho"

37.  OneRepublic "Countng Stars" - The sleeper hit of 2013, 27 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and this song is currently entrenched in the top three.  Ryan Tedder & Co. seem to always manage at last one massive hit from their albums and this one keeps the tradition alive following DREAMING OUT LOUD's "Apologize" and WAKING UP's "Good Life".

36.  Kelly Clarkson "Underneath the Tree" - Expect this to achieve "All I Want For Christmas Is You" like status in future holiday seasons. A modern classic.

35.  Lorde "Royals" - I would place this higher but I grew sick of it fairly soon and still don't think it warranted 9 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100.

34.  Maroon 5 "Love Somebody"

33.  Avicii  "Wake Me Up" (feat. Aloe Bacc)

32.  P!nk "Just Give Me A Reason" (feat. Nate Ruess)

31.  Ellie Goulding "Burn" - This rapid fire electro-pop tune is more suited to Ellie's vocal style than Leona Lewis' who originally recorded then discarded it for her third album.

30.  Céline Dion "Loved Me Back To Life"

29.  Of Monsters & Men "Little Talks"  This was originally released in 2011 but somehow escaped my ears and I only discovered it this year so it warrants a spot due to its catchy and sprightly melody and chorus.

28.  Lady Antebellum "Downtown"

27.  HAIM "The Wire" An artist to watch in 2014.  This rocks and rolls with a sweet indie disposition that you can't help to bob your head along.

26.  John Newman "Love Me Again" The U.K.'s male answer to Adele. A powerful voice, a throwback sound and heartfelt songs and lyrics. He'll do until Adele makes her return.

25.  Little Mix "Wings"

24.  Carrie Underwood "Two Black Cadillacs" A good ol' fashioned southern gothic cheating tale rolled into a haunting beautiful ballad. The gorgeously filmed video was a cross between "Before He Cheats" Carrie and & Stephen King's "Christine".

23.  A Great Big World "Say Something" (feat. Christina Aguilera) - This made Christina Aguilera the best musical accessory as she's had more hits in the last 2 years as featured artist (with Maroon5, Pitbull, and now & A Great Big World) than as a solo act with her last 2 albums. A lovely piano ballad that proves that with Ms. Aguilera, less is more.

22.  OneDirection "Best Song Ever"

21. Icona Pop "I Love It" (feat. Charli XCX) - Inescapable for pretty much three quarters of the year.  

20.  Lady Antebellum "Compass" - Lady A shed the mood and gloom that hung over their last two albums and unleashed two hit worthy songs in the sassy "Downtown" and this uplifting banjo laden ditty.

19.  Tegan & Sara "Closer" - The should've been a bigger hit song on the year. Even "Glee" did a cover version. I guess getting used to twin lesbian sisters will take some time for mainstream America.

18.  Miley Cyrus "Wrecking Ball"  Hate Miley, love this song. 

17. Lady Gaga "Do What U Want" (feat. R. Kelly) - The only thing remotely radio friendly on the awful ARTPOP album.  She should be ashamed of herself for putting out such dreck and expecting people to listen and like it.

16.  Rebecca Ferguson "I Hope" - I hope that Columbia/SyCo give this talented woman another chance and release her excellent second album, FREEDOM, in United States.  Would be a shame to see such a talent go unnoticed.

15.  Katy Perry "Roar" - Upon first listen I hated this, because her pre-release promos were hinting at a darker deeper Katy, which "Roar" disproved.  After getting over my initial disappointment I realized this is just Katy being Katy and doing a "purr-fect" pop song. 

14.  Passenger "Let Her Go" -  I'm not a big fan of male singers, but every once in a while one will catch my ear and hook me.  This is one of them, but it helps that I'm reminded of female artist, Tracy Chapman when I hear this.

13.  Emeli Sandé "My Kind Of Love" - Her "Next To Me" was the breakout song from her album, OUR VERSION OF EVENTS, but this is the track that made me a fan. 

12.  Sara Bareilles "Brave" - This only really became a hit after allegations that Katy Perry's "Roar" borrowed the piano intro.  Undoubtedly similar in structure, "Brave" is meatier and just a shade better than "Roar".

11.  Ke$ha "C'mon" - If only for the autotuned Ke$ha "power note" she unleashes at 2:55 in the song this song earns a spot on my list. 

10.  Justin Timberlake "Mirrors" - I never thought I'd see the day I'd put a JT song on my year end list. But here it is, and I'm going on record to say that this is the single best thing he's done since *NSYNC.  Never mind it has the same annoying Timbaland sound effects as 2002's "Cry Me River" (and every other Timabaland produced hit).  

9.  Phillip Phillips - "Gone, Gone, Gone" - 2012's American Idol winner makes good on his first "official" post Idol single. Strumming and galloping along at an easy-breezy pace, this was captivating and hinted at success for his future career.  Will he live up to the potential? That's yet to be seen as subsequent singles haven't caught on as well.

8.  Zedd "Clarity" feat. Foxes - This is commercial EDM at it's finest. This reminded me of the 90s when dance music was frivolent and carefree. 

7.  Kacey Musgraves "Follow Your Arrow" - A celebration for individualism and in part, the gay & lesbian lifestyle.  Not such a big deal as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' (see next entry) was as well, right? Well, when you're a country music artist and sing "...kiss lots of boys. Or kiss lots of girls. If that's something you're into..." you risk of alienating the core conservative fan base. Kudos to Kacey for sticking by her guns and releasing this to critical acclaim.  She's my pick for the Best New Artist Grammy.

6.  Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Same Love" (feat. Mary Lambert) - This politically correct song championing gay & lesbian rights became the unexpected Pride anthem of the year.  Macklemore's rap and Mary Lambert's sweet vocals (on the chorus) paint a picture of a world without intolerance and hate. My Grammy pick for "Song of the Year".

5.  P!nk "Try" - "Try" was a top ten hit that fits right in alongside some of her greatest slower songs like "Perfect" and "Glitter in the Air". Her live "The Truth About Love" show is spectacular and "Try" was one of many parts where she performed it whilst hoisted in the air, spinning, and flying above the audience. 

4.  Capital Cities "Safe And Sound" - A fantastic pop song that entered the airwaves and left them a better and happier place after its departure.  Will Capital Cities go the way of Owl City whose charming "Fireflies" did the same in 2009 and become a one hit wonder act or is there more to be discovered?

3.  Kelly Clarkson "People Like Us" - The original IDOL should have scored another number one single with this rip roaring anthem that she blows through with her trademark ferocity and vocal prowess but radio didn't latch on to it as they should've.  Shame, because no one can match Kelly for sheer talent and brilliance on record or live. 

2.  Taylor Swift "22" - While most of Taylor's songs have been about an "ex" (she seems to have a lot of them, but I don't care), this was simply an ode to pals hanging out (dressed up like 'hipsters', natch) and having fun.  "22" was a standout track for me when I first heard RED and the Diet Coke ads featuring it endeared me to the song even more. 

1. Demi Lovato "Heart Attack" - She had my second favorite song ("Give Your Heart A Break) of 2012 and this year she manages to grab #1 with this unabashedly pop track that dabbles in dance without heavily relying on the requisite dubstep breakdown that permeates most of the EDM influenced pop these days. Demi's vocals are full, assured, and impressive and hint at a maturity previously untapped. I look forward to what she comes up with next.