Top 5 Pop Music Songs of 2013

Pop music is a pretty interesting part of our culture, it's fun, instantaneous and even ugly. Personally, I found myself listening to a lot more radio music this year (the workplace is a great way for that to happen) and actually enjoyed some of it! Here are my top 5 Pop songs of 2013.


5. Lady Gaga "Do What U Want"
I'm not the world's biggest Lady Gaga fan, but I will concede to the notion that, when she wants to, she can pen some of the best modern pop music around. "Do What U Want" is a sexy, pulsating tune with a refrain that sees Gaga telling the listener, or rather, the world; that they can do whatever they want with her body. On the flip side, they can't have here heart or her mind! It's not the most original song concept, but Gaga sings so passionately and R.Kelly is mildly amusing here as well.

4. Bruno Mars "Treasure"
Yes... I enjoyed a Bruno Mars song. Luckily, it was the funky, Michael Jackson soaked "Treasure", a track that I honestly didn't recognize as being a Bruno Mars song, or even a song of this decade. Which is about the highest form of complement that I can give this song... and that bass line.

3. Drake "Hold On, We're Going Home"
I only wish that Drake's latest LP was this consistently smooth and worthwhile. This track emphasizes everything I find enjoyable about Drake, even if the lyrics are fairly simplistic, but hey, it's a pop song! Also, this song probably has the most hilarious "serious" video I've seen all year.

2. Kanye West "Bound 2"
Speaking of both disappointing albums and videos that don't fit the mood of the song, at all! We have "Bound 2", one of the highlights from Yeezy's latest album. This track is one of those closers that makes your brain think that the previous 9 tracks weren't spotty as all get out, and actually leaves you feeling relatively satisfied. I love the sampling and the mid section vocal contribution, and I even enjoy Kanye's lyrics here as well.

1. Janelle Monae "Primetime" ft. Miguel
Every year has one, and 2013 has one of the finest I've heard in the past five years or so. I'm talking about the star-studded smooth duet, a staple in the R&B genre. Jonelle and Miguel do this concept justice with a song that feels propelled by true yearning, not lustful compulsion, and it's impossible to deny just how great these two sound singing together. I've played this song so many times, I probably should have listened to the rest of Jonelle's new LP... but nothing beats this song!