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skrillex

The Ten Most Awesome Songs of 2013… In My Opinion

by Ryan Shea

A$Ap Rocky, Manhattan Digest, Manhattan, Skrillex
A$Ap Rocky, Manhattan Digest, Manhattan, Skrillex
Credit to: MixMag

 

2013 was pretty much an amazing year when it came to the variety of songs that were provided by a bevy of artists in their own respective genre.  We had a couple of really good late in the game entries as well that really gave some of the bigger artists and songs this year a run for their money. From pop to alternative, to hip hop blending with EDM, these in my opinion were the ten best songs of 2013.  Billboard Magazine had a similar list to mine in what they were thinking as well.  They are in no particular order, but are all pure awesomeness.  Take a look.

A$AP Rocky Featuring Skrillex- Wild For The Night

A$AP is one of the best rappers out there right now in a field that seems to be lacking in original talent.  The only other guy out there right now that is on a similar level and new to a degree is Kendrick.  That being said, “Wild For The Night” charts on this list for me because it was the best club banger of 2013.  Masterfully collaborating with the biggest EDM producer out there right now, Grammy-Award winning Skrillex, A$AP spits lyrics at an elevated speed to compliment Skrillex’s mind numbing beats and what is the result?  Pure awesomness.

Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams- Get Lucky

Pharrell had two big songs this year, this being one of them and of course being featured in “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke as the other.  If I had to choose one of the two songs to be in my top ten, this would’ve been the better one.  The Niles Rogers assisted track catapulted Daft Punk back into the top of the charts stratosphere with “Random Access Memories” being one of the best reviewed and selling albums of 2013.  This is another one of those songs where two completely different acts came together and struck pure gold.  The beat to this song is incredibly infectious, and it also served its purpose for many Gay Americans as it proved to be somewhat of a theme song when Prop 8 was overturned in early Summer 2013.  Definitely one of the best songs of the year if not the best.

Lorde- Royals

Lorde in my opinion is the anti Miley Cyrus.  This song kind of proves that thought process.  The fresh faced 16 year old from New Zealand quietly made her way into being one of the biggest new artists of 2013, with a song that has a simple drum beat, backup singers and a message that speaks profoundly about the industry itself today.  With lyrics like “We don’t care, we aren’t caught up in your love affair”, she basically talks truthfully about how she was raised and why she refuses to conform in a somewhat “Bling Bling” society.  Expect big things for this girl in the new year, and beyond.

P!nk & Nate Ruess- Just Give Me A Reason

I for one am always a big fan of when a man and woman duet with each other.  From “Endless Love” to “Almost Paradise” it always seems to be a formula that works well.  P!nk, who is not really known for her duets as her voice is powerful enough on its own, struck a huge chord with millions of people with the number one single “Just Give Me A Reason”.  Side by side with Fun! frontman Nate Ruess, the breakup to makeup song became one of her biggest hits of her career and scored her a Grammy nomination for Song Of The Year.  P!nk proves why she is still one of the best out there after being in the business for over 15 years.

Beyonce Featuring Jay-Z- Drunk In Love

Beyonce had the best music story of this year, and the funny thing is that it happened less than 2 weeks ago.  it’s insane how she was able to pull all of this off and practically NO ONE knew what she was doing.  On December 7th at 12am, she released her self titled new album to the world exclusively on iTunes, and just like many Stans out there, we all ate it up.  There were plenty of songs on her album that I could’ve included on this list (XO and Flawless as examples) but I am always a sucker for whenever she duets with Jay.  This duet with him is the best one yet, and she proves why everyone else needs to bown down and respect the Kween.

Miley Cyrus- We Can’t Stop

Say what you want about Miley, but she really took the fuck over this year for sure.  You can take her two different ways- annoying slut or marketing genius.  I prefer the latter, because as much as people want to say she is a terrible influence and all this other stuff she is just doing the same thing that other pop divas like Madonna and Britney have done before.  She is just a more modernized version of it. “We Can’t Stop” is another club banger and a completely different side of the re-upped Miley.  With risque talks of partying, to that one video of her naked on a Wrecking Ball, this really was the year of Miley and I myself am looking forward to seeing what she has in store for 2014 and beyond.

Justin Timberlake- Mirrors

Facts are facts- Justin had the biggest comeback of a year.  Without a doubt.  Keeping his return to music a bit hush hush like Beyonce did, he came roaring back in early 2013 with “The 20/20 Experience”.  “Suit & Tie” wasn’t exactly a very loved track, but the follow up “Mirrors” was much more well received and worth the 7 minute listen.  Just a beautiful song and his crooning voice blends beautifully with the orchestra like music in the background.  Here’s to hoping he keeps with this music thing for a while, because it is what he is best at.

Drake Featuring Majid Jordan- Hold On We’re Going Home

For me, Drake is at his best when he is singing, not when he is rapping.  “Hold On We’re Going Home” is a great example of this.  Billed as the second single off his platinum selling “Nothing Was The Same”, “Hold” was a softer approach from his first choice “Started From The Bottom” and really showcased his vocal abilities.  Set to an 80’s type throwback, the song jumped to the top of the charts and further solidified the dude as a pop/R&B/hip-hop crossover and further away from his mixtape/DeGrassi persona that we all knew about him.  Keep it going…

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert- Same Love

Macklemore is a guy that has been in the game for a lot longer than people realize, he just happened to jump off at the end of 2012 with a sick saxophone beat to the song “Thrift Shop”.  His unique approach to his rapping along with helping other undiscovered artists from Ray Dalton to Wanz.  He is the first guy to really tackle the issue of gay marriage in a rap song like no other has before. The song beautifully states the society that we are in, where saying the word gay has become the norm, and ultimately how we shouldn’t treat people differently just because they don’t fit the mold that we have created.   Featuring the great vocals of Mary Lambert, the song boldly goes where hip-hop never has before, and has earned him respect from millions gay or not.  Well done Macklemore, well done.

Passenger- Let Her Go

This song is light, touching and amazing.  Already big overseas, the band Passenger quietly hit the airwaves with this passionate song about love lost and the realization of wanting something only when you need it.  Kind of Adult Contemporary with an edge.  Definitely should be ones to look out for in 2014.

Who do you think should make this list?  Check out more music artists on Manhattan Digest and let us know who was your favorite in 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT Tagged With: a$ap rocky, Beyonce, daft punk, Manhattan, manhattan digest, miley cyrus, music, nate ruess, passenger, pink, skrillex, songs

Summer Music Festivals 2013- When and Where

by Ryan Shea

For all you music nuts out there, Summer seems to be the one season each year that brings out the best music festivals and the best artists at that.  If you are local to New York, you are in for a treat.  Some of the biggest music festivals are here or making their way through here.  So if you want to find which ones are the best to go to, take a look at the following festivals and see for yourself why music and summer go uber well together like a yummy Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich-

 

Credit to: Governor's Ball Music Festival
Credit to: Governor’s Ball Music Festival

 

GOVERNOR’S BALL- JUNE 7TH-9TH, RANDALL’S ISLAND

This is one that yours truly is beyond excited for.  The event takes place in early June, and this year is featuring the creme de la creme of awesome alternative artists and some of the biggest global superstars in the world.  Going on over at the beautiful Randall’s Island,  the festival highlights artists that have been popular since the early  1980’s.  Which one in particular? That would be Guns N Roses, who are set to perform on the 8th along with other superstars from Kendrick Lamar to Nas.  Opening day highlights Grammy winners Kings Of Leon as well as Feist and Erykah Badu.  Closing day brings in Kanye West as well as The Lumineers, Cold War Kids and Twin Shadown to name a few.  Looks like an amazing three day lineup that I for sure won’t miss.  Tickets are still available via The Governor’s Ball official website.

 

Credit to: Tumblr
Credit to: Tumblr

 VANS WARPED TOUR: JULY 13TH, NASSAU COLISEUM

The Vans Warped Tour is ultimately a celebration for all things alternative.  The tour, going on for over a decade now, highlights some of the best alternative talent on a national level and a local level.  Famed for its “Battle Of The Bands” with founder Kevin Lyman putting out a content for bands to perform at their local venue, it is really the one festival where dreams  can come true for said band.  This year’s highlights include Denver’s very own 3OH3, The Used, Reel Big Fish and more.  Log onto The Vans Warped Tour website for more info.

Credit to: Made Event
Credit to: Made Event

ELECTRIC ZOO: AUGUST 30TH-SEPTEMBER 1ST, RANDALLS ISLAND

Being one of the few festivals that I know of where the only real transportation there is by ferry, the Electric Zoo celebrates all things EDM.  Held at the beautiful Randalls Island right outside of Manhattan, this three day festival plans to host some of the biggest acts in EDM today.  Ones ranging from international superstars like David Guetta, Skrillex and Diplo come to mind for all you big EDM fans that seem to populate a lot of what is popular in music right now. Go the the Made Event homepage to get tickets!

Let’s not forget that the MTV Video Music Awards is finally coming back to New York this summer.  About damn time, I have no idea why it landed in LA in the first place as that show is designed to be here.  Hope everyone goes to at least one of these and has a damn good time!

 

 

 

Filed Under: BREAKING NEWS, ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, NEW YORK, U.S. Tagged With: 3oh3, cold war kids, david guetta, denver, diplo, electric zoo, festivals, governor, governors ball, guns n roses, jelly, kanye west, kendrick lamar, kings of leon, nas, nassau coliseum, NEW YORK, peanut butter, reel big fish, sandwich, skrillex, summer, summer music, The Lumineers, the used, twin shadows, vans, Warped Tour

Skrillex Takes it All: DUMBstep!

by Ryan Shea

Skrillex Grammy awards
Skrillex Grammy awards
Skrillex wins Dance Music categories at the 2013 Grammy Awards

So, unfortunately, my predictions for the winners in the Dance music category at the Grammy’s this year were off.  I must admit I had a feeling the outcome would be this way but I hoped that the Grammy board would step away from the commercial front runner and actually give it to someone with talent.

So Skrillex’s single Bangarang took home the Grammy for Best Dance Recording.  Yawn!  Dubstep is so 2011!  But I guess the Grammy awards didn’t get the memo.  Although I wanted SHM to take it I would’ve been happier to see Avicii win then Skrillex.

He also won Best Dance/Electronica Album.  I listened to Bangarang, the album, and was totally unaffected.  It was the same mechanical beats over and over.  Kaskade was definitely robbed, but I think this is just the beginning for Dance Music.  Hopefully in the years to come dance artists will be recognized for their talent and of their commercial appeal.

I am so tired of DUMBstep and Skrillex!  I’m sure everyone agrees!  First off, that hair!  Last night he looked like he hadn’t showered in months.  I get it, you’re a DJ and you’re so unique and special, but it’s the Grammy Awards!  Show some respect and wash your hair.

I am really angry with the outcome last night and hope that other dance music fans were as well.  Feel free to let me know how you feel!

Filed Under: BREAKING NEWS, ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC, OPINION, TELEVISION Tagged With: 2013 grammy awards, dance music, grammy, grammy awards, grammy winner, skrillex, skrillex house music, winner

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