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  1. Top 10 pop songs of 2013

    Posted on

    SuperCool-Guy's annual rankings are back.. with the top 10 pop songs of 2013:
     
    (Watch the full video playlist, also on my YouTube channel, or click a song title for the YouTube video)
     
     

    BestOf2013-ILoveItIconaPop

    10. Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX: I Love It

    Written by: Charlotte Aitchison, Patrik Berger, Linus Eklöw
    Produced by: Patrik Berger, Style of Eye
    Sweden
     
    Undeniable hook.  Title should be "I Don't Care! I love It!"

    BestOf2013-DaftPunk-Get_Lucky

    9. Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams: Get Lucky

    Written by: Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers
    Produced by: Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
    France/USA
     
    The robots go back in time with Nile Rogers…
    Don't - don't - don't - don't stop the beat
    I can't - can't - can't - can't control my feet
    Don't Stop! Can't Stop! Won't Stop!!!

    BestOf2013-BrunoMars-Gorilla

    8. Bruno Mars: Gorilla

    Written by: Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine
    Produced by: The Smeezingtons, Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Mark Ronson
    USA
     
    Original and dynamic arrangement, with a huge, powerful chorus.  Makes me want to air-guitar the power chords!

     

    BestOf2013-Emmelie-de-Forest-Only-Teardrops

    7. Emmelie de Forest: Only Teardrops

    Written by: Lise Cabble, Julia Fabrin Jakobsen, Thomas Stengaard
    Produced by: Frederik Thaae
    Denmark
     
    The Eurovision Song Contest gets a bad rap for being cheesy, but there were many great songs in 2013.  This one, the winner, is a great slice of pop.

    BestOf2013-Roberto_Bellarosa_-_Love_Kills_(cover)

    6. Roberto Bellarosa: Love Kills

    Written by: Jukka Immonen, Iain Farquharson
    Produced by: Jukka Immonen
    Belgium
     
    Another one from Eurovision, and the best of 2013 IMO.  Perfect pop.

    BestOf2013-Lorde-Buzzcut_Season

    5. Lorde: Buzzcut Season

    Written by: Ella Yelich O'Connor, Joel Little
    Produced by: Joel Little, Ella Yelich O'Connor
    New Zealand
     
    My favourite song from the brilliant debut album.  Great mood and original soundscapes.

    BestOf2013-Taylor_Swift_-_22

    4. Taylor Swift: 22

    Written by: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
    Produced by: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
    USA
     
    I love Taylor.  What a gorgeous, talented, and well-adjusted kid!  This song is so positive and catchy.  I may no longer be 22, but I want to sing it anyway!

    BestOf2013-Katy_Perry_-_Roar

    3. Katy Perry: Roar

    Written by: Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Henry Walter
    Produced by: Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Cirkut
    USA
     
    From lyrics to structure to production to video, this is a perfectly crafted and fine-tuned product, built by the best pros in the business, and I say this with the greatest admiration.  Katy Perry's got it!  The pitch-bended low synth sound is killer and IMHO makes the song.

    BestOf2013-PMAM-LittleTalks

    2. Of Monsters and Men: Little Talks

    Written by: Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson
    Produced by: Of Monsters And Men, Aron Þór Arnarsson
    Iceland
     
    Great song, beautiful video, a bit mad...  Fresh, unique, organic instrumentation, great energy.

    BestOf2013-Paul_McCartney_-_New

    1. Paul McCartney: New

    Written by: Paul McCartney
    Produced by: Mark Ronson
    UK
     
    Macca is The Man.  A genius and an inspiration.  The song is fresh and positive and puts me in a great mood.  I love it.

  2. BITG: The Sound On Sound Review

    Posted on

    The nice people at Sound On Sound Magazine have reviewed “Back In The Groove” in their May 2013 edition.

    Key quotes: "enjoying every minute" (speaking of SC-G!), “strong late-’80s pop influences”, “very good guesting singers, who really lift the quality of the production” and “an album of unrivalled happiness”(!!!)

    They also found it super-cheesy, which I don’t mind, plus some incomprehensible bit about most of album sounding like an outro or middle-eight!?...

    Anyway… thank you SOS for taking notice, and thank you to my "very good guesting singers": Maria Willson, PJ Lequerica, Kelly Webb, and Priscilla Slade.

    Click here for the full review.  What do you think?...