The year has proved to be yet another exciting one for music. It's officially the year of comebacks, as we saw new releases from some of the biggest names in rock, dance and pop _ including David Bowie, Daft Punk, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey and, quite unexpectedly, Beyonce. This year also brings us a thrilling array of newcomers, both homegrown and imported, like Chladni Chandi, Part Time Musicians and Lorde. As 2013 draws to a close, we round up some of the best singles that we've featured in the past 12 months to remind you of how great it all has been. So, with no further ado, here's our Top 20 singles of this year (in no particular order). Enjoy _ and we'll see you next year.
DAVID BOWIE/ WHERE ARE WE NOW?
One of the world's most iconic figures in music made a welcome return this year with The Next Day. The single Where Are We Now? finds the now 66-year-old Ziggy Stardust in a melancholic state of mind, reminiscing about his time in Berlin, his second home. Referring to himself as "a man lost in time", Bowie repeats: "Where are we now? Where are we now?/The moment you know, you know, you know." As far as production goes, it's an understated piano ballad with hints of the late '70s/early '80s electro-rock _ the very sound and style he has long mastered.
NAKED ASTRONAUGHT/ LEAVING BY THE TRAIN
If you think that the Thai music scene is overrun by K-pop clones and Jason Mraz wannabes, well, you're not entirely wrong. However, beneath the surface of major labels and their pre-manufactured pop stars, there are still hidden gems worthy of discovering. Naked Astronaught are one such act. Signed to indie label Comet Record, the band instantly charms us with Leaving By The Train, a trippy piece of electronica that sounds unlike anything we've heard before. Taken from Comet Records' debut compilation, the track offers a dark, atmospheric glimpse into the world of Naked Astronaught, whose soundscapes are reminiscent of renowned trip-hop acts such as Massive Attack and Tricky.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE/ MIRRORS
If you don't recall how good his 2002 pop ballad Cry Me A River is, Mirrors will most definitely bring back some memories. Following his Jay Z-assisted comeback single from his third studio album, The 20/20 Experience, the eight-minute Mirrors is filled to the brim with Timbaland's trademark production that previously plays a large part in JT's masterful record, FutureSex/LoveSounds. Lyrically, there's nothing special to write home about ("'Cause I don't wanna lose you now/I'm lookin' right at the other half of me") but all the little details such as beat-boxing, layered synths and strings make this lengthy track a worthwhile listen.
YOUTH LAGOON/ DROPLA
Trevor Powers' debut album under the name Youth Lagoon has successfully established 24-year-old Trevor Powers as one of the most exciting dream-pop acts to have emerged from 2011's bustling chillwave scene. Powers continues to ride the ambient wave into 2013 with his second release, Wondrous Bughouse. The album's first single, Dropla, bursts with sonic layers and jaded optimism as he repeatedly chants "you'll never die" over the hypnotic sounds of piano and xylophone. If you appreciate Sigur Ros' kind of inventive, epic pop, you won't be disappointed with this one.
CHLADNI CHANDI/ BRAHMA BRAHMA
Signed to the veritable local indie label Panda Records, psychedelic rock three-piece Chladni Chandi is one of those bands who are just effortlessly enigmatic. Made up of Chawalit "Yong" Saowapakpongchai (vocals and guitar), Sompop "Ben" Suwanwattanakul (bass) and Thanawut "Meng" Sriwatthanah (drums), they evoke bands such as Kula Shaker with their incorporation of mysticism that manifests itself in exotic instruments and Buddhism-inspired lyrics. Their debut single Brahma Brahma starts with a guitar strumming while Yong discusses philosophical topics like time, suffering, truth and kharma in the way that will readily remind you of solemn monk's prayers.
YELLOW FANG/ I DON'T KNOW
Following a series of superb singles including Unreal and Hom Pa, Thailand's very own indie darlings Yellow Fang put out yet another earworm called I Don't Know. Here, the trio has once again perfected the wholesome garage sound with driving guitar riffs and bass lines complete with '90s girl group three-part harmonising. We can't really make out what the girls are singing about, but that sure doesn't stop the song from being emotionally effective. In other news, their LP is slated for an official release early next year after almost six years in the making.
PHOENIX/ ENTERTAINMENT
Besides wine and cheese, Phoenix are undoubtedly France's other great export. Their albums United, It's Never Been Like That and Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix are perfect examples of indie pop done right, delightfully blending pop and rock with a little bit of electro. Lifted from their fifth album, Bankrupt!, Entertainment is a synth-fuelled first single that sees frontman Thomas Mars musing, "When everyone here knows better/What I once refused to be/Is everything they long together, I'd rather be alone." Take away those depressing lines, and we still get the joyous Phoenix sound that we've all come to adore.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND/ DIANE YOUNG
Brooklyn indie quartet Vampire Weekend continues to impress us this year with their new album, Modern Vampires of the City. The track Diane Young comes bearing the band's signature eclectic sound that draws inspiration from funk, rock 'n' roll and a flavoursome blend of African and Latin sounds. The highlight is when lead singer Ezra Koenig whimsically sings through a Vocoder: "Baby, baby, baby, baby, right on/Baby, baby, baby, it's a light on/Baby, baby, baby, it's a lifetime," channelling his inner Elvis and Prince. Trust us, this one is an unstoppable romp.
BASTILLE/POMPEII
London indie act Bastille have come a long way from being music bloggers' best-kept secret to breaking into the UK Top 10. We previously featured the band's debut single, Flaws, back in 2012, and since then they have gone on to release a very successful debut album titled Bad Blood. Marking the album's fourth single, Pompeii features new wave-inspired keyboards and perky drums _ a far cry from the song's doom-and-gloom lyrics: "And the walls kept tumbling down/ In the city that we love/Great clouds roll over the hills/Bringing darkness from above."
DISCLOSURE (FEATURING ALUNAGEORGE)/ WHITE NOISE
What happens when two best up-and-coming bands of this year conspire? The answer is White Noise, the propulsive, synth-driven dance jam operating on heady bass lines. The collaboration plays to the strengths of both London duos, boasting Disclosure's neatly structured minimal beat warmly laced with Aluna Francis' vocals and attitude: "You just wanna keep me on repeat and hear me crying /If you wanna play tough/Let's get rough."
PART TIME MUSICIANS (FEATURING CHLADNI CHANDI)/ WOULD YOU MIND?
It's nice to see up-and-coming local bands we've previously featured in our Playlist teaming up to deliver a tune that perfectly fuses their unique strengths. Would You Mind? is the result of a collaboration between indie-folk threesome Part Time Musicians and psych rockers Chladni Chandi. Sung in English, the track is a follow-up to Part Time Musicians' debut single Vacation Time and it highlights all the quirky elements the two bands both bring to the table. Honestly, any song that incorporates a sitar is alright in our book.
MARIAH CAREY (FEATURING MIGUEL)/ #BEAUTIFUL
Despite the somewhat gimmicky hashtagged title, the collaborative effort between the reigning diva and R&B crooner stands on its own as a legitimate summer anthem thanks to their vocal prowess. We think Mimi is most at ease (and at her absolute best) when she doesn't try too hard, and this one is definitely effortless and free from all pretence. "You're beautiful, and I can't pretend that doesn't mean a thing to me," she coos over the mellow, retro-inspired melody that will put a grin on anyone's face.
HAIM/ THE WIRE
California's all-girl indie trio Haim has a knack for crafting hooky pop gems that ooze the potential to cross over to the mainstream (much like what Foster the People achieved with their phenomenal hit Pumped Up Kicks). The group's previous offerings Forever, Don't Save Me, and Falling brilliantly reflect their sunny California spirit with a delightful blend of rock, pop and R&B. The BBC Sound of 2013 winners hit the mark again with The Wire, from their debut album in September. The track sparkles with layered vocals and some mighty fine harmonising the girls are known to deliver. Your fingers will automatically snap and your toe will tap along _ it's that good.
JAMES BLAKE/ RETROGRADE
Following his highly lauded, self-titled debut album in 2011, the British post-dubstep grandmaster is back with another stunning record, Overgrown. On the first single Retrograde, Blake coos, ''We're alone now, we're alone now,'' alongside a swirl of airy synths and after-hour piano chords. Unlike his previous, often experimental offerings, this track proves far more accessible yet still manages to retain elements of magnetism and a sense of intrigue we've come to associate with his sound. Filled with soul sensibilities, this is easily one of his most effecting original songs to date.
DAFT PUNK (FEATURING PHARRELL WILLIAMS)/ GET LUCKY
When the French electronic dance duo announced their comeback with Human After All earlier this year, the internet almost exploded. And naturally, the album's first single Get Lucky was surrounded with so much hype that it could perhaps be rivalled only by that of The Great Gatsby's soundtrack. Featuring funky riffs by legendary guitarist Nile Rodgers and vocals by Pharrell Williams, the song itself benefits from distinct disco influences lifted right from from the dancefloor in the '70s and feel-good lyrics: ''We've come too far to give up who we are/So let's raise the bar and our cups to the stars.'' It's definitely one of this year's most memorable singles.
LORDE/ TENNIS COURT
New Zealand may not be known as the birthplace of world-renowned pop stars, but that's about to change with the arrival of 16-year-old newcomer Lorde, this year's most prominent success story in the entire music industry. The New Zealand native stands out from the pack with her cool personality that goes hand in hand with the dark electro-pop sound of Tennis Court and her knack for penning witty lyrics. ''Baby be the class clown, I'll be the beauty queen in tears,'' she sings, giving off a hint of adorable swagger that will make you fall in love.
DESKTOP ERROR/ KWAN JANG LA
Thailand's perennial favourite experimental rock five-piece Desktop Error return this year with a new single Kwan Jang La (The Fading Smoke) from their record Keep Looking at the Window. Starting off with slightly askew guitar picking, the track gradually gains a shoegazy momentum as frontman Lek sings: ''Passing days are fading, when you walk on through/The fog has lifted/I'm still here, and so are you.'' The boys bring to the table some fine songwriting, but the song's best moment lies in the sheer musical force between verses. We wouldn't have minded at all if the whole thing were instrumental.
LADY GAGA (FEATURING R KELLY)/ DO WHAT U WANT
Only the first few seconds in, and we're already in love with Lady Gaga's Do What U Want. After failing to woo us with her first single, Applause, Gaga drops the R Kelly-aided, electro-inspired jam that immediately recalls Chromatics and Kavinsky's bewitching synth loops. ''I feel good, I walk alone/But then I trip by myself/I stand up, and then I'm okay,'' she intones before channelling a bit of Christina Aguilera. Then Kelz comes in for the second half, lashing out at her detractors, ''We taking these haters and we roughin' them up/We layin' the cut like we don't give a f***.'' It's certainly one of the few gems on Gaga's underwhelming Artpop.
GENE KASIDIT/ KAE YAK JA KOR XOXO
The frontman of the now defunct electro-rock outfit Futon has officially morphed into a full-fledged disco diva with his new single Kae Yak Ja Kor XOXO (I Just Want To XOXO). The song starts off with a retro-inspired intro which then kicks into high gear as Gene sings, ''I just want to dance with you and only you/I want to spend the day just holding you and never let go/Our bodies close, our eyes meet.'' The best part is when he breaks into a goosebump-inducing falsetto towards the end. Androgyny has never felt so divine.
BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG AND NORAH JONES/ LONG TIME GONE
The most unlikely pairing in music this year has got to be between Green Day's frontman and neo-jazz songstress Norah Jones, who come together on Foreverly which pays tribute to American country-rock duo The Everly Brothers. The first cut, Long Time Gone, proves that the odd partnership does indeed work, with Jones and Armstrong delivering flawless harmonies accompanied by the retro arrangement. Props to both artists who manage to keep it faithful to the original.
