
Songs That Are Turning 10 In 2023
Photo courtesy of Hollywood Records.
Music videos courtesy of YouTube and their respective record companies.
For the past two years, I’ve listed songs that turned 10 in 2021 and songs that turned 10 in 2022. It’s that time of year again. Now, 2013 was a great year for film as we got to experience films like: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Warm Bodies, The Host, The Way Way Back, Saving Mr. Banks, and many more. While the films were great, the music was pretty great too. It’s hard for to comprehend that everything in 2013 turns 10 this year. Yeah, that’s right, an entire decade. Let’s throw it back to 2013 and go through some songs that are turning 10 this year.
Here are some songs that are turning 10 this year.
Best Song Ever by One Direction
Background
Best Song Ever is a song by boy band One Direction. It appears on the band’s third studio album, Midnight Memories, and was released as the lead single on July 22, 2013.
Composition
The track combines pop and rock. The sound is upbeat and gets you dancing immediately. Its cheesy lyrics and irresistible melody gets is an instant mood booster.
Reception
The song quickly became a household name and was playing on radios everywhere in the summer of 2013. The music video won an award at the 2014 Brit Awards. At the time the video was posted on YouTube, it broke VEVO 24-hour record with 12.3 million views. It was certified Platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA).
My Thoughts
I was obsessed with this song during the height of its popularity. I fell more in love with the music video because it was comedic and told a story.
Counting Stars by OneRepublic
Background
Counting Stars is a song by pop rock band OneRepublic. It appears on the band’s third studio album, Native. The lead singer, Ryan Tedder, wrote the song. It was released as the album’s second single on June 14, 2013.
Composition
The song mixes folk-pop, pop rock, and dance pop. Tedder came up with the idea for this song back in August of 2012. Its extremely infectious melody becomes locked inside your brain for several months or in my case, several years.
Reception
The track debuted at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and rose to number 2 on January 28, 2014. It was certified Diamond by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA). The music video was the first video by a band to reach 1 billion views.
My Thoughts
This song is pretty special to me because it’s a song that I introduced to my Grandma. Whenever I listen to it, it reminds me of her. I adored this song when it came out. It has the ability to keep you at ease and get you up dancing at the same time.
Wake Me Up by Avicii
Background
Wake Me Up is a song by the late Swedish DJ and record producer Avicii. It was released as the leading single from his debut album, True, on June 17, 2013. The song was written by Avicii, Mike Einziger, and Aloe Blacc. Blacc provided his vocals for the track.
Composition
The song blends folktronica, country, and house genres. It gets your blood pumping and heart racing in a matter of seconds.
Reception
Wake Me Up received positive reviews. The song’s accompanying music video has racked up 2.2 billion views and counting. It was certified Platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA).
My Thoughts
I remember hearing this song play on the radio all day, every day. It was one of the most popular songs to come out of 2013. I loved it when it came out.
Team by Lorde
Background
Team is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. It’s the third single from her debut album, Pure Heroine, which was released on September 13, 2013.
Composition
The song combines alternative pop and electro hop genres. Lorde described the song as a “tribute to her friends and country” to Spin.
Reception
Team received critical acclaim. The Daily Beast’s Marlow Stern listed the song as the fifth best song of 2013 and Uproxx named the song as the 13th best song of the 2010s in 2019. It was certified Platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA).
My Thoughts
This song is one of my favorites from Lorde. It has such a unique melody and cool lyrics. It’s a perfect song for a coming-of-age film.
Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? by Arctic Monkeys
Background
Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? is a song by English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. It’s the third single from their fifth studio album, AM, on August 11, 2013.
Composition
The song mixes funk rock, blues rock, and R&B. It combines sultry and broken beats.
Reception
The track garnered critical acclaim from music journalists. It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
My Thoughts
I didn’t find this song until 2021. Ironically, it went viral on TikTok in October of 2020 and January of 2021. It ended up on my top songs playlist on Spotify for 2021. That tells you how much I listened to it. It has such a cool vibe and tone.
Chocolate by The 1975
Background
Chocolate is a song by English rock band, The 1975. It was released on March 4, 2013 in the U.K. and it’s featured on their self-titled debut studio album. It was featured in the trailer for the 2014 film Love, Rosie.
Composition
The song combines pop and rock. It’s about a man fleeing the police in his car with a stash of cannabis. The word chocolate is used in place of cannabis. Lead vocalist Matthew Healy describes the song as “a love letter to the authority figures in our town…” Its sound is reminiscent of music from the 1980s.
Reception
The track was certified Platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA).
My Thoughts
I found this song while I was in high school. Every time I listen to it, it takes me back to high school. I love that Chocolate reminds me of songs from the 80s.
Still Into You by Paramore
Background
Still Into You is song by rock band Paramore. It was released on March 4, 2013, as the second single from their self-titled fourth studio album.
Composition
The track mixes power pop, pop rock, new wave, and alternative rock. The song incorporates a lighter pop rock sound compared the band’s previous songs.
Reception
Still Into You received critical acclaim. Most who praised the song and the vocals from Hayley Williams. It’s become one of their most successful singles in the United States. It was certified Platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA).
My Thoughts
This is one of my favorite songs from Paramore. Hayley Williams has one of the strongest vocals I’ve ever heard. Her voice always pierces through the melodies she’s singing on top of. This song is so fun and reminds me of the summer of 2013.
Let Me Go by Avril Lavigne feat. Chad Kroeger
Background
Let Me Go is a song by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne featuring Nickelback front-man Chad Kroeger. It’s featured on Lavigne’s self-titled fifth album and was released on October 15, 2013.
Composition
The song mixes pop and rock. It’s a pop rock ballad that features the sound of a piano, strings, and acoustic drums.
Reception
The track received mixed reviews from critics. Ones that praise the duet and others that criticize Kroeger’s vocals and his involvement with the song.
My Thoughts
It’s unlike anything I’ve heard from Lavigne since I’m so used to her releasing music that has a more upbeat tempo. I still listen to this song now. It always makes me sing my heart out and any emotions that I’m feeling.
Come & Get It by Selena Gomez
Background
Come & Get It is song by singer Selena Gomez. It’s Gomez’s debut solo single for Hollywood Records after breaking it off with her former band, The Scene. It’s featured on her debut studio album, Stars Dance, and was released on April 7, 2013.
Composition
The track combines electropop, bhangra, and dance-pop. Pitch Perfect star and songwriter Ester Dean co-wrote the song. The song features a repetitive chorus.
Reception
Come & Get It was mostly praised by critics for its drum beats and Bollywood themes. It was certified Platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA). It reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.
My Thoughts
This is one of my least favorite songs from Selena Gomez. Let me explain why. I’m not the biggest fan of repetitive choruses and I don’t think the song would be widely accepted now because of the bhangra-inspired sounds considering that Gomez isn’t a part of the Indian culture.
#thatPOWER by will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber
Background
#thatPOWER is a song by singer will.i.am featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released on March 18, 2013, and is featured on will.i.am’s fourth studio album, #willpower.
Composition
The songs combines electropop and dance pop. It’s up-tempo and has club elements.
Reception
#thatPOWER received mixed reviews from critics. A special version of the song was recorded for the 2013 NBA Playoffs. It peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
My Thoughts
I love the opening of the song but it does give me a headache when I get into the electronic elements. It takes me back to high school.
Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus
Background
Wrecking Ball is a song by singer Miley Cyrus. It was released on August 25, 2013 and is featured on her fourth studio album, Bangerz.
Composition
The song is pop through and through. It’s described to be a pop ballad with Cyrus’ heartbreaking vocals. It’s not a typical ballad since its chorus is a bit uptempo.
Reception
The track received mostly positive reviews from critics. A music video was made and became controversial because of its nature. It was certified Platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA).
My Thoughts
I didn’t love Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz era at all. I know people grow up and change over time but this era was extreme. On another note, the song remains to be one of her most successful and iconic songs to date. She most recently performed it with her godmother, Dolly Parton, at her New Years Eve Party for 2023 on NBC.
Pompeii by Bastille
Background
Pompeii is a song by British pop rock band Bastille. It’s the fourth single from their debut studio album, Bad Blood, and was released on January 11, 2013.
Composition
The song is alternative rock through and through but does have elements of pop intertwined. The song is supposed to be a conversation between two victims of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Reception
Pompeii sold 3.4 million copies by December of 2014. The track has been featured in the CW series, Reign, and a cover of the song was sung in Glee. It was certified Platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA).
My Thoughts
I never knew the backstory behind this song until now. I find it interesting to hear how artists write songs and what inspires them to write songs. Whenever I listen to Pompeii, it takes to me an alternate reality. It’s almost ethereal.
Closing Thoughts
Well, that was a blast to the past. I hope you enjoyed this breakdown of some of the biggest songs to come out of 2013. It’s truly hard for me to believe that it’s been 10 years.
Thank you so much for reading!

