Songs of the summer: What will be 2013's summer anthem?
Nearly every summer has that one defining song. A song that becomes the soundtrack to our parties, our road trips and our beach-tanning sessions. A song so overplayed (or "thriftshopped") by Labor Day that we'll never want to hear it again. Until maybe the following summer.
Now that summer season has officially begun, so has the race for its signature song. From Miley Cyrus to Robin Thicke, 2013 is all about comebacks. And who would've thought two of our top contenders would feature Pharrell? In a summer of unpredictability, we'll try to do the impossible and predict its main anthem.
So what is going to be 2013's "Call Me Maybe?"
Top Contenders:
"Get Lucky," Daft Punk, ft. Pharrell : It's catchy, it's party-ready, it's simply irresistible. "Get Lucky" is the leading single off Daft Punk's latest album, "Random Access Memories," and it's arguably the top contender for 2013's song of the summer. "Get Lucky" doesn't have an official music video yet, a minor set-back, but the disco-pop jam has the nostalgic, universal appeal to be the favorite song this season. With the duo also producing four tracks off Kanye West's new album, "Yeezus," 2013 may be the summer Daft Punk gets lucky.
"We Can't Stop," Miley Cyrus: Miley Cyrus is back with a grown-up version of 2009's "Party in The USA." On "We Can't Stop,"she's definitely partying harder, dropping lines about "dancing with molly," "doing lines in the bathroom," and in perhaps the wisest lyrical verse of the entire year, she sings, "We run things, things don't run we." Cyrus tells us that it's her house and her roof, so could this be her summer, too? "We Can't Stop" has the potential to be the hit we've been waiting for, even if Cyrus is partying a little too hard. That's never stopped her before.
"Blurred Lines," Robin Thicke, ft. T.I and Pharrell : Even in a summer jam-packed with comebacks, who could have called the return of R&B singer Robin Thicke? But believe it: Thicke is here with a new chart-topper. "Blurred Lines" features an infectious '70s-reminiscent hook and a great pair of featured artists: T.I. and Pharrell . Despite music video controversy, "Blurred Lines" is gaining momentum. It could beat out "Get Lucky" as this 2013's summer anthem.
"#beautiful," Mariah Carey, ft. Miguel: Many of 2013's summer song contenders are music veterans, making long-awaited returns to the Top 40 charts. Mariah Carey, who holds the summer 2005 spot with "We Belong Together," is #back and #betterthanever with her breezy, feel good single, "#beautiful." Featuring rising R&B singer Miguel, the track has the potential to rule the charts all summer long. Or at least be the only track on the charts with a #hashtag in it.
"Body Party," Ciara: Remember "1,2 Step" from 2004? R&B songstress Ciara is back with "Body Party," the sultry, tantalizing jam that's hot enough to become this summer's anthem. While it doesn't feature Missy Elliot (as "1, 2 Step" did), "Body Party" channels the retro R&B vibe that singers like Usher mastered in the 2000s. It may not be your go-to party banger, but "Body Party," reminds us why we love summer in the first place. Producer Mike WiLL Made It doctored the track; the up-and-coming studio figure also produced Cyrus' "We Can't Stop."
"Here's to Never Growing Up," Avril Lavigne: The tie-wearing Canadian former skater chick is back with a new single, just in time for summer air-play. "Here's to Never Growing Up" captures the spirit of the YOLO generation and the youthful punk energy of summer. Lavigne's track also continues the trend set by Katy Perry in "The One That Got Away" of heavily drinking while listening to Radiohead. "Here's to Never Growing Up" may be a little bratty and a little stuck in the last decade, but it may also be exactly what radio is missing.
Other 2013 Contenders:
"The Way It Used To Be," Mike Posner
"Can't Hold Us," Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, ft. Ray Dalton
"How Many Drinks," Miguel, ft. Kendrick Lamar
"The Other Side," Jason Derulo
"Diane Young," Vampire Weekend
Boom: 15 songs vying for the title spot. Vote for one of your favorites in our poll. If you can't pick just one, download all the tracks onto one fierce summer playlist. And if you don't see your choice for chart-topping, sunshine-dominating song of the summer, post it in a comments section below!
And for some inspiration, let's take a look at a few recent summer anthems:
2002: "Hot In Herre," Nelly
2003: "Crazy In Love," Beyonce, ft. Jay-Z
2004: "Yeah," Usher
2005: "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey
2006: "Promiscuous," Nelly Furtado, ft. Timbaland
2007: "Umbrella," Rihanna, ft. Jay-Z
2008: "I Kissed A Girl," Katy Perry
2009: "I Gotta Feeling," Black Eyed Peas
2010: "California Gurls," Katy Perry, ft. Snoop Dogg
2011: "Party Rock Anthem," LMFAO
2012: "Call Me Maybe," Carly Rae Jepsen
2013: ?