Dancing Astronaut's Top 50 Biggest Tracks of 2013: 10-1
10. Knife Party – LRAD (Original Mix)
One of 2013’s most played tracks came at the hands of Knife Party and their work on “LRAD.” A main stage staple throughout 2013, Knife Party’s cocktail of squealing synthesis as only they could provide was the angriest festival anthem of the year. Combining punchy breaks with their finely tuned electro and dubstep style, Knife Party set into motion what could only be described as the “year of the drops” for 2013.
9. Pryda – Power Drive (Original Mix)
The Essential Mix heard around the world, the one from Eric Prydz early this year, had the dance community hypnotized as they tuned into BBC Radio 1 on a cold February night. Prydz set the bar of Pete Tong’s guest spot at unprecedented heights with a mix that can’t be forgotten. The digital journey teased nearly his entire 2013 catalog, but “Power Drive” was the tune that lifted emotions best during those two hours. Flip the switch on Pryda Friends’ top track of the year and travel back to that listening session, or even one of Eric’s live sets where “Power Drive” proved more than capable as well.
8. Kaskade – Atmosphere (Original Mix)
Heads turned as this rumbled out of Ultra’s mega sound system this March. Heads from both the live and streaming audiences. It was Kaskade on the beat. And Kaskade on the vocal. “Atmosphere” provided the all-American veteran with the steam to take on an arena tour, album release, and everything in between. Sharing the same title with its host album, Kaskade’s original stood out as the one explosive track within tunes nostalgic of younger dance duties.
7. Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Nicky Romero, Fast Eddy – S.O.T.U. (Original Mix)
Despite its acronym, it’s the sound of a lot of things. Sunnery James, Ryan Marciano, and Nicky Romero’s “S.O.T.U.,” injected one of the most popular vocal snippets into the live atmosphere. Releasing their collaboration on Size Records, they’ve blurred the line between tribal and heavy-electro synthwork. From the massive Main Stage of Tomorrowland to the dark late nights at Pacha NYC, “SOTU” served as 2013’s most transcendent record in dance.
6. Duke Dumont feat. A.M.E. – Need U (100%)
Duke Dumont followed up his hit single “The Giver” with a vocally-driven disco pop track unassumingly titled “Need U (100%).” Little did he know that his sugar-coated collaboration with A.M.E. would earn him not only worldwide recognition but a Grammy nod as well. The contagious and accessible original found its way into countless sets throughout the year, whether in its original disco house form or just merely its emphatic top line. Dumont and WIN Records high water mark for 2013 represented more than just a choice track — it was a paradigm shift in the dance music discussion.
5. Martin Garrix – Animals (Original Mix)
It wasn’t a festival without “Animals.” Seemingly heard in nearly every set regardless of its core genre (not to mention televised in the latest commercial for Madden) Martin Garrix gave big room dance its gold prize in 2013 with his breakthrough single. The only criticism it has faced is from cynics who say “it sounds like one million other songs.” Yes, it does sound like one million other songs. But it’s the best of one million. And it served as the inspiration for this year’s desired energy at live events. Many have tried to replicate Garrix’s smash, but none have been as contagious or impactful as “Animals.”
4. Disclosure – White Noise (feat. Alunageorge)
HypeM’s most blogged about artist in 2013, Disclosure played a crucial role in defining the sound of the past year. Our number one album of the year, Settle, was a genre defiant look back on the dance music of old but it was their lead single alongside Alunageorge, “White Noise,” that earned them a #1 single in the UK and global recognition. Mixing their trademark future garage style with Alunageorge’s sugary pop vocals, the collaboration led to the revival of the genre they call home — and landed the Lawrence brothers’ single firmly at our number 4 spot.
3. Armin van Buuren – This Is What it Feels Like (Original + Remixes)
The heralded titan of trance isn’t giving up his throne anytime soon, continuing as one of the most scheduled electronic acts in the business. But he found the time to produce an artist album as well in 2013, another solo endeavor that went over well with his loyal fan base. Aptly titled, Intense brought much of what you’d expect from someone of Armin’s status, but it also brought “This Is What It Feels Like,” a track that is inescapable everywhere; whether at a festival in the form of its W&W remix, or at local bank where tellers are crooning along with Trevor Guthrie.
2. Avicii – Wake Me Up (feat. Aloe Blacc)
That one song. That Avicii played at Ultra. That people thought was country. Is now one of the most internationally recognized tunes in rotation. Leading the brave charge with a genre-bending debut album in True, Avicii joined forces with Aloe Blacc to surprise the relatively small community of dance music, and to soon after take the rest of the world along for the ride. “Wake Me Up” was shrugged at when debuted in March as the lack of boundaries instilled shock value, but months later has claimed the record for longest-running number one single on Billboard’s dance music chart.
1. Daft Punk – Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell & Nile Rodgers)
The eight year wait for new material from Daft Punk came to an end this year with a well-polished new album and a lead single for the books. There was no bigger song of the year in all of music, let alone electronic music. It practically took on a life of its own. In fact, “Get Lucky” was one of the most buzzed about tracks in recent memory even before it officially had its name. From a brief video teaser at Coachella that was practically world news to its domination of pop culture throughout the summer, Daft Punk struck gold when teaming up with Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams and executing their goal of going backwards to move forwards.