The Top Songs of 2013, from Thrift Shop to Royals

What was the number one song of 2013?

"Thrift Shop" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz was the number one song of 2013 on Billboard's year-end Hot 100. "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell was second and Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive" third. "Blurred Lines" had the longest run at number one that year, twelve weeks, and Lorde's "Royals" followed with nine.

The good 2013 songs everyone remembers: the top 20

1. "Thrift Shop", Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz: an independent release that topped the year.
2. "Blurred Lines", Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams
3. "Radioactive", Imagine Dragons: a record-setting run on the Hot 100.
4. "Harlem Shake", Baauer: the dance craze driven by viral videos.
5. "Can't Hold Us", Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton
6. "Mirrors", Justin Timberlake: an eight-minute ballad inspired in part by his grandparents' long marriage.
7. "Just Give Me a Reason", Pink featuring Nate Ruess
8. "When I Was Your Man", Bruno Mars: a piano ballad of regret.
9. "Cruise", Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly: the country remix that crossed over.
10. "Roar", Katy Perry
11. "Locked Out of Heaven", Bruno Mars
12. "Ho Hey", the Lumineers: the stomp-and-clap folk hit.
13. "Stay", Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko
14. "Get Lucky", Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams: the disco-revival song of the summer.
15. "Royals", Lorde: a 16-year-old's minimalist number one.
16. "I Knew You Were Trouble", Taylor Swift
17. "We Can't Stop", Miley Cyrus
18. "Wrecking Ball", Miley Cyrus
19. "Wake Me Up", Avicii: the EDM and bluegrass crossover sung by Aloe Blacc.
20. "Suit and Tie", Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z

More top songs of 2013 (21 to 40)

21. "Cups (Pitch Perfect's When I'm Gone)", Anna Kendrick
22. "Holy Grail", Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake
23. "Scream and Shout", will.i.am featuring Britney Spears
24. "Clarity", Zedd featuring Foxes
25. "Sail", Awolnation
26. "Don't You Worry Child", Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin
27. "Diamonds", Rihanna
28. "I Love It", Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX
29. "Safe and Sound", Capital Cities
30. "Treasure", Bruno Mars
31. "The Way", Ariana Grande featuring Mac Miller
32. "Started from the Bottom", Drake
33. "Come and Get It", Selena Gomez
34. "Hold On, We're Going Home", Drake featuring Majid Jordan
35. "Daylight", Maroon 5
36. "Feel This Moment", Pitbull featuring Christina Aguilera
37. "Applause", Lady Gaga
38. "One More Night", Maroon 5
39. "Love Me", Lil Wayne featuring Drake and Future
40. "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)", Fall Out Boy

Every number one song of 2013

These songs were number one on the Billboard Hot 100 during 2013, in order: "Locked Out of Heaven" (Bruno Mars), "Thrift Shop" (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz), "Harlem Shake" (Baauer), "When I Was Your Man" (Bruno Mars), "Just Give Me a Reason" (Pink featuring Nate Ruess), "Can't Hold Us" (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton), "Blurred Lines" (Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell), "Roar" (Katy Perry), "Wrecking Ball" (Miley Cyrus), "Royals" (Lorde) and "The Monster" (Eminem featuring Rihanna).

Macklemore and the independent hit

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis released "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us" on their own, without a major label, and both went to number one, making them the only act with two number ones in 2013, and "Same Love", their song in support of marriage equality, became an anthem of the year. Their album The Heist went on to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album, and their success showed that viral videos and word of mouth could carry independent artists to the top of the chart.

Harlem Shake and the new Hot 100

In February 2013 Billboard began counting YouTube views toward the Hot 100, and Baauer's "Harlem Shake", powered by thousands of fan-made dance videos, debuted at number one that same week. From then on, streaming and video played a growing role in deciding the biggest songs of every year.

Lorde, Daft Punk and Avicii

New Zealand's Lorde was 16 when "Royals" reached number one, one of the youngest solo artists to top the chart in decades, and it later won the Grammy for Song of the Year. Daft Punk's "Get Lucky", with Pharrell and Nile Rodgers, brought back the sound of 70s disco and won Record of the Year, and Avicii's "Wake Me Up" blended EDM with acoustic guitar and folk. For more, see our 70s disco songs.

Folk and indie on the charts

The Lumineers' "Ho Hey", along with Mumford and Sons and Of Monsters and Men, made foot-stomping folk-rock one of the sounds of 2013, while Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive" spent a record-setting length of time on the Hot 100, staying on the chart for well over a year. For more, see our Mumford and Sons songs.

Songs of 2013 for a party or an anniversary

For a throwback party, "Thrift Shop", "Can't Hold Us", "Get Lucky", "Wake Me Up", "I Love It" and "Roar" bring back 2013 instantly. For a 2013 wedding anniversary, "Mirrors", "Just Give Me a Reason", "Ho Hey" and "Stay" are lovely choices for a slow dance. For more, see our first dance songs.

Top songs of other years

For more year-by-year hits, see our top songs of 1985, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2012.

A song as unforgettable as 2013

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