2013 was a difficult year to narrow down. It was the year of the “UGH,” as I like to call it.  With Macklemore and Robin Thicke ruling the charts, the majority of ’13 sounded like a bar mitzvah’s wet dream. But not to fear! Nerdist is here to help!  Let’s look back at the stuff from 2013 that didn’t make us want to choke ourselves with Miley’s foam finger.

Here our the top 10 songs from 2013 as well as some stragglers we couldn’t leave behind. There is no particular order. Nerdist hasn’t developed an equation that is able to properly compare Beyonce to The National.

1. Doin’ It Right – Daft Punk

Someone suggested I include Get Lucky, but then my eyes got stuck in the back of my head from ROLLING THEM SO HARD because If I hear Get Lucky one more time I SWEAR…

Anyway, Doin’ It Right seemed like an obvious choice from 2013, not to mention it brought us THIS nugget of Mad Men gold.

 2. Sacrilege – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Karen O should legally change her name to Karen OooooooooooYeah! Sacrilige probably wins the most badass song of the year. It was the band’s first piece of new material since 2009, and they did not disappoint.

3. XO – Beyonce

Because it’s Beyonce is why.

This is also the video where her booty plays Dance Dance Revolution in a theme park. It’s only for a moment, but it’s certainly a glorious one.

4. Buzzcut Season – Lorde

We get it, Lorde. We completely understand that you’re a 17 year old alien goddess who’s been transported to earth to show us we’re all inferior to your vast hypnotic powers.  “Buzzcut Season” seemed like an obvious choice because it acts as almost a lullaby, most likely the one she plans on singing to her alien children so we can have more Lordes to worship for years to come.

5. Gimme – Beck

Xylophones are always a solid bet.

6. I Love You Madly – Irene Diaz

For you sentimental nerds out there, this has got to be the best love ballad of the year. It’s just plain beautiful to listen to. Diaz has one of those voices Disney cannot replicate and add to their army of overmedicated minions.  She’s unique and fearless and the song reflects that.

7. Pink Rabbits – The National

Matt Berninger could sing a song about literally anything and have the indie rock population entranced. I think this song about pink rabbits (but of course, it’s a metaphor) proves that.  I wish I could have posted the entirety of “Trouble Will Find Me,” but there are societal rules around these year end lists, and my fingers are starting to hurt.

8. Fare Thee Well  (Dink’s Song) – Marcus Mumford & Oscar Isaac

I wish more year end lists would include songs developed for motion pictures because this one really sunk in. The song has been played by countless folk revival musicians such as Bob Dylan and Jeff Buckley, and surprisingly, this recent version performed for the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis does a damned near perfect job. Oscar Isaac’s folk performances throughout the film are simply lovely.

9. Step – Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend did something incredible this year. They debuted a new album that sounds enough like their old ones, but created a new way to present it. Their rhythm can surprise us, without it sounding like a cookie-cutter Vampire Weekend song. Step does this. It’s fun and unpredictable.

10. Strange Creatures – Jake Bugg

Our new favorite folk singer. He’s what Tallest Man On Earth was 4 years ago, with a more rocky edge. Jake Bugg has blown up this year, making him the Lorde of folk-rock music, but he’s done it with a pizazz makes you want to buy a cowboy hat.

Songs We Still Love A Ton:

Hold On, We’re Going Home – Drake

Arguably the best song of the year, but also overplayed to the point of nausea.

Latch – Disclosure

Sam Smith is gonna be big this year.

Retrograde – James Blake

So. Good.

Man – Neko Case

She’s flawless.

Do I Wanna Know? – Arctic Monkeys

It’s rare these days to have a song where the lyrics really slap you across the face.

Another Story – The Head And The Heart

Because you want to listen to this while the snow falls.

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What were your top songs of the year? Post ’em below…