DJ VH1 (Brendan Jay Sullivan) is many things. Lady Gaga’s old friend, author of Rivington Was Ours: Lady Gaga, The Lower East Side and the Time of Our Lives, and a renowned international DJ who travels the world to play clubs, private parties and more. DJ VH1 has recently put together his favorite songs from 2013 for the ultimate playlist that is sure to rock any gathering!
TOP 13 SONGS FROM 2013
13 – Duck Sauce – It’s You
Of all the things sampled and CPR’d into modern music: how come it’s only A-Trak trying to resuscitate doowop?
12 – Lorde – Tennis Court
My favorite thing in music this year is Lorde. Sean Parker introduced me to her in May. My ultimate music moment of the year was going to her first US show in a tiny basement club. When she sang, “Pretty soon I’ll be getting on my first plane…” Her voice faltered and the crowd cheered because they realized she was writing about this very show.
11 – Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen
This song makes me want to fall in love with someone who has never been skinny dipping and then wait for a full moon.
9 – Britney Spears – Ooh La La (from The Smurfs 2)
I’m going to stick up for this song because it’s fantastic. I mix it with Madonna’s “Hung Up.”
10 – Kanye West – Black Skinhead
This is one of those rare songs where even the goth kids are gonna agree it’s insanely good. Kanye does that every few years.
8 – Matthew Schuler – Hallelujah (The Voice Performance)
Here’s the thing: this is a very good cover of a song that is so good no one has even lived up to its own writing yet. The reason it’s on my list is somewhere there was a kid bored watching TV with his parents who heard it for the first time and his life will never be the same.
7 – Daft Punk – Give Life Back to Music
The only other song in history that was a living mission-statement is LCD Soundsystem’s “Losing My Edge.” This is what Daft Punk is for. This also highlights Nile Rodgers high-neck guitar playing chops.
6 – NONONO – Pumpin Blood
The world needs more songs like this. Synth, drums, feelings.
5 – Katy Perry – Roar
Great song. Someone out there is sitting in her car in a high school parking lot and she can’t face her day until she hears it one more time.
4 – Lady Gaga – Do What U Want
Gaga’s genius is what takes a Felix da Housecat kind of synth and puts it in an R&B tempo and asks R. Kelly to join the party.
3 – Eminem – Berzerk
The fact that it’s possible to create a timeless song in hip hop now is everything right in music. You could listen to this song, pull apart the samples and end up with five new favorite songs.
2 – Zedd – Clarity – Zedd Union Mix
When he gets another couple of tracks together, I’ll write an opera for Zedd and this will be the heartbreaking scene.
1 – Lorde – Royals
Thank you, Lorde. Thank you for making 2013
