Kizaro's 13 Best Songs Of 2013

Contrary to the industry's naysayers, 2013 was an amazingly creative year for music and entertainment in general worldwide. Musicians both home and abroad, threw down some wicked material and we loved them all (at least plenty of them). We saw an amazing rise of new artistes and startling consistency of not so new ones. Out of hundreds of songs that deserved to be on our list, it was very tough whittling a treasure trove to so few.

Here's a look at the 13 best of 2013. Happy New Year and God bless y'all in 2014 and beyond.

13. Bruno Mars - "Treasure"

Mars reminded us all of the immense talent he displayed in his debut album with this 70s style disco love song from his sophomore album, "Unorthodox Jukebox" which like the songs of the era he copied, fused charm, catchy melody and puppy love lyrics to keep our feet moving and earn a place on number 13 on our list.

12. Burna Boy - "Run my race"

2013 is considered by many including this writer, as the year of Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy, aka Oluwa Burna, aka Burn Anikulapo Kuti (yes i'm a big fan). Out of his amazing debut album "L.I.F.E" came this afro-beat/hip-hop banger that channeled Fela Anikulapo type vocals in Burna's trademark dancehall drawl over a wall of sound that Abami Eda himself would have endorsed.

My favourite part - "Wetin dey sup? When i dey hustle you dey lick lollipop. Now you dey form robocop but na today reality must comot, ask dem!..."

11. Justin Timberlake - "Mirrors"

The "coolest white man alive" (Sorry Robin Thicke) made a comeback after almost seven years of movie-making and other pet projects as a mature artiste light years away from his N'Sync band boy days with his album, the "20/20 Experience" out of which came the operatic "Mirrors" Several minutes of bliss that is one of the best things he may ever do. Musically at least

10. Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell & TI- "Blurred Lines"

The second "coolest white man alive" Lol! also made a great comeback with the Pharrell Williams produced track that is a dance floor filler complete with suggestive lyrics and rapper TI at his cheeky best. An amazing song that stirred controversy over allegedly ripping off samples of Marvin Gaye's compositions. Still a great track and worthy of a top ten spot.

9. Mafikizolo - "Khona"

The South African duo smashed the barrier of being just a local success and totally swept us away here in naija with the awesome "call and response" monster hit "Khona". A force of nature rather than a song, it has an appeal that transcends language and reminds us all of why music is the greatest unifying force on earth.

8. Jaywon - "Odun Yi" (This year)

Kennis Music's own answer to hitmaker turned law student, 9ice, released this hit on the 1st of January 2013 and earned a quick place in our hearts with lyrics like  "promotion this year, housewarming this year...". A damn good song in which he channeled Kwam 1 but kept it subtle and creative. A slow fuji track that had us all bobbing our heads with hope that all our dreams would come to pass... ahem! this year. 

7. Wande Coal - "Rotate"

Its Don Jazzy again!!! Former Mo Hits/Mavin Records crooner Wande Coal barged his way into our list with this ridiculously catchy and dance-able Afro-pop number produced by Don Jazzy that took many by surprise. It was a song many had heard but didn't know who sang until we learned it was WC and said "okaaaaaay no wonder!"


6. Drake - "Hold on we’re going home"

Toronto 1st son, Drake continued to dazzle critics of his singing with his 80s style ballad that continued a trend of retro that many artistes tapped into this year. Complete with a Scarface themed video to boot the song sports a well used retro beat that gave us lots of hits from the likes of Phil Collins and Gregory Abbott in the 1980s. This writer favoured his other 2013 hit,, "Started from the bottom" but the sheer originality of concept and courage to do a song of this nature earned him a place in our top ten. Drake's idea was to create a classic wedding song and boy did he get it right.

5. Tiwa Savage featuring Don Jazzy - "Eminado"

Its Don Jazzy again again! Mavin Records 1st Lady, Tiwa Savage gave us a feelgood time with her hit Eminado ably supported by the able Mavin Records "Oga at the top" Don Jazzy. It even inspired a slow and jazzy (no pun intended) cover by an artiste called Mystro. Beautiful song, beautiful singer and everybody loved both.

4. Maleek Berry featuring Wizkid - "Back To The Matter"

Wizkid's Starboy Record label first signing, UK based Producer/Artiste Maleek Berry gave us this banger of bangers featuring the vocals of Wizkid. A track with plenty of attitude and hardcore lyrics that shocked fans used to his syrupy sweet pop star-boy image. "Dem say dem go throw me punch but I swear dem no reach oh eh...twenty man shall fall a day if you cross my lane oh eh!" Wizkid shocked us all even if we were too busy dancing to show it. Lest you forget the track is credited to Maleek Berry.

 3. Sean Tizzle - "Sho le"

Newcomer Sean Tizzle earns the number three spot with his awesome percussion based track produced by D'Tunes who brought us Iyanya's biggest hits including "Kukere". "Your waist" and couple of others. The song is so good that it makes everyone on the dance floor look like a hotstepper.


2. K-Cee - "Limpopo"

Two years after parting ways with longtime collaborator and partner Presh, K-Cee finally blew big-time as a solo act with "Limpopo". We dont know what "Limpopo" means till  now "though a couple of naughty suggestions have been brought forward.

1. *Daft Punk featuring Pharrell - "Get Lucky"

French house music duo, Daft Punk gave us the biggest hit of the summer with an authentic 70s disco hit "Get Lucky". The song's bragging rights stem not only from its elegant and very funky composition but from the exquisite instrumentation and the part production by legendary producer and disco era icon Nile Rodgers who played or produced some of the greatest disco tracks of the 1970s via the likes of Diana Ross and his band Chic. Getting Rodgers on the track was a masterstroke that excited Pharrell Williams who hustled his way into a featuring role on the track just to collaborate with Rodgers.

The end result was an amazing song that is our No.1 song of 2013. Enjoy the alternative video below