Top Five English Songs Of 2013

5.“Roar,” Katy Perry

After three years off, KP rolled back into the pop universe with her golden Prism semi-truck and the feisty anthem “Roar.” And if her empowering jungle music video and knock-out boxing ring performance at the 2013 VMAs weren’t enough to inspire, we don’t know what will. Though it’s been out since August, the song is still sitting in Billboard‘s Top 10, giving Katy’s “Roar” the rarest of things: A pop song with staying power.

4.“Wrecking Ball,” Miley Cyrus

Ever heard it? The video for Miley Cyrus‘ second Bangerz single made as much of an impact as her naughty VMA performance when she got naked and climbed atop that swinging sphere of forged steel. The parodies  that followed — complete with sledge-hammer-licking and vulnerable crying — became just as famous as Miley’s vid.

To date, “Wrecking Ball” has racked up more than 398 million views on YouTube, the second-most watched YT video of the year. It has also offered about a bit more emotion and reminded the world of one fact that got lost in the smoky haze of twerking and dancing with molly– the girl can really sing.

3.“Get Lucky,” Daft Punk

It shouldn’t have resonated the way it did, not in 2013, when folks were busy bowing down to Baauer and succumbing to Miley’s machinations. And yet, “Get Lucky” somehow became the biggest hit of Daft Punk‘s 15-year career, going toe-to-toe with “Blurred Lines” this summer, selling more than 7 million copies worldwide and making it all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Was it the rare example of taste overtaking the masses? Probably not. Instead, chalk its success up to the undeniable presence of Pharrell Williams, the sumptuous flourishes of Nile Rodgers’ guitar licks, the fact that we are all, in some way, just looking to get lucky. After nearly a decade between albums, the robots returned with the gift that “keeps on giving.” There’s still time to send that “Thank You” card.

2.“Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke

“Hey hey hey!” As far as sentiments go, it’s not much … and yet, try to find a better way to sum up Robin Thicke‘s ubiquitous — and oddly litigious — smash, the year’s best-selling (6 million copies and counting), longest-reigning (12 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100) song. Some called it misogynistic, others found the video’s parade of topless females problematic, and hey, they’re both valid criticisms, but no one ever said “Blurred Lines” was the thinking man’s anthem.

1.“Royals,” Lorde

She may never be “royal,” but Lorde‘s chart-topping single will forever be enthroned in the collective cerebral cortex of the world. Although the anti-consumerist jam debuted in 2012, it gained traction in 2013 leading up to the release of the 17-year-old singer’s debut LP, Pure Heroine. The single hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and scored Lorde the longest reign on the Alternative Songs chart by a lead female. Lorde’s mission statement — that “pop music doesn’t have to be stupid” — not only separated her from the rest of the field, but made her a singular star (and earned her a multi-million dollar publishing deal  too).We guess she can live that fantasy.