Today’s Tunes For Tuesday is a special 2013 edition featuring 13 songs that got me through the year.

Many of these songs were not released in 2013 (but you probably already assumed that if you’ve read this blog before) but that doesn’t mean that they’re not great tunes!  All of these songs are on my current running playlist so if you’re looking for some new power songs to get you through the next workout, check ’em out.

13 Songs I Loved in 2013:

(all titles link to the corresponding YouTube video)

1.  Unbelievers (Vampire Weekend)

This earworm has been stuck in my head for a few weeks and recently got me through a tough run.  I understand that the line, “You love the sea” is rumored to based on a character in the movie “Rushmore” – a movie I liked immensely when I saw it but haven’t seen it in awhile.  Give it a try and tell me if you can walk away without singing or bopping around to it.

2.  Pompeii (Bastille)

This song is one of the most aptly named pieces of music I’ve heard in a very long time.  Through the beat of this song, you can almost visualize an army of people marching in time.  This is a fabulous running song and the line, “How am I gonna be an optimist about this?” is a line that isn’t easy to let go of (I know I’m ending a sentence with a preposition but I couldn’t rearrange the sentence better to express my opinion).

Bonus: Dan Smith, the lead singer of Bastille, also manages to sing with his British accent – a feat not always achieved but much appreciated by this Anglophile.  I was impressed with myself that I recognized that part of this video was filmed in LA – see the link above if you haven’t seen this spooky video.

3.  We Found Love (Rihanna ft Calvin Harris)

I like dance songs while I run.  Say what you want about Rihanna but the girl puts out great dance music.  This song always gets me motivated to run and run fast (for me anyway).

4.  My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Fall Out Boy)

If you don’t walk away singing, “So light ’em up, up, up; I’m on fiiiire!” after hearing this song, you might need to be resuscitated.  This is a fantastic power song for running (or getting motivated to do anything quite frankly).  I was never a Fall Out Boy fan before but this song converted me – great beat and holy crap, Patrick Stump can sing!

5.  Harlem (New Politics)

Another power song.  I think this song is super fun and I just smile when I hear it.  I’ll also admit that I’ve had to stop and “shake it like a bad girl up in Harlem” while running more than once.  There’s also a running quote, “run like me, like hell, like everybody else” that doesn’t hurt.

6.  Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall (Coldplay)

I’ve mentioned that I’ve found myself crying after I run a few times lately and this song encapsulates the feeling of triumph I feel during a run.  This song is reminiscent of the rebel songs that The Alarm do so very well.

7.  Pumped Up Kicks (Foster The People)

A song that says “you better run, better run, out run my gun” makes me run even if it isn’t loud or very up tempo.  This song has a slow, steady beat and some strange-ass lyrics.  I saw FTP perform this song on SNL years ago and found them mesmerizing.  Mellow but motivating…and there’s that whistle.

8.  Miami 2017 (Billy Joel)

Yes, I just featured this song in a recent Tunes For Tuesday but it’s just a great one.  Epic crescendos and great story telling with lyrics about NYC, it’s a gimme.

9.  Look Good In Leather (Cody ChestnuTT)

Yes, Cody does spell his last name with two capital T’s.  I came across this song entirely by accident a number of years ago and the groove just got me.  The lyrics are all about feeling good about yourself and the groove is mellow but awesome.  If you’ve heard this song, I need to know and if you haven’t, you need to right now!  Warning – NSFW lyrics.

10.  I’ve Done Everything For You (Rick Springfield)

80’s pop genius with a great beat.  Very cathartic to hear while running especially when you’re pissed off.  This song does it for me every time.  I saw Rick live this year and he absolutely blew me away with his showmanship (post detailing the show with a Dave Grohl appearance is here).  Thank you Rick and Sammy Hagar (who wrote the song) for always helping me get my anger out.

11.  Roll With The Changes (REO Speedwagon)

So this song was released in 1978 but #1 it’s REO Speedwagon and #2 it’s just fantastic.  The steady beat with the growing crescendo are great for running.  There’s also a great lesson in the lyrics  – “so if you’re tired of the same old story, turn some pages”.  I know that the refrain says “Keep on rollin'” but I always hear “keep on running” and it helps me do just that.  Always.

12.  Human (The Killers)

Dramatic (in the vein of Coldplay), excellent beat with powerful words like, “So long to devotion, you’ve taught me everything I know; Wave goodbye, wish me well, You’ve gotta let me go”.  You can’t help but feel like a powerhouse when you hear this anthem.  I’m a fool for being late to get on The Killers fan train (although their holiday song this year is exceptionally depressing).

13.  Hold Back The Rain (Duran Duran)

You knew there had to be a Duran song, right?  HBTR is probably my favorite Duran tune of all.  How this song was never released as a single and no official video was ever made is a travesty!   While there’s a sweet story behind the song (Simon Le Bon wrote this about John Taylor’s drug and alcohol use as measure of concern way before John ever admitted he had a problem), it isn’t the reason I like it.  To me this song is defiant and when I hear the words, “Hold Back The Rain” I feel mighty when I’m running.

There you have it.  My #13in2013 songs.  Like ’em?  Hate ’em?  Never heard of ’em?  Let me know and have a great New Year’s Eve.

What song would be your defining song of 2013?