Carly Rae Jepsen now holds two spots in the top five (as does Alabama Shakes), with “I Really Like You” holding at #3 and “E·MO·TION” jumping to a new peak of #4. Kacey Musgraves, Grizfolk, and Demi Lovato make big moves in the chart’s upper half. Also in the top fifty is Hunter Hunted’s “Lucky Day,” the highest debut of the week at #48. Wildhood follows with the next entry, debut single “Psycho Jam,” at #60; in the lower rungs, R5 (who also re-enters “All Night”), Rob Thomas, ROMANS, and AIR BAG ONE all score with new songs.

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In its 23rd week at the top, Walk The Moon’s “Shut Up And Dance” sets a record for the highest number of chart weeks at #1, surpassing the previous 22-week record set by Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep.” (In the earliest days of my personal chart, Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera’s “Nobody Wants To Be Lonely” reigned for a total of 41 weeks at #1 in 2002, though only over five charts, as I was not yet compiling them on a weekly basis.) Meanwhile, Carly Rae Jepsen moves into the top ten with “E·MO·TION.”

The week’s highest debut comes from former chart-topper Martin Luke Brown, whose new song “Scars On Scars” enters at #68. New singles from Grizfolk, Demi Lovato, Hunter Hayes featuring Lady Antebellum, and Jess Glynne also enter, as does newcomer FLETCHER and a new album cut from both Kacey Musgraves and Tori Kelly.

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Walk The Moon scores a ninth week at #1 with the top ten mostly unchanged, save a move into the top five by Nate Ruess and a #10 entry for Morgan Page and Lissie. Rachel Platten makes another big jump, up 27 to #13 in her third week on with “Fight Song.” Once again, Sam Hunt, Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato, and The Veronicas make double-digit jumps, as do Martin Luke Brown’s “Take Out Of Me” and Greg Holden’s “Hold On Tight.” The biggest chart entry this week is a re-entry, as CAFUNÉ’s debut single “Letting Go” returns at #83 after last charting at #99 at the beginning of February. Florence + The Machine lands another debut from upcoming album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, but the rest of the debuts are all from artists appearing for the first time: Years & Years, Handsome Ghost, Brandon Flowers, The Bros. Landreth, and Cheerleader.

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The top ten is stagnant save its bottom spot, which is newly occupied by Carly Rae Jepsen’s “I Really Like You.” For the second week in a row, Christine and the Queens have the highest debut: this time, “Saint Claude” enters at #34. The Chainsmokers and Great Good Fine OK have the biggest mover with “Let You Go,” up 38 spots to #42, followed by CAFUNÉ’s “Instant Crush” (up 23 to #75) and Kelly Clarkson’s “Someone” (up 20 to #38). In the bottom quadrant of the chart, eight more debuts are led by Rachel Platten, Sam Hunt, and Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato.

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These are one hundred songs that stayed in my heavy rotation throughout 2013. In a year that saw personal advancements including eight weeks studying abroad in France and graduation from college, these songs soundtracked my year, each song appealing to me through instrumentation, lyrics, or just its overall mood. Read on for descriptions of each track, access the whole playlist on SoundCloud to listen, and judge away.
Continue reading “Kurt’s 100 Favorite Songs of 2013”

With not a lot of movement in the upper reaches on the chart, The Band Perry ascends to the top ten with “If I Die Young.” Colbie Caillat has a big mover with “Shadow,” up 29-15; Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper” also jumps ten spots to #18. Newcomer Ximena Sariñana has the highest debut at #35 with “Different.”

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