19 December 2013 Previous winners and finalists will continue to top our charts: Little Mix; James Arthur; Ella Henderson; One Direction together and solo. 'Skyscraper' by Sam Bailey, though, is the last X Factor winner's single to go to number one in Ireland. It's also the end of an annual tradition; 'Skyscraper' was Ireland's eighth … Continue reading Sam Bailey – ‘Skyscraper’
Tag: 2013
Lily Allen – ‘Somewhere Only We Know’
21 November 2013 They said it couldn't be done. However, on a TV commercial just now I've heard a sad cover version of the ultimate '90s dayglo Eurodance banger, 2 Unlimited's 'No Limits'. I think it was an ad for some telecommunications product and its generous user tariff, hence the connection. (Correction: it's actually for … Continue reading Lily Allen – ‘Somewhere Only We Know’
Eminem ft. Rihanna – ‘The Monster’
7 November 2013 Even though the year was dominated by 'Blurred Lines', 2013 couldn't pass without the O.G. crassness of Eminem. His singles this year include 'Berzerk' (with sexist slurs and a cheap diss of a female celebrity), 'Survival' (sexist slurs) and 'Rap God' (homophobic slurs and a cheap diss of a female celebrity), all … Continue reading Eminem ft. Rihanna – ‘The Monster’
One Direction – ‘Story Of My Life’
31 October 2013 When I grow up and become mature, I plan to move away from writing about Ireland's bad music purchases into doing something more respected and respectable, like crime. For boybands, maturity tends to mean wearing suits and singing sentimental ballads about being married. In the '90s this meant piano ones by The … Continue reading One Direction – ‘Story Of My Life’
Birdy – ‘Wings’
17 October 2013 Hivemind: can you recall any particular reason—nationwide tour, TV talent show performance, Sunday Game closing montage—why 'Wings' by Birdy topped the charts in Ireland? After all, it only reached number eight in her native UK and didn't go to number one anywhere else either. Or was it simply that a song called … Continue reading Birdy – ‘Wings’
Lorde – ‘Royals’
10 October 2013 Lorde here becomes the third act from Aotearoa - New Zealand to have a number one single in Ireland, and at the time of writing there's only been one more since her. By contrast, 12 Irish acts so far have topped the NZ singles charts: The Bachelors, U2, Foster & Allen, Sinéad … Continue reading Lorde – ‘Royals’
Finbar Furey – ‘The Last Great Love Song’
29 August 2013 Finbar Furey top of the charts, Johnny Logan at number three... was there an '80s-Ireland revival in August 2013 that I wasn't aware of? Not quite, but nor do I remember The Hit, an RTÉ talent show series in which each week budding songwriters competed to have their composition sung by one … Continue reading Finbar Furey – ‘The Last Great Love Song’
Katy Perry – ‘Roar’
22 August 2013 The Katy Perry of 2024, up to her oxters in derision and controversy with the flop of her single 'Woman's World', could do with a bit of the 'Roar' spirit right now. I won't knock anyone for getting some sort of solace or inspiration out of it; the world is a dreadful … Continue reading Katy Perry – ‘Roar’
Avicii – ‘Wake Me Up’
4 July 2013 Avicii's sudden and tragic death in 2018 overshadows 'Wake Me Up' for me now. The immense fame and pressure that came with gargantuan worldwide hits like this had their impact on his wellbeing, and the song's lyrics carry an unavoidable resonance. I wasn't a fan of the track at the time. Its … Continue reading Avicii – ‘Wake Me Up’
Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell – ‘Blurred Lines’
16 May 2013 [Content warning: sexual aggression; sexual assault.] Hashtags! That was my immediate reaction while I first encountered 'Blurred Lines'. It was a Sunday morning, I had a music TV channel on while eating breakfast and reading the papers, and the video started. Those full-screen hashtags of artist and track title had caught my … Continue reading Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell – ‘Blurred Lines’
