CODE Top 50 Game-Changing EDM Tracks of 2013

When a track gets the world’s attention, when it changes an artist’s career forever or drives an entire genre forward, when it has staying power or brings a whole new audience to dance music, it’s a gamechanger. These aren’t necessarily the biggest sellers or the critically acclaimed (though at times they are), but these are the most pivotal tunes of the year, ranked and in order.

1. Daft Punk featuring Pharrell, “Get Lucky”

The robots’ long-awaited comeback rocked the world of EDM with real instruments and an incessantly catchy chorus. Defying convention in everything from its production to its promotion, Daft Punk electrified the dance world with its analog approach in a digital age. The unexpected glory of a Pharrell/Nile Rodgers/French robot band has made this a global crossover hit, peaking at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and earning triple platinum certification and dispelling any lingering doubts about dance music’s place in the mainstream.

2. Baauer, “Harlem Shake”

Baauer’s “Shake” not only broke the internet for a week last January, it also heralded a new era of the Hot 100, by becoming the first No. 1 to account for streaming data. Never has a meme had such quality music.

3. Avicii, “Wake Me Up”

An uncredited Aloe Blacc on vocals helped top Avicii’s last big crossover hit (“Le7els”), taking this country-inspired dance hit to No. 4 on the Hot 100, platinum sales, and even adult alternative radio.

4. Disclosure featuring AlunaGeorge, “White Noise”

If “Latch” had been a fluke, we wouldn’t have loved it any less, but “White Noise” verified Disclosure’s role as house revival empresarios while introducing us to AlunaGeorge.

5. Martin Garrix, “Animals”

Sharp-toothed and wild, “Animals” was a staple at 2013 festivals worldwide, first by an uncredited artist, later introducing the world to its unassuming teenage producer from Holland.

6. Zedd featuring Foxes, “Clarity”

The first of two crossover hits for Zedd, “Clarity” officially released in February and became an instant sing-along for EDM kids everywhere and an inescapable theme for 2013.

7. Cedric Gervais vs Lana del Rey, “Summertime Sadness”

The unlikely combination of Miami nightclub fixture Gervais and the sultry del Rey gave each artist their biggest hit of their respective careers with this well-timed remix.

8. Krewella, “Alive”

If nothing else, Krewella’s “Alive” stated emphatically that the EDM revolution would be neither mute nor ambivalent, galvanizing fans around this rave-themed anthem.

9. Hardwell, “Spaceman” (Carnage Festival Trap Remix)

Carnage doubled down on what kids want when he trap-ified this Hardwell jam, sending this dark and twisty track into orbit with drops-a-plenty to keep it interesting.

10. Breach, “Jack”

Relentlessly sexual in its lyrics and unequivocally pulsating in its beat, it only took a few bars of this surprise tech-house monster to get a rise out of a crowd this year.

11-50

11. Duke Dumont: “Need U (100%)”

12. Banks: “Warm Water” (Snakehips Remix)

13. Alesso vs OneRepublic: “I Lose Myself Tonight”

14. James Blake: “Retrograde”

15. Armin van Buuren featuring Trevor Guthrie: “This Is What It Feels Like”

16. Kaskade: “Atmosphere”

17. Storm Queen: “Look Right Through” (MK Remix)

18. Ingrosso & Tommy Trash: “Reload”

19. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike: “Wakanda”

20. Dusky: “Careless”

21. Porter Robinson/Mat Zo: “Easy”

22. G-Dragon (with Diplo and Baauer): “Coup d’Etat”

23. Empire of the Sun: “Alive” (Zedd mix)

24. Green Velvet: “Bigger Than Prince” (Hot Since 82 Remix)

25. Just Blaze & Baauer featuring Jay-Z: “Higher”

26. Drake: “Hold On, We’re Going Home” (Kastle Remix)

27. DVBBS & Borgeous: “Tsunami”

28. Tiga & Audion: “Let’s Go Dancing”

29. Rudimental featuring Ella Eyre: “Waiting All Night”

30. Fatboy Slim & Riva Starr featuring Beardyman: “Eat Sleep Rave Repeat”

31. The M Machine featuring Pennybirdrabbit: “Ghosts In The Machine”

32. Quadron: “Hey Love”

33. Felix Cartal featuring Ofelia: “New Scene”

34. Jessie Ware (with Julio Bashmore): “Imagine It Was Us”

35. Sam Smith: “Safe With Me” (Tourist Remix)

36. Kylie Minogue (with Chris Lake & Nom de Strip): “Skirt”

37. Phoenix: “Trying To Be Cool” (A-Trak Remix)

38. Adventure Club featuring Yuna: “Gold”

39. Hot Natured featuring Annabel Englund: “Reverse Skydiving” (Benoit & Sergio Remix)

40. Annie (with Richard X): “Back Together”

41. Flux Pavilion: “Starlight”

42. Bastille: “Of The Night” (MNEK Remix)

43. Kate Boy: “The Way We Are”

44. Claude VonStroke: “The Clapping Track”

45. Maya Jane Coles featuring Karin Park: “Everything”

46. Zed’s Dead: “Ratchet”

47. Don Diablo & Matt Nash: “Starlight”

48. Flume featuring Freddie Gibbs: “Holdin On”

49. Chris Malinchak: “So Good To Me”

50. Gorgon City: “Real”