Music 2013 - Unexpected surprises

By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88

2013 has had its fair share of moments in music, with a variety of new stars making a big breakthrough this year and the end for several of the established groups that many of us have grown up with in more recent times.

No fewer than 18 new artists topped the number one single charts for the first time in their careers. For Robin Thicke, it was a double celebration. His massive hit ‘Blurred Lines’ was not only his first number one but it has spent the most weeks on the top spot in 2013 – unmoved for five consecutive weeks.

It was a brilliant year for Avicii, who managed to scoop two number ones in the same year for their songs ‘You Make Me’ and ‘Wake Me Up.’ Another newcomer who enjoyed a breakthrough year was Yorkshire-born John Newman, who won much acclaim for his debut album 'Tribute' and singles that included the catchy ‘Love Me Again,’ then ‘Cheating.’ 2013 was also the year Ellie Goulding finally hit top spot with ‘Burn’ after several near-misses. Another breakthrough act were Kodaline although they just missed out on top spot with superb songs 'High Hopes' and 'Brand New Day.'

Other newbies to make the top spot included Icona Pop, OneRepublic and Storm Queen. There was also an unbelievable and highly unexpected number one for PJ & Duncan, better known to the majority of us as Ant & Dec. In 1994, their song ‘Let’s Get Ready to Rumble’ came in the time their days on Byker Grove were coming to an end. For the first time in 19 years, the duo performed it again on entertainment show Saturday Night Takeaway in what was only meant to be a fun combination with members of reunited groups. It became such a big hit on YouTube and iTunes that it stormed to the top spot in the charts the following week. The Newcastle duo looked surprised when appearing the following week on their Takeaway programme but accepted the acclaim and of course made the most of their success in true PJ & Duncan fashion!

Irish pop band Boyzone celebrated their 20^th anniversary recently, releasing an album of their greatest hits. Another band that shows no sign of slowing up is Take That. This year, they took more of a backseat whilst Gary Barlow focused on solo artist music but there are plans for a tour next year, with Robbie Williams rumoured to be rejoining the band for part of 2014.

Katy Perry's 'Roar' was one of the best overseas hits of 2013

American music had success once again. Nicole Scherzinger had a tough personal time after another break-up with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton this summer but she released the catchy ‘Boomerang’ in March – her first solo single in two years. Nicole has already announced plans to release a second solo album next year in an attempt to follow up on the success of her first album, ‘Killer Love’ back in 2011. Miley Cyrus also made it to number one this year for the first time after some time away from the limelight, whilst ‘Roar’ spent three weeks in top spot for the amazing Katy Perry (pictured).

Lily Allen returned to the music scene in 2013. The singer, who walked away from the industry three years ago first returned with P!nk to perform backing vocals on ‘True  Love.’ She then released a cover of Keane’s 2004 song ‘Somewhere Only We Know,’ which was used as the soundtrack for this year’s John Lewis Christmas TV advert. Like it or not, it has taken Lily to number one for three weeks, keeping One Direction’s latest hit ‘Story of My Life,’ off number one. One Direction did though make the big screen this year with the 1D Movie becoming one of the fastest selling box office hits of the year and getting a lot of obvious attention from the female contingent.

Allen actually has an outside chance of scooping the coveted Christmas number one which this year, is a fairly limited crop of choices. Favourite to land the prize is Sam Bailey. The prison officer won this year’s X-Factor, topping the public vote on a regular basis and immediately shooting to the top of the charts with ‘Skyscraper.’

All four of the 2013 X-Factor judges all look set to move on

It wasn’t the greatest year for the X-Factor with a lack of eye-catching performances, or even acts who offer a bit more of a comic feel. Even the one series return of Sharon Osbourne didn’t attract new viewers to the programme. All four judges (pictured) are set to leave the programme, with Barlow, Osbourne and Louis Walsh all previously stated in public they won’t be back in 2014. With Scherzinger likely to focus on her music, a new panel is set to be formed with Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole all but formally confirmed to make sensational returns. Rita Ora is also a frontrunner to be a judge next year. It wasn’t a good year for former X-Factor judge Tulisa though, charged in December by police for possession of class A drugs.

One of X-Factor’s biggest successes was JLS but the runners-up of the programme back in 2008 decided this year to go their separate ways. The boys are currently on their farewell tour before heading in different directions. It was a busy year for the Saturdays, who finally claimed their first number one with 'What About Us' and two of the group members, Frankie and Rochelle gave birth during the year. Other groups to disband formally in 2013 included Lostprophets, the Sugababes and Girls Aloud.

BBC talent show The Voice returned in March but once again lost its way after a promising start to series two. Winner Andrea Begley has released a rather forgettable debut single and has gone in a similar direction to Michelle McManus and Leon Jackson which is nowhere. Changes have been made and radical ones too. Frontman of The Script Danny O’Donoghue and Jessie J have both quit as coaches, replaced by Kylie Minogue and Ricky Wilson from the Kaiser Chiefs. The show moves into a January slot for 2014 in an effort to attract more fans. ITV tried to reunite some of yesteryear’s biggest bands but this was another flop as stars from Atomic Kitten, Blue, Five and Liberty X only failed to find the chemistry they once had over a decade ago. They have performed a Christmas single that is so bad, watching an episode of Emmerdale over the festive period might be a bit more bearable.

It was Emeli Sande’s night at the BRIT awards in February. She won MasterCard Best British Album of the Year for ‘Our Version of Events’ and ‘British Female Solo Artist.’ Tom Odell was winner of the Critics’ Choice award, while there were also gongs for Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Lana Del Rey and ADELE, who won Best British Single for the incredible version of ‘Skyfall,’ used for last year’s global James Bond movie success.

Popstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor has made the final of the 11^th series of Strictly Come Dancing with some consistent performances that have always kept her away from danger. She will compete in the final on 21 December. Bonnie Tyler was chosen as the United Kingdom’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo. She claimed a more respectable 19^th place with 28 points as Denmark took the prize to take the 2014 event to Copenhagen. Robbie Williams’ album ‘Swings Both Ways’ became the 1000^th album to reach number one on the UK albums chart in November and a month earlier, golden oldie and former member of The Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney released his first new album in six years. ‘New’ reached number three in the albums list.

It is fair to say 2013 has provided the public with some welcome and unexpected surprises. With more emerging artists coming through, 2014 promises to be another action-packed year in the music industry.

Categories: 2013, Ant & Dec, Avicii, Ellie Goulding, Eurovision Song Contest, John Newman, Katy Perry, Kodaline, Music, X-Factor