Woah, this one's a doozy :o

Ok, 2013 is a very, VERY unique year of the 2010s. It is very tough to pinpoint on what era 2013 belongs to. On one hand, this was the last year where electropop was big in the charts with songs such as Scream and Shout, I Love It, Feel This Moment, Applause. The EDM songs such as Don't You Worry Child, Clarity, I Could Be The One definitely sounds more like 2010 than 2016, Harlem Shake is an exception because it is a Trap-edm, although that song is remembered more as a meme than an actual song. 2016 EDM was Dancehall inspired and has a lot of vocal chopping, which wasn't popular in 2013.

On the other hand, you got songs from Miley and Katy that changed their styles that were different from their 2010 catalog but they never had a hit song in 2016 so their presence on the charts make them more in common with 2010. Artists such as Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez still sounded like in their Disney days. Then, you got newcomers like Ariana Grande with The Way, critics compared her vocal style to Mariah Carey. Justin Timberlake made a huge comeback in 2013, his songs Suit and Tie and Mirrors were his classic sounds that siund more early 2000s than even in the decade they came from. Disco revival became big with songs such as Blurred Lines and Get Lucky, which continued into 2016 with Can't Stop The Feeling and Cake By The Ocean but every era has some sort of disco-inspired track.

Hip Hop this year was from artists like Macklemore, Eminem, Jay Z, Drake and Lil Wayne. Trap rap didn't dominate the 2013 charts which puts 2013 hip hop with 2010. Eminems song The Monster is basically Love The Way You Lie Pt. 2. I can't see Thrift Shop and Can't Hold Us being hits in 2016 considering on how corny they are compared to 2016 rap songs.

Lorde is probably the biggest example on why people pinpoint 2013 closer to 2016 than 2010. Many argue that her song Royals changed the pop landscape in the mid 2010s with lyrics that are anti-materialistic, minimalist production. I do agree that her song Royals did influence a lot of pop singers in the mid 2010s to use minimalist production but she was just one song compared to the other upbeat pop songs that were hits in 2013. Plus, her song hit #1 in the fall of 2013.

It all comes down to this, both 2010 and 2016 feel distant from 2013. 2010 songs have a very dated sound, especially with the electropop productions. 2016 had a more darker, mature vibe, which is the opposite of what 2013 music is. Honestly, I'm gonna pick a slight turn towards 2010 since 2013 still had songs that has more upbeat and maximal productions but still barely.

I'm honestly stumped. 2013 is unlike 2010 or 2016. EDM was gaining steam, and electropop was indeed on its last legs. Pop-rap was still the dominant force in hip-hop with the exceptions of songs like "Harlem Shake" and "Bugatti" being trap.  ???

Since I still heard new electropop and pop-rap songs on the radio back in '13, I'm guess I'm going for 2010.

I'll get into this one in a little bit but I'd say it leans more towards 2010, although in September it leans more towards 2016.

Definitely 2010.

2016 easily.

2016 easily.

2010 was an early 2010s year just like 2013. What does 2016, a late 2010s year, which is two eras up, have anything to do with the music of 2013? Completely different.

2010 for sure.

2010 was an early 2010s year just like 2013. What does 2016, a late 2010s year, which is two eras up, have anything to do with the music of 2013? Completely different.


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I'm curious to know but where do you lean in this topic?

I’d say 2016, but just barely though. I agree with a few users that early 2013 was still in the early 2010s column, but mid-late 2013 was when we were transitioning into the mid 2010s. 2013 also being the first core 2010s year is also a pretty big component to it’s slight closer relation to 2016 as well. EDM got big, while electro pop simultaneously declined. Lady Gaga’s Artpop received mixed reviews from critiques, signaling the end of her Late 2000/Early 2010s golden age. Other electro pop princess from the Late 2000s/Early 2010s like Katy Perry and Kesha also changed their sounds, with the former still having pretty good success. You had the rise of neo/Disco sounding music with ‘Get Lucky’ by Daft Punk and ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke. Even hip-hop had a noticeable turn, with songs like ‘Stared From the Bottom’.

2010, but just slightly though.

This one is super hard to explain.

First off, electropop was dying. It was taken over by EDM at this point and while it was still Electropop-inspired with aggressive synths, things got more watered down with Dont Wake Me Up, Get Lucky, etc. Pop music was going for a more minimalist sound starting with Lorde, while artists like Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus were changing their sound to be closer to 2014. It doesnt mean Electropop was fully dead, it was still popular until 2014, but comparing 2012 to 2013 is a night and day difference. Britney Spears, YLVS, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and a few others tried to keep it alive. You also had newcomers like Lorde, Ellie Goulding, Ariana Grande, Lana Del Ray, and a few others, all of which are not Electropop artists (Except for Ariana's break free). This is a 50/50.

EDM got more watered down as I explained earlier, but it was the first year you heard DJ Snake with Turn Down for what. Even though Electropop was dying here, you had Calvin Harris and Zedd keeping the aggressive synths until 2014. Trap EDM sees its first wave of popularity, and you'll likely hear it in Vine videos. I'd say it is 60% 2010 and 40% 2016.

Trap music sees its first true wave of popularity here, although in a more vibrant, polished sound. Again, Turn Down for what was popular, but there was Harlem Shake which was more of a meme but still Trap. Iggy Azalea wasnt extremely popular, but she still managed to make it to Billboard Hot 100 with Work and Change Your Life. To be more serious with actual hip hop Trap, Drake slowly changed his style as well as Kanye West, while newcomers like Chief Keef, A$AP Ferg, and Migos came into play. I'd round this to 2016 because of Trap, despite sounding a little different.

I'm honestly not sure what to say... I dont know if 2013 is closer to 2010 or 2016, but I can tell you that lots of trends from 2010 were dying in 2013, while 2013 gave birth to lots of Mid-2010s trends, while still not solidified.

This one is super hard to explain.

First off, electropop was dying. It was taken over by EDM at this point and while it was still Electropop-inspired with aggressive synths, things got more watered down with Dont Wake Me Up, Get Lucky, etc. Pop music was going for a more minimalist sound starting with Lorde, while artists like Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus were changing their sound to be closer to 2014. It doesnt mean Electropop was fully dead, it was still popular until 2014, but comparing 2012 to 2013 is a night and day difference. Britney Spears, YLVS, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and a few others tried to keep it alive. You also had newcomers like Lorde, Ellie Goulding, Ariana Grande, Lana Del Ray, and a few others, all of which are not Electropop artists (Except for Ariana's break free). This is a 50/50.

EDM got more watered down as I explained earlier, but it was the first year you heard DJ Snake with Turn Down for what. Even though Electropop was dying here, you had Calvin Harris and Zedd keeping the aggressive synths until 2014. Trap EDM sees its first wave of popularity, and you'll likely hear it in Vine videos. I'd say it is 60% 2010 and 40% 2016.

Trap music sees its first true wave of popularity here, although in a more vibrant, polished sound. Again, Turn Down for what was popular, but there was Harlem Shake which was more of a meme but still Trap. Iggy Azalea wasnt extremely popular, but she still managed to make it to Billboard Hot 100 with Work and Change Your Life. To be more serious with actual hip hop Trap, Drake slowly changed his style as well as Kanye West, while newcomers like Chief Keef, A$AP Ferg, and Migos came into play. I'd round this to 2016 because of Trap, despite sounding a little different.

I'm honestly not sure what to say... I dont know if 2013 is closer to 2010 or 2016, but I can tell you that lots of trends from 2010 were dying in 2013, while 2013 gave birth to lots of Mid-2010s trends, while still not solidified.

Yep. EDM for the most part still uses the aggressive synth sound that EDM in 2015 doesn’t have. You are spot on with the pop part. Artists like Selena, Demi, Icona Pop, Britney Spears kept electropop on the charts while pop artists such as Katy, Lorde, and Miley breaking away from that sound. I will say that Burn by Ellie Goulding sounds electropop since it uses aggressive synths in the chorus.

Yep. EDM for the most part still uses the aggressive synth sound that EDM in 2015 doesn’t have. You are spot on with the pop part. Artists like Selena, Demi, Icona Pop, Britney Spears kept electropop on the charts while pop artists such as Katy, Lorde, and Miley breaking away from that sound. I will say that Burn by Ellie Goulding sounds electropop since it uses aggressive synths in the chorus.
Yeah, thanks for the positive feedback! To me though, Burn sounds watered down compared to any Electropop song from 2009-2012