2013: The Musical Yearbook

Every year as a bonus gift to all my friends for Christmas, I compile the music that was a part of my life for the year. Is it obvious yet that I love to do a mixtape? (See La Grande Revue 31 and XXX: Dirty Thirty)

Most of it is usually current, some of it is older music. It's really just music that affected me and my experiences for the year. Here's my top 21 tracks for 2013:

Music: Love Spent (Live)

If there is one thing that I am over in "Alternative" music these days, it's the use of the banjo paired with claps and shouts of "Hey!". It seems the entire industry is jumping on this sound of the moment. So to be completely honest, I was a little turned off when I heard Madonna's "Love Spent" from her twelfth studio album, MDNA.

Have a Standout Holiday

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Right.

Not that I don't enjoy the Holiday Season, especially being with family. But, if working in retail for seven years taught me anything it's that you're not allowed to be a human being during the Holiday Season. Your life is fully committed to opening and closing a store so that people (usually on the edge of a nervous breakdown) can get the best possible deal for a gift that the receiver usually could have lived without.

Music: Beyoncé

 
We interrupt 2013 to bring you Beyoncé. Mrs. Carter dropped her fifth (visual) album directly to iTunes last week - a complete surprise to both her fans and the industry.
 
"I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it,” she said. “I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans. There’s so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans. I felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.”
 

Video: Work

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Love Lives: Marcus + Luke, Part 2

 

It was the Instagram event of the year! Luke and Marcus got married.

 

When we last left off with these guys (Love Lives: Marcus + Luke), Luke was traveling the world and it wasn't clear if he'd make home in Los Angeles to be with Marcus. Happily, he has and recently the two were married in what looked to be a small ceremony with family and friends.

Burberry Heart-Print Cotton T-Shirt

Bestow my heart, literally. This "Heart-Print Cotton T-Shirt" from Burberry is my favorite piece of fashion from 2013.

It also came in a sweater (and a button down for the ladies), but the tee is simple with just enough punch. And you know I'm a sucker for Romance.

Grey Inside: Kelly Wearstler

Not sure when this design by Kelly Wearstler was first publicized. I know it was recently, but it could have been late 2012. Either way it's been the object of my obsession for 2013.

La Grande Revue 31: Birthday Burlesque

It's been a growing theme to, well...theme my birthdays each year! Last year was the big three-oh celebrated with XXX: Dirty Thirty. This year in an effort to cover all of the themes I want to eventually do, it was La Grande Revue 31. Otherwise known as Birthday Burlesque.

The theme was burlesque and as you'll soon see my friends and I put on our best Lady Marmalade attire to take to the streets of West Hollywood and make a scene at Rasputin. Stockings, garter straps, ruffles and top hats!

Video: Pour It Up (Explicit)

In a very close second for my favorite artist of all time, Rihanna embraces everything that I love about music. She's a fashion heavy hitter, she breaks the mold, she puts out really good music and she's Unapologetic about it all.

Which makes it the perfect title for her seventh studio album. An album that she is still releasing singles from over a year later! While everyone is putting out new material, Rihanna is still celebrating the musical genius of this album. It's no wonder she was just named an icon at the American Music Awards.