What Happened in 2013 Pop Culture? Weird, Wild, and Iconic

Do you ever stop and think about how pop culture is just constantly evolving? Every year something happens and changes the world as we know it. Khloé Kardashian said it best on Khloé in Wonder Land: trends are ever-changing. A song, a meme, a viral moment, a new season of Love Island (Tune into to what the hosts of The Toast think about Bea’s Invaslign!)—there’s always something new to rave about. And, as exciting as it is to learn to love new things, we also love a good dose of nostalgia. 

We talked about 2015 pop culture, then threw it back to 2014 pop culture… you know what comes next. It’s only fair to explore the good, that bad, and the cringe of 2013 pop culture. From good vibes to awkward WTFs, this year shaped the internet, our feeds, and our perspectives.

That’s why today, we’re taking you allll the way back to over a decade ago. (Yeah, it’s been over a decade; let that sink in.) From Miley’s iconic VMA performance to the random obsession with neon everything, we’re covering it all. Ready to enjoy a blast from the past? Without further ado, welcome back to 2013.

What Happened in 2013 Pop Culture? Weird, Wild, and Iconic

Major Events That Happened in 2013 Pop Culture

Beyoncé’s Surprise Self-Title Album

In true Queen B fashion, 2013 was the year the self-titled album, “Beyoncé” took the world by storm. Here’s the thing, though: it had no prior announcement. No buzz, no news, no promotion—she just dropped the album and won three Grammy Awards. But honestly, what did we expect, right?

Of course, the fans loved it, but this album had cultural significance FAR beyond its popularity. Making surprise drops became a legit marketing tactic that was further embraced by artists like Taylor Swift and Drake. It was bold and memorable and changed the music world from then on.

Miley Cyrus’s VMAs Performance

We don’t even have to explain how legendary Miley’s 2013 VMA performance—it’s still talked about today. The teddy bear costume, the twerking, the buzz over how she outstaged Lady Gaga—we couldn’t get enough of it. And honestly? We supported it then and we support it now. (Well, maybe not the Lady Gaga part. We’re big fans.)

It was one of the loudest, most provocative, and most controversial moments of Miley’s career. It was her ultimate “I’m not just a Disney kid” middle finger to the world, and everyone heard her loud and clear. And its cultural significance? Considering that artists now embrace controversy as part of their brand… Yeah, it was a big moment. (You might also like: What Happened to Miley Cyrus’ Family? A Timeline of Changes.)

This just shows that, unfortunately, cancel culture has always been alive and well. Check out this episode of Come Together to hear more about it!

Historical Events That Happened in 2013 Pop Culture

Jennifer Lawerence’s Award

In 2013, Jennifer Lawerence was THE moment. Fresh off her breakout role in Silver Linings Playbook, she won an Academy Award for “Best Actress”—at just 22 years old. Are we shocked? No. Are we impressed? Always. This win made her one of the youngest to ever earn the award, cementing her status in Hollywood then and now. Ugh, we love seeing successful women thrive.

Aside from this, she was also in the middle of debuting the second movie in the Hunger Games film series, Catching Fire. Her plate was overflowing, to say the least. And she wasn’t just a one-off actress, either. She was funny, relatable, witty, and a total breath of fresh air. 

If you wanna hear from queen JLAW herself, check out this episode of Absolutely Not.

OITNB Premiered and Breaking Bad Ended

These two count as historical events, right? In 2013, Orange Is the New Black released their first ever episode. And listen, their cast was STACKED with stars. We had Laura Prepon, Taylor Schilling, Ruby Rose, Laverne Cox—need we say more??? This was one of the first major series to spotlight a predominantly female cast—a groundbreaking move at the time, BTW.

But as one cultural wave rises, another inevitably crashes—and in 2013, this meant saying goodbye to fan-favorite Breaking Bad. With five full seasons of chaos, the world tuned in, live-tweeted, and mourned the loss of Walter White. This series is still regarded as the blueprint for so many others that live on today. (We’re not over it, clearly).

Wanna hear from OITNB star Jason Briggs (AKA Piper’s husband)? Check out this episode of Well with Arielle Lorre.

Cool Things That Happened in 2013 Pop Culture

Vine Becomes a Phenonemen 

2013 marked the rise of Vine, which popularized the six-second video format and introduced a whole new wave of influencers. Dare we go as far as to credit Vine with being the platform that started “influencer culture” altogether? Maybe a hot take, you tell us! Nonetheless, this is when people were able to REALLY monetize their platforms, build brands, and make it big. 

And that comes as no surprise, as the company gained 40 million users in just 6 short months. This isn’t just about the OG influencer era, though. Vine pretty much shaped early internet humor and helped define the style we see online today. It’s no coincidence that as you scroll through TikTok, you’ll see those “this would’ve done numbers on Vine” comments. It may be gone, but Vine left a permanent mark—it will always be part of 2013’s story. 

Wanna hear a little lore from a few original influencers? Then make sure to catch all new episodes of Say Yas to the Guest with Patrick Starrr!

The Harlem Shake Craze

Reading the title alone just gave us cringe flashbacks, anyone else? The Harlem Shake is arguably the ONLY song of 2013 that could make everyone stop what they were doing in unison and just… dance. Online and in person, mind you. 

It was simple, silly, and went massively viral, but it really did something for the culture. Like we discussed in our post on 2015 culture and Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), this song was truly its own moment. If you weren’t part of The Harlem Shake era, just… check out some of the videos. Fair warning: it was cover-your-eyes cringey. But hey, it was a different time!

Fashion and Beauty Events That Happened in 2013 Pop Culture

Neon, Neon, and More Neon

We don’t know what was in the air in 2013, but whatever it was made people go crazy for neon. We’re talking belts, hats, swimsuits, dresses—everything was neon. Even celebrities featured lots of neon lights and elaborate set designs in their music videos and performances.

In terms of what it meant back then? Honestly, nothing. It was a huge reflection of nightlife and clubbing culture, so that’s pretty much all it symbolized during its resurgence. But, looking back now, it had a huge impact on style in general. Neon colors are inherently bright, bold, and full of energy—which is exactly what 2013 felt like.

Man Bun Trend

You didn’t already forget that 2013 was the year for hipsters and man buns, did you? Men from all walks of life were out sporting longer hairstyles, blending that rugged boho vibe with mainstream fashion. We can accredit the rise of this to celebrities like Jared Leto, Leo DiCaprio, and Bradley Cooper—they kinda set the standard.

This is another one of those trends that people had strong opinions about a decade ago. But, now? Men rock buns, braids, mullets, buzz cuts—nothings off limits. And truthfully, no one’s really paying it much mind. (No offense, guys.) To put it simply, hair is just hair now—and it’s about time. 

Biggest Songs 2013

Don’t lie… you definitely have a “2013 Throwback” playlist on Spotify or Instagram. No shame there—we do too! The songs, the artists, the rhythm? It was all tooooo good. If you’re looking for a little inspo of throwbacks to add, here were all of the BIGGEST songs of 2013:

• “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz
• “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell Williams
• “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons
• “Harlem Shake” by Baauer
• “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton
• “Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake
• “Just Give Me a Reason” by P!nk ft. Nate Ruess
• “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars
• “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars
• “Roar” by Katy Perry
• “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers
• “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
• “Royals” by Lorde
• “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift
• “We Can’t Stop” by Miley Cyrus
• “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus
• “Wake Me Up” by Avicii
• “Suit & Tie” by Justin Timberlake ft. Jay-Z
• “Cups (Pitch Perfect‘s ‘When I’m Gone’) by Anna Kendrick
• “Holy Grail” by Jay-Z ft. Justin Timberlake
• “Scream & Shout” by Will.i.am ft. Britney Spears
• “Clarity” by Zedd ft. Foxes

Like… these are all some of the best songs in the past decade. And, if it’s any testament to the artists, these are STILL people we’re all tuning into today. It just goes to show how powerful 2013 was, both for the listeners and the music.

Check out these posts on our favorite nostalgic artists next:

• Let’s Do a Deep Dive into Taylor Swift’s Astrological Chart with The Balanced Blonde
• What Happened to Miley Cyrus’ Family?
• Bruno Mars Is Finally (Almost) Out of Debt

2013 Technology

What happened in 2013 pop culture? Tech, that’s what. Here were some of the biggest breakthroughs of the year:

PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One

2013 was a major year for gaming consoles—particularly for those who couldn’t decide which was better. In just weeks of each other, Sony launched the PS4 and Microsoft launched their Xbox One. But… one did come out on top. Sony. The PlayStation 4 outsold Microsoft Xbox One by a ratio of 2:1. In other words, Sony sold roughly 117 million units, whereas Microsoft peaked at around 30-50 million. But, to be fair? The PS4 was around $100 cheaper.

Apple iPad Air and iPhone 5S

Apple had been around for quite a while by 2013, but they were STILL top sellers in the tech space. First, they released the thinner fifth-generation iPad Air. This wasn’t just an intro to the iPad era we know now—this completely dominated what traditional tablets looked like back then. It wasn’t as bulky, wasn’t as heavy, and made the screen even more immersive.

The iPhone 5S was also having its moment, though, with the very first Touch ID. (Ugh, RIP ID thumb button.) Aside from that, the 5s also was the world’s first 64-bit desktop-class architecture featured in a smartphone. Combine that with slow-mo videos, True Tone flash, and the brand new Gold color-tone, and the 5S was the talk of tech.

Bitcoin Rose to Power

We all know Bitcoin now, but in 2013? It was practically a tech baby. Or, it was, until it transformed into a global financial phenomenon. Driven by Cyprus baking, Bitcoin surpassed $100 for the first time in history. Naturally, mainstream culture caught onto this and wanted in on the hype. This led to the term “Bitcoin” being added to the Oxford Dictionaries Online, a U.S. senate committee verifying it as a legitimate currency, and Coinbase pushing the $1,000 barrier.

All this talk about money has us craving a re-listen to “How to Invest Your Way to a Luckier Life” from She’s So Lucky. If you haven’t yet, tune in ASAP!

2013 wasn’t just a year—it was a complete cultural reset.

Ahhh… The pop culture moments of 2013. Some are embarrassing, some are nostalgic, and some make us reflect on how those moments got us here today. The fun thing about trends is their ability to rise or fall with the times. Miley’s VMA performance? Shaped her (and us) entirely. The Harlem Shake? Yeah, we can leave that one behind. 2013 will always be an icon in our hearts, no matter how far in the future we go. Now… What era do you guys think we’re diving into next? Stay tuned to find out!

Check out the Dear Media blog for everything from the latest pop culture updates to relationship advice. And, don’t forget to check out the DM shop for tons of must-have products! Now that we think about it… you need this “Men Could Never” mug in honor of the era. Clearly, 2013 was for the girls (like look at how many successful women were recognized!).