2013 was a year filled with incredible moments and remarkable achievements. From the release of Disney’s “Frozen” to Andy Murray’s historic Wimbledon victory, the world was captivated by these unforgettable events.
This year, we witnessed some memorable occurrences, such as Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, making history as the first papal resignation since 1415.
In the realm of technology, 2013 saw significant advancements with the introduction of the iPhone 5S featuring Touch ID. And, of course, we can’t forget that the short-lived but memorable Google Glass was released as a prototype this year.
Also, 2013 marked the inception of the Black Lives Matter hashtag, paving the way for a powerful social movement.
Continue reading to immerse yourself in the highlights of 2013, including key events, music sensations, memorable quotes, and the lives we mourned.
Historical Events
Dive into the whirlwind of 2013 and discover the mesmerizing moments that defined this remarkable year.
January 2013
Jan 30
South Korea’s first launch vehicle successfully reached orbit for the first time.
The launch vehicle, Naro-1, was a two-stage rocket with a modified Russian Angara URM as the first stage and a solid-fuel second stage constructed by South Korea's national space agency. The first two attempts to launch were total failures, with the Naro-1 exploding in mid-air. This third attempt successfully carried a South Korean Science and Technology Satellite 2C (STSAT-2C) into orbit.
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
August 2013
October 2013
November 2013
Nov 13
Same-sex marriage was legalized in Hawaii.
The bill passed through the state legislature and was signed into law by Hawaiian Governor Neil Abercrombie on the same day. The new law came into effect on December 2nd, with many same-sex couples choosing to get married on the first day of legalization.
December 2013
Dec 8
Metallica became the first band to have performed on all seven continents when they held a concert in Antarctica.
"Freeze 'em All," as Metallica dubbed the show, was held in a giant dome to protect the audience of 120 from the harsh elements. The audience had to listen to the band through headphones for fear of loud amplified music negatively affecting the delicate ecosystem of Antarctica.
Famous Deaths
See who passed away in 2013 and left behind a lasting legacy.
1973 — 2013
Paul Walker
1973 — 2013
Paul Walker
American actor Paul Walker was born on September 12, 1973. He died on November 30, 2013, at age 40, in California, USA.
1918 — 2013
Nelson Mandela
1918 — 2013
Nelson Mandela
South African president Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918. He died on December 5, 2013, at age 95, in Houghton Estate, South Africa.
1982 — 2013
Cory Monteith
1982 — 2013
Cory Monteith
Canadian actor Cory Monteith was born on May 11, 1982. He died on July 13, 2013, at age 31, in Vancouver, Canada.
1925 — 2013
Margaret Thatcher
1925 — 2013
Margaret Thatcher
English politician Margaret Thatcher was born on October 13, 1925. She died on April 8, 2013, at age 87, in London, England, UK.
1947 — 2013
Tom Clancy
1947 — 2013
Tom Clancy
American novelist Tom Clancy was born on April 12, 1947. He died on October 1, 2013, at age 66, in Maryland, USA.
1974 — 2013
Chris Kyle
1974 — 2013
Chris Kyle
American sniper Chris Kyle was born on April 8, 1974. He died on February 2, 2013, at age 38, in Texas, USA.
Quotes
These are a few of the quotes that people remember from 2013.
Jan 11
Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.
Maya Angelou
American Memoirist
Jul 17
However happy people say they are, nobody is satisfied: we always have to be with the prettiest woman, buy a bigger house, change cars, desire what we do not have.
Paulo Coelho
Brazilian Lyricist
Dec 11
Don’t let people talk you into what they think is you.
Oprah Winfrey
American TV Host
2013 in Music
In 2013, the music scene exploded with an array of sensational tunes that became the heartbeat of a new millennium!
From the catchy pop sound of “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell Williams to the infectious beats of “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams, these songs brought the party to life and kept us dancing till dawn.
Discover the music moments from 2013 that deserve recognition.
Album of the Year
Mumford & Sons’ soul-stirring alternative album “Babel” resonated deeply with fans in 2013, securing them the coveted Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Song of the Year
In 2013, the band Fun., accompanied by the talented Janelle Monáe, celebrated their win of the Grammy Award for Song of the Year with their anthemic track “We Are Young.”
Best New Artist
Fun’s catchy pop anthems and energetic performances earned them the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2013, making them a staple of the pop music scene.
Eurovision Song Contest Winner
The 2013 Eurovision Song Contest, the 58th edition, took place in Malmö, Sweden, capturing the attention of music enthusiasts worldwide.
Emmelie de Forest, a radiant singer from Denmark, emerged victorious with her ethereal song “Only Teardrops,” captivating the audience with her mesmerizing voice.
2013 In Numbers
Are you ready for some fascinating number trivia? If you ever wondered how to write 2013 in Roman numerals, it’s MMXIII. And when converted to binary, 2013 becomes 11111011101.
Deficient Number
2013 is recognized as a deficient number, which means that if you add up all the smaller numbers that can divide evenly into it, the sum will be less than the number itself.
So, when you add up all the smaller numbers that can divide evenly into 2013 (1, 3, 11, 33, 61, 183, 671), they add up to 963, which is less than 2013.
Chinese Zodiac 2013
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2013 was The Year of the Snake, which occurs once every twelve years.
However, there are also five elements in the Chinese zodiac. These elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. So this makes 2013 the Year of the Water Snake, a cycle which happens once every sixty years.
Because the Chinese calendar is different than ours, the Year of the Water Snake actually began on February 10th, and continued until January 30, 2014.
The Snake symbolizes individuals who are wise, intuitive, and graceful. They have a deep understanding of human nature and are excellent at keeping secrets, making them great confidants and advisors.
The Years of the Snake have blessed us with influential figures such as John Cena, Tom Brady and Kanye West.
2013 Trivia
Did you know that Grand Theft Auto V earned over $800 million in sales within its first 24 hours of release in September 2013?
The game was launched on September 17, 2013, and also achieved an impressive Guinness World Record.
GTA V secured the title for “Fastest Entertainment Property to Gross $1 Billion,” accomplishing this remarkable feat in just three days after its release.
