Pop music fans have certain songs that always remain close to their hearts – such as Kylie Minogue’s classic disco-influenced Europop hit “Spinning Around.” This irresistible tune from Kylie’s repertoire remains timeless today, drawing us all in.
Pop songs of this decade tended to celebrate positivity and optimism while at the same time offering musical exploration as artists tried different genres.
No Doubt – “Hella Good”
“Hella Good” is an irresistibly seductive funk bop with an irresistibly seductive groove, exuding sensuality and sexuality that has made it one of the most beloved songs of the 2000s, from dance clubs to family gatherings and topping charts both here in America and in Britain with sales exceeding 2 million copies sold – making its video directed by Mark Romanek an unlikely combination between Waterworld and various James Bond flicks!
Jimmy Eat World broke away from their emo roots to produce this high-octane power-pop song, written about their singer’s troubled relationship with his girlfriend and intended as an anthem of love and revenge. With their take-no-prisoners approach on this hit single, Jimmy Eat World proved they weren’t just some scruffy indie kids.
Gwen Stefani’s dulcet vocals on this ballad made her an instantly iconic singer-songwriter, thanks to its mesmerizing harmonies and bold music video. Following on the success of Tragic Kingdom, Return of Saturn showcased Gwen’s more mature side and won even more fans for her.
After hearing those seductive synthesizer blips, you know you’re in for something special with this track. It is an outstanding example of how an otherwise ordinary melody can quickly become an instant classic; no wonder so many artists, including Missy Elliott herself have covered this track!
After being an underground sensation for some time, this single brought pop star Fergie into the mainstream consciousness. With its infectious chorus and dramatic music video, this hit quickly rose through the charts to become one of the biggest hits of its time.
Coldplay – “Clocks”
The 2000s was an uncertain decade for music, with artists opting to bypass record labels and streaming platforms emerging like never before. Yet pop music thrived, particularly hip-hop and dance music genres like No Doubt’s collaboration with producers Nellee Hooper and Neptunes to deliver one of their funkiest hits “Hella Good.” Cee-Lo’s voice shifts between harsh threats to sweetness with ease; making the song one of the decade’s most captivating tunes.
Britney Spears continued her dominance of the 2000s with her second number-one hit, “Toxic.” Boasting infectious beats and tantalizing melody that would define her later career, it’s easy to understand why this became one of the biggest pop songs of this decade. Her signature sultry vocals fit seamlessly with its lively production, setting it apart from many popular tracks of its era.
Coldplay hit it big in the early 2000s with their album “A Rush of Blood to the Head.” Their songs were all emotive and moving, but one particularly moving track from them was “Clocks”. Featuring its signature piano riff combined with lyrics referencing Jerusalem bells and Roman cavalry units made this an evocative pop track that remains relevant today.
“Viva La Vida” was another symphonic pop song by British rock band Coldplay that showcased their ability to combine grandiose instrumentation with emotive lyrics in an elegant balance. While orchestral arrangements can easily overdo themselves, Coldplay used just enough orchestral arrangements here not to become overblown – plus added in flute samples and choral backing to give this track more intelligence than their more pop-oriented singles.
Snoop Dogg – “Drop It Like It’s Hot”
The 2000s brought with them an unstoppable surge of rock, dance, and hip-hop music that truly represented all genres. This playlist compiled of popular tracks on Apple Music highlights this period when anything seemed possible.
Gwen Stefani’s cheerleader anthem and Amy Winehouse’s vintage jazz and soul sounds are two standout songs that define the decade’s distinctive musical identity. “Seven Nation Army,” by The White Stripes, became an integral part of garage rock revivalism while Amy Winehouse’s stormy vocal style stood out against “Rehab’s pulsing background. Meanwhile, dance-floor anthems by The Arctic Monkeys and Florence + the Machine kept things lively with catchy tunes and sleek production – two iconic moments from that decade’s distinctive musical landscape.
Internet has made sharing and promoting music easier than ever, especially hip-hop music. One of the biggest hits of the 00s was Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” which topped US Billboard charts for three weeks and became his first chart-topper since 2003. Additionally, its lyrics were sampled by DJ BC as part of his remix of Nu Shooz Plaine Ma Plaine as well as E-40 and Killer Mike rappers; Weird Al Yankovic even covered this song on his 2006 Straight Outta Lynwood album in polka form with songs by DMX and Mystikal!
“Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg is much more than meets the eye. This song serves as a sociopolitical statement on Afghanistan, featuring gunshots intended to symbolize an attempted robbery at its conclusion. Additionally, “Drop It Like It’s Hot” speaks out against America’s immigration policy against immigrants from war-torn nations; thus making this track unforgettable in your memory for years to come.
Paramore – “Misery Business”
Paramore made their breakthrough with “Misery Business,” but not without controversy. Written by Hayley Williams when she was 17 and drawn from her turbulent high school relationships, “Misery Business” depicts teenage revengefulness with its relentless beat. The song earned them much controversy for its demeaning lyrics: “Once a whore, always a whore/I’m sorry but that’s just how it is”. But despite this criticism of misogyny in their lyrics, the song remains one of their most beloved offerings – still popular to this day with over 115 million TikTok views and being cited by artists such as Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo as sources for writing their tracks like Good 4 U!
Misery Business was an iconic staple of Paramore’s live performances for years, often being performed as the grand finale to each show before leaving and coming back on to sing their last track, before returning for its grand finale–an unforgettable custom that fans loved and appreciated. Unfortunately, due to MeToo and Williams making clear that she no longer wanted to sing it due to its perceived sexism it has since been retired from live performance.
Some may perceive retiring a song due to the #MeToo movement as an act of censorship; however, that simply isn’t the case: listeners still can access it via Spotify and CDs without anyone forbidding their enjoyment. And if any feel that taking out this particular track from setlists as an act of sexism – well unfortunately there’s bad news: other artists–including male pop-punk bands–continue performing songs calling women whores and bitches without much pushback.
Emo and pop-punk music scenes have long been plagued by misogyny, from sexual assault allegations against members to derogatory lyrics that demean women. While Paramore’s male-dominated scene may have received less criticism for their offensive songs than women did–particularly Williams’ hit Misery Business song that she retired as part of an unprecedented move that may have served its intended purpose.