The 20 Best Pop Songs of the 2000s

Ah the noughties, the decade when people stopped paying for CDs and the legendary Krispy Kreme donuts store opened. I often talk negatively about pop music but there is a lot I love about it, and the 2000s was the decade I grew up in, so I decided that making a list of that time period was apt. The list is comprised of songs that had to be hits on the charts in the UK. Beyond that it’s rather subjective to my taste, there’ll likely be great songs that were missed off, so be sure to let me know how wrong I am. Before getting into it, some honourable mentions:

Justin Timberlake – Señorita
Dance Wiv Me – Dizzee Rascal (Feat. Calvin Harris)
50 Cent – In Da Club
Kanye West – Gold Digger (Feat. Jamie Foxx)
Britney Spears – Toxic

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20. Valerie – Mark Ronson (Feat. Amy Winehouse)
75 on Decade End List
Peak on Charts – 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HLY1NTe04M
I think I may have heard more karaoke versions of this song than the actual song. Nevertheless, this Zutons cover has absolutely stood the test of time, as much of Amy’s music has, but none of her songs have been quite remembered like this one. The infectious horn section on the chorus, the bass groove throughout, it’s an undeniable modern classic that will be remembered forever.

 

19. Umbrella – Rihanna (Feat. Jay-Z)
32 on Decade End List
Peak on Chart – 1

This would’ve been much higher if it wasn’t so overplayed at the time. 10 years on though, when it’s not on every radio station and music channel you turn on, it has a surprisingly refreshing sound. This is likely due to Rihanna consistently releasing trash over the years, and the growing knowledge that nothing she releases now will ever top Umbrella.

 

18. Ignition (Remix) – R. Kelly
77 on Decade End List
Peak on Chart – 1

You must surely get up and dance when this song comes on.

 

17. Dancing In The Moonlight – Toploader
49 on 2001 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 7

I think I still love this song purely based on the nostalgic value. I remember listening to this so much as a kid, I suppose it’s the equivalent to all those Steps and S Club 7 songs that a lot of people around my age still absolutely love. Many don’t realise that this is a 70s soft rock cover song, but Toploader brought their updated Britpop version to us. The tune of the song when it starts is an instant grabber, and I’ll never get it out my head.

 

16. Yeah! – Usher (Feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris)
5 on 2004 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 1

If you ever want to amp up your party, invite Lil Jon.

 

15. Dry Your Eyes – The Streets
20 on 2004 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHOf3s70w-c
On the conceptual album ‘A Grand Don’t Come For Free’, the protagonist struggles throughout as he’s searching for some missing money. During this, he has some problems with Simone, his girlfriend, and eventually they break up. This leads onto Dry Your Eyes, where the character comes to terms with the loss, and it became a very relatable break up anthem for many.

 

14. Bulletproof – La Roux
24 on 2009 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 1

‘In For The Kill’ was a much bigger song for La Roux, but Bulletproof is so much better. This is the kind of synthpop I live for, and it’s a shame she didn’t stick around because La Roux continued to make great music.

 

13. One More Time – Daft Punk
Peak on Chart – 2

Repetitive lyrics usually put me off completely in pop songs. Not with Daft Punk though (see ‘Around The World’), their meld of electro, disco and dance keeps you entertained the whole way through. One thing I’ve always found funny about this song is that “one more time” ends up being about 54 more times, but hey, it’s still great.

 

12. Stan – Eminem (Feat. Dido)
21 on Decade End List
Peak on Chart – 1

Stan is now the colloquial Internet term used for the crazy bastards (or super fans) that will defend that mediocre J. Cole or Drake album and they won’t let anyone get in their way. However, none of them are quite as crazy as the ‘Stan’ that Eminem created in this song. A masterfully crafted story that I still believe is the greatest song by Eminem.

 

11. Mr Brightside – The Killers
Peak on Chart – SOMEHOW ONLY MADE IT TO 10

Here we have a song that you are just born knowing. This must’ve been a hymn in school assemblies because there’s not a single person that doesn’t know this. And yet, it wasn’t even a number 1. You know what was a number 1? ‘That’s My Goal’ by Shane Ward, who the hell listens to that anymore?

 

10. Welcome To The Black Parade – My Chemical Romance
26 on 2006 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 1

And that borderline emo music phase I mentioned earlier lives on. This is truly epic from start to finish. It’s ridiculously over the top for sure, but it all comes together so well. It’s filled will arena sized energy it’s gotta be sung in the most dramatic way every time you hear it.

 

9. Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
Peak on Chart – 3

The 2000s were definitely the decade that rock music learned how to dance (The Fratellis, Kaiser Chiefs, The Strokes, amongst many others), but Franz Ferdinand stood out from the rest with this one. The way the track switches up near the beginning with a disco guitar riff that gets you dancing more than most dance songs. It’s incredibly infectious, it’s a dance rock classic.

 

8. Crazy In Love – Beyoncé (Feat. Jay-Z)
15 on 2003 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 1

I mean, there’s not much explaining to do with this one. You all know why it’s here. You could say this song was the mark of a new era of the Queen. Well, obsessed ‘stans’ would, I’m just a sucker for an incredible horn sample, like the one in this song.

 

7. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
12 on Decade End List
Peak on Chart – 1

This song was so huge that Gnarls Barkley removed it from downloadable stores so that it wouldn’t stay at number 1 any longer. Overplay never stopped this from remaining excellent though. That production from Danger Mouse never ages, and more of his work appears later on in this list, also.

 

6. Move Your Feet – Junior Senior
16 on 2003 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 3

I fear that most people have forgotten this song, but as soon as that intro starts, you’ll remember. I’m not entirely sure what genre this falls under, as its in its own lane, completely. It might just be the most fun song ever made; it’s funky, the beat is bouncy, you just cannot be sad after you hear this.

 

5. Hey Ya! – Outkast
25 on 2004 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 3

The ultimate happy sounding song with sad lyrics. A song about the crumbling of a relationship placed on the happiest of all beats. “Y’all don’t want to hear me, you just want to dance” is a very apt lyric since most people did just dance to this. There were theories that the second verse was directed straight at Big Boi from Andre 3000, but the idea of those 2 having beef makes me sad so we’ll forget that part.

 

4. Feel Good Inc – Gorillaz (Feat. De La Soul)
14 on 2005 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 3

It’s amazing how all the elements of this song come together so well. There’s the monotone first verse from Damon Albarn, to the folky guitar plucking on the chorus, to the wacked out rap verse from De La Soul. It’s an impressive blend of many things, and I’m happy that the creativity of the Gorillaz made it to the mainstream.

 

3. Ms. Jackson – Outkast
43 on 2001 Year End List
Peak on Chart – 2

The biggest single from one of the best albums from the 2000s, Stankonia. A sincere apology song from Andre 3000 to Erykah Badu’s mother, an ingenious idea for a song that could make any man want to apologise to woman’s mother for doing her wrong.

 

2. American Boy – Estelle (Feat. Kanye West)
83 on Decade End List
Peak on Chart – 1

I wish Estelle stuck around, the hook she provides on this song is irresistible and pop music would’ve benefited from having her on a few more hits. Sure, Kanye helped this song elevate to success with his fantastic guest feature, but the glitzy and stellar production has kept this song sounding fresh.

 

1. Clint Eastwood – Gorillaz (Feat. Del The Funky Homosapien)
96 on Decade End List
Peak on Chart – 4

Perhaps my bias towards the Gorillaz is showing for having this as number 1, but this mellow chorus will be in my head for the rest of my life. The track follows the theme of Del The Funky Homosapien (which has gotta be the best rapper name ever) attempting to possess the “drummer”, Russel, as he is obsessed with rhythm and wants the talent of Russel. In typical Gorillaz fashion, this all plays out in the video which manages to fit the menacing tone that the song creates. It’s a strange kind of hit as the song isn’t really a pop song but it’s still catchy and has accessible elements, only the Gorillaz can make them like this, and there’s no doubt that this is the best pop song of the 2000s.