Best Songs of the 2000s -- Part Two
- Posted by Spinner Staff
- Comments (148)
The electro feel of this indie synth-pop stunner should please MGMT's stockholders, as this Brooklyn duo demonstrates a CEO's knack for dance floor management.
24. 'New Slang,' The Shins (2001)
"You've got to hear this one song. It'll change your life," said Natalie Portman when she handed the headphones to Zach Braff. We don't know about that, but it sure is pretty.
23. 'Lazy Eye,' Silversun Pickups (2007)
No, your speakers are not channeling 1991, and no, this is not a lost Smashing Pumpkins single, but both of those assumptions would be high compliments for this loud-soft epic.
22. 'Paper Planes,' M.I.A. (2007)
No doubt the late Joe Strummer would have loved M.I.A., the Clash-sampling, pan-global mongrel who pinballed between Sri Lanka, London and India in her formative years. Her dad was a Tamil rebel, and she knows how to take a stand.
She's Korean, she's Polish, she lives in L.A. But Karen O is New York all over. Her band's breakthrough track still pulses with the anxious energy of her former hometown.
20. 'Hip Hop Is Dead,' Nas (2006)
The gifted wordsmith had bigger hits ('I Can') and more forward-thinking tracks ('Black President') in the '00s, but he could hardly have made a bolder statement.
John Mayer called it a perfect song. We don't call it anything -- too busy singing along.
18. 'Jesus Walks,' Kanye West (2005)
WWJD? He'd walk with Kanye, of course. Got to be tough finding anyone else to walk on water with.
17. 'Feel Good Inc.,' Gorillaz (2005)
Cartoon bands (with the possible exception of Spongebob's 'Band Geeks' episode) have never been so thoroughly enjoyable.
It's the color of fear, caution and tabloid journalism. It's also the color of the sun, and the band that came out of the shadows with the single called 'Yellow' has been a bright light ever since.
15. 'Lose Yourself,' Eminem (2002)
In hindsight, Eminem's autobiographical acting debut in '8 Mile' marked the high point of the trickster's relevance. The tense, grunge-y featured track gained him plenty of new admirers and made it almost possible to repeat.
14. 'Rehab,' Amy Winehouse (2006)
Still saying "No, no, no," the beehive of '06 rather predictably fell into a hornets' nest of personal trouble. But the naughty defiance of this bad-girl anthem has kept us buzzing.
Boy meets girl. Girl leaves boy. We'd feel sorry for frontman Mr. Flowers if we weren't so busy dancing.
12. 'Hey Ya!,' Outkast (2003)
For a moment there, the eccentric drawling ATLien in the plaid suit and the futuristic nickname had the whole world under his thumb. Shake it, shake it, shake it ...
11. 'Hurt,' Johnny Cash (2002)
Rick Rubin gave the great Man in Black some weird material to cover during their multi-album collaboration in Cash's last years -- Neil Diamond, Simon & Garfunkel. No song seemed as strange a fit as Trent Reznor's addict's lament, 'Hurt' ... until you heard the thing and couldn't catch your breath.
10. 'Do You Realize??,' The Flaming Lips (2002)
Though the tune designated as Oklahoma's official rock song gently but firmly reminds us that we'll all die someday, the existence of a work of art as vital and breathtaking as this proves there is such a thing as immortality.
One Mouseketeer wrongs another, and we get this grown-up, innovative breakup song. The moment that simultaneously marked JT's maturation and the beginning of Britney's fall from grace.
8. 'Pon de Replay,' Rihanna (2005)
Though 'Umbrella' was a certifiable blockbuster around the globe, we'll go with the effervescent tune that first introduced Barbados' finest to an international audience.
7. 'Seven Nation Army,' The White Stripes (2003)
Choosing the best White Stripes single of the decade is like playing Pick-up Sticks -- almost any one will do, but you can't help but disturb the others. Here, they're a one boy/one girl wrecking crew.
The canny reinvention of rock's favorite juveniles as socially conscious auteurs has unfurled a string of big pop hits, none as definitive as the lead track from their 2004 "comeback." "Don't want to be an American idiot," declared the same Billie Joe once known for poop jokes and masturbation fatigue.
5. 'My City of Ruins,' Bruce Springsteen (2002)
Written for Asbury Park, the down-and-out Jersey Shore town that made Springsteen famous, this humble gospel song took on a whole new meaning when the Twin Towers fell, restoring the Boss to his role as a cultural rallying point.
Crazy energy from the power couple of the decade -- prettier than Brangelina, more clout than the Obamas.
3. 'Beautiful Day,' U2 (2000)
With one simple thought -- "It's a beautiful day/Don't let it get away" -- Bono reclaimed his self-appointed role as rock 'n' roll's resident spiritual adviser.
2. 'Last Nite,' The Strokes (2001)
The song that crowned rock's new saviors, short-lived as they were. People, they don't understand.
In the summer of '06, who among us wasn't asking, "Does that make me crazy?" Who doesn't ask it every day?
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Reader Comments(1 of 8)
zapat 11-26-2009
Not Bad List, # 1 Is Great Song.
JOE JONESat 12-01-2009
NONE
algonquin j. calhounat 11-26-2009
who the hell came up with this list of most irritating songs of the past ten years?
al bat 11-26-2009
some idiot critic who listens to music no one has heard of.
really, what is that garbage? pick some songs people actually listen to.
Mark Sternat 11-28-2009
I must concur. I read the list and remembered only two of the 50 and had only been tempted to buy the CD of one. I did not, as there was no follow up hit.
I listen to 'alternative rock' radio, but I do not live under a rock either. But then again, I do not know any of the celebrities that are discussed in minutia in tabloids.
GJEat 2-07-2010
There should be more Lady Gaga, but most importantly, some more jack white bands, raconteurs, white stripes, and also, crazy should NOT even be on the list, let alone #1!
Ginaat 12-19-2009
Yeah, most of these songs were not real hits. I was honestly looking for a song or two by Fifty-Cent. He really made an impact with his music in the 00's.
Colinat 11-26-2009
What The Fray did not make the list, that is B$ the fray is the greatest band since I can't remember when.
Tabat 12-01-2009
Any band whose songs all sound the same with the consistent dreary and depressing lyrics are not the "greatest band" in any person's mind with real taste in music. Go back to junior high.
Erinat 12-19-2009
I was surprised too! They had several hits that I still have stuck in my head, and yet they weren't picked once for a best song of the decade...doesn't make much sense to me.
Jessamynat 12-19-2009
Really? Thr Fray? They aren't the greatest ANYTHING, unless you count sounding like a suicidal Kermit the Frog...Let us know when they actually write a NEW song-that whole album might as well be a single.
graceat 1-05-2010
I agree that The Fray should have made the list at least somewhere. Has anyone forgotten how good of a song 'How to save a life" was? It was grammy-nominated twice! I really like this band,and while i wouldn't say they were the best band ever,i think they are extremely talented,and their lyrics are unique and amazing. So the lists are just being biased when they leave them out..it's sad really...but i was waiting to see someone take up for them.
Anonymousat 11-26-2009
#1 is/was a good song, although, it shouldn't have been #1. I have hardly heard ANY of these songs. M.I.A was a pretty... decent... band. But people. These guys work HARD on what they do, cut some slack. Do you ever consider they're making their children proud? What if they read these comments?
mleat 12-19-2009
green day worked really hard on american idiot
mccartneygalat 11-26-2009
WHAT about Paul McCartney's new albums??!! Those were genuis!! Dance Tonight??!! AMAZING!
Scotsmaccafanat 12-31-2009
I completely and utterly agree. Dance Tonight, Fine Line, Ever Present Past and Only Mama Knows should have made the top slots. Driving Rain disappointed me but Chaos & Creation and Memory Almost Full were amazing. Actually I also have to add Electric Arguements too, espec Sing the Changes!!
Paulat 11-26-2009
Didn't know what Jay-Z does is actually condidered music,I always considered a lack of music,basic juvenile rhymes backed by noise like banging garbage cans and screeching.
christopher Livingstonat 12-18-2009
your ignorance to his form of music is evident. If all you can say about it is that, i assume you find rock just people blaring on guitars, country just rednecks crooning about nothing, r&b lovestruck fools, and techno just sounds. your comment just showed how ignorant some people still are.
DEBOat 11-27-2009
Sooooo happy that "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley landed in # 1 Spot. That's my jam!!! "I remember, I remember when I lost my mind ... it's hard to hear an echo in so much space ..."
ventura477at 11-26-2009
This is the best?? and i thought 80's music was crap. looks like the 2000's might be just as bad.