Best / Most Important Songs of the Decade: 2000-2009

[Lazario]

There's some time to kill before October, so... why not talk music? (I know we haven't done the 80's yet, but we'll get there soon enough- don't worry)

I got this idea as a spin-off from Best Albums of the Decade. And did a search and though there are a couple of 80's threads, there's not a real Best Songs like we have a Best Albums. I hope to follow it up with another decade in a week or so, if this one gets some interest.

This is just a fun type thread and you don't have to think real hard, follow any specific rules to the letter, or get involved in a debate if you don't want to.

The idea: try to nominate the most memorable songs that either defined a spirit of the time it was made, were the best example of that kind of music, became an anthem for you or maybe your parents if they're older (like mine), or that you love a lot that really speak to you.

The only real rule: try to narrow down the amount of songs for one artist or band. Try to pick their best and try not to pick more than 2 songs from the same album.

Any and every kind of music is welcome.



Other Threads:
1960's
1970's
1980's
1990's
2010-2019

[Wonderlicious]

Just a few. I'll give explanations for some of the choices sometime later.

Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Clocks - Coldplay
Fix You - Coldplay
The Scientist - Coldplay
Yellow - Coldplay
It's My Life - Bon Jovi
Bohemian Like You - The Dandy Warhols
Hey Baby - No Doubt
I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys
Foundations - Kate Nash
Heartbeats - Jose Gonzales
Do You Remember - Jack Johnson
Upside Down - Jack Johnson
Californiacation - Red Hot Chili Peppers (soughta a 2000s song; was released as a single then)
By the Way - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Can't Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Thank You - Dido
Stan - Eminem
Babylon - David Gray
Beautiful Day - U2
Vertigo - U2
Mr Brightside - The Killers
Smile Like You Mean It - The Killers
Human - The Killers
Run - Snow Patrol
Chocolate - Snow Patrol
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Open Your Eyes - Snow Patrol
Supermassive Black Hole - Muse
Knights of Cydonia - Muse
Rehab - Amy Winehouse
Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse
Fascination - Alphabeat
Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs
I Predict a Riot - Kaiser Chiefs
I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
Take Your Mama Out - Scissor Sisters
This Love - Maroon 5
Dry Your Eyes - The Streets
Grace Kelly - Mika
The Closest Thing to Crazy - Katie Melua
Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
Mercy - Duffy
Warwick Avenue - Duffy
Crazy in Love - Beyoncé
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk
One More Time - Daft Punk
Gold Digger - Kanye West
Stronger - Kanye West
Candy Shop - 50 Cent
Foux du Fafa - Flight of the Conchords
Inner City Pressure - Flight of the Conchords
Business Time - Flight of the Conchords
Club Foot - Kasabian
American Idiot - Green Day
Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
Valerie - Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse
You're Beautiful - James Blunt
High - James Blunt
Smile - Lily Allen
LDN - Lily Allen
I Kissed a Girl - Katy Perry
Hot and Cold - Katy Perry
Time to Pretend - MGMT
Electric Feel - MGMT
Apologise - OneRepublic
Umbrella - Rhianna
Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
Somewhere Else - Razorlight
America - Razorlight
Acceptable in the 80s - Calvin Harris
I'm Like a Bird - Nelly Furtado
Poker Face - Lady Gaga
Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
Rule the World - Take That
Bad Day - Daniel Powter
Hung Up - Madonna
Four Seconds - Madonna and Justin Timberlake
Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake

[Disney's Divinity]

As for "iconic" songs, I can't really think of much beyond Wonderlicious' list.

Kelly Clarkson ~ "Breakaway"
Kelly Clarkson ~ "Because of You" (though "Walk Away" and "Since U Been Gone" were big hits, too, I think these two had the biggest impact)
Carrie Underwood ~ "Before He Cheats"
Jordin Sparks ~ "No Air"
Chris Daughtry ~ "Home"
Pink ~ "Stupid Girls"
Train ~ "Drops of Jupiter"
Train ~ "Hey, Soul Sister"
Lady Antebellum ~ "Need You Now"
Taylor Swift ~ "Love Story"
Black-Eyed Peas ~ "I Gotta Feeling"
Fergie ~ "Big Girls Don't Cry"
Michael Buble ~ "Home"

And I guess Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" and Kesha would make the iconic list.

[schoollover]

i would add

Mariah Carey- We Belong Together

and

Britney Spears- Piece of Me

[Goliath]

Bob Dylan- Workingman's Blues #2
Bob Dylan- Ain't talkin'

Both from his 2006 album Modern Times, universally praised as his best in years --and an excellent album in its own right.

Alicia Keys- Empire State of Mind (Part II)
Amy MacDonald- Mr Rock 'n Roll
Amy MacDonald- This is the life
Bruce Springsteen- Devils + Dust
Bruce Springsteen- Workin' on a dream
Gnarls Barkley- Crazy
James Blunt- 1973
Manda Diao- Dance with somebody
Melissa Etheridge- I need to wake up (also from An Inconvenient Truth)
Neil Young- everything from his album Living with war
Red Hot Chili Peppers- Snow ((Hey Oh))
Sandi Thom- I wish I was a punk rocker (with flowers in my hair)


Pink- Dear Mr. President

Modern day 'protest song'. I expected an angry, loud, agressive song from Pink, but I'm glad she kept it quiet, since the effect is ten times bigger that way. Very apt description of the president.


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Pink- Stupid girls

Perfect capturing of the zeitgeist. Excellent parody on everything that's wrong with today's popular culture, advertising, marketing and how it influences young people in a very negative way. The most brilliant clip I've ever seen.


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Dixie Chicks- Not ready to make nice

Normally not a fan of country, but I liked this very much.


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[Scarred4life]

Pink- Stupid girls

Perfect capturing of the zeitgeist. Excellent parody on everything that's wrong with today's popular culture, advertising, marketing and how it influences young people in a very negative way. The most brilliant clip I've ever seen.

Ever since you posted that a couple months ago I've been completely obsessed with that song/video, and I completely agree with everything you said above.

[carolinakid]

What a forgettable decade musicwise, although I loved Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) by DJ Spiller from 2001, Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis Bextor from 2002 and Cher's A Different Kind Of Love Song also from 2002.

[PixarFan2006]

I don't think I really listened to much music from this decade, so it would be hard for me to come up with a proper list.

[Avaitor]

I really dig these threads, Laz. I've been wanting to respond for a while, but have been delaying it. I'll start with the aughts first, then catch up later.

The way I'm going to do this is name the first 5 songs I think of when I refer to music from the decade in question, then suggest 5 different songs of value from then.

My 5 Most Referred To Tracks:

Usher- "Yeah"

Every club I've ever been in(and no, I have not been to a club since before the recording of this song), this track always ends up being played. It's a good dance song, although that still doesn't count for much in my book. This is a very bombastic song with an instantly floor-stopping hook, a rap break that fits in, and Lil' Jon, Dave Chappelle's classic butt of the joke. Again, still not much of a good song to my ears, but for a few years it was unavoidable on pop, hip-hop and R&B radio stations and still gets a lot of play today.

Panic! At the Disco- "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"

The emo scene didn't last too long at all, did it? Stuff like Panic, Fall Out Boy, and My Chemical Romance aren't even real emo anyway- just even wussier pop punk, taking elements from Weezer, notably River's bipolar lyrics and odd falsetto, and Green Day, notably everything. No, this is real emo- hardcore with more personal lyrics. More anguish than you would find in Black Flag.

I can see why acts like FOB and P!ATD wee popular though. As our generation became increasingly whipped, girlier rock acts should have more of a presence than nu-metal or whatever else was popular at that time. During the mid 00's to about 2007, it wasn't uncommon to see guyliner, dark colors, and those godawful mid-bangs on teenage boys, while girls liked to dye their hair in odder colors. Nowadays, it's hard to see teens dress up like this anymore, and bands like MCR are trying to distant themselves from the "emo" fad as much as they can.

Godo riddance, I say, but it's hard to deny the popularity of such songs as I Write Sins. Not much to it but a catchy synth opening and a memorable chorus on top of a semi-iconic video. Not a bad song, but never something I would seek out. To me, though, when I think of the pop-emo phase, I think of this song above all else.

Miley Cyrus- "Party in the USA"

Okay, before I say anything- I dislike Miley as much as any male my age should, hell, as much as any male should. Her music, movies, and show are not to my taste at all, and that's that. I will attest that she was decent in Bolt, and "See You Again" has cool ambience which Miley ruins with her own voice. Still, I dislike her usual stuff like "Party in the USA".

Modern pop isn't my thing, but I can have no trouble naming a good top 40 song or two. Heck, I even like a couple of Demi Lovato's songs! But Party has trite lyrics(ironic, even, since Miley doesn't even listen to Jay-Z) which aren't complimented by Miss Cyrus's autotuned performance or to the mediocre musicianship. However, as much as I hate to admit this, the chorus has undeniable staying power, as evident by just about everyone I knew, including friends in the same boat as me. This is a late edition to the list, since it only came out about 6 months before the end of the decade, but I can't think of a song from the past year that had as much of a presence in pop culture.

Aside from maybe that one song by Black Eyed Peas. This time, Miss Montana is the lesser of two evils.

The Darkness- "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"

The glam metal revival didn't really set the world apart. Hinder's only hit was a ballad that wouldn't really fit in with the Sunset Strip scene. Buckcherry became a fun if forgettable one hit wonder-cum decently popular comeback act-cum nobodies in the course of a few years. Steel Panther, as funny as they are, came a little too late. And as great as Spinal Tap the movie is, did Spinal Tap the band really need to "reunite"? You can definitely add this to the different revival scenes that didn't really do much, along with garage rock(ala White Stripes), arena rock(Wolfmother), or thrash(all of those new "thrashcore" acts you see that have their shirts sold at Hot Topic).

Still, The Darkness came out a little before Crue-like music became en vogue for the niche crowd, and although they didn't last long, they were awesome. Just listen to this dude's insane falsetto. Perfect for the type of music they're selling. The Darkness were an oddity in popular rock music at the time. When everything was Linkin Park-like nu metal or Foo Fitghers-like post-grunge on the charts, here coem these crazy British guys jamming like Nevermind didn't happen. Still cool today.

Eminem- "Lose Yourself"

Eminem should have retired the first time he said he would. After then, his shtick has gotten old. His lyrics blah, his beats dull, and his heart just doesn't seem to be into it anymore. "Not Afraid" was a good song, but that seemed to be the exception to the rule.

Still, before then, he was one of the best mainstream rappers of all time. Again, hip-hop is not really my thing, but I know quality when I see or hear it. When he wasn't rapping about killing his ex-wife or going off on his multiple family issues, Marshall Matthews had insane timing for hiph-op that you can't get in artists today. "Stan" is a brilliant song, and although the movie "Lose Yourself" was attached to, 8 Mile, was a half-assed Purple Rain remake, the song is definitely a classic. He puts his everything into this song, and made every beat, every fill, every meter close to perfect. This is kind of like the "Billie Jean" of hip-hop as far as I'm concerned- so much effort put into one song that your average top 40 act wouldn't put into an entire album.

5 Others:

Outkast- "Hey Ya!"

This should probably go in the other list, but I didn't think I should take out any of the songs in there. This song has everything in it; a sick funk beat, solid rap breaks, rocking fills, bits of acoustic and synth that feel fresher than I can think of before hand, and instantly classic lyrics. The video is also great, as it evokes the look and feeling of Ed Sullivan's show the first time a certain group from Liverpool showed up for the first time.

There hasn't been a greater mix of so many different types of music before or since "Hey Ya's" inception, and there hasn't since. I think this is the most important song of the past 10 years, and journalists seems to agree with me, or at least partly- if "Hey Ya!" doesn't top or come close to the best songs of the aughts lists that I see, Outkast's other instaclassic "B.O.B." does, and their other-other instaclassic "Miss Jackson" isn't too far behind.

System of a Down-"Toxicity"

If "Hey Ya!" is the most important song of the decade, I would argue that System of a Down were the most important band of the decade. They fit in pefectly with the angst filled nu metal scene, and still remained relevant after that got phased out, and despite breaking up 4 years ago are still relevant to this day. Their first album was pretty popular, but I think SOAD's politically charged lyrics made them became a very special band after 9/11. They were attacking the American government years before Green Day made it "cool" to, and are pretty accessible for future fans of metal, alternative, or rock in general. Hell, this essay says it better than I can.

I went with "Toxicity" as my SOAD choice since although "Chop Suey!" had bigger commercial success and "B.Y.O.B." probably is their most critically successful single, as well as my first song of theirs, "Toxicity" has good tempo changes as it goes between an agressive drum and bass jam and a nice guitar harmony, and also contains some of Serj's best vocals.

Agalloch- "Not Unlike the Waves"

Post-metal isn't everyone's cup of tea, but Agalloch are like sex to me. There's plenty of black metal and post-rock in here, as well as folk, ambience, and plenty of other good stuff. "Not Unlike the Waves" has everything I love about this band in one fell swoop, easily among the highlights of their discography.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor- entire discography

Like I need anything else to say, ha.

The Mountain Goats- "Old College Try"

Trying to think of a bad Mountain Goats song is hard, thinking of a particular TMG to highlight is even harder. I went with a random song from my favorite album of theirs. This is the type of indie that I'm into, and I would be bigger into the movement if I could find music as passionate as this guy's is.

[Goliath]

It's funny Avaitor should mention the Black Eyed Peas (in a negative manner). I forgot to include them in my short list. Because I absolutely dig their modern-day 'protest song':


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[Avaitor]

That was a good one. Earlier BEP was pretty good hip-hop, but when Fergie came in, there went my interest. Even with her, this is a well-made song. Fergie just rubs me the wrong way.

[Goliath]

That was a good one. Earlier BEP was pretty good hip-hop, but when Fergie came in, there went my interest. Even with her, this is a well-made song. Fergie just rubs me the wrong way.

I bet you would think a whole lot different about her if she rubbed you the right way!

[Avaitor]

That was a good one. Earlier BEP was pretty good hip-hop, but when Fergie came in, there went my interest. Even with her, this is a well-made song. Fergie just rubs me the wrong way.

I bet you would think a whole lot different about her if she rubbed you the right way!

That's for another thread, Mark.

[Lazario]

Kylie Minogue - "Can't Get You Out of My Head"
Rihanna featuring Jay-Z - "Umbrella"
Goldfrapp - "Utopia"
Madonna - "Music"
Air - "Playground Love"
Kelis - "Milkshake"
Björk - "Scatterheart"
Beck - "Cellphone's Dead"
Mariah Carey - "We Belong Together"
The Avalanches - "Frontier Psychiatrist"
Roisin Murphy - "You Know Me Better"
Leona Naess - "He's Gone"
Goldfrapp - "Strict Machine"
Pet Shop Boys - "I'm with Stupid"
Gorillaz - "Clint Eastwood"
Björk - "Pagan Poetry"
Peaches - "Fuck the Pain Away"
Ladytron - "Playgirl"
OK Go - "Here It Goes Again"
Rihanna - "Rude Boy"
Moloko - "Pure Pleasure Seeker"
Jay-Z featuring UGK - "Big Pimpin'"
Goldfrapp - "Lovely Head"
Gwen Stefani - "What You Waiting For?"
Lady Gaga - "Brown Eyes"
OutKast - "Hey Ya!"
Lily Allen - "The Fear"
Beyonce & Lady Gaga - "Video Phone"
Black Eyed Peas - "Third Eye"
Mariah Carey - "Say Something"
Katy Perry - "Hot n Cold"
Britney Spears - "Toxic"
Björk - "Earth Intruders"
Sophie Ellis Bextor - "Murder on the Dancefloor"
Broadcast - "Come On Let's Go"
Merrie Amsterburg - "Undertow"
Rihanna - "SOS"
Missy Elliot featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop - "Lose Control"
Lords of Acid - "Stripper"
Madonna - "Nobody Knows Me"
The White Stripes - "Seven Nation Army"
No Doubt - "Underneath It All"
Goldfrapp - "Ride a White Horse"
Vitamin C - "Busted"
Hooverphonic - "Autoharp"
Björk - "Wanderlust"
Lady Gaga - "Paparazzi"
Leona Naess - "Shiny on the Inside"
Beck - "Scarecrow"
Nikka Costa - "Like a Feather"
Rihanna - "Take a Bow"
Little Jackie - "Black Barbie"
Goldfrapp - "Twist"
Snoop Dogg - "Sexual Eruption"
Gorillaz - "Feel Good Inc."
Madonna - "Miles Away"
Air - "Surfing On a Rocket"
Vixtrola - "Gunboat"
Britney Spears - "Why Should I Be Sad"
New Young Pony Club - "The Bomb"
Moloko - "The Time is Now"
Ladytron - "He Took Her to a Movie"
Girls Aloud - "No Good Advice"
Imperial Teen - "Baby"
Moby - "Very"
Björk - "Where is the Line"
No Doubt - "Hella Good"
Black Eyed Peas - "Hey Mama" (lyrics suck, I know, but they're not kidding when they say this makes you move)
Lily Allen - "Never Gonna Happen"
Rihanna - "Rockstar 101"
Air - "Cherry Blossom Girl"
Roisin Murphy - "Overpowered"
Peaches - "Mommy Complex"
Ladytron - "Seventeen"
Goldfrapp - "Little Bird"
Leona Naess - "Unnamed"
Veruca Salt - "Perfect Love"
Lady Gaga - "Dance in the Dark"
Lisa Loeb - "We Could Still Belong Together"
Broadcast - "Unchanging Window"
Eels - "Fresh Feeling"
Björk - "Cocoon"
Madonna - "Get Together"
Imani Coppola - "Afrodite"
Mya - "Whatever Bitch"
Beck - "Soldier Jane"
Goldfrapp - "Some People"
Hooverphonic - "Strictly Out of Phase"
Missy Elliot - "Get Ur Freak On"
Bat for Lashes - "What's a Girl to Do?"
Merrie Amsterburg - "State Highway 16"
Paris Hilton - "Screwed" (Album Version)
Rihanna - "Russian Roulette"
Björk - "Pleasure is All Mine"
New Young Pony Club - "Ice Cream"
Broadcast - "Papercuts"
Madonna - "I'm So Stupid"
Goldfrapp - "Number 1"
Air - "Universal Traveler"
Veruca Salt - "Circular Trend"
Hooverphonic - "The Magnificent Tree"
Flight of the Conchords - "Most Beautiful Girl in the Room"
Hole - "Be a Man"
Ladytron - "Destroy Everything You Touch"
Roisin Murphy - "Dear Miami"
Björk & Thom Yorke - "I've Seen it All"
Madonna - "Forbidden Love"
OutKast - "Roses"
Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat"
The Ting Tings - "That's Not My Name"
Imani Coppola - "Dirty Pictures"
No Doubt - "It's My Life"
Lily Allen - "I Could Say"
Björk - "Undo"
Maroon 5 - "Makes Me Wonder"
Air - "Venus"
Gabriella Cilmi - "Sweet About Me"
Mariah Carey - "It's Like That"
The Avalanches - "Electricity"
Leona Naess - "Leave Your Boyfriends Behind"
Rihanna - "Wait Your Turn"
Britney Spears - "Everytime"
Beck - "Girl"
Madonna - "Don't Tell Me"
Cause & Effect - "Ophelia"
Björk - "Heirloom"
The White Stripes - "The Hardest Button to Button"
Hoku - "Perfect Day"
Roisin Murphy - "Sow Into You" (Video Version)
Kerli - "Love is Dead"
Imperial Teen - "Teacher's Pet"
Pet Shop Boys - "Miracles"
The Hives - "Hate to Say I Told You So"

[carolinakid]

Murder On The Dance Floor
Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)
I Will Love Again
Don't Want Another Man
You're The Worst Thing For Me
A Different Kind Of Love Song
Some Lovin'
Dive In The Pool
Dreamin'
I Got My Pride
Needin' U II