5 Vinyl Record Players That Are Best For Your Collection

The 2000s ushered in the dawn of a new kind of music industry, and it all started with blogs. Rap genre reclaimed commercial success, with Indie rock songs leaning into its subversive pop side. Pop had to rethink its dependency on mass-produced boy bands. In honor of the early years, we’ve rounded up some of our most played songs from the 2000s: Timbaland and Pharell’s funky beats to pop princess Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Indie bands like Animal Collective or The White Stripes, who constantly adapted their sound for new trends, also made it onto this list.

Toxic – Britney Spears

Britney Spears has been a pop princess, sexual liberationist, and everything in between. Her voice carries strong throughout ‘Toxic’ unexpectedly, as she goes back-and-forth from her baby girl vocals to an insanely high falsetto.

Drop It Like It’s Hot – Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell.

Hip-hop songs in the early 2000s had a homegrown, almost experimental sound as Timbaland and Pharrell incorporated beatboxing into their catalog. The track “Drop It Like Its Hot” followed suit by incorporating tongue pops and an elongated falsetto “Snoooooop!” Accompanied with user-friendly dance moves, this is one classic song that will never be forgotten. 

We Belong Together – Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey was a fresh-faced, doe-eyed vocal assassin who graced the hook of numerous rap songs in the ’90s. But by the 2000s, she had become an icon and offered an unexpected moment of vulnerability on “We Belong Together.” 

Me, Myself, and I – Beyoncé

Beyoncé is known for her high-energy empowerment anthems that leave you wanting to dance. Still, the singer has a different side too. “Me, Myself and I” shows Beyoncé’s rarer, quieter side eerily calm in the face of infidelity with reserved vocals and angelic whispers of self-actualization. She makes a promise to herself about protecting her heart.

Someday – The Strokes

For a music band that is so well-known for its catchy and feverishly energetic rock tunes, The Strokes’ latest release, “Someday,” stands out as something fresh. With Julian Casablancas’ signature sleepy drawl, he works his way through an album of fleeting promises and questionable proclamations while sparing the usual lofty romanticism. 

What You Waiting For – Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani’s explosive step into her own path, “What You Waiting For,” was the opening song of Gwen’s first solo record. The track is a saucily sleek and urgent take on electronic pop with a definite rock edge. 

Check out: Biggest Musical Hits Of The 90s

Cry Me a River –  Justin Timberlake

Timbaland has a Midas touch, and everything he touches turns to gold. In the early 2000s, there were no such songs or artists that Timbaland couldn’t make hot. Justin Timberlake became one of his most effective vehicles with help from Scott Storch on lyrics for “Cry Me A River.” This classic is timeless in its story about the consequences of adultery. 

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys

Alex Turner’s first album with the Arctic Monkeys, “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” is a supercharged anthem filling every crack and crevice with grime. The track showcases Alex’s drunken eyes as he makes eye contact at a bar flirtatiously. At the same time, Matt Helder’s impossibly fierce drumming propels it to its high energy feel. 

My Happy Ending – Avril Lavigne

With songs like “My Happy Ending,” Avril Lavigne had a knack for crafting lyrics that portrayed her as the ultimate rebel. With this in mind, it is no wonder she was labeled a punk-rock princess by some of her fans. The only thing you could predict about an album from Lavigne would be its unpredictability. 

Young Folks – Peter Bjorn and John

Young Folks is an endearingly stripped-back song, with its melody on the back of a sweet little whistle. The simplicity and whimsical nature lend themselves to new interpretations from Kanye West, James Blake, and Halsey.

Love – Keyshia Cole

Keyshia Cole’s “Love” is a song for the ages and arguably one of her best vocal performances to date. It is also an international anthem with no boundaries. It has resonated in basements worldwide, from karaoke sing-offs to sticky bar floors. Everyone can relate to falling into love with someone who may not be here forever or even right now.

Always on Time – Ja Rule featuring Ashanti

The 2000s saw the rise of many pop duos. Ja Rule and Ashanti offered something different from your typical country song. With collaborative songs like ‘Always on Time,’ they offer listeners an eclectic mix of sounds that is hard to find in just one genre today.

I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) – Jay-Z featuring Pharrell

The collaboration between Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams has been a real treat for fans of both artists, with one stand-out being the song “I Just Wanna Love You.” The lyrics are irresistibly catchy in that off-key way only Pharrell can do.

Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue.

Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” takes the listener on a journey through their deepest, darkest desires. It then refocuses them back to reality with cooling vocals and instrumentation soothing those hidden impulses. 

Ms. Jackson – OutKast

“Ms. Jackson” is a touching song on the plights of thoughtless young love and its consequences. The song takes an interesting turn when it comes to addressing single mothers everywhere in hip-hop music. Big Boi and André 3000 delicately work through these wounds with captivating verses about apologies for absent fathers over warping production throughout “Ms. Jackson.”

Chasing Pavements – Adele

The first time Adele was on a significant stage, she captured the audience with her emotional intensity and soaring vocal range. Her song “Chasing Pavements” is about never catching up to what you want in life because it’s always moving away from you like pavement under your feet. 

No Letting Go – Wayne Wonder

Wayne Wonder’s take on the ballad, “No Letting Go,” is a total package of sincerity and sexy. Flooded with traditional dancehall production, Wayne still leaves enough room for shaking ass with this catchy tune about not letting go no matter what happens. 

Electric Feel – MGMT

MGMT’s “Electric Feel” brought a new era of psychedelic, synth-heavy pop-rock songs to the forefront of the 2000s. The reception proved that MGMT was onto something with their groove renaissance. It has been an omnipresent force ever since its release. 

In Da Club – 50 Cent

50 Cent was born in South Jamaica, Queens, and is a rapper who has been making music for nearly two decades. He’s known as one of the first artists to cross over from rap icons to household names thanks to his crossover hit single “In Da Club.” 

Confessions Pt. 2 – Usher

Usher is the king of infidelity. His song “Confessions Pt. 2” was a hit for incomparable vocals and grand narrative. It’s not hard to see why this album with catchy lyrics about cheating seemed like a good idea at first, but what really makes Usher so famous? He just does it better than anybody else. 

Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean

“Hips Don’t Lie” is a rhythmically driven song that features Shakira on vocals and Wyclef Jean as producer. The Fugees had initially written the track for their own album. When they realized it was too much like “Killing Me Softly,” they decided to collaborate with Colombian icon Shakira instead of just themselves.

Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars

The song Uptown Funk is a pure pop culture phenomenon. What started as an experimental endeavor quickly became the most beloved track of 2015. Bruno Mars’ voice contributed to its popularity. With seven consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart and counting, there’s no telling how long this hit will last in our hearts.

Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera 

This funk-laced single pays a perfect tribute to Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. It was the only way for Adam Levine’s group, Maroon 5, to celebrate their decade of success in the 2000s.

Rolling in the Deep – Adele

After a successful debut, Adele’s second album ’21’ was overshadowed by her career-defining song, “Someone Like You.” Our chart shows that even though it received fewer plays than its predecessor, the lead single from 21′, Rolling in the Deep, still holds up as one of the best songs from the 2000s.

Happy – Pharrell

Pharrell Williams changed music history when he released ‘Happy,’ which quickly became a worldwide sensation. The song’s success was primarily due to its being featured on the Despicable Me 2 (2013) soundtrack. It hit number one on Billboard Hot 100 charts during 4 consecutive weeks while selling more than six million copies across international markets.

Which of these songs from the 2000s is on your playlist? Let us know in the comments section below. 

The ’90s were a great time to be alive. It’s not because of the frosted tips, Super Nintendo, and sure-fire pop songs, but also for some serious music. Although there are so many memorable tunes from this decade, it’s near impossible to pick out which is everyone’s favorite. So, the next time you’re off to karaoke, use these 10 songs as your playlist. We promise that the lyrics of these songs will have you feeling like a 90’s pop star in no time.

Green Day – “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” (1997)

Let a college fraternity guy low E string, and he’ll give you an energetic rendition of this song. “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” is etched in the brains of ’90s kids for its simplicity. It has been played behind every high school homecoming reel since 1997. The song is just so darn catchy that it beats out any other tune on the radio when stuck at 3 am driving back from your friend’s house.

Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time” (1999)

It’s time to turn back the clock and reminisce on our favorite Britney Spears songs from the 90s. The Economist regarded baby One More Time for its greatest debt in pop music history. The song went platinum in the US, double-platinum in the UK, and triple-platinum in Australia. It picked up a Grammy nomination for the best pop album – surprising because it was her debut. We all remember “…Baby One More Time” most of all for giving us something special: middle school dances.

Whitney Houston – “I Will Always Love You” (1992)

The Bodyguard is a classic. The song “I Will Always Love You” was written by Dolly Parton way back in 1973 before being made famous by Whitney Houston. It’s one of the most influential romantic movies, and Whitney Houston put her own spin on it when she starred in it as Rachel Marron. Houston made the song iconic with a 14 week stay at number 1 on Billboard Hot 100 charts during 1993-1994.

Baha Men – “Who Let the Dogs Out?” (2000)

It’s not too difficult to remember the lyrics of “Who Let the Dogs Out?” The song was a major hit for children born between 1992 and 2002. The documentary about this song debuted at the South by Southwest Festival in 2019. However, it has since been met with rave reviews on Rotten Tomatoes (100% as of now).

Ricky Martin – “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (1999)

As Ricky Martin celebrated his 40th birthday, he reminisced about that fateful day when “Livin’ La Vida Loca” was released. He had just been a regular old child star trying to make it big, and that’s when the song changed everything for him. It scored four Grammy nominations. Moreover, it earned the valuable distinction of getting played at literally every middle schooler’s birthday party for ten years.

Check out: 10 Songs From The 90s That Defined The Decade.

Spice Girls – “Wannabe” (1996)

It’s the 90s, and we all know that word: “Wannabe.” That is what you think when you see this song title. Released in 1996 by a new group called Spice Girls, “If You Wanna Be My Lover” introduced us to an era of pop music.

TLC – “No Scrubs” (1999)

We bet you know the song “No Scrubs” by TLC. It’s been a favorite of 90s kids for their whole life and is still popular today. If you haven’t heard this one before, then there’s something wrong with you because it was all over mainstream radio back in 1999. In fact, to this day, we can’t swipe through our dating apps without seeing someone who says they’re looking for no scrubs. Or they might be telling others not to be too picky about how they look like on Tinder (the app launched right around when No Scrubs came out).

R.E.M – “Losing My Religion” (1991)

“Losing My Religion” is the song that took R.E.M to stratospheric fame levels. They were eventually led into the prestigious Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in their first year. Released back in 1991, “Losing My Religion” spent 21 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart at its heyday. It also received two Grammys for Best Short Form Music Video and Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. The song truly is an honorable feat that might never be accomplished again.

Natalie Imbruglia – “Torn” (1997) 

We’re sure everyone knows the words “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia. However, most don’t know that this catchy song was actually an Old Danish folk tune before becoming a popular American rock band’s cover. It went through multiple transformations before finally being released as one of the many versions sung in different languages.

Smash Mouth – “All-Star” (1999)

It’s hard to believe that you can watch a movie and not just see the character but hear their voice as well. The dulcet 90s songs of Shrek or Donkey are imprinted in our minds for eternity with Smash Mouth’s “All-Star.” The track was used as the movie’s soundtrack released on April 22nd, 2001 – 20 years ago.

In the comment section below, let us know about which of these top 90s songs you were crazy about in your childhood days.