100 Greatest Songs Of The 2000s [upd] | Vh1

Representing the late-decade shift toward electro-pop, Gaga’s breakthrough hit redefined the visual and sonic expectations of a pop star.

Appears twice in the top 10—once as a featured guest on his wife’s #1 hit and again with his own anthem at #8.

The indie crossover hits and hip-hop legends.

Alicia Keys arrived fully formed at just 21 years old. Stripping away the heavy production of the era, "Fallin'" relied solely on a thumping piano loop and her impossibly gritty-yet-sweet voice. It crashed the party of teen pop and rap-rock, proving that a classically trained musician with a raw vocal could win five Grammys in a single night. vh1 100 greatest songs of the 2000s

With a riff recognized in sports stadiums globally, Jack and Meg White proved you only needed two people to make a massive sound.

The only song that could be considered "inspirational stadium rock" on this list. Released as the 2000s dawned, "Beautiful Day" pulled U2 out of the 90s self-indulgence and back to their anthemic roots. It swept the Grammys and became the go-to soundtrack for every TV montage about overcoming adversity. A massive global hit.

The 2000s belonged to the producers as much as the artists. The Neptunes, Timbaland, and Kanye West redefined how the radio sounded. Alicia Keys arrived fully formed at just 21 years old

To understand VH1’s selections, one must look at the unique state of culture at the turn of the millennium. The decade kicked off with the residual high of late-90s teen pop and alternative rock, but quickly pivoted. Key Musical Movements of the Era:

While the top spots are occupied by household names, positions 11 through 100 on the VH1 100 Greatest Songs of the '00s list highlight the vast eclecticism of the decade:

: Driven by an unforgettable, minimalist Dr. Dre beat, this track made 50 Cent a global phenomenon and became the undisputed, permanent soundtrack to every birthday party forever. The Rise of Hip-Hop and R&B Dominance With a riff recognized in sports stadiums globally,

After *NSYNC and the Super Bowl scandal, Timberlake needed a solo identity. Enter Timbaland’s stuttering, rain-soaked beat. This wasn’t just a breakup song; it was a revenge thriller set to music, complete with a Britney-lookalike video. VH1 called it "the most perfectly produced grudge of the decade."

Built around one of the most recognizable piano riffs in rock history, "Clocks" pushed atmospheric indie-pop into stadium-sized spaces. It earned a Record of the Year Grammy and defined the lush, melancholic rock sound of the early 2000s. Defining Genres That Shaped the Countdown