The noughties don’t really seem that far back, until someone digs up the hits, that is. The songs, the fashions, the memories, the moves; it all seems like a lifetime away. Odes to independence and booty galore, bad boys and incurable romantics, cheeseballs and some gems worth holding on to, these are pop songs you may have forgotten about, but they are here assembled for a massive ride back in time.
Nelly Furtado – I’m Like A Bird
Right at the start of the Canadian singer-songwriter’s multi-million-selling career, there was this fluttering, folk-flavoured ode to freedom, seemingly sang by a wonderfully charismatic girl next door. Collaborations with Justin Timberlake and producer Timbaland would later turn Furtado into a fully fledged dance-pop diva, but this song’s warm, melodic candour is hard to compete with.
Samantha Mumba – Gotta Tell You
The teen pop idol made several best-of noughties lists, and it all started with this catchy dance-pop number, revealing a tingling contralto all the more impressive at the age of 17.
Jessica Simpson – Irresistible
Her demure teen look left behind, the older of the Simpson sisters pulled a Britney Spears on this one. It still makes great material for seductive dance routines in tiny tops, if you want to make boys “weak with desire”, though.
Bow Wow – Like You ft. Ciara>
The duo join their respective hip-hop and R&B powers in this chiming ode from 2005. Somewhere between Ciara’s honeyed vocals and the rapper’s candid confessions, a true romance is born.
Mario – Let Me Love You
Ne-Yo (who also delivers backing vocals) handed this achingly romantic R&B ballad to Mario, one of the major pop artists of the decade, who will be returning with his fifth album in 2017.
Christina Milian – When You Look At Me
Standing in your corner looking out on a drop-dead gorgeous Christina Milian? She can be a crook or your lover, “looks can be deceiving, better guess again”. This R&B/pop gem brought smart lyrics to the dancefloor, making a strong case for the rising star.
t.A.T.u. – All The Things She Said
An anthem of teenage sexual frustration with electric guitar and electronics, this unlikely hit from the Russian duo moves from sweet whisper to angst-laden cry. It’s daring statement struck a chord at the time, hitting millions of views on YouTube.
Dream – He Loves You Not
This R&B-influenced pop hit is all about girl confidence and the deja-vus straight from the beginning of the ‘00s start slowly to creep in: The sleek all-pink outfits, the assertive dance moves…“He’s into what he’s got”, ladies, back off!
Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi
Lavigne brought naughty skater boys and girls into the pop mainstream with her punky anthems, touching millions of more compliant teenagers along the way. This is the story of a punk boy once snubbed by a ballerina, and that boy grew to be a major MTV star—a fairly raucous love story with a fittingly rock ‘n’ roll happy ending.
JoJo – Leave (Get Out)
The American vocalist released this tale of teenage love and heartbreak when she was only 14, blending R&B grooves with pop sensibilities and tender touches of acoustic guitar. Pop as fresh as it gets… well, back in the noughties at least.
Nelly ft. P. Diddy & Murphy Lee – Shake Ya Tailfeather
Three American rappers get together and they “just do it for fun”, winning a Grammy along the way with this banging tune straight out of the Bad Boys II soundtrack. Profoundly booty-obsessed (“…Eighth girl this week and it’s only Tuesday”), female-friendly it is not—but hey, they added a wicked tune to injury.
