Your Favorite Songs From 2000 Are Now Old Enough to Rent a Car

Aaliyah – Try Again

Aaliyah was the type of star who shined brighter with each project she released. However, with ‘Try Again,’ she scratched the surface of perfection.

The song served as the lead single for Romeo Must Die, an action film starring Jet Li and Aaliyah. While the movie is fairly forgettable, ‘Try Again’ will always hold a special place in the world of music.

Mya – Fear of Flying (Album)

Some artists get plagued by the ‘sophomore slump’ but that wasn’t the case for Mya. Single releases like ‘Best of Me (ft. Jadakiss)’ helped her 2nd album, Fear of Flying, soar up the charts.

Side note: can we talk about ‘Case Of The Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)’? That staccato-like, driving percussion! That choreography! Did teenage Calvin try to recreate it in his bedroom with a broom? Yes.

Britney Spears – Oops…I Did It Again (Album)

Let’s run down the list of how epic Britney Spears’ Oops…I Did It Again was. The album sold a staggering 1.3 million copies in its first week (this was a 974% increase from what her debut did). It put her in the Guinness Book of Records for the ‘fastest-selling album by a teenage solo artist.’

And let’s not forget the Rock-inspired remix of ‘Oops’ she performed at the MTV Music Video Awards. This solidified Britney as one of the VMA’s most iconic performances of all time. I repeat: epic.

Okay! I’ve got the remaining 20+ music moments after this but, if you’re short on time, listen to the article’s complete playlist now:

Spice Girls – Holler

If you know the Spice Girls, you’re aware they’ve always incorporated R&B influences in their music. However, ‘Holler’ was the first time they led an album campaign with this sound. It was a gamble being their first major release after Geri Halliwell left the band, but it paid off. ‘Holler’ became their 9th #1 single in the UK.

P!nk – There You Go

“I miss Black P!nk” is a phrase very specific millennials say quite a bit. Not even Korea giving us BLACKPINK can shut us up. Why? P!nk’s voice! She sings with a soulful believability you simply don’t find with many artists.

With her debut single, ‘There You Go,’ and album, Can’t Take Me Home, P!nk became this generation’s Teena Marie. Real ones know what I mean by that.

Lil’ Kim – The Notorious K.I.M. (Album)

“I am known in a notorious way, my style and lyrics,” Lil’ Kim told Jet when explaining why she named her second album The Notorious K.I.M.

From anthems like ‘No Matter What They Say’ to slick music videos for ‘How Many Licks?,’ she told no lies. With this album, Lil’ Kim let it be known that she’s always been That Girl.

Trina – Da Baddest Bitch

I was shocked to learn ‘Da Baddest Bitch’ was Trina’s debut single.

It was a dud on the charts but the song is still an essential track to have been released that year. Not only did it continue to elevate the Miami bass sound, it sampled Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad,’ and turned Trina into a force in the rap industry.

Robbie Williams – Rock DJ

Robbie Williams might’ve cleaned his act up but there’s no denying: he’ll always be one of music’s most mischievous lads. By peeling off his flesh to impress a woman in the ‘Rock DJ’ video, Robbie emphasized his ability to make the world gasp.

People ate it up, too. ‘Rock DJ’ became a Top 10 hit in over 20 countries and won Single of the Year at the BRITs.

Sonique – It Feels So Good

Sonique’s ‘It Feels So Good’ is one of those songs that makes you feel like you’re floating. Its lyrics are simple but, when paired with elements of dance and techno, your body almost involuntarily begins to move along to the driving beat.

Yes, the song was originally released in 1998 but no one cared about it until it blew up in the States in 2000. Once the Yanks got on board, it was re-released in the UK and became a #1 hit. Good things come to those who wait, right?

Toni Braxton – He Wasn’t Man Enough

Thee Legend Toni Braxton (that’s literally her legal name now) was sick of lovelorn ballads when she went into the studio to record her 3rd album, The Heat.

‘He Wasn’t Man Enough,’ its lead single, dealt with heartache but, this time around, Toni was in the driver’s seat. The track drips with a ‘be a loser somewhere else’ energy which was refreshing for the pint-sized diva. No wonder it’s become one of her signature tracks.

Craig David – Born to Do It (Album)

At 19 years old, Craig David’s fine ass burst onto the scene with ‘Fill Me In.’ However, he really hooked me with ‘7 Days.’

Never have I ever wished to be in a barbershop more than when I saw that music video.

Sade – By Your Side

There is a shortlist of songs I consider to be ‘perfect.’ Sade’s ‘By Your Side’ is one of them. Even as a teenager who hadn’t experienced anything other than familial love, ‘By Your Side’ rewired my brain to let me know how powerful unconditional love could be.

D’Angelo – Untitled (How Does It Feel)

When people ask me questions like ‘how did you know you were gay,’ I like to refer them to this music video.

Abs aside, D’Angelo’s vocal performance on this track is astounding. He’d already racked up hits with his debut album, but ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel)’ cemented his status as an R&B legend.

Jagged Edge – Let’s Get Married

Nimrods on Reddit have said Jagged Edge’s ‘Let’s Get Married’ is the least romantic love song ever. But the lyrics ‘I just wanna get married’ aren’t blasé. They’re a melancholic plea! Here is a man standing before the woman he loves and is begging her to take the next step with him. Sometimes love isn’t about poetry. It’s about the simple, aching truth of wanting someone so much that pride becomes irrelevant.

How is that not romantic?

Air – Playground Love

Because I was somewhat sheltered, I had to trick my parents into letting me rent The Virgin Suicides on VHS. As excited as I was to watch it, the movie became secondary to the haunting score.

With that xylophone (or maybe keyboard synth?) and saxophone solos, ‘Playground Love’ is a piece of music that exists in its own dreamy universe.

S Club – Never Had A Dream Come True

Despite being obsessed with cheesy Pop (remember Steps?), I didn’t care for S Club 7. That is until they released ‘Never Had A Dream Come True.’

This song has all the hallmarks of an early-00s ballad (ie: sweeping, cinematic synthesizers, a key change for the bridge, and an emotional no, no, no, noooo) but remains free of any kitsch.

If I hear it in the grocery store, you best believe I’ll stop in the aisle to perform.

Tamia – Stranger In My House

If you were unaware, let me be the first to tell you that Tamia has the voice of an angel.

The themes discussed within ‘Stranger in My House’ are quite sullen, but the powerful clarity in her voice is heavenly. While each single she’s released displays her top tier vocals, ‘Stranger in My House’ was her only true chart success.

PS: anyone else in the Black community remember the severe side eye we gave her husband, Grant Hill, when this song dropped? If only we’d know the lyrics were actually inspired by The Sixth Sense‘s surprise ending.

Coldplay – Yellow

Sometimes, a group needs time to truly find their groove. Other times, they’re perfectly formed out the gate. That was the case with Coldplay.

‘Yellow’ became their breakout hit and, once released, made them the poster children of the post-Britpop era. The song currently has 2.7 billion streams on Spotify.

Lenny Kravitz – Again

‘Again’ is the only new song Lenny Kravitz recorded for his greatest hits album released in 2000. Not only has it been one his best performing singles on the charts, he also walked away with the GRAMMY for ‘Best Male Rock Vocal Performance’ in 2001.

Lenny, if you’re reading this, you are legally required to perform this at my wedding reception if I ever get married.

Madonna – Music (Album)

Music was the era that turned me into a Madonna fan. Pitchfork said this album was a bridge “between the mainstream and the underground.” I agree.

Quirky, electro-pop songs like ‘Amazing’ and ‘Impressive Instant’ are a testament to this. The absolutely unhinged music video for ‘What It Feels Like for a Girl’ reminded the world why Madonna is one of music’s greatest provocateurs.

Kylie Minogue – Light Years (Album)

Kylie Minogue has reinvented herself more than once throughout her career. When she dropped Light Years, her 7th studio album, she reintroduced herself as a queen of camp.

Light Years is easily one of Minogue’s strongest but ‘Spinning Around,’ the album’s lead single, is what shone the brightest. It was co-written by Paula Abdul and catapulted Minogue back to the top of the charts.

The gold hot pants she wore in the video took on a life of their own, too. Every outlet from the BBC to CNN, and Vogue have recognized what a huge role they’ve played in her career.

All Saints – Pure Shores

Shaznay Lewis is a visionary. She’s co-written some of the biggest Pop songs of all time (‘Never Ever’ will never ever not be brilliant), ‘Pure Shores’ being one of them. The single, pulled from All Saints’ 2nd album, was a #1 hit around the world and was the 2nd highest selling single that year in the UK.

Sugababes – Overload

Mutya, Keisha, and Siobhan were baby teenagers when they made their debut as the Sugababes. ‘Overload,’ their debut single, might sound a bit like All Saints and for good reason. Tom Ron formed one group and managed the other. While ‘Overload’ was their only Top 10 single with the original lineup, it remained a fan favorite over the decades.

*NSYNC – Bye Bye Bye

If I had to rank boy bands, Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, and O-Town would rank higher than *NSYNC. But it ain’t no lie, ‘Bye Bye Bye’ is one of the catchiest Pop songs I have ever heard.

Destiny’s Child – Independent Women, Pt. 1

At this point in their career, Destiny’s Child was known for centering messages around women empowerment. ‘Independent Women, Pt. 1’ also proved how powerful they could be on the charts as well.

Spending 11 weeks at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, the song holds the Guinness Book record for ‘longest-running number-one song by a female group.’