20 Years Later, These Pop Bangers Have Only Gotten Better

Usher – Yeah! (ft. Lil Jon + Ludacris)

Usher kicked off 2004 with ‘Yeah!’ Released in January, this song was made for the club with its sweaty synths and high energy. Petey Pablo’s ‘Freek-A-Leek’ might’ve been released first but it was Usher that took Crunk&B to new heights. ‘Yeah!’ spent 12 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and was lauded by critics. The song has since been certified 13x platinum and it’s obvious why: ‘Yeah!’ is the equivalent of finding a $50 bill in the pocket of those pants you never wear and were about to chuck out.

Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone

Ryan Starr. Tamyra Gray. Kelly Clarkson. These were the only contestants I voted for on the first season of American Idol. When Kelly won, I knew a star was born.

Everything about her 2003 debut, Thankful, was a delight. ‘Breakaway,’ a song originally attached to a movie soundtrack, was even better.

When ‘Since U Been Gone’ impacted radio in the fall of 2004, my life changed. I had yet to experience love or heartbreak—I hadn’t even been kissed!—but I memorized those lyrics quicker than my class schedule. This breakup anthem peaked at #2 and made the entire pop music industry pivot in their seats to say “Oh, shit. The winner from that silly singing competition show means business.”

Ciara – Goodies (ft. Petey Pablo)

At 19 years old, Ciara exploded onto the scene with ‘Goodies,’ a song often compared to other Crunk&B chart hits during that era. No one should be surprised as to why, either. Lil Jon played a heavy hand in each song’s production.

What made ‘Goodies’ stand out was Ciara’s airy, soft-to-the-touch voice. And can we talk about the music video? The black bodysuit with the cutouts? The white crop top with the electric blue bra showing? The choreo that still goes hard to this day? While ‘Goodies’ isn’t her bestselling single—that honor goes to ‘1, 2 Step (ft. Missy Elliot)’—it still remains her only #1.

Britney Spears – Toxic

If a singer is lucky, the stars will align and put a hit in their laps. With 50 singles under her belt, Britney Spears is no stranger to attending the hit parade. Even still, something magical took place when she recorded ‘Toxic.’ With 1.3 billion Spotify streams and 670 million YouTube views, it’s more than just a hit single. It’s easily one of the greatest songs in her entire discography.

‘Toxic’ was like nothing we’d ever heard from Spears before. Hitmaker Cathy Denis co-wrote the track while Bloodshy & Avant produced. They included a range of stringed instruments—violins and surf guitars—which made you feel like you’d been tossed into the middle of a James Bond action sequence. At this stage in her career, Britney had fine-tuned her version of sensuality. In the music video, she cycled through numerous looks, each change reiterating to the world she was the ultimate bombshell pop star. Yup, it was magical.

Modest Mouse – Float On

Modest Mouse, a critically adored Rock band from Washington, was known for their brooding music. With ‘Float On,’ they tapped into a suspiciously optimistic vibe. The plucky guitars sound like a lullaby, the lyrics so reassuring, you can’t help but nod along while you mentally float to a happy place.

“I was just kind of fed up with how bad shit had been going, and how dark everything was, with bad news coming from everywhere,” lead singer Isaac Brock said in an interview with AV Club. “I just want to feel good for a day.”

With ‘Float On,’ he succeeded in concocting a song that increases my serotonin whenever I listen to it. The single shot Modest Mouse into the mainstream and was nominated for Best Rock Song in 2005 but lost out to U2’s ‘Vertigo.’ Whenever I remember this criminal fact, I get severely pissed off and have to listen to ‘Float On’ all over again. Sorry, Bono.

I’ve got the remaining 15 songs after the break but, if you’re short on time, listen to the article’s complete playlist now. And yes, there are some honorable mentions included making the playlist 25 songs.

Nina Sky – Move Ya Body

I remember thinking Nina Sky, the original Puerto Rican princesses, were actually one person and their marketing team was simply using special effects to make us think there were two of them. Don’t forget: I grew up being fooled by Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap.

As it turns out, the only ‘trap’ with ‘Move Ya Body’ was its infectious dancehall beat. Nina Sky’s vocals were fairly limited but still far stronger than others—sorry, Lumidee—out at the time. Plus, they looked like around-the-way Fanta girls, their music video practically an advertisement for an unnamed citrus soda. With all of those ingredients poured into one pot, is it any wonder ‘Move Ya Body’ was a Top 10 hit in many countries across the globe?

Christina Milian – Dip It Low

Christina Milian had a few lukewarm hits on her hands (never forget ‘Call Me, Beep Me’) but ‘Dip It Low’ was a game changer when released in March of 2004. Produced by Poli Paul, Matt Ward, and Dean Gillard, Milian proved she could make back-breaking sex sound almost sweet due to her bright, syrupy vocals. The sleek, mid-tempo track with distinctive plucking strings in the background were popular in that era but there was something Christina had that the others didn’t: that music video. Kudos to Ms. Milian because ‘Dip it Low’ was easily the horniest thing playing on MTV that year.

Lindsay Lohan – Rumors

While I never paid attention to the corny soundtrack songs Lindsay Lohan released, ‘Rumors’ was not to be missed. With Cory Rooney producing, this Dance-Pop track attacking the paparazzi was exactly what Lindsay needed to start distancing herself from her cutesy, teeny-bopper Disney image.

Funnily enough, the music video premiered on both the Disney Channel and MTV. ‘Rumors’ was also an anomaly in her discography, the inclusion of R&B elements only present to turn heads. I wouldn’t know that at the time of its release. All I kept thinking was ‘LiLo is about to do what Jessica and Mandy never could.’ I was wrong but ‘Rumors’ is still a certified bop.

JoJo – Leave (Get Out)

It is absolutely wild that JoJo was only 14 years old when ‘Leave (Get Out)’ was released. During an interview, JoJo said her debut single was “basically a song for all girls just to declare their independence.” Okay, child! She was undoubtedly listening to The Writings On The Wall—it shows—while growing up with a mother who sang in the church—which tracks—because she absolutely owned this R&B-tinged track, her impressive vocals already on full display.

Ashlee Simpson – Pieces Of Me

Ashlee Simpson got a lot of flack with her debut album. ‘Pieces Of Me’ was even parodied on MADtv, the best sketch comedy show American television ever had. I’m sure it was hurtful for Ashlee to see but MADtv was high praise. Yes, the show made fun of the ‘Pieces of Me’ lyrics…but they are fairly trite. On the bright side, sometimes there is a beauty in the simplicity! And it is that exact simplicity that made Ashlee’s debut a standout song encapsulating the experience of every teenager slightly bored with their fairly unproblematic lives.

Hilary Duff – Come Clean

Is Hilary Duff an amazing actor? Not really. Is she a great vocalist? Not one bit. Is she an amazing pop star? Hell yes. Her team should be applauded because they matched her up with songwriters and producers who had their fingers firmly on the pulse of what youthful Pop listeners were responding to.

Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks, who also co-created ‘Pieces Of Me,’ were behind ‘Come Clean.’ Regardless of its juvenile lyrics, ‘Come Clean’ has the type of catchy chorus every millennial is propelled to sing—drunk or sober—during a night out.

Usher – Burn

Yes, Usher Raymond IV made it onto this list for a second time, and it is 100% warranted. Without question, ‘Burn’ is one of the ultimate breakup ballads. Dare I say it’s arguably one of Usher’s best vocal performances, too?

The ballad, co-produced by his longtime creative partner, Jermaine Dupri, is a heartbreaking portrayal of a man attempting to remove himself from a dead relationship. He gets even more vulnerable by revealing how hooking up with someone new hasn’t resolved any of his emotional turmoil. ‘Burn’ became the 5th most played song of the year, was certified 4x platinum, and left a whole generation of music lovers screaming, “Why couldn’t you and Chili make it work?!”

Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath

Destiny’s Child assembled the Avengers of music to work on ‘Lose My Breath.’ All members of the group have writing credits, with Beyonce and Kelly co-producing. Despite the song coming together in the latter half of their recording process for Destiny Fulfilled, the group’s final studio album, it was perfect for their re-entry into the music scene.

Despite their brief six-year tenure in the mainstream, ‘Lose My Breath’ highlighted Destiny’s Child’s impressive evolution and artistry. Thanks in part to the explosive opening line and immediate introduction of marching band drums, listeners knew Destiny’s Child was not phoning it in for this reunion.

Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like It’s Hot (ft. Pharrell)

I’ve never been a big fan of listening to songs which focus on drugs or gang violence. However, The Neptunes have a way of producing music you can’t help but listen to. Enter ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot.’ First, there’s a grimy, bass-heavy 4-count intro. Then, we hear a tongue-clicking layered underneath vocals emulating an old school steam locomotive. On top of that, there’s a patchy, electrical interference which actually sounds good. The beat is so brilliantly unconventional, I barely noticed Snoop rapping about being a Crip and bodies going missing.

The general public clearly agreed as radio embraced the song. It was nominated for numerous awards but Snoop should be most proud that ‘Drop It Like It Was Hot’ also received the prestigious nomination of Ringtone of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards.

Jay Z – 99 Problems

Even before he became Beyonce’s husband, Jay Z had often been a background player for me. ’99 Problems’ changed that. Produced by Rick Rubin, this song covers a lot of territory. The second verse, depicting an interaction between a Black man and a white police officer, is most powerful.

“I heard, ‘Son, do you know why I’m stopping you for?’ / ‘Cause I’m young and I’m black and my hat’s real low / Do I look like a mind reader, sir? I don’t know.”

Apart from illustrating the encounters many Black people have with law enforcement while driving, the song’s repetitive chorus almost becomes a mantra. The lyrics inject a cockiness in your veins which inspires you to hold your head a little higher. ’99 Problems’ is distinguished by its raw energy and was, by far, one of the year’s most important releases.

Hoobastank – The Reason

Back in the day, Hoobastank’s lead singer could get it. Yes, Doug Robb in the ‘Running Away’ music video really did it for me. This parasocial attraction was all it took for me to be at my local Best Buy the day their sophomore album, The Reason, dropped. The title track, penned solely by Robb, was an obvious standout even before the band released it as a single. Its clean, melodic guitars paired with Robb’s melancholic vocal delivery were a surprising shift from the band’s usual intensity. This heartfelt contemplation helped ‘The Reason’ become the defining song of their career.

Keane – Somewhere Only We Know

By 2004, I was knee-deep in British groups. Think: Embrace, Athlete, Snow Patrol, and The Streets. Each had their own appeal but, if you ever hear me talk about a music act nailing their debut single, Keane is in that group I’m referencing.

On ‘Somewhere Only We Know,’ the band brings a gentle, banging piano to the forefront. But when the first verse kicks in, every instrument is stripped back, giving the listener the impression they’ve stepped on a trap door made of leaves and have fallen down the rabbit hole just like Alice. Near the end of the song, Tom Chaplin lets his delicate voice soar for ten seconds and it is sublime. Keane have released solid music over the years but nothing comes close to ‘Somewhere Only We Know.’

Alicia Keys – If I Ain’t Got You

“Who the hell is that screaming,” my granny once hollered into the living room while Alicia Keys performed on the TV. We’ve all seen the questionable live performances from Ms. Off Keys, but no one can take away her talents as a top tier songwriter and producer. ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ is Alicia at her best. She includes her signature piano, lush horns, and soul infused in every nook and cranny. It’s a love song but not in the traditional sense.

“The song idea came together right after Aaliyah passed away,” Keys says about the track. “It was such a sad time and no one wanted to believe it. It just made everything crystal clear to me—what matters, and what doesn’t.”

‘If I Ain’t Got You’ was a chart hit, has been certified 6X platinum, and won Alicia her 7th GRAMMY.

Gwen Stefani – What You Waiting For?

No Doubt had some big hits and I knew all of their singles but never cared that much until they released their cover of ‘It’s My Life’ in 2003. They chose a cover because the band was on hiatus while Gwen worked on her solo material.

Looking back, ‘It’s My Life’ could be seen as her unofficial launching pad. The sound and visuals were a clear departure from where the band started and positioned Gwen as a siren. When she dropped ‘What You Waiting For?,’ our ears were already primed. The song, co-written by Gwen and Linda Perry, is electropop on drugs and effectively reintroduced Gwen Stefani to the world as a solo star who didn’t need anyone else around her to make shit happen.

Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten

My favorite type of Pop song is one that is unbearably radio-friendly while also sneaking in a meaningful message. Many try, but most fail. ‘Unwritten,’ a song about life’s endless possibilities, is an example of how to do it right. The beat includes familiar elements like guitars and a subtle bass line. Each word is crisp making the lyrics easy to understand and singalong with. And can we give a round of applause for the choir on the back half of the track? Fun fact: the ‘choir’ was actually just Natasha, her sister, and a couple of friends stacking layer after layer of their own vocals to create the anthemic effect.

‘Unwritten’ wasn’t technically released in the States until 2005, and had a massive moment in 2006 when it was chosen as the theme song for MTV’s The Hills, but I knew it hit the UK Singles Chart, okay? I have a bonafide obsession with pop music across the globe. Like I mentioned above with Keane, I’ve long had an affinity for British music—thanks Spice Girls—and was thrilled when Daniel Bedingfield’s baby sister started to blow up in the States.