100 Songs From the Early 2000s to Sing at Karaoke

Songs can help us remember an era. They encapsulate a mood, a set of feelings, or an attitude in a way that many other cultural artifacts just can't quite accomplish. Revisiting music is a wonderful way to peruse your collection of memories because it can "bring you back" to your moods and feelings. Or, you can understand an era better if you weren't around for it by listening to the lyrics and absorbing little bits of the world that surrounded the song's creation.

The early 2000s were a very singular time, especially in the United States. The decade began with the September 11 attacks, the first outbreak of SARS, the burst of the dot com bubble, and the invention of Facebook.

During that tumultuous time, the Harry Potter series also began to come to a close with the release of the fourth book, reality TV turned over a new leaf with the launch of Big Brother, and the virtual reality game Second Life was launched.

While things got serious on the international front and our consumption of entertainment turned toward the dark side and the light side at the same time, the music industry managed to create strange, yet iconic tunes with the explosion of rap, emo, new age punk, and memorable pop music.

These are 100 of the best of the best songs, listed in alphabetical order by song title. So bust out your platform shoes and lace-up ultra low waist jeans and get ready for a trip down memory lane.

Album: Music from the Motion Picture Josie and the Pussycats

Label: Epic

Release Date: March 27, 2001

Josie and the Pussycats is a fictional band created in the 2001 movie by the same name. The soundtrack to that movie, which included the hit "3 Small Words," was a certified gold album even though the movie itself was considered a commercial failure. The movie-band consisted of Rachel Leigh Cook, Tara Reid, and Rosario Dawson, all of whom have had notable careers outside of the flunked movie.

Key Lyrics:

I'm a punk rock prom queen
Brown paper magazine
Hotter than you've ever seen
And everywhere and in between

I'm a ten-ticket thrill ride
Don't you wanna come inside?
A five-star triple threat
Hardest of the hard to get
No one’s little reprobate
Ain't seen nothin' like me yet

Album: Stomping Ground

Label: Mojo

Release Date: March 28, 2000

"99 Red Balloons" by Goldfinger is a cover song produced and loved in the 2000s, originally written and performed by German band Nena under the name "99 Luftballoons" in 1983. However, the Goldfinger version was done in all English and in the signature 2000s punk style that featured nasally vocals and hyper-energetic beats and guitar riffs. While this song sounds upbeat and fun, it is actually an anti-war song that points out the loss of purpose in war.

Key Lyrics:

You and I in a little toy shop

Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got

Set them free at the break of dawn

'Til one by one, they were gone

Back at base, bugs in the software

Flash the message, something's out there

Floating in the summer sky

Ninety-nine red balloons go by

Album: The Swiss Army Romance

Label: Fiddler

Release Date: March 1, 2000

Dashboard Confessional debuted The Swiss Army Romance with only 1,000 copies under Fiddler records, but its quick popularity inspired the band to sell the album to Drive Thru records, which was able to produce more copies and help Dashboard make their way to the tops of the charts. The band was originally comprised of only one member (Chris Carraba), but eventually he brought on additional band members. The debut album also features other emo hits like "Screaming Infidelities" and "A Sharp Hint of New Tears."

Key Lyrics:

It's colder than it oughta be in March

And I've still got a day or two ahead of me

Till I'll be heading home into your arms again

And the people here are asking after you

It doesn't make it easier

It doesn't make it easier to be away

Album: All for You

Label: Virgin

Release Date: April 24, 2001

After Janet Jackson separated from her husband René Elizondo, Jr., she recorded her seventh studio album, All for You, which contained this popular track by the same name. The album was written as an exploration of what dating was like again after being married, and the flirtatious and openly sexual songs bolstered her reputation as a cutting edge and fearless artist. Jackson has sold over 100 million records and is still a highly sought-after artist.

Key Lyrics:

I see you staring out the corner of my eye
You seem uneasy want to approach me
Throw me a line
But then something inside you grabs you says, who am I?
I know exactly cause it happens with all the guys

So you do what you gonna do
Come on and talk to me
Promise you won't even have an attitude
I'll let you sit right next to me
Don't join the list with these other fools

Album: No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls

Label: Atlantic

Release Date: June 3, 2003

Simple Plan is a Canadian emo punk band from Montreal, and was a staple on the Vans Warped Tour from 1999 to 2005. "Addicted" hit number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, then reached the ten spot on the Australian charts, among other hits from the album like "I'd Do Anything" and "Perfect." Their popularity earned them a spot at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Vancouver and the 2016 NHL Winter Classic performance of "O Canada."

Key Lyrics:

I heard you're doing okay
But I want you to know
I'm addic-- I'm addicted to you
I can't pretend I don't care
When you don't think about me
Do you think I deserve this?
I tried to make you happy
But you left anyway

I'm trying to forget that
I'm addicted to you
But I want it and I need it
I'm addicted to you

1. Adrienne - The Calling (2001)
   
2. Air Force Ones - Nelly (2002)
   
3. Angel - Dave Matthews Band (2001)
   
4. Area Codes - Ludacris (2001)
   
5. Back here - BBMak (2000)
   
6. Broken - 12 Stones (2002)
   
7. Bump, Bump, Bump - B2K ft. P. Diddy (2002)
   
8. Bye Bye Bye - 'NSync (2000)
   
9. Complicated - Avril Lavigne (2002)
   
10. Cleanin' Out My Closet - Eminem (2003)
    
11. Crazy In Love - Beyonce (2003)
    
12. Dirty Little Secret - The All-American Rejects (2003)
    
13. Dressed to Kill - New Found Glory (2000)
    
14. Drop It Like It's Hot - Snoop Dogg (2004)
    
15. Every Day - Dave Matthews Band (2001)
    
16. Fallin' - Alicia Keyes (2001)
    
17. Family Affair - Mary J. Blige (2001)
    
18. Fat Lip - Sum 41 (2001)
    
19. Fight Music - D12 (2001)
    
20. Fighter - Christina Aguilera
    
21. Forgot About Dre - Dr. Dre ft. Eminem (2001)
    
22. Gimme the Light - Sean Paul (2002)
    
23. Get Ur Freak On - Missy Elliot (2001)
    
24. Get the Party Started - P!nk (2001)
    
25. Grindin' - Clipse (2002)
    
26. Hanging by a Moment - Lifehouse (2000)
    
27. Helena - My Chemical Romance (2004)
    
28. Hey Ya! - Outkast (2003)
    
29. Holidae Inn - Chingy (2003)
    
30. I Feel So - Box Car Racer (2002)
    
31. I Hope You Dance - LeeAnn Womack (2000)
    
32. I Love This Bar - Toby Keith (2003)
    
33. I Wanna be With You - Mandy Moore (2000)
    
34. In Da Club - 50 Cent (2003)
    
35. I'd Do Anything - Simple Plan (2002)
    
36. I'm Like a Bird -Nelly Furtado (2000)
    
37. I'm With You - Avril Lavigne (2002)
    
38. In My Eyes - Rufio (2001)
    
39. In the End - Linkin Park (2000)
    
40. In Those Jeans - Ginuwine (2003)
    
41. It's Been Awhile - Staind (2003)
    
42. It's Five O'Clock Somewhere - Alan Jackson (2003)
    
43. Izzo - Jay-Z (2001)
    
44. Just A Friend - Mario (2002)
    
45. Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, Pink (2001)
    
46. Let Me Blow Ya Mind - Eve (2001)
    
47. Let's Get Married - Jagged Edge (2000)
    
48. Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous - Good Charlotte (2002)
    
49. Lose Yourself - Eminem (2002)
    
50. Make It Clap - Busta Rhymes (2001)
    
51. My Dad's Gone Crazy - Eminem (2003)
    
52. My Friend's Over You - New Found Glory (2002)
    
53. My Immortal - Evanescence (2000)
    
54. My Neck, My Back - Khia (2002)
    
55. My projects - Coo Coo Cal (2001)
    
56. No More Drama - Mary J. Blige (2001)
    
57. Ocean Avenue - Yellow Card (2003)
    
58. One Minute Man - Missy Elliott (2001)
    
59. Outside - Staind (2003)
    
60. P.I.M.P. - 50 Cent (2003)
    
61. Pass the Courvoisier - Busta Rhymes (2001)
    
62. Peaches N' Cream - 112 (2001)
    
63. Purple Pills - D12 (2001)
    
64. Raise Up - Petey Pablo (2001)
    
65. Redneck Woman - Gretchen Wilson (2004)
    
66. Rock Wit U - Ashanti (2003)
    
67. Roll Out - Ludacris (2001)
    
68. Sadie Hawkins Dance - Reliant K (2001)
    
69. Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne (2002)
    
70. Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm (2001)
    
71. Superman (It's not easy) - Five for Fighting (2000)
    
72. Sincerely Me - New Found Glory (2000)
    
73. St. Anger - Metallica (2003)
    
74. Stacy's Mom - Fountains of Wayne (2003)
    
75. Sugar, We're Goin' Down - Fall Out Boy (2005)
    
76. Sweetness - Jimmy Eat World (2001)
    
77. Swing, Swing - The All-American Rejects (2002)
    
78. The Middle - Jimmy Eat World (2001)
    
79. The Real Slim Shady - Eminem (2001)
    
80. The Rock Show - blink-182 (2001)
    
81. The Way I Am - Eminem (2001)
    
82. This One's For the Girls - Martina McBride (2003)
    
83. Toxic - Britney Spears (2003)
    
84. Ugly - Bubba Sparxxx (2001)
    
85. Waking up - Sum 41 (2001)
    
86. What Was I Thinkin' - Dierks Bentley (2003)
    
87. What's Luv - Fat Joe (2001)
    
88. Whenever, Wherever - Shakira (2001)
    
89. Where Are You Going - Dave Matthews Band (2002)
    
90. Where Is the Love? - Black Eyed Peas (2003)
    
91. Where the Party At - Jagged Edge ft. Nelly (2001)
    
92. Who Let the Dogs Out - Baha Men (2000)
    
93. U Don't Have to Call - Usher (2001)
    
94. U Remind Me - Usher (2001)
    
95. Unititled - D'Angelo (2000)
    

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