So, I'm old with a deep seated nostalgic streak, and I still think that many of the top songs in 2000 were the best. It has to do with that time of my own life, I think: I was a senior in high school, a member of the millennium squad, and I spent my days drafting my own private soundtrack to any given situation. I have sweet spots for '80s music, for the grunge era of the early '90s, and for the alternative revolution in the late '90s, but the top songs in 2000 really strike a chord with me. Note that while these are all top songs of the year 2000, they're not necessarily in order on the top 100; they're just my favorites. What do you think of these?
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1. “the Real Slim Shady” by Eminem
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
Eminem's “The Real Slim Shady” will always start my list of the top songs in 2000. Though controversial, I love him without reservation, and loved every song on every earlier album as well. I'm squirming in anticipation for MMLP2 and sort of want to play “Space Bound” and “Love the Way You Lie” at my wedding reception (but Heather does too, so it's okay). Eminem taught me many things: how to be a better writer; how to be a better poet; how to own being myself; how to have fun with music; and how to always, always look deeper into the lyrics.
2. “Say My Name,” by Destiny's Child
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
Back before Queen Bey wore her crown, she was one-third of Destiny's Child, a revelation of a music group for me. They had scores of excellent songs, but this one struck a special note with me because, in 2000, struggling with my sexuality and myself as a person, I was still hung up on a girlhood crush who loved to be close and romantic and sweet – behind closed doors, when no one was around. So you can see why this song was special.
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3. “I Knew I Loved You” by Savage Garden
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
I still love Savage Garden. I listened to their first album incessantly, moved by their innovations as well as their simplicity, brought to tears by their lyrics (“Truly, Madly, Deeply” is another wedding song, as is this one). I love Darren Hayes' solo songs too, and was so touched by his bravery when he finally came out. Still, at 17 and 18, I wanted this kind of love so badly – knowing that I've finally found it, this song still tops all my playlists.
4. “Wonderful,” Everclear
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
Everclear is still one of my favorite bands, and So Much for the Afterglow is one of my favorite albums. “Wonderful” spoke to the lingering, moody teenager in me, however, because I knew what it was like to feel this way. I got this song – and typically played it at top volume in my car when I took off, trying to get away from the momentary misery of the present and the inevitability of the future.
5. “Party up (up in Here)” by DMX
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
I just love this beat. I remember hearing this for the first time at one of the few high school parties I attended, so it calls up images of wild risks and crazy kids luxuriating in freedom from school, parents, homework, and responsibility. Y'all gonna make me lose my mind, indeed.
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6. “Shake Ya Ass,” by Mystikal
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
Yeah, I don't know. I have no excuse for this one. In spite of the cleaned up video I had to share, I'm sure you've all heard it, yes? It's just fun. It's dirty and fun; it has a nice beat and you can dance to it. That's my excuse.
7. “Kryptonite,” by 3 Doors down
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
3 Doors Down, too, is still one of my favorite bands. I saw them in concert my first year in college, and was instantly transported right back to high school. There's something so urgent and driving about both the beat and the lyrics. Combined, they bring you back to that feeling you have in your late teens, when you want to know that someone's there for you always, through thick and thin, even if you mess up or go a little crazy.
8. “Bent,” by Matchbox Twenty
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
Whether you know them as Matchbox 20 or matchbox twenty, they're awesome. I don't know how many people will agree with me and I don't care, because that's the beauty of music – we all have our own tastes for different genres, and we're touched by what we hear for different reasons. When Mad Season came out, I listened to this song on repeat for two weeks straight – and sometimes I still do. Rob's voice just gets to me.
9. “Meet Virginia,” by Train
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
“Meet Virginia” and “Drops of Jupiter” cemented my love for Train, even the pop-happy songs that get ridiculously overplayed. I'm not sure if it was the subtle twang or the sure feeling that I had some of Virginia in me, too, but this song still gets under my skin.
10. “Take a Picture,” by Filter
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
This song played into my alterna-grunge roots, somehow. It's just kind of gritty and plaintive and moving. I'm sad that Filter, while still awesome, didn't get quite the success of many other bands that burst onto the top in 2000, but if you haven't heard any of their other songs, you really should.
11. “All the Small Things,” by Blink-182
On iTunes: itunes.apple.com
This band was my outlet for being a kid. I knew there wasn't much time left to do it, and I wanted to embrace it while I could. Along with the Bloodhound Gang (“You and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals,” am I right?), they too taught me that music could be nonsensical and fun – and so could I.
I think everyone has a particular era, decade, or even year where music touched them more than any other. I'm eager to hear which ones represent your personal instance of musical nirvana. Let me know when you really started feeling the music you listened to, and which bands got to you the most.
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