We continue my count down of my favorite/top songs from the 2000s. Working on this portion of the list I really felt like it was getting harder to rank songs. There are so many I love and like for different reasons and songs that just need to be on the list. This was the first time I had to do some major revisions and adding of songs I completely forgot about. For this part I also added a tag to some of the songs if they appear on my most played songs playlist on iTunes. If its on the top 25 of that list the play count is ridiculously high. I felt that was important to know where I was coming from, and that even though I might have played something a lot didn’t mean it was necessarily my favorite or the best song in my library.
150. Holla Back Girl - Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby (2004)
This track is bananas…. Occasionally you can see me acting out a Chris Rock bit where I’m stopped at a red light playing this song and lipsyncing and not realizing the light has changed. I would apology, but I think you understand, it happens to all of us.
149. Light And Day - Polyphonic Spree - Beginning Stage Of (2002)
It took me a while to come around to liking anything of the Polyphonic Spree, but this song can’t be denied.
148. Wraith Pinned To the Mist and Other Games - Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins (2005)
Around 2006 I had an obsession with this song. I loved it to death. Then I saw it on a Outback Steak House commerical. Where they not only played the song (which wouldn’t be half bad), but butchered it by placing Outback corporate lingo in the song. I rag on Black Eyed Peas for shit like this, and this song would be a top 50 for me. Instead of leaving Of Montreal off the list I decided to make an example out of them. Youtube it if you want to know what I’m talking about. (I’m over my own word limit on this one)
147. New Slang - The Shins - Oh, Inverted World (2001)
I’m as big a Natalie Portman fan as the next guy, but this song did not change my life. It’s still a good.
146. The Authority Song - Jimmy Eat World - Bleed America (Jimmy Eat World) (2001)
This song has one of my favorite misheard lyrics I thought it said “R.O.C. Monkey is to iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii” For those keeping track at home, I’m wrong.
145. Sad Sad City - Ghostland Observatory - Paparazzi Lightning (2006)
Saw these guys last year at Coachella… If they are playing in concert near you… GO.SEE.THEM. Great song, and killer live.
144. One More Time - Daft Punk - Discovery (2001)
This one speaks for itself. Play it twice if you have to…
143. Let the Beat Build - Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III (2008)
Weezy always sounds like he is freestyling. Here he lets the beat and his rhymes build up to one of my favorite moments on Tha Carter III
142. Excuse Me Miss Again (La La La) - Jay Z - Blueprint 2.1 (2003)
This song is burried in a bonus track on the Blueprint 2.1… It is worth the search.
141. On the Radio - Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope (2006)
A beautiful song, and cute companion video.
140. Gasoline Dreams - Outkast - Stankonia (2000)
It seems like the Outkast in the first stanza are asking us a series of tough questions about the state of the US. At the end of the decade the answer to a lot of them is ‘yes.’ Looking back at the last few years the words “well burn mutha@#$%er burn American Dreams” has a completely different context, and its not a good one.
139. See Fernando - Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue (2008)
I would love to see this song at the beginning of a movie. This song/video make me want to change my name to Fernando. (I guess Santiago will have to do for now.)
138. Don’t You Evah - Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)
*** #8th Most Listen to song on my iTunes Library ***
Play this song and try not to bob your head. It can’t be done.
137. Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie - Plans (2005)
My intro to Death Cab.
136. Grown Man Business (Fresh Vintage Bottles) - Mos Def - The New Danger (2004)
“Imma show you where the pain in the poetry is…” My favorite track from New Danger.
135. Time to Pretend - MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2007)
Great song, but ironically horrible video.
134. Lisztomania - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)
If this song doesn’t make you want to dance, you might be dead.
133. Young Adult Friction - Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Pains of Being Pure At Heart (2009)
“Between the dust and the microfiche” and other library fun.
132. Black - Okkervil River - Black Sleep Boy (2007)
Okkervil River makes even the darkest subject matter sound lighter.
131. Jigsaw Falling Into Place - Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
*** #1 most play song in my iTunes Library***
Probably the most straight forward on rock song on In Rainbows. Maybe it was that or how easily I related to the lyrics that made me put this song on repeat for 2 years. I could easily repeat this song 250 more times. It may not the best song In Rainbows, but I love it.
130. French Navy - Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career (2009)
One of my favorite tragic love songs of the 00s. “You with your dietary restriction said you loved me with a lot of conviction.”
129. This Tornado Loves You - Neko Case - Middle Cyclone (2009)
An absolutely wonderful and terrifying love song. One more reason to be scared of tornadoes. Thanks Neko!
128. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) - The Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
“Cause nothings hid… from us kids! You foolin’ nobody with the lights out” Somewhere in North East Charlotte you can still hear this song ringing.
127. Optimistic - Radiohead - Kid A (2000)
“This one’s optimistic
This one went to market
This one just came out of the swamp
This one drops a payload…
Fodder for all the animals
Living on Animal Farm”
I like to think I’m the optimistic one. This song haunts me.
126. I Believe In A Thing Called Love - The Darkness - Permission for Landing (2004)
I remember when this song came out, my friend Shane exclaimed “DUDE! GLAM IS BACK!”
Maybe glam wasn’t really back, but after this it seemed like every style from the past was now on the table. I went to school with a bunch of kids who wanted to be gangsters or punks ( I say “wanted” because I went to Phoenix Christian… if you went there you weren’t either of those things) Anything outside of that gangster punk box was not acceptable then, but this was now.
If that isn’t enough just listen, because this song fuckin rocks. One more reminder that I need to work on my high pitched shakey vocals.
125. Gossip Folks - Missy Elliot - Under Construction (2002)
Missy is hands down one of my favorite rappers of the decade. A lot of rap is about boasting, and here Missy puts all the cryst poppin dubb riding rappers to shame. If you want to learn how to properly talk yourself up over some ill beats listen this song and take notes.
124. Ante Up - M.O.P. - Warriorz (2000)
For anyone who still hasn’t updated their libraries this is the song is my official walk on music. Turn this up and try not to feel badass. It can’t be done.
123. Atlas - Battles - Mirrored (2007)
“People won’t be people when they hear this sound” That’s all the lyrics I can make out of this song. All I know is… I’m people… and I don’t feel like it when this song comes on. If I ever hear this at a club or party I will lose it. My favorite moment is just after the 2:50 mark, electro tribal maddness. Watch the video its dazzling. Side Note: This song/video made me want to go out and purchase a red sweater and yellow drum kit.
122. Chocolate - Snow Patrol - Final Straw (2003)
For the longest time I didn’t know the name of this song, but I knew I loved it. This song and its classic guitar riff got some help from another Zach Braff movie the Last Kiss. That movie was fucked up, huh?
121. A-Punk - Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (2008)
This song is short, sweet, and makes me want to dance in my seat. “His Honor drove southward seeking exotica, down to the pueblo huts of New Mexico, cut his teeth on turquoise harmonicas… ohhhh ohhh ohhh!”
120. You! Me! Dancing! - Los Camesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster (2008)
I really love this song and this video. The first minute and half of build up makes you want to get up, rip out your seats, and dance! For an upbeat dance tune the is video dark, but is able to maintain some lightheartedness.
“and i always get confused because in supermarkets they turn the lights off when they want you to leave, but in discos they turn them on, and it’s always sad to go, but it’s never that sad, because there’s only certain places you’re guaranteed of getting a hug when you leave. And on the way home, it seems like a good idea to go paddle in the fountain, and that’s because it IS a good idea and it’s like we’re all like how rousseau depicts man in the state of nature, and the state of nature we’re undeveloped, we’re ignorant, we’re stupid, but we’re happy.”
119. All For You - Janet Jackson -All For You (2006)
More pop perfection from Ms Jackson. I keep this one in my back pocket for party purposes, the occasional house party, car dance party, cubical party, and now bar-mitzvahs.
118. Okkervil River - Okkervil River Song - Don’t Fall In Love With Everyone You See (2004)
An absolutely gorgeous song about love, independence, and freedom from ourselves.
117. Rollout (My Business) - Ludacris - Word of Mouf (2001)
Ludacris with break neck speed and a Jetson’s sample make the summer jam of 2001. Around this same time everyone starts saying “bin-ess” (the ‘s’ is optional). The two are completely unrelated.
116. The Crane Wife 3 - The Decemberist - The Crane Wife (2006)
A song of this caliber deserves to be played again and again. In ten years this song could be even more beloved than any of today’s heavily play pop songs.
115. Going On - Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple (2008)
From the follow up album to St. Elsewhere Going on is an amazingly under appreciated song (mainly by over achievers). The video for this was actually a SXSW promo. Its a fantastic video. Both are highly recommend.
114. I Might Be Wrong - Radiohead - Amnesiac (2001)
While in Europe I listened to Amnesiac front to back over and over again. Thats when I began to wonder if I had it all wrong. Turns out I was right about being wrong.
113. I Will Possess You Heart - Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs (2008)
After the campaign this became my travel song as I went up the East Coast. I wish I could go to all the places the girl goes to in this video. Great song to lose yourself in, and possibly find yourself.
112. Clocks - Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
If you asked me back in 2002 if Clocks would be a top 10 song I would have said yes. How wrong I was. Sadly for Coldplay they have made some great music, but mantle of the biggest band in the world isn’t always the best. I don’t know why Clocks isn’t as good as it was back in 2002. Maybe the brand of Coldplay and Clocks got diminished after they made Clocks II and Clocks III. They are quite talented, but there is something I can’t quite put my finger on…
111. Live On Stage - Dialated Peoples - Expansion Team (2001)
This song will get you jacked up. Side Note: If I was a Relief Pitcher in the Major Leagues I would walk out and warm up to this song.
This song is very rich with it’s emo/dramatic tone. I half expected to find some over produced dramatic video. I found the video for this song refreshing, and some what inspirational (in the fact that it made easy to do Karaoke from home… and in some ways inspired ‘public option karaoke’) Depending on the day I agree with the lyrical content of this song.
109. Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke) [Jay Z Remix] - Panjabi MC- Beware (2003)
More than a Jay -Z song this song is all about Panjabi MC’s beat. It is infections. In a time when the “Heartland of America” was chest pounding and embracing its culture warriors, young people were embracing sounds from all around the world. The sounds put into the music of this dacade were our generation’s first major rebuke of backwards outdated thinking.
108. Lap Dance - N.E.R.D. - In Search Of (2001)
The political nature of this song kind of blind sides you. Especially since the first time I heard this song was in a bar and it’s adult music video was playing.
107. Cause = Time - Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People (2002)
This song is a jam and I love to put it on repeat and get lost in its groove. I’ve met a lot of people who just want to fuck the cause. I can do without.
106. Title And Registration - Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)
I love this song. Best played when looking back on old photos and reminiscing. Side Note: I keep a pair of gloves in my glove compartment just to invalidate Ben Gibbard. He has Zooey, but I have gloves in my glove compartment. Santiago 0 Gibbard 1. Damn.
105. Hate To Say I Told You So - The Hives - Veni, Vidi, Vicious (2000)
This was my pissed off Theme Song in high school. This song seemed so different than what I was hearing on the radio, and at the time felt like the 1st song out of a new decade and not the 90’s. It’s some kick ass rock and roll. This band just looks completely different and weird. Too bad they didn’t keep producing great rock hits… partly because I think their lead is an egotistical maniac… but he sounds great here.
104. Thief’s Theme - NaS - Street’s Disciple (2004)
This was the first time Nas’ sample Iron Butterfly’s ‘In a Gadda Da Vida.” What makes this song so great is here Nas takes one of my favorite lines from his first album Illmatic “play me at night they won’t act right… understandable smooth shit, that murders move with it” and turns it into a whole song. Hell, if its good enough for Scorsese it’s good enough for me.
103. Hate It of Love It - The Game - The Documentary (2005)
Both 50 and the Game would be still be on top of the rap world if they made more introspective hits like this. This is generally the case with rap. Everyone is looking to be the top club track, but there are few tracks that are solid weekday hits.
102. Stay Fly - Three 6 Mafia - Most Known Unknown (2005)
Three 6 Mafia and UGK are untouchable on this track. Few rappers can keep up with a beat of this caliber. They make it look easy weaving Denzel Washington, Reggie Miller, and Purple Drink (same thing that killed Pimp C) all in the same song.
101. Ignition (Remix ) - R. Kelly - Chocolate Factory (2003)
This was the first time I ever heard the remix before the actual song. And I’d point it out to people and they would just ignore me saying I was “ruining their jam.” I graduated high school that year, and this song was everywhere. I love how R. Kelly says “yea let’s break’em off with a little previews of the remix” like its no thing. After this song came out hotel lobbies where flooded with posers trying to be cool. It’s hard to be cool when your hotel lobby is a Super 8 lobby…
To be continued…
Up Next [100-80]
All following posts will be in increments of 20 complete with pictures, videos, and full commentary.
