Top 100 Songs of the 2000's: #40-21

Previous installments: #100-81 #80-61 #60-41

40. Victoria Beckham 'Let Your Head Go'
2003. From Let Your Head Go/This Groove.

Okay, so I'm not going to accuse Vicky B of being the greatest singer on the planet. What she accomplishes on 'Let Your Head Go,' however, is a prime example of one of my guilty pleasures: the less-than-stellar singer who relies on something else to make a hot track. It may not be 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going,' but this song is eternally listenable.




39. Blu Cantrell 'Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)'
2001. From So Blu.

Who didn't jam out to this song at least once back in 2001? Blu's spirited tale of revenge and love gone wrong was one of the big girl power anthems of the decade. After this song, I know that if anyone has the balls to cheat on me, I'm not going to get angry--I'm just going to have a large garage sale.





38. No Doubt 'It's My Life'
2003. From The Singles 1992-2003.

I think this is my favorite No Doubt song, but everytime I think of it, I remember this ridiculous conversation I had with my grandma about the music video. Her idea of a good singer is someone who just stands there and sings so when she saw Gwen Stefani wildly trashing about in the music video, she started complaining about today's entertainers not having any talent and "Back in my day," etc. I defended Gwen, trying to convince my grandma she was just acting (and she was on death row in the video for God's sake!), but she was not having it. Finally, I gave up because if there's one thing you can't do, it's change my grandmother's mind.



37. Missy Elliott 'Get Ur Freak On'
2001. From Miss E...So Addictive.

Missy's standard; if she were to die right now, this is the song everyone would be using to memorialize her.










36. Eminem 'Lose Yourself'
2002. From 8 Mile (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).

No matter what stupid shit Eminem raps about or how lame his gimmick continues to be, I remind myself that for a brief period of time, he was actually relevant and released a couple of classic tracks. 'Lose Yourself' is, undeniably, one of these tracks.








35. Sugababes 'Freak Like Me'
2002. From Angels With Dirty Faces.

For all intents and purposes, this update of the mid-90's Adina Howard hit shouldn't have worked. Instead of merely singing the original over again, the 'Babes tailored the song to fit their sound and ended up with their sexiest song until 'Push the Button.'







34. The Killers 'Mr. Brightside'
2004. From Hot Fuss.

Pure adrenaline rush. Everytime this song comes on, I just can't help myself and start screaming every word. At the same time, however, it's also one of the saddest songs I've ever encountered.








33. Christina Aguilera 'Fighter'
2003. From Stripped.

Xtina's defiant battle cry against all the haters is yet another example of my adoration for the subgenre I call Pop Songs as Personal Expression. I undervalued this one back in the day, but over the years, it's often the one I think back of first when recalling Christina during her dirrty Xtina days.








32. Duffy 'Warwick Avenue'
2008. From Rockferry.

A deceptively simple song with some of the most beautiful lyrics I've ever heard. Duffy will always have my heart thanks to this song.








31. Rihanna 'Disturbia'
2008. From Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded.

What we originally thought was a creepy pop song from our newest pop princess has become a precursor to the scarily dark and hardened Rated R. Still, without a doubt, the best single she has ever released (that is, unless she releases 'Fire Bomb').







30. Fergie featuring will.i.am 'Fergalicious'
2006. From The Duchess.

She's not Bob Dylan, so you can suck it if you object to her on the grounds that she doesn't make "real" music. I love the ingenious of this song and I don't care if you find me completely shallow. Can you think of any other singer around with the audacity and gusto to pull off a line like "I be up at the gym, just workin' on my fitness/He's my witness"?






29. The Corrs 'Breathless'
2000. From In Blue.

I find, in general, that The Corrs are pretty lame as far as musicians go. In 2000, however, they struck gold (with me, anyways) with the eternally catchy and forever endearing 'Breathless.' I remember how I used to annoy one of my friends in seventh grade by singing this song obnoxiously. Ah, good times.







28. Groove Armada featuring Mutya Buena 'Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)'
2007. From Soundboy Rock.

For whatever reason, 'Song 4 Mutya' reminds me of the first day of spring when you can finally take a drive with the windows rolled down. Besides, how awesome it that the song incorporates the singer's name into the narrative? You don't get that much outside of a Fergie song (see: 'Fergalicious' at #30).






27. Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson 'All Falls Down'
2004. From The College Dropout.

It wasn't until a couple of years after 'All Falls Down''s initial run on the charts that I actually took the time to listen to the lyrics and what they were truly about. Well, color me surprised that Kanye, unlike so many other useless rappers around, was pulling off a social critique of excessive consumer spending, people living beyond their means and insecurity. Say what you want about his personality, Kanye is a rapper who actually has something to say; we need more of that around, don't you think?





26. Britney Spears 'Toxic'
2003. From In the Zone.

A Britney song that even non-Britney fans can enjoy without feeling too guilty.










25. Miley Cyrus 'See You Again'
2008. From Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus.

I wanted to resist. Lord knows I tried. But after listening to it 25 times in a row during a trip to the mall sophomore year of college--in a moment of my life straight out a teen movie montage--I fell head over heals in love with Miley and her best friend Leslie. Love or hate everything else Miley does and stands for (Lord knows I'm super critical), 'See You Again' is undeniably an unapologetically pop gem.





24. Madonna 'Don't Tell Me'
2001. From Music.

I swear on my life the video for 'Don't Tell Me' turned me gay.










23. Stacie Orrico '(There's Gotta Be) More To Life'
2003. From Stacie Orrico.

I realize that this is hardly the most sophisticated song ever written, but my 15 year old self connected deeply with Ms. Orrico's ode to searching and hoping for something more in life. If I was on American Idol and tried to manipulate the audience with a sappy story, this is the song that would be playing in the background.







22. Pussycat Dolls 'Buttons'
2006. From PCD.

I credit my re-emergence into mainstream pop music with this song. No matter what I did during the summer of 2006, I could not avoid 'Buttons.' I wanted to hate it at first, but eventually the Dolls wore me down and the song became too damn catchy to hate. When I left for college in September, I started getting hooked again to pure pop music; without 'Buttons' there to prove how great it can be when done right, Lord knows what I'd be listening to now.





21. Outkast 'Ms. Jackson'
2001. From Stankonia.

How on Earth can you not fall in love with a hook like "I'm sorry, Ms. Jackson. Woooo!"? In a decade full of groundbreaking and genre-crossing hip-hop from the duo, 'Ms. Jackson' is a true highlight of their genius.

VMA Video of the Year Rundown: 2003

My new series in which I go through the nominees for the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year in each and every year. Enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments!

Overall: You have to give props to the nominating committee for some of their ballsy choices: a country legend's beautiful swan song, a former boybander stalking his ex-girlfriend and a female rapper (I know, this shouldn't be so shocking, but they hadn't even nominated Missy before). The work from these three is so genius that I'm tempted to forgive them for lazily nominating Eminem yet again and Fiddy for a throwaway of a rap video, cliched even by the genre's standards. I'm really surprised that the most critically acclaimed video of the year- Christina Aguilera's haunting "Beautiful"- not only didn't land a nomination here, but also lost out on nominations across the board to the fun, but less interesting, "Dirrty." Too much controversy, maybe? And since MTV was in such a funky, free-loving mood with their nominees, I'm equally surprised that they didn't go with Coldplay's Memento-like "The Scientist," with it's impressive special effects and headscratching narrative that goes in reverse.

The Best of the Nominees:
Missy Elliott "Work It" # # # # #
Directed by Missy Elliott and Dave Meyers
To those of us who enjoy hip hop music but hate most of the nameless, overworked crap that's being released everyday (and, somehow, burning up the Top 40 charts), the return of Missy Elliott every year or two is often considered on par with the resurrection of Jesus. Not only is her music hot, but her music videos are often on the cutting edge and always offer something that we haven't seen before. Atoning for missing not only "Get Ur Freak On," but also "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" and "One Minute Man," MTV handed their Best Video prize to "Work It," her most interesting and out-there video we've seen from her yet. The video begins with the image of hundreds of flies covering Missy and the turntable next to her, possibly suggesting the decay of the old Missy and the start of something new from her (coincidentally, she had just lost a bunch of weight before this video). This is contrasted with a shot of a deserted, decaying playground (the hip hop landscape without Missy, perhaps?) and Missy entering in the only way she can- on her back, gliding across the ground. Bold statements, but she more than proves that she can back these up with this video and her confident, breezy rapping on "Work It." On first glance, the video doesn't seem to be anything particularly noteworthy, but in the context of hip hop videos of today (like, for example, the sordid other nominees in this category) it's a complete breath of fresh air. Like Eminem and Outkast, Missy shows that all hip hop videos don't have to be as "cool" as Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'" or Juvenile's "Back That Thang Up," with their numerous scantily-clad women, Cristal drinking and so much bling the viewer is nearly blinded- they can be silly, jokey and have a good time without resorting to sex. "Work It" doesn't take itself too seriously and that's why it's so brilliant (and one of the best choices MTV has ever made for their top prize).
(Watch here)

The Rest (in order):
Johnny Cash "Hurt" # # # # #
Directed by Mark Romanek
It was a nearly impossible task to choose between Missy and Johnny Cash, since both videos suited their respective songs in completely different ways. Missy won out, but Cash's "Hurt" is nothing to be poo-pooed on. In these four short minutes, I feel like I understand Cash better than from the two hours I spent Walk the Line. Combining images of Cash today with random stock footage from Cash's past produces a chilling effect that obviously inspired the brilliant finale to La Vie en Rose. We get the sense of this is what he was and this is what he's become: has he made the right choices and should we be applauding this man? The editing of the video is gorgeous, with the images building up next to the loud pounding of the piano and then slowing down when he goes back into the verse. It's done with such taste and a mastery of technique that it never feels like an overload, just an intricate symphony of images. No matter how you look at it, "Hurt" is a touching swan song for the immortal "Man in Black." The nomination for Cash is a complete surprise, a welcome throwback to the early days of the VMA's when MTV went for Herbie Hancock and Godley & Creme over the sillier teenie bopper and hair metal stuff, and proof that MTV still has a couple of surprises in their hat.
(Watch here)

Justin Timberlake "Cry Me a River" # # # # #
Directed by Francis Lawrence
The saying "Revenge is a dish best served cold," opens up both Kill Bill movies, but I think it also applies to Justin Timberlake's solo breakthrough song and video. Obviously aimed at Timberlake's ex at the time, Britney Spears, both the song and the video take potshot after potshot at her, deriding her for her infidelity and claiming that she was never "there" for JT while he was as attentive as could be. No one will ever know what really happened there, but the revenge JT gets in the "Cry Me a River" video is proof enough that something happened that really set him off. The ups and downs JT rides throughout the video is mesmerizing. At first, he seems emotionally detached from the whole situation and wholly intent on making her pay. No emotions show on his face when he throws that stone into the glass doors and enters the house. Later, when he's making out with the random chick on his ex's bed, nothing seems more important than this "fuck you" factor he's going for; he's not even paying attention to the girl, he's staring straight into the camera, right through to his ex. When his ex comes back and JT follows her throughout the house, smelling her hair and reaching out to touch her, he wants to reconnect, remembering how good things used to be, and it's incredibly hard for him to resist this natural impulse. Before he give in though, he leaves with the image of him making out with the random chick on a loop- the final nail in the coffin of their relationship. "Cry Me a River" is so textured and gorgeous that the only reason it's not rated a complete 5 out of 5 is for that awkward middle section between the break-in and the make out; what exactly is the point of the weird, special effects dancing that takes place during this 30 seconds? It screams filler to me and makes me wish that Francis Lawrence had done something a little more imaginative to fill in this time.
(Watch here)

Eminem "Lose Yourself" # # # # #
Directed by Phillip Atwell, Paul Rosenburg and Eminem
There's no doubt in my mind concerning the brilliance of "Lose Yourself" the song: along with Missy's "Work It" and Outkast's "Ms. Jackson," it's the most brilliant rap/hip hop song of the decade. But we're talking videos here and the video for "Lose Yourself" is the antithesis of all of Eminem's earlier videos (no matter how dated they look now). This video is sluggish, trite and nearly unwatchable. Basically, "Lose Yourself" is nearly 80% clips from 8 Mile with a couple of awkward shots with Eminem rapping directly into the camera and a strange shot of Eminem returning home to Hailey (I presume that's her anyways) that fits only one line in the song. I will give the video that the clips of Eminem throwing up into the toilet from 8 Mile are appropriately placed in context with the song and, when Eminem raps about Mekhi Pfeiffer, there's a shot of Mekhi Pfeiffer to get the message across. Other than that, there's absolutely nothing innovative about this video that warranted a Best Video nomination (his fourth of five consecutive nominations) other than the fact that the song is amazingly epic (and amazingly important).
(Watch here)

50 Cent "In Da Club" # # # # #
Directed by Phillip Atwell
The video for 50 Cent's breakthrough song "In Da Club" thinks it's saying something positive about Fiddy's ascension to fame, by training him, so to speak, for his eminent superstardom, but it actually comes across as quite the opposite. The training sequences suggest to me that any talentless hack can be sent to Eminem's "boot camp" and, in just a few lessons and cardio sessions, become a top rapper. As if this sequence isn't misguided enough, the rest of video is consists of Fiddy, quite literally, in da club doing all of the horrible rap video cliches that I praised Missy Elliott for avoiding in "Work It." I understand MTV's inclination to nominate this newcomer who seemingly came out of nowhere with this massive hit (and it's actually not that bad of a song, just nowhere near as impressive or groundbreaking as we thought in 2003), but that doesn't mean Fiddy deserved to be anywhere this shortlist.
(Watch here)

This Fall Isn't Just About Great Movies...

....well, I'm not going to lie, the movies do hold a little more importance for me, but the multitude of new CD's coming out by artists I actually like in the coming months is impressive. It's seriously blowing my mind. I've been compiling this list for the past week or so and I still don't think I've covered everything, so if I'm missing a great artist's upcoming album, let me know and if I like the artist too, I'll add them.

• Pussycat Dolls Doll Domination (9/23) I'm probably in the minority when I say that the Pussycat Dolls' debut album PCD is a near pop masterpiece, but it truly is. It flaunts it's trashiness like Michael Phelps' gold medals and there's nothing I love more than camp embracing it's campiness. The first single from Doll Domination, "When I Grow Up," is almost up to that camp standard (the opening is epic but I still can't get over the crap chorus) so let's hope that the rest of the album is a tad bit more focused.
  
• Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Hudson (9/30) OMGJenniferHudson! If the rest of the album is as brilliant as her first single "Spotlight," then we're probably looking at the album of the year.
  
• Michelle Williams Unexpected (10/7) Michelle who? Let me remind you, in case you were brainwashed have forgotten that there were two other members of Destiny's Child beside Beyonce. Kelly Rowland released an album last year that was half good, half not-so-good so now it's Michelle Williams' turn to try to steal some of Beyonce's spotlight. With "We Break the Dawn," the amazingly epic song that's burning up the radio and everyone's talking about...what, you haven't heard it? Oh, that's right. When people are given a great track that even fits the current popular taste, it's the American way to ignore them for Kid Rock and Lil' Wayne.
  
• Sugababes Catfights & Spotlights (10/20- UK release date) Amazing album title, hot first single and a track with the greatest lyrics I've heard in a long time. Look what you're missing out on, America!
  
• Pink Funhouse (10/28) "So What" is my new official angry anthem and Pink hasn't disappointed me musically since...well, ever! Pink defined my teenage years with her M!ssundaztood album so it's stands to chance that Funhouse could start my 20's off with a bang, right?
  
• David Archuleta TBA (11/11) In my opinion, this little cutie should have won American Idol this season, but apparently my opinion doesn't matter and America hates me (I'm not bitter!). As a tradition, albums from the second place finishers usually suck, but I have faith in my Davie because of his first single, "Crush." The lyrics and music are pure boy band cheese, but Archuleta sells it like a true pro and, before I know it, I'm singing along with every word and listening to it on repeat over and over again.
  
• Missy Elliott Block Party (11/11) Missy always delivers a hot album with a sick singles and visually impressive music videos. These days, she's hip hop's saving grace so we need to treasure every ounce of originality from her.
  
• Beyonce Virtuoso Intellect (?) (11/18) I'm not sure how I feel about the rumored title yet, but it's f-ing Beyonce, man. There's not too much info on this one as of right now, although she just shot the video for her first single "If I Were a Man" a couple of weeks ago. The best news: the video is supposed to be thematically similar to her "Ring the Alarm" video (aka one of the greatest music videos of the decade). Oh, don't tell me you've forgotten? I officially can't wait!
  
• The Killers Day & Age (11/25) Little known fact: J'adore The Killers. "Mr. Brightside" and "When You Were Young" are absolutely two of my favorite songs ever. If Day & Age offers one song as good as either of them, this will be one hot album.
  
• Britney Spears Circus (12/2) Without a doubt, this is my most anticipated album of the year. If Blackout, a true masterpiece if I've ever heard one, was made during her famed meltdown, just imagine the mindblowing album that could come out of her now that she's got her life on track. We'll hear her first single, "Womanizer," on the 22nd, so let's cross our fingers that this will be another winner from Miss Spears.
  
• Girls Aloud TBA (TBA) No details have been released about Girls Aloud's newest album, but I literally can't get the first single, "The Promise," out of my head or off repeat. It's so damn catchy and unlike anything I've heard from them or am hearing currently on the radio. Listen for yourself.
  

I'm going to be so poor by December.

The Soundtrack of My Life

I was told to do this by J.D. Judge over at his blog, and being the nice person I am, I will oblige:

QUESTION: If your life is a movie, what songs are on the soundtrack?

Here's how it works:
1. Open iTunes (or whatever ya got)
2. Put it on shuffle and press play
3. For every question, type the song that's playing
4. Make up a Title and choose your Cast

If Looks Could Kill
CAST:
Adam Brody (Seth on The O.C.) as James
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Pastry Chef in Stranger Than Fiction) as Christi
Ellen Pompeo (Grey on Grey's Anatomy) as Jill
Rachel McAdams (Regina in Mean Girls) as Ashley
Pamela Anderson as Jenny
Ellen DeGeneres as Lauren
Marcia Cross (Bree on Desperate Housewives) as Mom
Hugh Laurie (Dr. House) as Dad
Ryan Gosling (Guy in Notebook) as Adam
Julie Andrews as Grandma Ria
Jamie Lee Curtis as Karin/Ashley's Mom
Reese Witherspoon as Kathryn
Becky (aka Buckwild) as Sammi
Jennifer Hudson as Shannon
New York as Laura
Anne Hathaway as Kelli
Emily Blunt (The Assistant who's not Anne Hathaway in Devil Wears Prada) as Megan
Big Rich (from Flavor of Love) as Mitch
(I had way too much fun planning that out)

Opening Credits: Aaliyah "What If"
This will probably have no bearing on the story, but it definitely sets the mood right---energetic, sassy and full of character.

Waking Up: Blondie "The Tide is High"
Waking up would be somewhat of a pleasure if this song was played every time I had to do it. Would definitely be consistent with the first song in terms of energy.

First Day of School: Monica "For You I Will"
I'm not quite sure how this song fits in. Maybe I see my crush that I will obsessing over the rest of the year for the first time and I swear my eternal devotion. Hmmm....

Falling in Love: Destiny's Child "Jumpin', Jumpin'"
It would work out better if this song and the last one were switched, but whatever. I'm quirky, so I think this song is allowed as my love song.

Fight Song: Aaliyah "Never No More"
Maybe this could be sung at the end of the fight when I stand up defiantly for myself and say "Never no more! I will not be beat up anymore!" Just a thought.

Breaking Up: Hairspray Cast "Big, Blonde and Beautiful"
Well, I am one of these (if any of you say big, I will cut you like Judi Dench) so this song is somewhat appropriate. Maybe I can say to whomever dumps me that I don't need them anyways because I'm "not big, not blonde but I'm beautiful!"

Prom: Green Day "Holiday"
Well, this never would have been played at my prom because it is actually a GOOD song, but whatever, I'm not bitter. Thinking about it, this song is everything that a good prom song isn't- political and intelligent. What an odd prom that would be.

Life: Pink "Numb"
This is quite metaphorical for my little old movie. Maybe after my break up I have locked my heart away and have become numb to everything involving my emotions.

Mental Breakdown: Martina McBride "Whatever You Say"
At first glance, this doesn't seem like a good mental breakdown song, but after thinking about the lyrics, it's actually not a bad choice. The song's about a woman who basically screaming out for help to her husband, but he's not listening (and possibly having an affair). I could possibly go berserk on someone as the chorus swells into the background.

Driving: Missy Elliott featuring Ginuwine and Tweet "Take Away"
What a terrible driving song. I mean, the song is fabulous (a great tribute to the late Aaliyah) but it's not the kind of song you can cruise to.

Flashback: Heart "If Looks Could Kill"
Yes, a flashback to the 80's! This could also be the pivotal moment where the audience learns why the movie is called If Looks Could Kill

Wedding: Kelis "Keep It Down"
I can just imagine all the elders being shocked and disgusted when this comes out of the speakers as the song I dance to at my wedding. Inappropriate on so many levels, but yet, still very me.

Birth of a Child: Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland "Sexyback"
Haha, this makes me laugh out loud. This does not fit at all! Not unless the baby was the sexiest baby ever and the doctor was like "This child is definitely bringing sexy back!" or something (well, if the baby is coming from me, this situation has a great chance of panning out)

Final Battle: Whitney Houston "Didn't We Almost Have It All"
Well, this probably won't be a physical battle, but rather an emotional one. Perhaps I will be breaking up with a lover and neither of us want to leave, but we know we have to because we're not "the one" for each other.

Death Scene: Missy Elliott "Dog in Heat"
Maybe I can be having sex when I die? Yes please! What a way to go (let's just hope it was good!)

Funeral Song: Beyonce "Irreplaceable"
The title sounds good, but I'm not sure if the lyrics quite fit. It would be awesome if Beyonce sang it live- too bad I'm dead and can't witness it.

End Credits: Madonna "Into the Groove"
A fine way to end the film of my life- still sassy and energetic.

Rap Song Mondays- Missy Elliott "Work It"

For my inaugural edition of Rap Song Monday, I decided to choose what I rightly consider my favorite rap/hip-hop song (as of this very second anyways- there are two others that are right at top with this song): Missy Elliott’s electric club-banger “Work It” which continues to impress me five years after I first heard it.

Missy Elliott is probably my favorite rapper, male or female. She really makes an effort to be original in everything that she does from her beats and lyrics to her fashion and stunning music videos. I mean, who else could deliver a line like “I’m a bad mamma jamma goddammit motherfucker, you ain’t gotta like me” and have it seem like something revelatory (I personally live by that phrase)? And she doesn’t try to be political like Kanye, deeply personal like Eminem or overly sexual like Lil’ Kim (and most female rappers for that matter). Missy sticks to her hot club bangers that are totally different and great to move to.

Out of all of Missy’s impressive tracks, “Work It,” for me, stands above all. Maybe it’s the memories of all the discussions my friend Kayla and I had when the song came out and how we marveled at its ingeniousness and hilarity (The whole getting your “hair did” was a favorite of ours). Or maybe it’s the 11th grade English paper I wrote about its use of poetry techniques (“I’ll make you hot as Las Vegas weather” is a simile) and the B+ I got on it (Reading the paper again, I don’t know how I wasn’t sent to the principal because the thing is pretty distasteful and somewhat vulgar).

Perhaps the ultimate reason why I love “Work It” is Missy’s inventive rhymes and lines. Whether she’s rapping about Kunta Kinte (“Kunta Kinte, enslave a game, no suh/Picture black saying oh yessa massa”), getting a date drunk (“Let’s get drunk, it’s gonna bring us closer/Don’t I look like a Halle Berry poster?”) or shaving “down there” (“Call before you come, I need to shave my cho-cha”), Missy is clearly having fun and not taking herself too seriously. Like Groucho Marx’s character in Duck Soup, every line works and offers something hilarious, insightful or, at the very least, is integral to the song.

It also doesn’t hurt that Timbaland is producing the track and he turns out one of his hottest beats EVER. Holy shit, plus there’s that music video? It is one of the few music videos I have seen that have actually enhanced the song and made it even greater (Who would think that was possible?).