Best Songs of the 2000's - The Rest

There were some songs that I love that really don't have a category or fall into one that I don't have enough knowledge of to do a list. So here is the best of the rest (in no particular order):

New York, New York - Ryan Adams

Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's

Wonderous Life - The Drams

Accidental Babies - Damien Rice

100 Years - Five For Fighting

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol

Miami - Counting Crows

Portions For Foxes - Rilo Kiley

Perfect Situation - Weezer

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead - Stars

Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Boston - Augustana

Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

Hurt - Johnny Cash

Rain - Patty Griffin

4th of July - Shooter Jennings

Long Time Gone - Dixie Chicks

Van Lear Rose - Loretta Lynn

The Good Kind - The Wreckers

Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show

I Go Back - Kenny Chesney

I Hope You Dance - Leann Womack

Forever Young - Youth Group

Absolutely (The Story of a Girl) - Nine Days

Breathe - Anna Nalick


Note: I could not find tracks for "Van Lear Rose" or "Wonderous Life"

Best Songs of the 2000's - Hip Hop/R&B

What a decade for Hip Hop and R&B! When I was putting this list together I had the worst time trying to do just twenty-five. Of all my lists this one could have gone on for one hundred easily. Then when I did get things down to twenty-five I had a tough time ranking them. But here goes:

#25. I Love College - Asher Roth

Who didn't love college?

#24. Side 2 Side - Three 6 Mafia

A great song for all the guys who don't dance.

#23. My Block - Scarface

Life in the 'hood and why I can't leave.

#22. Ridin' - Chamillionaire

Can you see me ridin' dirty? I can. Whatever that is...

#21. Switch - Will Smith

A great little dance tune and a return to form for Will Smith.

#20. The Next Episode - Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg

We were chillin' for this song for a long time.

#19. Where Is The Love? - Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake

You gotta love hearing the C.I.A., The Bloods, The Crips and KKK all name dropped as terrorists.

#18. It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp - Terrance Howard

It truly is hard out here for a pimp. Story of my life.

#17. Try Again - Aaliya

Timbaland produced this excellent track for Aaliya and it only makes me wonder what that collaboration would have produced in the future.

#16. Single Ladies - Beyonce

I dare you not to sing along. Or dance...

#15. Gold Digger - Kanye West

Kanye West is an egotistical douchebag! But damn, he writes catchy songs.

#14. Lap Dance - N.E.R.D.

A song about one of my favorite things. You figure it out.

#13. I Try - Macy Gray

One of the most recognizable voices of the decade.

#12. If I Ain't Got You - Alicia Keys

Desperation and pleading all tied up in a perfect bow.

#11. Jesus Walks - Kanye West

Kanye West is an egotistical, entitled douchebag! But damn, he writes good songs.

#10. In Da Club - 50 Cent

Did anyone know 50 was shot nine times?

#9. Drop It Like It's Hot - Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams together. I need a moment...

#8. Ms. Jackson - Outkast

Forever? Forever ever?

#7. Yeah! - Usher

This one will be a dance floor favorite twenty years from now.

#6. Ride Wit Me - Nelly

This may be the perfect summer song.

#5. Stan - Eminem

Eminem knows how to bring the creepy. Just look at that performance with Elton John at the Grammys.

#4. 99 Problems - Jay-Z

At least Beyonce didn't make his list.

#3. Ignition (Remix) - R. Kelly

What do you do when you're wrapped up in a sex scandal? Produce a song about sex of course.

#2. Lose Yourself - Eminem

Eminem ruled this decade but this is his masterpiece.

#1. Hey Ya - Outkast

One of the happiest songs about a break-up ever. I wish they could all feel this much fun.

The Best Songs of the 2000's - Rock

Rock is kin of a catch all category but all of the these songs belong here. Once again there were plenty more songs that could have been on this list but these are the songs that were most memorable for me.

25. Stand Up - The Arcade Fire (2005)

Any song that is driving and earnest then double times into a Motown beat is alright with me.

24. Visions Of Paradise - Mick Jagger (2002)

Jagger went solo and brought along some friends. Rob Thomas wrote this song and should probably just stick to that.

23. Send The Pain Below - Chevelle (2003)

A big rock anthem for the boys and girls to scream along to.

22. Jaded - Aerosmith (2001)

The best Aerosmith song since the early 90's.

21. Hanging By A Moment - Lifehouse (2001)

Very sincere and angst-y all at the same time.

20. Cochise - Audioslave (2002)

Big and bombastic, exactly what Chris Cornell shines at doing.

19. Pictures Of You - The Last Goodnight (2007)

Can you count every movie trailer this one was in?

18. California - Phantom Planet (2002)

This song came out long before The O.C. premiered but the two will always be linked.

17. Stay Together For The Kids - Blink 182 (2001)

Bleak and heartbreaking, the complete opposite of 98% of Blink 182's catalog.

16. Dare You To Move - Switchfoot (2004)

This song builds slowly to a rousingly huge crescendo. I dare you to drive the seed limit while this song plays.

15. No One Knows - Queens of the Stone Age (2002)

...that's all I've got

14. How Far We've Come - matchboxtwenty (2007)

I love a good end of the world song.

13. Sweetness - Jimmy Eat World (2002)

A great sing along.

12. Common People - William Shatner (2005)

The Shat covers Pulp and brings it hard.

11. Beautiful Day - U2 (2000)

U2's return to their roots and a fan favorite for decades to come.

10. Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day (2005)

Both stark and powerful at the same time.

9. Drops Of Jupiter - Train (2001)

What a great way to start out a decade. In the pre-911 world this song set the tone for a bright future.

8. Use Somebody - Kings of Leon (2009)

Their masterpiece. Hopefully they haven't peaked yet.

7. Vertigo - U2 (2004)

When U2 brings the rock they don't mess around.

6. Sugar, We're Going Down - Fall Out Boy (2005)

Whatever the hell emo is I wish it was all this upbeat.

5. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) - My Chemical Romance (2004)

All the mistakes you've ever made are rolled up in the lyrics to this song. Sounds lt was a fun time.

4. Mr. Brightside - The Killers (2004)

When you write one good verse why not just sing it twice? And put Eric Roberts in your video to add some sleaze.

3. Walk On - U2 (2001)

The song that helped heal the post-911 world.

2. Move Along - All-American Rejects (2006)

Both a rock anthem and a self help motivational poster. Does it get any better?

1. The Rising - Bruce Springsteen (2002)

After the attacks on New York City Springsteen went back to the studio and recorded a masterpiece. Although it doesn't specifically mention the attacks or the aftermath it definitely channels the feelings in the air.

Here is a playlist of the songs in the list. Note that "Visions of Paradise" by Mick Jagger is missing. I could not find a track for it.