Songs That Defined the Decade

Like them or hate them, the ‘00s held an eclectic mix of music that either defined who you were, spoke to you on an emotional level or ripped the core of your being right out of you and shoved it in your face. There were real singers, the burgeoning of careers and the passing of icons and potential history makers who never reached their full potential. Together, these artists reflect the first decade of the new millennium.

“99 Problems” – Jay-Z

No list would be complete without Jay-Z – after all, this is the man who brought musical theater to rap. From arguably his greatest record, “The Black Album,” “99 Problems” uses the ingenuity of Rick Rubin’s (longtime co-owner of Def Jam records) rocking guitar licks to explain that he has “99 problems/but a b—h ain’t one.” What makes this track a defining point in this first decade of the millennium are the samples of “Long Red” by Mountain, “The Big Beat” by Billy Squier, “99 Problems” by Ice-T and “Touched” by UGK. Essentially, Jay-Z is the Eric Williams of rap. (Williams was the prime minister of Trinidad from 1956-1981, and utilized the philosophical strategies of the likes of C.L.R. James and others to marshal his political strategies – making him a force to be reckoned with for decades.) It establishes Jay-Z’s ability to take from many influences and recreate them, making a track that’s distinctly his own.

“Stan” – Eminem

Dido’s “Thank You” would have been circling the drain on many a music chart if it weren’t for Eminem’s inventive use of incorporating her musicianship in this suspenseful narrative tale. “Stan” weaves a story that takes a disturbing look at the root of the word fanatic. We hear his fan’s downward spiral in epistolary/spoken-word form. It’s the best use of letter-writing in narrative since Samuel Richardson’s “Clarissa.” Yes, Eminem has a classic song on his hands, one that proves that white men can rap and reinvigorate a lost art form at the same time.

“Hurt” Johnny Cash

This track is perfect for the Man in Black: Cash was the man who spoke for the disenfranchised, the downtrodden and the hopeless. It is only fitting that, after a career longer than most people have been on the planet, he would cover Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.” Sung toward the end of his life while suffering a debilitating illness, the lyrics “I hurt myself today/to see if I still feel” held more meaning than its writer Trent Reznor had ever envisioned. Cash sang with an urgency that forces you to listen openly to each word. The video is equally compelling as it looks back on the life of a man so complex that he traveled to Christ’s birthplace to recreate an accurate account on the last years of his life. Although this track is a remake, Cash made it as synonymous with his mythos as “Ring of Fire” and “Man in Black.” They don’t make them like Cash anymore, and the decades to come will miss his influence.

“Gold Digger” – Kanye West

Whatever his antics may be, Kanye West created one of the most prolific, catchy anthems of the 21st century. He had everybody singing “We want prenup, we want prenup” as he rapped minuets of situations that happen to people in their everyday (and sometimes not-so ordinary) lives.

“Fallin’” – Alicia Keys

Remember the opening lines of this amazing track, which were sung a cappella? It announced the arrival of an entertainer with lyrical force and fierce piano skills. Could it be the second coming of Stevie Wonder? Sadly no, but “Fallin’,” (written by Keys) with its raw, emotional intensity, placed her on the same level as R&B artists that sang with their souls and embodied every emotion with song.

“Family Portrait” – Pink

It was 2001, and Pink was at a musical crossroad. Her collaboration with Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes created an intimate and heart-wrenching look into the world that made Pink who she was at that point. There are several songs from the album “Missundaztood” that could have been chosen for this list, but “Family Portrait” (written by Pink and Scott Storch) is the type of track that is relatable to anyone who is going through a time of crisis. It put her family’s business out into the street, and though for a time it caused strife among her relationship with her family, it eventually led to reconciliation with her parents. Most importantly, it showcased Pink’s writing skills, which pushed her above the sugary pop songs that saturated the airwaves at the time.

“Don’t Know Why” – Norah Jones

This dreamy track (originally written and performed by Jesse Harris) made Jones a household name and won her several awards. However, what makes this track memorable is the playful use of the lyrics alongside the deceptively lingering melodic rhythm. Just when you are being lulled to sleep, the phrasing of the words will have you paying attention to what is being said by the protagonist: “I left you by the house of fun/Don’t know why I didn’t come.” Just what exactly is going on at the funhouse that makes her stay away “Catching teardrops in [her] hand?” And what was she doing with the other one?

“Superman (It’s Not Easy)” – Five For Fighting

“I can’t stand to fly/I’m not that naive/Men weren’t meant to ride/with clouds between their knees.” Truer words were never sung by this one-man band. Every lyric speaks to the Superman in all of us, who sometimes feel as if we were all the last son of Krypton. This haunting melody of piano with drums as a subtle accompaniment became successful after Sept. 11. It reveals the person inside of anyone who has to deal with situations that are so far out of our realm that our only solace can be from a Superman who can feel as miniscule as us mere mortals.

“Hey Ya!” – OutKast

Only six years old, this track has been covered by several artists, has become a part of pop culture and even helped revitalized the Polaroid for a time. “Hey Ya!” (written by Andre 3000) utilizes several genres as its multilayered rhythmic arrangement and memorable lyrics make this not only a dance track but a tribute to the many influences of the band. There’s funk, rock and the call/response tradition of the Negro spiritual. Most of all, it’s a fun song. You can either dance or listen to it – that’s no small feat for a track with a lot going on in it.

“Shut Up” – Black Eyed Peas

The perfect ring tone was first the perfect song about trust and intimacy in relationships. It gets to the point that the first lines of the song are “shut up/just shut up, shut.” That’s some serious frustration that escalates into a scenario of lies that capitulates into another tirade of “shut up.” You can’t not like a song that utilizes this phrase to express the rollercoaster ride that is called love.