MOST ESSENTIAL 200 OF THE CENTURY Update: #80-71.

THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS

FROM THE FIRST 15 YEARS

OF THIS CENTURY

Now that we are 15 years into the 21^st Century, it’s apropos to look back over the 200 songs since 2000 that have made the greatest impact on the sound of music as it stands in 2015.

To be eligible for the Top 200, a song must have officially appeared on an album, CD single  or as a download between Jan. 1, 2000 and December 31, 2014.

80 CHASING PAVEMENTS

ADELE [2008]

 

The world discovered an exciting new voice. It wasn't her debut single, but "Chasing Pavements" proved to be the 1st massive single for 19 year old English singer Adele Adkins. This single peaked at #2 in the UK.

79 IGNITION {Remix}

R. KELLY [2003]

R. Kelly ushered R&B into the new century with this suggestive soul song.

78 LET ME BLOW YA MIND 

EVE featuring GWEN STEFANI [2001]

 

A funky cool vibe is the bedrock of this Grammy winning hip-hop collaboration between rapper Eve and No Doubt's lead singer Gwen Stefani.

77 SUIT & TIE

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE featuring JAY-Z [2013]

 

Justin Timberlake manages to keep his music intriguing. On "Suit & Tie" he is joined by rapper Jay-Z. The slow tempo song contained elements of hip-hop, funk, disco and R&B.

76 JAI HO (YOU ARE MY DESTINY) 

A R RAHMAN & THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS [2009]

 

The Oscar winning "Jai Ho" was featured in the hit film 'Slumdog Millionaire'. Its composer A. R  Rahman collaborated with female pop group The Pussucat Dolls; featuring lead singer Nicole Scherzinger. The track expanded the horizons of the sound of Top 40 pop. Indian music meshed with dance and pop.

75 SEX ON FIRE

KINGS OF LEON [2008]

 

Kings Of Leon enjoyed great success on pop charts around the world thanks to "Sex On Fire".

74 WORK IT

MISSY ELLIOTT [2002]

 

Rap would no longer be the last bastion of misoginy in pop music after Missy Elliott gave men a taste of their own medicine on "Work It". It also cleverly sampled the intro from Blondie's "Heart Of Glass".

73 PUMPED UP KICKS

FOSTER THE PEOPLE [2010]

 

Foster The People dropped a new anthem with traces of neo-psychedelia and indie pop.

72 FAMILY AFFAIR

MARY J. BLIGE [2001]

 

"Family Affair" proved the Queen of Hip-hop crown was safely atop Mary J Blige's head. "Family Affair" further progressed R&B's evolution.

71 HUMAN

THE KILLERS [2006]

The Killers unleashed a synth-pop new wave track which became a mainstream chart hit.

More songs added next week.