200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE CENTURY Updated: #40-31. More songs to follow next weekend.

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.

40 TAKE ME OUT

FRANZ FERDINAND [2004]

Scottish band Franz Ferdinand delivered 1 of the most exciting songs of the early century in "Take Me Out". Its pounding beat drives the song. This is indie / post-punk rock at its memorable best.

39 I DREAMED A DREAM

SUSAN BOYLE [2009]

 

A plain unemployed Scottish spinster fronted up to audition for the TV show "Britain's Got Talent". Assumptions were formed based on her appearance, until she began to sing. Suddenly, everyone was surprised. This amateur singer became an internet sensation, far exceeding just the TV audience in the UK. Susan Boyle is now a household name. She delivered 1 of the key numbers from the hit musical "Les Miserables". Her 'I Dreamed A Dream' album reached #1 in Britain, USA, Europe, Australia, Canada, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa.

38 FELL IN LOVE WITH A GIRL 

THE WHITE STRIPES [2001]

 

Jack White delivered another garage punk classic for the group The White Stripes that gets strsaight into the beat and never lets up.

37 NO ONE KNOWS

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE [2002]

An alternative rock / stoner metal classic from Californian band Queens of the Stone Age.

36 GET UR FREAK ON

MISSY "MISDEMEANOR" ELLIOTT [2001]

 

Armed with hip hop and dance, Missy Elliott staked her claim to the rap territory once dominated by male rappers and misogyny. "Get Ur Freak On" finds her assertively settling for nothing less than respect from men.

35 VIVA LA VIDA

COLDPLAY [2008]

 

Brian Eno was at the helm for Coldplay's 2008 album 'Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends'.. He steered the band away from the piano-driven ballads that had became a trademark; instead embellishing the songs with orchestration. "Viva La Vida" saw Chris Martin step up as a vocalist. The song's lyrics reveal a progression and maturity for the band as a unit. Strings and synthesizers come to the fore on this lush and majestic cut.

34 STRONGER

KANYE WEST [2007]

 

Kanye West fuses his hip-hop with the electronic sample from Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger". He reached #1 around the world with this adventurous rap single.

33 IN THE END

LINKIN PARK [2000]

 

Linkin Park combined elements of nu metal, rap, alternative rock and post-grunge to create "In The End:".

32 ROLLING IN THE DEEP

ADELE [2010]

 

Adele was noticed when her debut album '19' was released in 2009. Follow-up '21' contained the mammoth "Rolling in the Deep"- the best workout her vocals have had yet. On this track, Adele let loose and showcased her powerful voice at full throttle. Her tonsils blast out missiles of soul, blues and gospel, complemented with a masterful production from co-writer Paul Epworth. Adele had finally arrived.

31 THRIFT SHOP

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS featuring WANZ [2012]

 

Rapper Macklemore teamed up with DJ/ producer Ryan Lewis to form a new hip-hop duo that conquered audiences around the globe in 2012. "Thrift Shop" seemingly came out of nowhere, and siunded like nothing that had come before it. In time, it was topping charts in the USA, Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Lebanon and Israel.