2002: THE 100 GREATEST SONGS. Today: #100-1. This post concludes the countdown.

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2002

THE 100 GREATEST SONGS

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The year 2002 found a planet grappling with the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. In his first public speech as US president, George Bush called Iran, Iraq and North Korea the “axis of evil”. Terrorism claimed the lives of hundreds in the Bali Bombing. The war crimes trial of Slobodan Miloševic commenced in the Hague. While the British Royals celebrated the queen’s Golden Jubilee, they mourned the loss of the Queen Mother and (sister) Margaret. Serena Williams defeated sister Venus at Wimbledon, where Lleyton Hewitt also claimed victory. The Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City. Brazil won its fifth FIFA World Cup. Cinemagoers flocked to see ‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers’, ‘Spiderman’, ‘Chicago’ and ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’. Rapper Eminem starred in ‘8 Mile’.

Here are 100 songs representing the best music released during that year...

1

 

CLOCKS

Coldplay

 

“Clocks” proved that “Yellow” and “Trouble” were no flukes. It seemed those two seminal hits were building up to this musical moment. Coldplay were elevated to new heights of critical and commercial acclaim. The track still remains one of their best creations.

 

2

 

THIS LOVE

Maroon 5

 

Although Maroon 5’s ‘Songs About Jane’ album was issued in 2002, “This Love” had to wait two years before it finally became a Top 10 hit in America, Britain, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.  

 

3

 

WITHOUT ME

Eminem

 

Eminem was still an acquired taste in 2002, although many had already conceded he possessed talent. “Without Me” was biting and humourous at the same time. Nevertheless or maybe because of this, the disc rushed to top of the British, European and Australian charts. In the U.S., the single peaked at #2.

 

4

 

ROCK YOUR BODY

Justin Timberlake

 

In 2002 Justin came out as a superstar in his own right. The material on his debut ‘Justified’ album saw him leave his *NSYNC days far behind. The input from The Neptunes cannot be denied, as Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo certainly inject credibility into the song which was a Top 5 smash in America, the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. J.T. channels Michael Jackson throughout.

 

5

 

LOSE YOURSELF

Eminem

 

The world’s most successful rapper starred in the film ‘8 Mile’ from which this was the lead single. “Lose Yourself” won the Best Original Song Academy Award. The disc reached #1 in America, Britain, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

 

6

 

YOUR SONG 2002

Elton John & Alessandro Safina

 

Elton revisited his breakthrough hit from 1970 with Italian operatic tenor Alessandro Safina. The 2002 remake was a charity disc. Eighty percent of the vocalists’ royalties went to Sport Relief and Elton’s AIDS foundation to aid children.  

 

7

 

IN THE END

Linkin Park

 

The group broke through with this- the fourth and final- single lifted off its 2000 debut album ‘Hybrid Theory’. Released late the following year, the nu metal / rap track exploded worldwide in 2002 and soon became Linkin Park’s signature song. 

 

8

 

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

Silverchair

 

This was the closing track on the Australian rock band’s brilliant ‘Diorama’ album: sublime and lush. 

 

9

 

A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION

Elvis Presley Vs. Junkie XL

 

Take a cool 1968 track recorded by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Insert it into a remake of the film ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ starring heavyweights such as George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts with a remix by Dutch producer Tom Holkenborg and Elvis was back at the top of the charts again.

 

10

 

THE SCIENTIST

Coldplay

 

On the ‘A Rush Of Blood To The Head’ album, Coldplay honed all of its skills to create some of the band’s best songs, including this standout single.

 

11 CAN I WALK WITH YOU India.Arie   

12 TU ES FOUTOU In-Grid

13 BREATHE Blaze ftg. Philip Bailey

14 GIRLFRIEND *NSYNC ftg. Nelly

15 WISH I DIDN’T MISS YOU Angie Stone

16 CRY ME A RIVER Justin Timberlake

17 DOVE (I’LL BE LOVING YOU FOREVER) Moony

18 WHEN I GET YOU ALONE Robin Thicke   

19 NEVER LET IT GO Afro-Dite

20 SYMPHONY OF LIFE Tina Arena

 

21 POINT OF VIEW DB Boulevard ftg. Moony

22 THE GAME OF LOVE Santana ftg. Michelle Branch

23 BEAUTIFUL Christina Aguilera

24 INSATIABLE Darren Hayes

25 LOSING MY EDGE LCD Soundsystem

26 GET SOME SLEEP Bic Runga

27 JUST A LITTLE Liberty X

28 HEY GOLDMEMBER Beyoncé

29 SENORITA Justin Timberlake

30 DON’T KNOW WHY Norah Jones

 

31 HOT IN HERRE Nelly

32 LIKE I LOVE YOU Justin Timberlake

33 SK8ER BOI Avril Lavigne   

34 THE GREATEST VIEW Silverchair

35 VINCERO {Carwash Remix} Fredrik Kempe

36 DILEMMA Nelly ftg. Kelly Rowland

37 DIE ANOTHER DAY Madonna

38 WHATCHULOOKINAT Whitney Houston

39 KISS KISS Holly Valance

40 COME AWAY WITH ME Norah Jones

 

41 I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT MUSIC Corinna May

42 YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE Whitney Houston

43 DANCE ALL NIGHT Bj Caruana

44 NOTHING AT ALL Santana ftg. Musiq Soulchild

45 BEAUTIFUL Disco Montego ftg. Katie Underwood

46 A THOUSAND MILES Vanessa Carlton

47 WHENEVER, WHEREVER Shakira

48 LUV YOUR LIFE Silverchair     

49 IGNITION {remix} R. Kelly

50 IN MY PLACE Coldplay

 

51 HOUSE OF JEALOUS LOVERS The Rapture

52 HOW COME YOU DON’T CALL ME? Alicia Keys

53 I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE The Darkness   

54 THE NIGHT I FELL IN LOVE Pet Shop Boys   

55 NO ONE KNOWS Queens Of The Stone Age

56 SUPERMAN (IT’S NOT EASY) Five For Fighting

57 FOOLISH Ashanti   

58 THE KETCHUP SONG (ASEREJE) Las Ketchup

59 THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT AllSTARS*

    60 I WON’T BE THE ONE TO LET GO

Barbra Streisand & Barry Manilow

 

61 I WANNA Marie N.

    62 FREEEK! George Michael

63 FEELS LIKE FIRE Santana ftg. Dido

64 IF YOU’RE NOT THE ONE Daniel Bedingfield

65 ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE Will Young

66 YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND John Mayer

    67 ALONE Lasgo   

68 SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD

Blue & Elton John

69 ADDICTED TO BASS Puretone

70 CLEANING OUT MY CLOSET Eminem

 

71 NOT A GIRL, NOT YET A WOMAN Britney Spears

72 STOP CRYING YOUR HEART OUT Oasis

73 DARE YOU TO BE HAPPY Tina Arena

74 COLOURBLIND Darius

75 U GOT IT BAD Usher

   76 YOU ARE MY KIND Santana ftg. Seal

     77 I’M MOVING ON Scott Cain

    78 LAST NIGHT Justin Timberlake 

79 AIN’T IT FUNNY Jennifer Lopez

80 CRUSH (1980 ME) Darren Hayes

 

81 LIGHT MY FIRE Will Young

     82 A WOMAN’S WORTH Alicia Keys

83 BY THE WAY Red Hot Chili Peppers

84 ROCKSTAR N.E.R.D.

    85 SOMETHING GOING ON (CRACK IT) Bomfunk MCs

86 SOUND OF THE UNDERGROUND Girls Aloud

87 COMPLICATED Avril Lavigne

88 DON’T LET ME GET ME P!nk

89 A MOMENT LIKE THIS Kelly Clarkson

90 ALL I KNOW OF LOVE Barbra Streisand & Josh Groban

 

91 NOT PRETTY ENOUGH Kasey Chambers

92 BUTTERFLIES Michael Jackson

93 CHAIN REACTION Steps

94 WORK IT Missy Elliott

95 GONE *NSYNC

96 UNDERNEATH YOUR CLOTHES Shakira

 97 PUT THE NEEDLE ON IT Dannii Minogue

98 WHAT’S YOUR FLAVA Craig David

99 WHAT ABOUT US Brandy

100 THE LOGICAL SONG Scooter

Check out the playlist on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4RO5jGSPXILSakx6KnlIsE?si=0bc485ed63b74706