The download era arrives, crunk goes pop, and one diva claims the song of the decade. Ranked by cumulative Billboard Hot 100 performance, these are the defining singles of the 2000s.
The full ranking
The download era arrives, crunk goes pop, and one diva claims the song of the decade. Ranked by cumulative Billboard Hot 100 performance, these are the defining singles of the 2000s.
We Belong Together (Mariah Carey)
It spent 14 weeks at No. 1 and was named Billboard's No. 1 song of the entire 2000s; Carey became the first artist to claim the top song of two different decades.
Yeah! (Usher feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris)
A 12-week No. 1 and Billboard's No. 1 song of 2004, it was a defining crunk-pop crossover.
Low (Flo Rida feat. T-Pain)
A 10-week No. 1 and Billboard's No. 1 song of 2008, it was also the No. 1 digital song of the entire decade.
I Gotta Feeling (The Black Eyed Peas)
It spent 14 weeks at No. 1 and became one of the best-selling digital singles in history.
How You Remind Me (Nickelback)
One of only two rock entries in the decade's top twenty, it was Billboard's No. 1 song of 2002.
No One (Alicia Keys)
It spent five weeks at No. 1 and won two Grammys.
Boom Boom Pow (The Black Eyed Peas)
It spent 12 weeks at No. 1 as an early streaming and download-era smash, giving the group two songs in the decade's top ten.
Let Me Love You (Mario)
A nine-week No. 1 and one of the signature R&B ballads of the mid-2000s.
Gold Digger (Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx)
It spent 10 weeks at No. 1 and was one of the best-selling rap singles of the decade.
Apologize (Timbaland feat. OneRepublic)
It peaked at No. 2, the only top-ten entry here not to reach No. 1, but logged enormous longevity and airplay.
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