35 Best Songs From 2001

I'm a Slave 4 U by Britney Spears

Song Year: 2001

Britney Spears wrote this single with Pharrell Williams, then partnered with the Neptunes for production. The song was a hit on its own merit but became part of pop culture history after Spears performed it live at the MTV Video Music Awards with a snake draped across her shoulders while dancing provocatively.

Be Like That by 3 Doors Down

Song Year: 2001

Grunge band 3 Doors Down released “Be Like That” as the second single from their debut album “The Better Life.” The song deals with feelings of alienation and anger. Singer Brad Arnold said he wrote the choruses and verses separately but found they came together to make a cohesive, emotional song.

The Whole World by Outkast featuring Killer Mike

Song Year: 2001

Outkast has several hit singles, such as “Ms. Jackson” and “Hey Ya!” This is their first collaborative single featuring Killer Mike. The song hit number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. “The Whole World” won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 2003.

Where the Party At by Jagged Edge featuring Nelly

Song Year: 2001

Jagged Edge is an R&B group that formed in 1995 but didn't have a hit single until the 2000 song “Let's Get Married.” Their collaboration with Nelly brought them more widespread fame and airplay. The song earned a Grammy nomination but lost to Eve's collaboration with Gwen Stefani, which is later on the list.

The Middle by Jimmy Eat World

Song Year: 2001

Jimmy Eat World released this song as the second single from their fourth studio album, “Bleed American.” The song was the band's breakthrough hit, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and top ten on the Alternative Songs chart. The song's music video got frequent airplay on MTV's show Total Request Live because it featured young music fans in their underwear.

Dance & Shout by Shaggy

Song Year: 2001

Jamaican musician Shaggy released “Dance & Shout” as the lead single from his fourth studio album “Hotshot.” It was also on the soundtrack for the movie “For Love of the Game.” The song hit number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Shaggy sampled the Jackson 5 song “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” on the single.

Last Nite by The Strokes

Song Year: 2001

The Strokes released “Last Nite” as the second single from their debut album “Is This It.” It's one of The Strokes' most popular songs, and several artists, like Vitamin C, Chay Suede, and Kesha, have covered or sampled it. The video shows the band performing live without special effects, though the singer throws his microphone off-camera during the song.

Everywhere by Michelle Branch

Song Year: 2001

Michelle Branch's first single, “Everywhere,” from her debut album “The Spirit Room,” hit number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and crossed over to become a top 40 hit on the Adult Top 40 chart. Branch wrote the song when she was 15 and got her start performing it as an opener for the pop band Hanson.

Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against The Wall) by Mystikal

Song Year: 2001

“Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)” is Mystikal's third consecutive top-40 hit. He partnered with the production team the Neptunes for those three successful singles, which include “Shake Ya Ass.” The single got a Grammy nomination but lost to Nelly's song, “Hot in Herre,” which the Neptunes also produced.

One Last Breath by Creed

Song Year: 2001

Creed had a reputation as a religious band, and the lyrics to “One Last Breath” play into that argument. The song is about someone needing help and wanting to remedy mistakes they made in the past, which can apply to God and religion. The song is from the band's third album, so they already had several hits under their belt, such as “With Arms Wide Open.”

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk

Song Year: 2001

French electronic music duo Daft Punk combines rock, funk, disco, and pop to make catchy, danceable music. They released this single from their second album, “Discovery,” and released a live version of the song as a single in 2007. Daft Punk used a vocoder to make robotic voices for the track, which Kanye West sampled in his song “Stronger.”

What It Feels Like for a Girl by Madonna

Song Year: 2001

Madonna is a true hit-maker, and she continued her popularity from the 80s with this hit single in 2001. The single was the third single from her eighth album, which included the number-one hit “Music.” The music video features Madonna committing various crimes, like hot-wiring a car, causing a wreck, and starting a fire.