21 Best Songs From 2005
A wide selection of good music from 2005 brings older listeners nostalgia for years passed, and young listeners an audio experience of musical history. This year has helped shape many of the current songs popular on the radio today.
Check out some of the best songs from 2005. You might recognize and remember many of them, and others may be worth adding to your music collection.
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1. “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey
Song Year: 2005
If you’re looking for good music from 2005, you must listen to “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey. This chart-topping song from her album The Emancipation of Mimi continues to get radio play for its smooth rhythm, heartfelt lyrics, and Mariah Carey’s epic vocal range.
“We Belong Together” shares the heartwrenching feeling of loving someone after you’ve let them go. 2005 was a great year for Mariah, with another amazing hit, “Shake it Off,” released the same year off of the same album.
2. “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani
Song Year: 2005
Everyone learned how to correctly spell banana with Gwen Stefani’s hit song “Hollaback Girl.” This is one of the best songs from 2005 from No Doubt's lead singer’s solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
While the album got released in 2004, Stefani re-released “Hollaback Girl” as a single in 2005 alongside the award-winning music video featuring Gwen as a cheerleader. The song, co-written by Stefani, Pharrell Williams, and Chad Hugo, peaked on the US Billboard Top 100 charts for four weeks.
3. “Let Me Love You” by Mario
Song Year: 2004 & 2005
“Let Me Love You” by Mario was released in 2004 in the United States and in 2005 in other parts of the world, making it one of the best songs from 2005 for a nostalgic romance song.
From the moment you hear the opening music and Mario’s sultry voice, everyone will get into the groove. The song is about a man who loves a woman who’s with a man that doesn’t deserve her. In this love ballad, Mario suggests himself as a better option.
4. “Behind These Hazel Eyes” by Kelly Clarkson
Song Year: 2005
Kelly Clarkson released one of the best break-up anthems with her hit song “Behind These Hazel Eyes” in 2005. This song is from the American Idol winner’s debut album Breakaway and, alongside the chart-topping success of “Since U Been Gone,” gave Clarkson two songs in the top three charts in 2005.
It’s no wonder why “Behind These Hazel Eyes” got so much radio time in 2005; the song showcases Clarkson’s vocal range in an emotional song, making it one of the best songs of 2005 if you need a good cry.
5. “Feel Good Inc” by Gorillaz
Song Year: 2005
One of the best songs from 2005 is “Feel Good Inc” by the British group Gorillaz from their album Demon Days. The alternative rock and hip-hop group released this slow and catchy tune with a music video featuring their animated characters. The song includes a combination of rapping and singing with hooks that listeners can recall easily, even over fifteen years later.
During performances, Gorillaz rarely revealed their faces. Instead, they projected renditions of their animated characters onto screens.
6. “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” by Fall Out Boy
Song Year: 2005
Fall Out Boy released one of their most popular songs in 2005, “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down.” This song became popular again in 2022 as a sound clip for TikTok videos and Instagram Reels.
Marking the emo era, Fall Out Boy’s hit album From Under the Cork Tree was exceptionally commercially successful. In 2005, band member Pete Wentz featured as himself on season three of the TV series One Tree Hill with the series featuring “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” on the soundtrack.
7. “Beverly Hills” by Weezer
Song Year: 2005
One of the best songs from 2005 about celebrity living is “Beverly Hills” by Weezer. This chart-topping indie song sings about longing to be part of the high society in the lavish neighborhood of Beverly Hills.
Originally Rivers Cuomo wrote the lyrics as a serious desire, though audiences have since taken it as a tongue-in-cheek statement. Regardless, the “gimmie, gimmie” hook is undeniably catchy.
Weezer released “Beverly Hills” on their 2005 album Make Believe, and it remains one of Weezer’s most commercially successful songs.
8. “Best of You” by Foo Fighters
Song Year: 2005
The Foo Fighters are a classic example of good music from 2005, especially the song “Best of You” from their album In Your Honor. The moment Dave Grohl opens this song, listeners are sure to sing along.
Upon its release in 2005, “Best of You” peaked at number one on US mainstream rock and Canadian rock weekly music charts. However, its legacy lives on as it continues to be a popular rotation on indie rock radio stations today.
9. “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” by The Black Eyed Peas
Song Year: 2005
“Don’t Phunk With My Heart” by The Black Eyed Peas is one of the best songs from 2005. This song uses funky beats and a driving drum rhythm alongside vocals from Fergie and rap verses from Will.i.am and Taboo.
The cheeky title and use of the word “phunk” instead of a swear got this song lots of radio time, though a radio version also got released in 2005.
10. “Lose Control” by Missy Elliott
Song Year: 2005
Missy Elliott owned the dance, hip-hop, and rap music scene with her 2005 hit song “Lose Control.” With chaotic background instrumentals and cameos from musicians like Ciara and Fat Man Scoop, this song helped Missy Elliott maintain her crown in the female rap game in the 2000s.
The music video featured Missy Elliot and dancers in navy blue outfits, white gloves, and white sneakers dancing against a black backdrop. As the lights flicker, the white gloves and sneakers reveal the intricate choreography earning it the 2005 MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video.
11. “Photograph” by Nickelback
Song Year: 2005
Every radio station played the emotional pop song “Photograph” by Canadian rock band Nickelback in 2005. This song is from Nickelback’s album All the Right Reasons. It tells the story of a man looking through his old photographs and reliving some of his life’s best and worst moments.
The chorus of this popular song is undeniably catchy for fans and haters alike. The music video shows the band exploring lead singer Chad Kroeger’s hometown, winning it the MuchMusic Video Award for Best Rock Video in 2005.
