We're two full months into 2016, and needless to say, it's gonna be one eventful year. We've got a leap year, the summer Olympics, a historical presidential election, and many other events lined up. On top of all that, there's a big number of classic songs that were born at the dawn of the millennium reaching their sweet 16 this year. Check out a list of some of them right here.
16. “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down
This angsty teen tune provided us with just enough grunge to feel edgy for rocking out on the air guitar and headbanging when the catchy chorus rolled around which, let’s be honest, we all know we still know the words to.
15. “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
Ah, one of the most popular slow, cliche country songs that everyone shamelessly knows and can’t help but love because it’s just so sweet. “I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean—whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens,” I mean come on, how can you not feel some feels when you hear that?
14. “Independent Women, Pt. 1” by Destiny’s Child
Created for the 2000 film adaptation of Charlie’s Angels, this female power anthem had us feeling grown before we even hit puberty. Yes, the magic of Beyonce was just as strong back then as it is now (no surprise there).
13. “Bag Lady” by Erykah Badu
Nominated for Best R&B Song at the 43rd Grammy Awards, this neo-soul track was co-written by Dr. Dre, AKA it was destined to be a hit in the 2000’s. Lacing together Badu’s funky and jazzy vibes, “Bag Lady” is still almost impossible not to groove to.
12. “Shape of My Heart” by Backstreet Boys
Pulling on our heartstrings with one of their beautiful boyband ballads, The Backstreet Boys made us fall even more in love with them with this one. In fact, it was scientifically proven shortly after the release of the "Black and Blue" album that it was physically impossible for girls to resist Nick Carter getting in touch with his sensitive side.
11. “No More (Baby Ima Do Right)” by 3LW
Before Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams were one half of The Cheetah Girls and Naturi Naughton landed one of the lead roles in the 2009 film adaptation of "Fame", these three ladies made up a sassy R&B girl group named 3LW. Though they didn’t have many other hits, Kiely’s rap breakdown at the bridge with “aye yo you promised me Kate Spade, but that was last year boy in the eighth grade” will always speak to us on so many levels.
10. “Aaron’s Party” by Aaron Carter
The then-13 year old heartthrob was just getting started on his rise to fame with this one. Risking it all to throw the house party of the year, Aaron gave his Backstreet brother a run for his money with that spiky blonde ‘do and white boy “sing/raps.”
9. “Yellow” by Coldplay
Serving as the band’s debut hit song, it is honestly incredible to see how well Coldplay has held their position in the music spotlight since the release of the timeless “Yellow.” 16 years later, “look at the stars, look how they shine for you” is still being used for captions on bad Instagram posts, and we all know that’s the truest sign of success.
8. “Who Let the Dogs Out” by Baha Men
Still a song that not many people really understand the meaning behind, Baha Men blessed us at the beginning of the millennium with this fun jingle that has been used in pretty much every dog movie trailer since 2000.
7. “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” by Nine Days
I guarantee you will make almost any millennial’s day if you, at any given time, burst out singing “THIS IS THE STORY OF A GIRL,” and if they have an ounce of goodness in their body, they’ll respond with “WHO CRIED A RIVER AND DROWNED THE WHOLE WORLD.” No one really knows anything about the band Nine Days aside from this teen anthem, but we’re eternally grateful for the treasure that they bestowed upon us 16 years ago.
6. “Country Grammar (Hot S***)” by Nelly
Ah, the era of Nelly was a wonderful one. Pre-face-bandaid phase but mid-do-rag phase, “shimmy shimmy cocoa what, listen to it pound, light it up and take a puff, pass it to me now” was, and still is, pure poetry.
5. “Ms. Jackson” by Outkast
One of the earliest hits from this legendary duo, Big Boi and Andre 3000 cranked out this unique and wildly fun tune that is still listened to on a regular basis. “I’m sorry Ms. Jackson, HOOOO, I am fo-reeeeeeal” goes down in history as one of the catchiest lines in the history of music, don’t even try to argue with me on this.
4. “It Wasn’t Me” by Shaggy
Although the content was slightly shy of appropriate and moral, we can’t help but sing along to this ridiculously catchy jam—well, except for when Shaggy goes full-blown reggae on us. No one has any idea what he’s saying at those parts.
3. “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC
Ramen noodle hair-era Justin Timberlake induces so many emotions for all of us. The human puppet scheme is an iconic one for sure, as is the “talking hand” dance move we can’t resist doing when we hear the words “baby bye bye bye.”
2. “The Real Slim Shady” by Eminem
The pre-anger-driven, violent-sounding Marshall Mathers was first the nasal-voiced, quirky Marshall Mathers that was still notorious for having absolutely no filter. This wacky song still has us all exclaiming, “I’m Slim Shady yes I’m the Slim Shady, all the other Slim Shadys are just imitating. So won’t the real Slim Shady please stand up, please stand up, please stand up?” It just rolls right off the tongue, doesn’t it?
1. “Oops I Did it Again” by Britney Spears
I think we can all pinpoint our love for Britney Spears at the breaking out of the red leather jumpsuit. At the beginning of her stray from a cute starlet into the realm of sexy pop stardom, she warned us all, “I’m not that innocent.” Let's also take a moment to discuss the random reference to the Titanic; “But I thought the old lady dropped it into the ocean in the end?” “Well baby, I went down and got it for you.” If that’s not true love, I don’t know what is.
