The Best Songs Of The Noughties – Top Iconic Songs From The 2000s

Last Updated on 13th November 2022

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The noughties were a time when some absolutely awesome songs were released, with the likes of the Black Eyed Peas, Beyoncé and Basshunter topping the charts, there really were some amazing artists creating some amazing songs.

Even though my official “growing up” occurred mostly after 2010, I still remember listening to some absolute tunes while dancing around in my pyjamas and pretending that I was a backing dancer for the Sugababes.

I’ve put together a list of the very best songs of the noughties and I thought I’d share it with you so you can reminisce with me. They’re also in no particular order as it would be literally impossible to pick just one…

If you’re looking to create the ultimate throwback playlist on Spotify and you need to find the most iconic songs of the noughties, I’ve got you covered with this huge list of the best songs of the noughties below!

The best songs of the noughties – 2000s hit songs

1. A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton

If that iconic scene from White Chicks doesn’t instantly pop into your head as soon as you hear this then did you even grow up in the noughties?!

2. She’s So Lovely – Scouting for Girls

This song will forever remind me of Georgia from Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging running down the street in an olive costume…

3. Crazy in Love – Beyoncé – best songs of the noughties

Queen B was obviously going to feature in this list, after all, she was the absolute queen of sass back in the day.

4. Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon

This absolute banger was my year 6 teacher’s favourite song and for that reason alone it will always remind me of primary school even though I’m pretty sure I had no idea about ~sex~ back then…

5. Hips Don’t Lie – Sharika

Hands up who else used to do the little Columbian inflictions at the end of a line to try and mimic Shakira’s goddess-like voice?!

6. Tik Tok – Ke$ha – best songs of the noughties

I’m pretty sure everyone and their neighbour’s dog knew all the words to this noughties classic.

7. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

This song used to be played at every party my parents ever had and so it’ll always be known to me as the “beginning of the party” song.

8. Mr Brightside – The Killers

I’m pretty sure that this song needs no introduction whatsoever because it is literally the definitive noughties song. (I’m actually going to see The Killers with my mum in November and they’re one of my absolute favourite bands so I cannot wait!).

9. Heaven – DJ Sammy – best songs of the noughties

I remember that this was released as a tribute song to 9/11 and it was absolutely beautiful but so, so sad. I couldn’t listen to it without bawling my eyes out but for a less sad version, the more upbeat version by DJ Sammy is also a fab dance tune.

10. If I Were A Boy – Beyoncé

This was the first-ever song that my friend sent to me via Bluetooth and I must have listened to it approximately 15 times a day.

11. Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne

I remember singing this with my friend on her PS3 Singstar and thinking we should deffo apply for The X Factor… It’s probably a good job we didn’t though as I have the tendency to sound like a strangled cat when singing…

12. The Tide Is High – Atomic Kitten

If you didn’t reenact that fabulous lip-syncing scene from the Lizzie McGuire movie then did you even live?!

13. Single Ladies – Beyoncé – best songs of the noughties

Whether you were single or not, this song was literally the jam at any party, anywhere. It’s the ultimate girl power song IMO.

14. Gold Digger – Kanye West ft Jamie Foxx

Potentially one of the sassiest songs to come out of the noughties; props to you if you knew all the words and could rap like a badass.

15. Shake it – Metro Station

I can’t even explain how much I used to love this song, it was my “soundtrack” to school as I listened to it religiously every single day.

16. Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus – best songs of the noughties

This is an absolutely iconic noughties song. I think literally everyone in the world knows the lyrics to this and it makes an absolutely fab party song.

17. Valerie – Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse

I remember singing along to this with my sister in the car and thinking we were absolute queens who should have definitely featured in a music video.

18. It Wasn’t Me – Shaggy

How immense was this song?! I’m pretty sure when I was younger I had no idea what the lyrics were about (“I even had her in the shower” No idea mate) but it was an unbelievably good song regardless and definitely one of the most iconic songs of the noughties.

19. Dilemma – Nelly ft Kelly Rowland

I actually think that I appreciate this song more as I’ve got older; even though I loved it way back in the noughties, I think it’s just such a fab song to sing when you really need to sing your heart out.

20. Literally every.single.song – Busted and McFly

I couldn’t just pick one Busted or McFly song so I had to combine it into one bullet point otherwise we’d have a whole list solely dedicated to McBusted. Some of my faves from these beaus include ‘Obviously’, ‘All About You’, ‘Year 3000’ and ‘Crashed the wedding’.

21. 5 Years Time – Noah and the Whale – best songs of the noughties

This is a bit of an alternative song but one that I still love to this day. I remember my Head of Year playing this on our first ever day of Year 7 and he asked us where we’d like to be in five years’ time – it’s crazy how things change in just five years!

22. Push the button – Sugababes

I’ll admit – this song might not be to everyone’s taste but it’s certainly one that reminds me of the noughties as I was unbelievably obsessed with the Sugababes, so much so that I was actually determined to be one, one day…

23. American Boy – Estelle ft Kanye West

American Boy was actually one of my least fave songs to come out of the noughties but I have to include it in this list as it was played on repeat A LOT. The first time I ever heard it was on Soccer AM and I’ve actually hated it ever since #sorrynotsorry.

24. Don’t Cha – The Pussycat Dolls

This is yet another song that requires you to enter full “sass mode” in order to be able to sing along. It’s an absolute gem of a song.

25. Call On Me – Eric Prydz – best songs of the noughties

It’s only now that I realise just how rude this music video is but the song itself is obviously a classic.

26. Sk8er Boi – Avril Lavigne

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how amazing this song actually is? It’s probably one of the best songs to come out of the noughties (okay, I know I’ve said this about most of the songs on this list but the noughties just had SUCH good music).

27. Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis

This one is another slightly random addition but it’s another definitive noughties song to me. I still reckon the X Factor should have finished when Leona won though…

28. Be Faithful – Fatman Scoop – best songs of the noughties

This is potentially my most memorable song to feature on this list because I have SO many memories attached to it. Countless parties (in particular NYE parties) were spent getting ready while listening to this song so it’s by far one of my faves.

29. Everytime We Touch – Cascada

If you follow me on Twitter you may have seen that I recently tweeted about my discovery of the fact that Cascada is in fact a band as opposed to just one woman. But, regardless of this fact, Everytime We Touch is a classic noughties tune.

30. Apple Bottom Jeans – Flo Rida ft T-Pain

This song reminds me of Year 6 and I remember thinking anyone who could dance and sing along to this song was an absolute legend.

31. Now You’re Gone – Basshunter

This was a tough one to write because I was beyond obsessed with Basshunter so it was very difficult to narrow it down to just one song that I loved. Basshunter is so noughties and absolutely fabulous.

Bonus best songs of the noughties

• Toxic – Britney Spears
• Umbrella – Rihanna
• Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
• Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
• I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys

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What are some of your favourite iconic songs of the noughties? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter at @imjustagirl_16.