Best Songs of the 2000s

I found several lists of the best songs of the 2000s and combined them into a single meta-list, which is organized by rank (that is, with the songs on the most lists at the top).  The listing for each song includes the title, the performer, the year of the performance, the songwriter(s), the year the song was written, and whether the song was featured in any films.  In the case of multiple versions of the song by different artists, I have chosen the version that was the biggest hit.  Please note: these are not my personal opinions.

On 11 lists

  • Hey Ya! – Outkast (2003). Wr: André 3000 (2000).

On 10 lists

  • Crazy in Love – Beyoncé (feat. Jay-Z) (2003). Wr: Beyoncé, Rich Harrison, Eugene Record & Shawn Carter (2002).
  • Umbrella – Rihanna (feat. Jay-Z) (2007). Wr: Christopher Stewart, Terius Nash, Kuk Harrell & Shawn Carter (2007).

On 9 lists

  • Crazy – Gnarls Barkley (2006). Wr: Brian Burton, Thomas Callaway, Gian Franco Reverberi & Gian Piero Reverberi (2005).
  • Paper Planes – M.I.A. (2007). Wr: Maya Arulpragasam, Wesley Pentz, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon & Joe Strummer (2007).
  • Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) – Beyoncé (2008). Wr: Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Terius “The-Dream” Nash, Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (2008).

On 8 lists

  • Mr. Brightside – The Killers (2003). Wr: Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer & Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (2001).
  • In da Club – 50 Cent (2003). Wr: Curtis Jackson, Andre Young & Mike Elizondo (2002).
  • Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes (2003). Wr: Jack White (2002).
  • Toxic – Britney Spears (2003). Wr: Cathy Dennis, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg & Henrik Jonback (2003).
  • Gold Digger – Kanye West (feat. Jamie Foxx) (2005). Wr: Kanye West, Ray Charles & Renald Richard (2004).

On 7 lists

  • Clocks – Coldplay (2002). Wr: Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin (2002).
  • Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand (2003). Wr: Alex Kapranos & Nicholas McCarthy (2003).
  • Yeah! – Usher (feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris) (2004). Wr: Christopher Bridges, James Phillips, Jonathan Smith, LaMarquis Jefferson, Patrick Smith & Sean Garrett (2003).
  • Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z (feat. Alicia Keys) (2009). Wr: Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Alexander Shuckburgh, Bert Keyes, Janet Sewell-Ulepic, Shawn Carter & Sylvia Robinson (2009).

On 6 lists

  • Try Again – Aaliyah (feat. Timbaland), featured in the film Romeo Must Die (2000). Wr: Stephen Garrett & Timothy Mosley (1999).
  • Fallin’ – Alicia Keys (2001). Wr: Alicia Keys (2001).
  • Family Affair – Mary J. Blige (2001). Wr: Mary J. Blige, Andre Young, Bruce Miller, Camara Kambon & Michael Elizondo (2001).
  • Get Ur Freak On – Missy Elliott (2001). Wr: Melissa Elliott & Tim Mosley (2001).
  • No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age (2002). Wr: Josh Homme & Mark Lanegan (2001).
  • Lose Yourself – Eminem, featured in the film 8 Mile (2002). Wr: Marshall Mathers (2002).
  • 99 Problems – Jay-Z (2003). Wr: Jay-Z, Norman Landsberg, Felix Pappalardi, Billy Squier, John Ventura, Leslie Weinstein, Tracy Marrow & Bernard Freeman (2003).
  • Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson (2004). Wr: Max Martin & Lukasz Gottwald (2004).
  • Feel Good Inc. – Gorillaz (feat. De La Soul) (2005). Wr: Damon Albarn, Brian Burton, David Jolicoeur & Jamie Hewlett (2004).
  • We Belong Together – Mariah Carey (2005). Wr: Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal, Johntá Austin, Kenneth Edmonds, Darnell Bristol, Bobby Womack, Patrick Moten & Sandra Sully (2004).
  • I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas (2009). Wr: William Adams, Stacy Ferguson, Jamie Gomez, Pierre Guetta, Allan Lindo & Frédéric Riesterer (2009).

On 5 lists

  • Idioteque – Radiohead (2000). Wr: Radiohead, Paul Lansky & Arthur Krieger (2000).
  • One More Time – Daft Punk (feat. Romanthony) (2000). Wr: Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo & Anthony Moore (1998).
  • Ms. Jackson – Outkast (2000). Wr: André Benjamin, Antwan Patton, David Sheats, Richard Wagner & Shuggie Otis (2000).
  • Beautiful Day – U2 (2000). Wr: U2 & Bono (2000).
  • Stan – Eminem (feat. Dido) (2000). Wr: Eminem, Dido & Paul Herman (2000).
  • Can’t Get You Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue (2001). Wr: Cathy Dennis & Rob Davis (2001).
  • House of Jealous Lovers – The Rapture (2002). Wr: Luke Jenner, Vito Roccoforte & Matt Safer (2000).
  • Beautiful – Christina Aguilera (2002). Wr: Linda Perry (2001).
  • Ignition (Remix) – R. Kelly (2002). Wr: Robert Kelly (2002).
  • Losing My Edge – LCD Soundsystem (2002). Wr: James Murphy (2002).
  • Do You Realize?? – The Flaming Lips (2002). Wr: Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd, Michael Ivins & Dave Fridmann (2002).
  • Milkshake – Kelis (2003). Wr: Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo (2003).
  • Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2003). Wr: Brian Chase, Karen Lee Orzolek & Nick Zinner (2003).
  • Jesus Walks – Kanye West (2004). Wr: Kanye West & Che Smith (2003).
  • Rehab – Amy Winehouse (2006). Wr: Amy Winehouse (2006).
  • Irreplaceable – Beyoncé (2006). Wr: Shaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith, Beyoncé Knowles, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Espen Lind (2006).
  • Viva la Vida – Coldplay (2008). Wr: Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin (2008).
  • Poker Face – Lady Gaga (2008). Wr: Stefani Germanotta & Nadir Khayat (2008).

On 4 lists

  • Untitled (How Does It Feel) – D’Angelo (2000). Wr: D’Angelo & Raphael Saadiq (1999).
  • Music – Madonna (2000). Wr: Madonna & Mirwais Ahmadzaï (2000).
  • Yellow – Coldplay (2000). Wr: Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman & Will Champion (2000).
  • Last Nite – The Strokes (2001). Wr: Julian Casablancas (2001).
  • Fell in Love with a Girl – The White Stripes (2001). Wr: Jack White (2001).
  • Get the Party Started – Pink (2001). Wr: Linda Perry (2001).
  • Without Me – Eminem (2002). Wr: Marshall Mathers, Jeffrey Bass, Kevin Bell, Anne Dudley, Malcolm McLaren & Trevor Horn (2001).
  • Work It – Missy Elliott (2002). Wr: Melissa Elliott & Timbaland (2002).
  • Heartbeats – The Knife (2002). Wr: Karin Dreijer & Olof Dreijer (2002).
  • Cry Me a River – Justin Timberlake (2002). Wr: Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosley & Scott Storch (2002).
  • Hurt – Johnny Cash (2003). Wr: Trent Reznor (1994).
  • Float On – Modest Mouse (2004). Wr: Isaac Brock, Dann Gullucci & Eric Judy (2003).
  • Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani (2004). Wr: Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo (2004).
  • Drop It Like It’s Hot – Snoop Dogg (feat. Pharrell Williams) (2004). Wr: Chad Hugo, Calvin Broadus, Pharrell Williams, Tim Stahl & John Guldberg (2004).
  • I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys (2005). Wr: Alex Turner (2005).
  • SexyBack – Justin Timberlake (feat Timbaland) (2006). Wr: Justin Timberlake, Tim Mosley & Nate “Danja” Hills (2005).
  • I’m Yours – Jason Mraz (2008). Wr: Jason Mraz (2007).

On 3 lists

  • B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) –  Outkast (2000). Wr: OutKast (1999).
  • I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack (2000). Wr: Mark D. Sanders & Tia Sillers (1999).
  • Bye Bye Bye – NSYNC (2000). Wr: Kristian Lundin, Jake Schulze & Andreas Carlsson (1999).
  • Everything in Its Right Place – Radiohead (2000). Wr: Radiohead (2000).
  • In the End – Linkin Park (2000). Wr: Brad Delson, Chester Bennington, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda & Rob Bourdon (2000).
  • One Armed Scissor – At The Drive-In (2000). Wr: At the Drive-In (2000).
  • Pyramid Song – Radiohead (2001). Wr: Radiohead (2000).
  • Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) – Train (2001). Wr: Train & Patrick Monahan (2000).
  • Hard to Explain – The Strokes (2001). Wr: Julian Casablancas (2001).
  • The Middle – Jimmy Eat World (2001). Wr: Jimmy Eat World (2001).
  • Izzo (H.O.V.A.) – Jay-Z (2001). Wr: Shawn Carter, Kanye West, Mizell Brothers, Berry Gordy, Deke Richards, Freddie Perren & Alex Horn (2001).
  • Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger – Daft Punk (2001); live version released in 2007. Wr: Thomas Bangalter, Edwin Birdsong & Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo (2001).
  • The Seed (2.0) – The Roots (feat. Cody Chesnutt) (2002). Wr: Cody Chestnutt & Tariq Trotter (2001).
  • Complicated – Avril Lavigne (2002). Wr: Avril Lavigne, Lauren Christy, Scott Spock & Graham Edwards (2001).
  • The Rising – Bruce Springsteen (2002). Wr: Bruce Springsteen (2002).
  • This Love – Maroon 5 (2002). Wr: Adam Levine & Jesse Carmichael (2002).
  • Time for Heroes – The Libertines (2002). Wr: Pete Doherty & Carl Barât (2002).
  • Hot In Herre – Nelly  (2002). Wr: Cornell Haynes, Jr., Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo & Charles L. Brown (2002).
  • The Way You Move – Outkast (feat. Sleepy Brown) (2003). Wr: Antwan Patton, Carl-Mo & Patrick Brown (2002).
  • Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne (2003). Wr: Adam Schlesinger & Chris Collingwood (2003).
  • Galang – M.I.A. (2003). Wr: Maya Arulpragasm, Justine Frischmann, Steve Mackey & Ross Orton (2003).
  • You’re Beautiful – James Blunt (2004). Wr: James Blunt, Sacha Skarbek & Amanda Ghost (2003).
  • Wake Up – Arcade Fire (2004). Wr: Will Butler, Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Tim Kingsbury & Richard Reed Parry (2003).
  • Rebellion (Lies) – Arcade Fire (2004). Wr: Howard Bilerman, Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Tim Kingsbury & Richard Reed Parry (2003).
  • The Rat – The Walkmen (2004). Wr: The Walkmen (2003).
  • Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day (2004). Wr: Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool (2003).
  • American Idiot – Green Day (2004). Wr: Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool (2004).
  • 1 Thing – Amerie, featured in the film Hitch (2005). Wr: Amerie Rogers, Rich Harrison & Stanley Walden (2004).
  • Sugar, We’re Goin Down – Fall Out Boy (2005). Wr: Pete Wentz & Patrick Stump (2004).
  • Standing in the Way of Control – Gossip (2005). Wr: Hannah Billie, Nathan Howdeshell & Mary Beth Patterson (2005).
  • Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s (2005). Wr: Tom Higgenson (2005).
  • Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira (feat. Wyclef Jean) (2006). Wr: Wyclef Jean, Shakira, Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis, Omar Alfanno, LaTavia Parker & Vinay Rao (2005).
  • My Love – Justin Timberlake (feat. T.I.) (2006). Wr: Justin Timberlake, Tim Mosley, Nate “Danja” Hills & Clifford Joseph Harris (2005).
  • Wolf Like Me – TV on the Radio (2006), featured in the film The Invisible (2007). Wr: Tunde Adebimpe, David Sitek, Kyp Malone, Jaleel Bunton & Gerard Smith (2006).
  • Back to Black – Amy Winehouse (2006). Wr: Amy Winehouse & Mark Ronson (2006).
  • Roscoe – Midlake (2006). Wr: Tim Smith (2006).
  • Over and Over – Hot Chip (2006). Wr: Alexis Taylor, Joe Goddard & Felix Martin (2006).
  • Welcome to the Black Parade – My Chemical Romance (2006). Wr: Bob Bryar, Frank Iero, Ray Toro, Gerard Way & Mikey Way (2006).
  • Young Folks – Peter Bjorn & John (2006). Wr: Björn Yttling & Peter Morén (2006).
  • Time to Pretend – MGMT (2007). Wr: Andrew VanWyngarden & Ben Goldwasser (2005).
  • All My Friends – LCD Soundsystem (2007). Wr: Pat Mahoney, James Murphy & Tyler Pope (2006).
  • D.A.N.C.E. – Justice (2007). Wr: Gaspard Augé, Jessie Chaton & Xavier de Rosnay (2006).
  • Crank Dat (Soulja Boy) – Soulja Boy (2007). Wr: DeAndre Way (2007).
  • No One – Alicia Keys (2007). Wr: Alicia Keys, Kerry Brothers Jr. & George M. Harry (2007).
  • Kids – MGMT (2007). Wr: Andrew Van Wyngarden & Ben Goldwasser (2007).
  • Bleeding Love – Leona Lewis (2007). Wr: Jesse McCartney & Ryan Tedder (2007).
  • Low – Flo Rida (feat. T-Pain) (2007), featured in the film Step Up 2: The Streets (2008). Wr: Tramar Dillard & Faheem Najm (2007).
  • Atlas – Battles (2007). Wr: Ian Williams, John Stanier, Dave Konopka & Tyondai Braxton (2007).
  • White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes (2008). Wr: Robin Pecknold (2007).
  • Chasing Pavements – Adele (2008). Wr: Adele Adkins & Eg White (2007).
  • Reckoner – Radiohead (2007). Wr: Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Philip Selway & Thom Yorke (2007).
  • American Boy – Estelle (feat. Kanye West) (2008). Wr: William Adams, Estelle Swaray, John Stephens, Kanye West, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir & Keith Harris (2007).
  • L.E.S. Artistes – Santigold (2008). Wr: Santi White & John Hill (2008).
  • Just Dance – Lady Gaga (feat. Colby O’Donis) (2008). Wr: Lady Gaga, Nadir “RedOne” Khayat & Aliaune “Akon” Thiam (2008).
  • Use Somebody – Kings of Leon (2008). Wr: Caleb, Nathan, Jared & Matthew Followill (2008).
  • Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon (2008). Wr: Caleb, Nathan, Jared & Matthew Followill (2008).
  • 1901 – Phoenix (2009). Wr: Thomas Pablo Croquet, Christian Mazzalai, Laurent Mazzalai & Frederic Moulin (2008).
  • My Girls – Animal Collective (2009). Wr: Animal Collective (2008).
  • Bad Romance – Lady Gaga (2009). Wr: Stefani Germanotta & Nadir Khayat (2009).
  • Party in the U.S.A. – Miley Cyrus (2009). Wr: Lukasz Gottwald, Jessica Cornish & Claude Kelly (2009).