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Grab your nostalgic cheese grater, we're diving into musical guilty pleasures! Join us as we count down the corniest, most deliciously over-the-top one-hit wonders that defined the 2000s. From heartfelt ballads to dance floor anthems and everything in between, these songs may have been fleeting chart-toppers, but they left an indelible mark on pop culture that continues to make us cringe and smile in equal measure.
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00:00Stacey, can I come over after school? After school?
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best examples of 2000s artists
00:14with one defining hit that's corny and or over the top.
00:18Some people never get beyond their stupid pride.
00:25Number 30, Check Yes Juliet, We the Kings.
00:29If you grew up in the 2000s, you might have had some kind of pop-punk phase.
00:39We the Kings released their debut album during a great decade for the genre.
00:44Check Yes Juliet is their best remembered song, capturing the group's exciting and sometimes too sincere delivery.
00:55The single often veers into that so cheesy it's good category.
01:00Always catchy, the track also carries an undercurrent of emo vibes.
01:04The references to Shakespeare throw in some theater kid energy that's both goofy and charming.
01:10Run baby run, forever will be.
01:15Singer Travis Clark and the band bring you the kind of experience that makes you hopelessly nostalgic.
01:22Number 29, Ocean Avenue, Yellow Card.
01:29You'd be forgiven if this is the only Yellow Card song you remember.
01:33The band had other singles, but this one remains their greatest cultural statement.
01:43It's an unabashed masterpiece of 2000s pop-punk.
01:46The voice, the grooves, and the driving beat all hit you across the face.
01:51We were both 18 and it felt so right.
01:54Sleeping all day, staying up all night.
01:59Ryan Key's voice feels like a trademark of the genre.
02:02Wearing his emotions on his sleeve throughout.
02:05If I could find you now, things would get better.
02:10The lyrics pour out of him in rants that sound like an unfiltered teenager.
02:15Ocean Avenue was far from their first track, but it arguably became one of their most memorable.
02:20For better or worse, it encapsulated the raw and sometimes corny sound of 2003.
02:26Let your legs crash down on me and take me away, yeah, yeah.
02:33Number 28, My Neck, My Back, Lick It, Kaya.
02:37On her debut record, Kaya established herself with this underrated hip-hop song from the 2000s.
02:43First you gotta put your neck into it. Don't stop, just do it.
02:48Some people might be offended by it, but you can't help but respect how bold it is.
02:52The artist's style later got her opportunities with the likes of Janet Jackson.
02:56With the title alone, she knows how to get a rise out of an audience.
03:00It's such a graphic song that it might push people away.
03:07You could call it too much, but you might be surprised by just how funny it can be.
03:12By the end of it all, you'll likely realize how it became a Billboard Hot 100 hit.
03:17Do it now, lick it good.
03:19Do it now, lick it good.
03:20She's been working since, but unable to quite match this original work.
03:23My neck, my back.
03:26Number 27, Heaven.
03:28DJ Sami and Yanu featuring Do.
03:31If you like Bryan Adams, you might be pleasantly surprised by this remix.
03:35DJ Sami, Yanu, and Do modernized the song for the 21st century.
03:40We're in heaven.
03:41Who would have thought that a ballad could become such a fun dance hit?
03:44Heaven is a heartfelt track from the 1980s that gets an injection of pure energy.
03:56On the other hand, the new version can sound dated over two decades later.
04:00The EDM production includes a constant beat that'll either hypnotize you or annoy you.
04:06Whether you're a child of the 2000s or not, you don't have to be nostalgic to secretly love it.
04:11It isn't too hard to see.
04:14The DJ and his counterparts are best known outside of Europe for this unlikely redo.
04:20We're in heaven.
04:24Number 26, I Wanna Be Bad.
04:27Willa Ford.
04:28Having worn many hats, Willa Ford explored a music career in the 2000s.
04:33Do you understand what I need need from you?
04:36I Wanna Be Bad has the kind of dance-pop production that you might expect from the decade.
04:41This works in the song's favor, but can also be a bit of an uncanny valley situation.
04:50You might hear plenty of other contemporaries in her voice, including the likes of Britney Spears.
04:55This makes it seem more like a campy homage than an original statement.
04:59Regardless, the song hums along like a well-oiled machine.
05:07Ford gives this track her all despite the lackluster lyrics.
05:11You might even be quoting it for the wrong reasons, with the words coming off like a bad rom-com script.
05:16Number 25, Hey There Delilah, Plain White Tees.
05:27Seemingly coming out of nowhere, Hey There Delilah gave Plain White Tees a chance to break through.
05:36They have other noteworthy tracks, but none have landed in popular culture like this one.
05:41The simple guitar part carries you off to a heartfelt song.
05:44I know times are getting hard, but just believe me girl, someday I'll pay the bills with this guitar.
05:51You might imagine a high schooler singing to their partner, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
05:56The distant relationship in this song is the right kind of melodrama.
05:59At times, the track is heartwarming, but it comes dangerously close to being too saccharine.
06:05Oh, it's what you do to me.
06:10It's certainly an earworm that sneaks up on you.
06:13There's definitely a charm to it, but you can hear this number one hit a lot or it'll get stale.
06:18What you do to me?
06:20Number 24, Let It Rock, Kevin Rudolph featuring Lil Wayne.
06:25Chances are you haven't heard the single in many years.
06:28Kevin Rudolph's song is painfully 2008, sending listeners back to the end of a strange decade.
06:40It's partly rock, pop and rap.
06:42The mashup is undeniably entertaining, but it's also borderline excessive.
06:47Now the sun's disgraced.
06:49He who knew his father when he cursed his name.
06:53Let It Rock takes you back to the era of hoodies, sunglasses, and odd musical choices.
06:59It stands as the peak of Rudolph's solo career, but he's also done some behind the scenes work.
07:04Lil Wayne also stops by to give audiences exactly the kind of verse you'd expect on a rap rock song.
07:10Nobody seems to have said the word no here, and we couldn't ask for something more off the wall cheesy.
07:20Number 23, Absolutely, Story of a Girl, Nine Days.
07:29This is the story of a girl who cried a river and drowned the whole world.
07:33Talk about a song that doesn't waste any time.
07:36Within the first line, Nine Days forever made a mark on the decade.
07:40Absolutely, Story of a Girl should be the template for crazed and overly sentimental rock songs.
07:45How did we wind up this way?
07:48Watching a mouse for the words that we say.
07:50It feels like they're recounting the plot of a teenage drama, but with some awesome rhythms to accompany it.
07:56You can't knock it for having some slick storytelling beneath the sappy words.
08:00And while she looks so sad in photographs, I absolutely love her.
08:05The top 10 single clearly struck a chord with the lovesick kid in all of us.
08:09Never quite reliving this former glory, the band will forever be in our hearts for this one-hit wonder.
08:15When she smiles!
08:18Number 22, Milkshake, Khalees.
08:22My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they're like,
08:25It's better than yours.
08:26Real fans know about her broader catalog, but the general public knows Milkshake best.
08:31It's become synonymous with her career as a solo artist.
08:34Don't you want it?
08:36The thing that makes me.
08:39There's the beat, the lyrics, and Khalees' delivery.
08:43This wild track wouldn't be the same without all three working in tandem.
08:46All metaphors aside, this song likes to be suggestive about its subject matter.
08:51It seems like a meme in a world before the internet came into its own.
08:59This makes it hard to take seriously, but super enjoyable.
09:03Everyone involved with the making of this song knew what they were doing.
09:06In the end, they created one of the finest ever odes to the dessert beverage.
09:10It's comically blunt and an essential listen from the early 2000s.
09:18Number 21, You're Beautiful, James Blunt.
09:21Do you remember where you were when you first heard You're Beautiful?
09:24My life is brilliant. My love is pure.
09:29If you were around in 2005, you probably remember hearing it almost every day.
09:34James Blunt's song is ultimately about spotting an ex with another man.
09:38In the end, it's not the most poetic or original way to reveal your thoughts to someone.
09:42You're beautiful. You're beautiful. It's true.
09:50While the underlying story might be unsettling, the production is pure bubblegum.
09:55I saw your face in a crowded place.
10:00Few ballads are as instantly or effectively maudlin.
10:04The performer has moved on to writing other songs, but some people will never forgive him for this hit.
10:09It's perfect for the cheesiest advertisements or maybe even a soap opera.
10:14Cause I'll never be with you.
10:19Number 20, Teenage Dirtbag, Weedus.
10:22Being a teenager can be tough.
10:24It feels like everyone has it in for you, including yourself.
10:28This song, from alternative rockers Weedus, is an anthem for losers who aren't afraid to identify as such.
10:35And she doesn't give a damn about me.
10:40Its music video even includes footage from college comedy Loser.
10:44Frontman Brandon B. Brown sings about an unrequited crush with absolute agony,
10:50only to learn he doesn't know as much about his crush as he thinks.
10:54This song is the perfect sing-along for anyone who's felt like an outcast, but hasn't lost hope.
11:05That goes doubly true if they're into Iron Maiden.
11:08Number 19, Fireflies, Owl City.
11:11Synth pop is already known as one of the cheesiest genres,
11:15but Owl City's music is enough to make you feel lactose intolerant.
11:18On his biggest hit, the musician, born Adam Young, sings about fireflies as a metaphor for insomnia,
11:25and the racing thoughts that come with it.
11:27You would not believe your eyes if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep.
11:36And the sound of the song is so bright and cheery,
11:39it's hard to imagine anyone being able to fall asleep when it's playing.
11:42Fireflies became one of the most unexpected chart-toppers of the 2000s,
11:47and it surely soundtracked many listeners' restless nights as they too tired of counting sheep.
11:53Why do I tire of counting sheep?
11:57Number 18, This Is Why I'm Hot, Mims.
12:00Some artists spend years releasing music before they get any kind of recognition.
12:05Rapper Mims caught a lucky break when his debut single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
12:17With its club-ready beat full of hip-hop samples, confident flow, and iconic hook,
12:22it's easy to see why this song resonated with so many people.
12:25But while Mims was hot with this song, his time in the musical spotlight didn't last too long.
12:30However, he's still doing well for himself, having helped make a popular recording app called Creator.
12:43Could the next big hit be made with an app from Mims?
12:46Number 17, Wherever You Will Go, The Calling
12:50Another debut single that made a huge splash was Wherever You Will Go,
12:55the heartfelt ballad by LA band The Calling.
12:58You'll need love to light the shadows on your face.
13:05Like all good cheesy love songs, this one declares a passion for the other person that's absolutely undying,
13:11with frontman Alex Band putting his all into every verse and chorus.
13:16But while this song was a hit, The Calling weren't able to replicate its success again.
13:21If I could, that I would, I'll go wherever you will go.
13:29They've broken up and reformed multiple times, but it's been more than 15 years since their last album.
13:35Who knows where The Calling could possibly go next?
13:38Number 16, I Believe in a Thing Called Love, The Darkness
13:42It may sound like a cheesy 80s rock song, but we can assure you it's from the new millennium.
13:55With its thick riffs, lascivious lyrics, and over-the-top vocals, English rocker's The Darkness made a song that sounded like it was made from the best parts of every glam rock hit ever.
14:06And it didn't just resonate with people yearning for a bygone era.
14:10The song reached number 2 on the UK singles chart, and also performed well in the US and Ireland, among other countries.
14:25While The Darkness had other successful songs, none received quite as much love as this one.
14:30Number 15, I Love College, Asher Roth
14:34College is full of challenges, with many hours spent studying, writing papers, and listening to boring lectures.
14:40But those aren't the aspects Asher Roth is focusing on.
14:44I wanna go to college for the rest of my life
14:47Sit Banker's Club and drink Miller Lite
14:50On I Love College, the Pennsylvania rapper talks about the joys of partying as a college student,
14:55as well as dispensing advice for staying safe.
14:58It's not about a particular school, just the college experience in general.
15:02Man, I love college
15:04Hey!
15:05I love drinking
15:07Hey!
15:08If you went to a fraternity party in 2009, you probably heard it played.
15:13But Roth hasn't been able to make another hit on this scale.
15:16Maybe he could try I Love Grad School?
15:18Number 14, Crush, David Archuleta
15:21David Archuleta won runner-up on American Idol thanks to his soulful vocals and natural charisma.
15:27And while he didn't see success at the same level of other Idol alumni, he still managed to score one big hit.
15:42Crush is a number two hit that showcases Archuleta's many talents as a performer, including singing and playing piano.
15:49As the song title suggests, Archuleta is singing about an overwhelming infatuation.
15:54And the passionate chorus addresses just how painful a crush can be.
16:06We bet a lot of teens got a crush on David Archuleta thanks to this song.
16:10Number 13, Collide, Howie Day
16:12Wanna win someone's heart in 2004 with your voice and an acoustic guitar?
16:17You might try a rendition of Collide, Howie Day's tribute to a loved one and all they do for him.
16:30There's not a trace of irony to be found in this song, just complete sincerity as Day sings and strums.
16:36But the song doesn't pretend that love solves all problems.
16:40As the chorus acknowledges,
16:46But what gives him hope is knowing that the right people can work through their issues together.
16:50How's that for hope?
16:51Number 12, The Reason, Hoobastank
16:55Sometimes you make a big mistake and a normal apology will not do.
16:58So you express your remorse through song.
17:01We don't know what exactly Hoobastank frontman Doug Robb is sorry for,
17:05but he's definitely doing his best to convince the other person that he's a changed man.
17:09I never meant to do those things to you
17:15The Reason, a combination apology song and love song, became one of the biggest hits of its release year.
17:21It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for two Grammys, including Song of the Year.
17:34If there's someone who should apologize, it's whoever came up with the band name Hoobastank.
17:38Number 11, Tipsy, Jay Kwan
17:41The legal age for drinking alcohol in the United States is 21.
17:45But when rapper Jay Kwan released his hit single, Tipsy, he was only 17 years old.
17:50Here comes the three to the two to the one
17:52Homeboy trippin', he don't know I got the...
17:55And at the top of the song, he admits to having a fake ID.
17:58That might not be legally admissible evidence, but Tipsy is definitely guilty of being one catchy song.
18:04The lyrics aren't deep, but it's a song made not for deep analysis, but for starting a party and keeping it going.
18:10Despite the success of Tipsy, Jay Kwan's career mostly stalled.
18:20The party is fun.
18:21The morning after, not so much.
18:23Number 10, He Loves You Not
18:25Dream
18:26When you think of famous girl groups, names like Spice Girls and Destiny's Child spring to mind.
18:31But does Dream ring a bell?
18:33The members of this group, signed to Diddy's Bad Boy Records, were all teenagers when they released their debut single,
18:39He Loves You Not.
18:40This confident pop song about standing up to a romantic rival wasn't exactly beloved by critics,
18:52but it made it to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
18:55What song kept it from the number 1 spot?
19:05None other than Independent Women Part 1 by Destiny's Child.
19:09Though Dream seemed poised to be the next big girl group, they were hit by lineup shifts and declining sales.
19:15In 2003, the dream was over.
19:18Number 9, The Ketchup Song
19:20Acereje
19:21Lost Ketchup
19:22If you didn't know better, you might think The Ketchup Song is a novelty song about a certain condiment.
19:27But it's actually a Latin pop song about a clubgoer who loves the Sugarhill Gang's rapper's delight.
19:37With its mix of English and Spanish lyrics, the Ketchup Song will make you proud to be bilingual.
19:43And plenty of us memorized its hip-shaking dance.
19:46But while the song topped the charts in numerous countries, it only managed to hit number 54 in the US.
19:59If it hit number 57, do you think they could have gotten an endorsement deal with Heinz?
20:04Number 8, Lips of an Angel
20:06Hinder
20:07The title Lips of an Angel suggests a tender romance ballad.
20:11While this song by Oklahoma City rocker's Hinder is about love, it's a lot more dramatic than most love songs.
20:17It's funny that you're calling me tonight
20:23Frontman Austin John receives a late-night phone call from an old flame while his current girlfriend is nearby.
20:29But it seems like the passion hasn't burned out.
20:32Whether they related to the lyrics, got hooked on the chorus, or anything else, audiences loved Lips of an Angel.
20:38And it topped the charts in Australia and New Zealand.
20:41Coming from the lips of an angel
20:44Hearing those words, it makes me weak
20:48Although Hinder's later material didn't make the same impact, Lips of an Angel was still one of the biggest rock songs of the 2000s.
20:56Number 7, Bad Day
20:58Daniel Powder
20:59There's no one formula for crafting a number one song, but it's always good to write about relatable subjects.
21:05Everyone knows what it's like to have a bad day, which helped this song by Daniel Powder become such a big hit.
21:18The song doesn't go into specifics, meaning listeners can easily insert themselves into the narrative.
21:23Powder probably had plenty of good days after its release, as this was deemed the most popular song of 2005 by Billboard.
21:30It may be cheesy, but it's also the perfect pick-me-up on a day when nothing has gone right.
21:43Number 6, Butterfly
21:45Crazy Town
21:46Rap rock isn't exactly known as a sensitive genre, so we can appreciate Butterfly for being a change of pace with its lyrics about love and affection for a partner.
21:55Revolving around a Red Hot Chili Peppers sample, the song is unapologetic in its sentimentality.
22:08Of course, even when they're being romantic, Crazy Town can't help but to be crass, particularly with a certain line about a tongue ring.
22:15Many listeners felt the love, as Butterfly made it to number one on the Billboard charts.
22:25But they didn't go crazy for the band's other material, and this song, along with Crazy Town, is mostly remembered as a relic of the 2000s.
22:33Number 5, Graduation
22:35Friends Forever
22:36Vitamin C
22:37Graduation tends to be a bittersweet experience, as it combines the excitement of starting a new chapter with the sadness of saying goodbye to people you care about.
22:46This song, by American pop singer Vitamin C, became a staple of graduating classes with its universal lyrics about saying goodbye to your friends while also spreading your wings.
23:02Though it was released more than 20 years ago, the lyrics can apply to pretty much any graduating class today.
23:09We will still be friends forever
23:14It's hard to say goodbye, but as this song demonstrates, the closing of one door can mean the opening of another.
23:20Number 4, All the Things She Said
23:22Tattoo
23:23How did Russian duo Tattoo's song All the Things She Said get so big?
23:28Was it the catchy chorus or the electronic production?
23:31While those elements certainly helped, the biggest thing had to be its scandalous music video.
23:42At a time when the conversation on LGBTQ plus rights was much different, here was a video about two teenage girls in love, complete with kissing in the rain.
23:51Unsurprisingly, the video caused a stir, with many finding it exploitative.
23:56But as we know, controversy sells, and all the things she said topped the charts in numerous countries.
24:07The group released a few more albums before splitting in 2011.
24:11This is one tattoo that was not permanent.
24:14Number 3, Stars Are Blind
24:16Paris Hilton
24:17During the 2000s, it felt like the radio was one of the only places you could escape Paris Hilton's ubiquitous presence.
24:24That is, until the release of Stars Are Blind, her reggae-infused lead single from her first album, Paris.
24:35What was more surprising than Paris Hilton making a reggae song is that it actually turned out to be pretty good.
24:40While fairly disposable, Stars Are Blind is the kind of summer song we don't get enough of.
24:45Hilton's music career didn't see much traction, but something tells us she could get by without that extra income.
24:51Even though the gods are crazy, even though the stars are blind
24:56Number 2, Stacy's Mom
24:59Fountains of Wayne
25:00Power pop band Fountains of Wayne had already earned plenty of love from critics, but Stacy's Mom was the song that really put them in the spotlight.
25:08A song about a crush on a friend's mom might not seem like an obvious choice for a Top 100 hit, but Stacy's Mom evidently proved too catchy to resist, and was even nominated for a Grammy.
25:26This song might have been the bane of girls named Stacy and their mothers in the 2000s, but we can't deny how fun it is to hear, even after all these years.
25:35Stacy's Mom has got it going on
25:39She's all I want and I've waited for so long
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25:59Number 1. Who let the dogs out?
26:02Baja Men
26:03There was one question on everyone's mind in the year 2000. Who let the dogs out?
26:08We weren't looking for an answer, but we couldn't get this song out of our heads.
26:12A cover of Trinidadian musician, Anselm Douglas' song Doggy, this song is not about canines. It's actually about women standing up to chauvinistic men. However, many found it to be more annoying than empowering, especially with the barking in the chorus.
26:34Who let the dogs out?
26:42The song still managed to become a hit around the world and win a Grammy for best dance recording. More than 20 years later, we still don't know who exactly let the dogs out.
26:51Which corny one-hit wonder did we forget to add? Let us know in the comments.
26:56Take care of your mom, baby
27:03And I'll see you in the comments.
27:13I know the stars are black.
27:16I know the stars are black
27:19I know my stars are black
27:20I know the stars are black
27:21I know the stars are black
27:23I know the stars are black
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