20 songs from the 2000s you forgot you loved

In 2000, Samantha Mumba debuted as the newest pop sensation with her hit single “Gotta Tell You.” On the track, Mumba doesn’t hold her feelings back as she wants to tell her partner about how she feels about him, but she’s hoping he reciprocates. As she sings on the hook, “Don't wanna love you if you don't love me / Don't wanna need you when you won't need me, too.”

In 2001, Daniel Bedingfield released his dance track “Gotta Get Thru This,” which peaked in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. On the track, Bedingfield describes his frustrations with trying to see a potential partner, and he’s attempting to get out of his head so much. As he sings on the track, “When will I get the chance to say I love you? / I pretend that you're already mine, then my heart ain't breaking every time / I look into your eyes.”

British singer Jay Sean scored a number one hit in 2009 with his hit single “Down.” Joined by Lil Wayne, Sean uses the dance track to entice his partner into having a fun night with him. As he says on the track, “So leave it behind 'cause we / Have a night to get away / So come on and fly with me / As we make our great escape.”

In 2001, Canadian pop-punk band Sum 41 released their debut album All Killer No Filler, which featured their hit song “In Too Deep.” On the track, the band relates the perspective of a young couple who keep trying to make their relationship work. As they sing on the first verse, “We're runnin' in circles again / Just as things were lookin' up, you said it wasn't good enough / But still, we're tryin' one more time.”

In 2003, Baby Bash teamed up with Frankie J on the smooth single “Suga Suga.” Whether Bash was talking about his partner or a drug, he uses the track to describe how this one thing puts him on a natural high. Frankie lends his vocals on the hook, “You got me lifted, shifted higher than the ceilin' / And ooh-wee, it's the ultimate feelin' / You got me lifted, feeling so gifted / Sugar, how you get so fly?”

Just three years after releasing her contemporary Christian album Genuine, Stacy Orrico returned with her self-titled sophomore album, which focused more on pop and R&B styles. On the lead single “Stuck,” Orrico describes a woman who misses her previous partner. As she sings on the first verse, “I can't get out of bed today or get you off my mind / I just can't seem to find a way to leave the love behind / I ain't trippin', I'm just missin' you.”

If Michael Jackson approved covers of his songs to be released, then rock band Alien Ant Farm dropped one of the best ones with their 2001 single “Smooth Criminal.” They gave the track more of a rock edge and used the music video to pay homage to the King of Pop. 

In 2002, hip-hop duo Smilez & Southstar released their debut album Crash the Party, which featured their hit single “Tell Me.” On the track, the duo reflects on a past relationship that didn’t work out, and they’re still trying to fathom how things went south. As they say on the track, “By my side, held my head and kept me strong / Still tryna figure out where the hell we went wrong / I did what I can, young cat, bein' a man / Stayed and weathered the storm when most would've ran (I was there).”

The L.A. rap-rock band deviated from their usual sound on their single “Butterfly,” but it paid off tremendously. With a track that highlights a person’s infatuation for their partner, “Butterfly” became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

After making her first appearance on Ja Rule’s hit single “Between Me and You,” Christina Milian released her debut single “AM to PM” a year later. The party song was the perfect anthem for listeners who want to pull up to the club and hit the dance floor. 

On Avril Lavigne’s debut single “Complicated,” she’s calling out anyone who pretends to be something they are not. As she sings, “Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated? / I see the way you're / Actin' like you're somebody else, gets me frustrated.”

In 2001, pop singer Jessica Simpson released her sophomore album Irresistible, which featured the hit song “A Little Bit.” Simpson uses the track to describe herself as someone who is honest, vulnerable, and a straight shooter when it comes to her feelings in a relationship. As she sings on the first verse, “I'm not the kind of girl to sit out on sidelines / The kind of girl who doesn't say it straight from her mind / You're gonna know all that I'm feeling on the inside.”

Amanda Perez knew how to put listeners in their feelings with her hit ballad “Angel.” On the track, she reflects on a past partner who broke up with her, so now she’s asking God to send her angel to heal her broken heart. “Angel” became a top 20 song on the Billboard Hot 100, and was Perez’ signature song during performances.

Estelle may have been raised in London, but she took a liking to people hailing from the U.S. on her 2008 single “American Boy.” As she sings on the hook, “Take me on a trip, I'd like to go some day / Take me to New York, I'd love to see LA / I really want to come kick it with you / You'll be my American boy.”

In 2001, Michelle Branch released her breakout album The Spirit Room, led by the pop-rock single “Everywhere.” On the track, Branch describes how she daydreams about a potential partner. As she sings on the first verse, “Turn it inside out so I can see / The part of you that's driftin' over me / And when I wake you're, you're never there / And when I sleep you're, you're everywhere.”

R&B superstar was introduced to the world in 2005 with his debut single “Stay.” On the track, Ne-Yo realizes how sick he feels when his lover isn’t near him. As he sings on the bridge, “Did you know what you do for me? / Love you, you're my melody / Wearin' my heart on my sleeve / You're all I need.”

Pop singer Krystal Harris came onto the scene in 2001 with her hit single “Supergirl.” Also heard in the Disney film The Princess Diaries, “Supergirl” finds Harris detailing how she appears to have it all, but the one thing she doesn’t have is a partner to help her conquer the world. 

Latrelle always seemed like an artist who should’ve been bigger, especially with her single “House Party.” Produced by the Neptunes, Latrelle uses the track to let a potential partner know that she wants to spend time with them. As she sings on the hook, “There's a house party that's goin' on tonight / And I'm only invitin' you / There'll be smokin', drinkin', all of that around / There'll be so much we can do.”

Just two years after releasing their self-titled debut album, rock band Good Charlotte returned in 2002 with their sophomore album The Young and the Hopeless. On the second single “The Anthem,” the band tells the perspective of someone who doesn’t want to just coast through life, but longs for something more. 

In 2008, rapper T.I. released his sixth album Paper Trail, which featured the hit song “Dead and Gone.” Teaming up with pop star Justin Timberlake, T.I. uses the track to reflect on past behaviors and realize that he’s learned from his antics.