- 5 months ago
These ladies dominated the airwaves and shaped the sound of a generation! Join us as we count down the most influential solo female vocalists of the 2000s. From jazz-infused Norah Jones to pop princess Britney Spears, these women conquered charts, redefined genres, and left their mark on music history. Which diva's voice defined your millennium memories?
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00:00I cheated myself, like I knew I would.
00:08Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most renowned female musicians who made a significant impact on music in the 2000s.
00:17We'll only be considering solo artists, as female groups and female fronted bands deserve their own lists.
00:2320. Nora Jones
00:33When she released her debut album, Come Away With Me, in 2002, Nora Jones was only 22 years old, but her voice carried the weight of someone far beyond her years.
00:44That smoky voice made Jones a breath of fresh air.
00:48But you'll be on my...
00:53Come Away With Me was very unusual, with its unique blend of jazz, country, folk, and pop, and it completely defied expectations.
01:02The album sold over 27 million copies and earned Jones five Grammys in one night.
01:09Come away with me and we'll kiss on a mountain top.
01:16She followed up with 2004's Feels Like Home and 2007's Not Too Late, both of which topped the charts and went on to sell millions.
01:26By the end of the decade, this soft-spoken pianist had redefined pop music and emerged as one of its most distinctive voices.
01:34Surprise, surprise, surprise, never something I could hide when I see...
01:4119. Kylie Minogue
01:44After dominating the late 80s and early 90s, Kylie Minogue experienced a career lull, but she made a dazzling return in the 2000s, most notably with her 2001 album, Fever.
01:56Powered by Can't Get You Out Of My Head, which topped the charts in over 40 countries, Fever went multi-platinum worldwide.
02:10It also featured Come Into My World, which won Minogue her first Grammy Award.
02:15For more to home, come, come into my world.
02:23Throughout that decade, Minogue churned out a string of dance pop hits, each taking on a new persona and distinct perspective.
02:30Even after a brief hiatus due to a breast cancer diagnosis, Minogue returned with her tenth album X in 2007 and a triumphant world tour.
02:41Hers would be a regular comeback story, but her resilience, reinvention and pure pop power have made her a true 2000s icon.
02:5818. Ashanti
03:00Even before releasing her solo music, Ashanti was already making history, becoming the first woman to hold the top two spots on the Hot 100 with Always On Time and What's Love.
03:21When her self-titled debut album dropped in 2002, it became clear why.
03:34Led by the chart-topping breakup anthem Foolish, the album showcased Ashanti as a powerful new voice in R&B.
03:41It earned her the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album and set her on a path to global stardom.
03:50While her follow-ups didn't get the same critical acclaim, both went multi-platinum.
04:03Despite career setbacks caused by the legal troubles of her label boss Irv Gotti, Ashanti's music and style undeniably shaped the sound and fashion of the 2000s.
04:1317. Carrie Underwood
04:23One of the biggest success stories from American Idol, Carrie Underwood won the show's fourth season and quickly established herself as a country powerhouse.
04:33Her debut single, Inside Your Heaven, shot straight to number one on the Hot 100, a rare feat for a country artist.
04:41On her first album, Some Hearts, Underwood showcased the commanding vocals everyone had come to love, while swapping some of her farm girl charm for a grittier edge, especially on Before He Cheats.
05:00That song, as well as Jesus Take the Wheel, proved she had crossover appeal.
05:13As she released more albums, Underwood brought a high-gloss approach to country music, layered with infectious synths and thunderous arena guitars.
05:22Yet beneath the sheen, the righteous rage of that bat-swinging heroine remained intact.
05:3516. Sierra With her 2004 debut single, Goodies, Sierra made an unforgettable entrance into the music scene and instantly became known as the First Lady of CrunknB.
05:48Sierra positioned herself as a bridge between hip-hop and R&B, and used all of her music and performance skills to reflect that vision.
06:05Her first album delivered high-energy, danceable hits like the Missy Elliott-assisted One-Two-Step.
06:10But then, going into her second album, The Evolution, Sierra seemingly flipped a switch, embracing a more sensual sound, most notably on the Prince-inspired track Promise.
06:28Just two albums in, Sierra had already proven she had smooth vocals, polished dance moves, and a unique sonic mashup of genres, qualities that often take other artists many years to develop.
06:4715. Nelly Furtado
06:54When this Canadian singer debuted in 2000, no one knew what box to put her in.
07:09Her first album, Whoa Nelly, was a playful blend of folk, rock, urban pop, and R&B that earned her a Grammy for the breakout hit, I'm Like a Bird.
07:18Before the end of the decade, Furtado would take flight into a radically different territory, finding full liberation on the 2006 album, Loose.
07:36Teaming up with producer Timbaland, Furtado showcased a more provocative side with the global smash hits Promiscuous, Maneater, and Say It Right.
07:45Oh, you don't need nothing at all to be.
07:54She continued to push her boundaries, releasing the Spanish album, Mi Plan, which won her a Latin Grammy Award.
08:00A constantly evolving artist, Furtado is easily one of the most versatile female singers of the 2000s.
08:0715. Gwen Stefani
08:17Few artists captured the eclectic spirit of the 2000s quite like Gwen Stefani.
08:22She first rose to fame as the lead singer of No Doubt, but launched a solo career after the band went on hiatus.
08:35Her debut album, Love Angel Music Baby, featured a wide range of songwriters and producers, resulting in a sound that was chaotic in the best way.
08:45It produced the ubiquitous Hollaback Girl, which topped the charts and became the first digital single to sell over a million copies in the US.
08:54Few times I've been around that track, so it's not just gonna happen like that, so there ain't no Hollaback Girl.
09:00Stephanie continued her hot streak with the 2006 album, The Sweet Escape, whose title track was simply inescapable, breaking into the top ten in several countries.
09:11No Doubt, Stefani's explosion of sound and style paved the way for many artists after her.
09:2413. Amy Winehouse
09:27A once-in-a-generation artist, Amy Winehouse's impact stretches far beyond the decade she reigned supreme.
09:35She first came onto the scene in 2003 with Frank, a jazz-inspired album whose brutally honest songwriting landed Winehouse on the Mercury Prize shortlist.
09:46But this was only a glimpse of her immense talent.
09:57Her true breakthrough came with Back to Black, which revived Retro Soul for a new generation with hits like You Know I'm No Good and Rehab.
10:06And it wasn't in sound alone. Winehouse brought the beehive hair and Motown flair of 60s girl groups back into the mainstream.
10:22Back to Black might have been the apex of her way-too-brief career, but it burned a flame that lit the path for artists like Adele and Lady Gaga, who emerged at the tail end of the decade.
10:34You go back to her and I go back to her.
10:4112. Mary J. Blige
10:44Already crowned the queen of hip-hop soul in the 90s, Mary J. Blige entered the new millennium with a renewed purpose – to mature as an artist.
11:01She launched the decade with 2001's No More Drama, which gave us the empowering title track as well as her first Hot 100 No. 1 single, Family Affair.
11:12Let's get it prunk-up on it, prunk-up on a fция commissioned, and that's why we got yaa'll open on it.
11:19Following the lukewarm reception of 2003's Love and Life, Blige made a triumphant comeback in 2005 with The Breakthrough.
11:28The album debuted at number 1, sold over 3 million copies in the US, and earned her
11:33a long overdue win for Best R&B Album.
11:37If the 90s were about finding her voice, the 2000s were when she mastered it and used it
11:42to captivate the world.
11:58Just a small-town girl from Burlston, Texas, this powerhouse vocalist sang her way to Hollywood
12:05in 2002.
12:07And by winning American Idol, Kelly Clarkson not only became perhaps the first reality
12:12sensation of the 21st century, but she proved the show's worth for young, talented artists.
12:18Her debut album unsurprisingly hit number 1, but then came 2004, when Kelly released Breakaway
12:34and thoroughly owned the pop-rock vibe.
12:44She had the personality and the voice going for her, and once the entire pop-star persona
12:49came together, Kelly's message extended far beyond the Billboard charts.
13:02This Canadian rocked the pop-punk vibe when her contemporaries were still selling bubblegum
13:07pop.
13:08Although Avril Lavigne was only 17 when her iconic debut single, Complicated, dropped,
13:14her confidence transcended the usual posturing of the time.
13:29A sophomore slump?
13:31Not with Avril, as she released a number 1 album with Under My Skin in 2004.
13:36Don't try to tell me what to do, don't try to tell me what to say.
13:44And came through again with the best damn thing three years later.
13:47You make me so hot, make me wanna drop, you're so ridiculous, I can barely stop.
13:54As the world transitioned into the era of YouTube, Avril's unique aesthetic offered up an alternative
14:00to the more girly pop productions, all the while establishing her as a fashion icon as well.
14:06I'm sorry girl, but you missed out, well tough luck, that boy's mine now.
14:12Number 9, Pink.
14:14In early 2000, this forceful lady hit the scene with that fresh pink cut, a toned physique,
14:20and a sound that conveyed a willingness to mix it up.
14:23Lyrically, Pink cut a little deeper than most, touching on themes of isolation and heartbreak.
14:38Yet she's also been known to pump out a party anthem here and there.
14:42Get this party started, get this party started.
14:48This woman truly worked during the 2000s, releasing five studio albums and delivering on stage with acrobatic performances.
15:04Surprisingly, Pink never landed a number one US album during the decade.
15:09But she was the epitome of consistency and pure artistry in a world of evolving trends.
15:18Number 8, Missy Elliott.
15:29For the first half of the Naughties, Missy Elliott kept the competition in check,
15:34because she always brought something new to the table.
15:37The flow, the videos, the dance routines.
15:39Missy got her freak on and essentially passed the torch to a new generation.
15:51She was out.
15:52Six studio albums and that was it from Missy E.
15:56By collaborating with her existing crew of Timbaland and Pharrell Williams.
16:12Missy put her mark on the music industry and made sure that no one could touch her creative vibe.
16:17Number 7, Shakira.
16:26The hips, the voice, that Colombian flavor.
16:29When Shakira dropped her English debut in 2001, America essentially went nuts.
16:34And how could you not?
16:36It was laundry service, a blend of potent pop hits complemented by the singer's natural Latin American aesthetic that established her as an international star.
16:51Whenever, wherever, we're meant to be together.
16:55I'll be there and you'll be near, and that's the deal, my dear.
17:00The crossover was a success, and Shakira continued with ease as she teased North America with her album Oral Fixation.
17:08La Tortura, Hips Don't Lie.
17:10Oh baby, when you talk like that, you make a woman go mad.
17:15So be wise and keep on reading the signs of my body.
17:20For the larger part of the 2000s, Shakira just may have been the most influential Latin American singer in the world, blending sexuality with her beautifully feminine vocals.
17:39Number 6, Rihanna.
17:42Before she became a billionaire mogul, Rihanna was a teenager from Barbados with a dream, and a voice that couldn't be ignored.
17:50After signing to Def Jam Records in 2005, Rihanna released her debut single, Ponde Replay, a dancehall-infused track that immediately set her apart.
18:00Come, Mr. DJ, somebody replay.
18:02Come, Mr. DJ, want to jump the music up?
18:04All the girl, one day dance, we're wanting some more.
18:07While her early music reflected her Caribbean roots, she shifted towards mainstream pop with 2007's Good Girl Gone Bad.
18:15Featuring hits like Umbrella and Don't Stop the Music, Rihanna showed she was not just a flash in the pan.
18:22She was here to stay.
18:32Her newfound edgy image was solidified with Rated R, which came just at the close of the decade.
18:38By 2009, Rihanna had scored multiple number one singles, won her first Grammy, and established herself as a beauty and fashion trendsetter.
18:55Number 5, Christina Aguilera.
18:58All you need to do is explore the sounds of 2002's Stripped and 2006's Back to the Basics to understand the pop genius of Christina Aguilera.
19:07Sweet sugar candy man.
19:14As far as image, Christina seamlessly executed the transition from packaged darling into dirty Extina.
19:21But of course, she needed a voice like no other to stay relevant.
19:25And that she had.
19:26The latter part of the decade found Miss Aguilera out of the spotlight.
19:40But even her Christmas and Spanish language albums demonstrated that she understood not only how the industry worked, but also why.
19:47Number 4, Alicia Keys.
19:57Born in the Big Apple and born to perform, this R&B vocalist sprung up on everybody's radar with her 2001 single, Fallin'.
20:05Achieving commercial and critical success, Alicia Keys' eclectic discography has long held a place in the hearts of many listeners.
20:24Aside from the sentimental angle, however, she continued to evolve throughout the decade.
20:37As three of her four albums released throughout the decade topped the Billboard charts while the element of freedom peaked at number two.
20:44Exploring beats, rhymes, and life, both personally and professionally, Alicia brought the retro back, thus allowing an artist like Nora Jones to reach her full potential.
21:01Number 3, Jennifer Lopez.
21:04Contrasting the more global sound of Shakira during the early part of the 2000s, JLo dominated American pop culture with her blend of hip-hop and R&B.
21:14Of course, she began the decade with a certain amount of clout already, but even so, a lasting music career was no guarantee before the release of 2001's JLo.
21:30An impressive crossover artist, and certainly in touch with her Latin American roots, Jennifer Lopez established herself as perhaps one of the last American icons of the pre-YouTube era, and that's why they call her Jenny from the Block.
21:54Number 2, Beyonce.
21:55While some musicians tap into cultural trends with hopes of staying relevant, others realize their importance on a higher level and become a brand.
22:21And, well, Beyonce just operates on a different level than most.
22:33From 2003's Dangerously in Love to B-Day to I Am Sasha Fierce, Beyonce brought us into her world on a personal level.
22:42While still remaining elusive, and that's a testament to her supreme talent as a vocalist and performer.
22:53All that meaning, Beyonce is so good that consumers don't always understand what it takes, both personally and professionally.
23:01She's a top-level singer, but it's the creative vision that makes her a mythical figure to some.
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23:29Number 1, Britney Spears.
23:41In the 2000's, many pop artists emerged and contributed heavily to existing trends.
23:47But here's an icon that established her own precedent.
23:50Whether or not you like Britney Spears' music, it's important to remember the context of her initial fame and how she affected the landscape of her genre.
24:07With 2000's Oops I Did It Again, she referenced bubblegum pop ideology.
24:12Yet it became clear that she was searching for something more, trying to find herself as a woman while progressing as an artist.
24:19Though her career didn't come without a few speed bumps, Britney ultimately came out a pop culture icon and set the tone for 21st century pop music.
24:39Which of these female musicians left the most indelible impact on you?
24:50Let us know in the comments below!
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