- 3 months ago
Remember that iconic click wheel and the earbuds that were practically glued to your head? We're taking a nostalgic journey back to the golden age of portable music, exploring the unforgettable tunes that became the unofficial soundtrack for millions. From angsty anthems to dance floor fillers, these were the songs that lived on everyone's playlists, shaping an entire generation's musical tastes. Get ready to press play and relive your youth!
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00:00Grab somebody, work your body, work your body, let me see you, one, two, three.
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking back at the songs that found a home in every iPod user's playlist.
00:19Number 20, Since You've Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson.
00:30Back in 2004 and 2005, if you ever spotted someone with headphones belting their heart out,
00:37chances are they were feeling the effects of Kelly Clarkson's breakout hit,
00:42Since You've Been Gone had a life of its own, becoming the breakup anthem of the mid-2000s.
00:47To say that no one but Clarkson could sing it isn't just hype, it's a fact.
00:51Since you've been gone, since you've been gone, I can't breathe all the time.
00:58Originally passed on by Pink and Hilary Duff, Clarkson made the song her own,
01:03transforming it into a pop rock classic.
01:06With an explosive chorus backed by heavy guitars and powerful drums,
01:10it defined the iPod experience, sweeping listeners into their own world.
01:16I can't breathe all the time.
01:21Number 19, Down, Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne.
01:27Although designed for the dance floor, you didn't have to be anywhere near a club to hear this song in 2009,
01:33because when we say it was everywhere, it really was.
01:36Come on and bring your body next to me, I'll take you away, hey.
01:43With easy to sing lyrics and an upbeat chorus, the track was stuck in our heads.
01:47Topping charts and certified platinum in multiple countries, the song became a shared experience.
01:54Heard everywhere from parties, at home, at school, and of course on our iPods.
01:59Put on a show, I wanna see how you lose control.
02:06From mimicking the video's slick dance moves to singing along with its chorus,
02:10it turned listeners into performers.
02:13The only question was, are you down?
02:15Over a decade later, we still are.
02:17You'll be my only, no need to worry.
02:21Baby, are you down, down, down, down, down?
02:24Number 18, Over My Head, Cable Car, The Fray.
02:28I never knew, I never knew that everything was falling through.
02:34Ah, The Fray.
02:35Only a few bands captured the sound of a generation like they did.
02:39Their soaring ballads instantly hark us back to car drives staring out the window,
02:44imagining ourselves as stars of our own stories.
02:47And it all began with Over My Head.
02:49Layered with what became their signature sound,
02:59its melancholic vibe matched the average teen's need to be understood.
03:04The song made us feel like we weren't alone,
03:06voicing our hidden thoughts for the world to hear.
03:09The band would follow it up with How to Save a Life,
03:11an arguably bigger success that cemented their first single as a trailblazing success.
03:19All night, yeah, I know how to save a life.
03:25Number 17, Bring Me To Life, Evanescence.
03:29If there's one track that truly defines the word unskippable,
03:32it has to be this one.
03:34Can you see into my eyes, like open doors?
03:42Whether you selected it from your playlist or it happened to pop up on shuffle,
03:45the moment the first verse is hit, you were locked in until the very end.
03:49Intense, brooding, and undeniably cathartic,
03:53Bring Me To Life's raw energy makes it a feast for the senses.
03:56Wake me up inside.
03:58Wake me up inside.
04:01Call my name.
04:02From the devastating guitar riffs to Amy Lee's angelic voice,
04:06the song lifts us into an absolute storm of emotion.
04:09The iPod might be long gone, but Bring Me To Life has transcended generations,
04:14racking up over 1.5 billion views on YouTube with no end in sight.
04:26Number 16, Maneater, Nelly Furtado.
04:30Try to get through this track without moving.
04:32We dare you.
04:33This isn't just a song.
04:34It's a call to break out of your shell and run wild.
04:37Everybody gives your name to crack around.
04:41All you crazy people come and jump around.
04:44With a sultry Devil May Care beat,
04:47Nelly Furtado had listeners hipping and jiving in all the right ways
04:51to lose themselves in the moment.
04:53For many at the time, this was the perfect way to express themselves,
04:57pushing fans to let go of any fear of judgment.
05:00And when she walks, she wants the passion.
05:02When she talks, she talks that she can handle it.
05:06No matter where you were or what you were doing,
05:09Maneater made us believe that the world was our dance floor.
05:12With a groove like this, it was never about if we surrendered to the rhythm, only when.
05:16She's a man, Maneater.
05:18Make it work, oh, make it spread, oh, make it one, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
05:24Number 15, Too Little Too Late, JoJo.
05:27I was young and in love.
05:30I gave you everything, but it wasn't enough.
05:33Everyone wants that one person who just gets them.
05:36For many fans in the aughts, that person was JoJo.
05:39Bursting onto the scene with her first single, Leave, Get Out,
05:42she bridged the era's love for teen pop with the soulful rise of R&B.
05:47Taking a step further, Too Little Too Late solidified JoJo into the mainstream,
05:52reaching international success and establishing her as a teen sensation.
05:56It's just a little too late, a little too warm, and I can't wait.
06:01With its blend of soft and powerful vocals, the song conveys teen angst as if ripped straight
06:08out of every high schooler's mind.
06:10Even today, the song remains completely relatable,
06:13arguably standing as the crown jewel of JoJo's career.
06:16That's the way to live, yeah, oh.
06:23Number 14, Numb, Linkin Park.
06:26I'm tired of being what you want me to be.
06:29Feeling so faithless.
06:32For many who grew up in the aughts,
06:34Linkin Park truly announced themselves with the evergreen hit in the end.
06:38But if we're talking about replay value and constant relevance,
06:42then nothing comes close to numb.
06:43I've become so numb.
06:46I can't feel you there.
06:49Become so tired.
06:51So much more aware.
06:53There's a kind of raw release about the unbridled manner of the song's tempo,
06:57an intensity that feels entirely earned.
06:59For rock aficionados, it was a song they wouldn't just play.
07:03They'd launch it on their iPods at full blast.
07:06But not only does the song deliver a high energy rush,
07:09it also connects to listeners on an emotional level.
07:12Even today, it doesn't take much for fans to rewind back to when numb was on everyone's minds
07:18and their playlists.
07:19All I want to do
07:22is be more like me
07:24and be less like you.
07:26Number 13, Year 3000, Jonas Brothers.
07:30Heard a funny noise.
07:31Went out to the backyard to find out
07:34if we was one of those ready boys.
07:36British rock band Busted has had a dedicated fan base for over two decades,
07:40but worldwide fame has remained just a bit out of reach.
07:43That's why, for many people,
07:46Year 3000 is forever tied to the Jonas Brothers,
07:49whose cover exploded in popularity.
07:51I took a shift to the Year 3000.
07:54This song had gone multi-platinum.
07:56Everybody bought our 7,000.
07:58With joyful, clean, and family-friendly vibes,
08:01the track evokes a sense of wonder and positivity.
08:04Thanks to endless replays on Disney Channel and radio reruns,
08:08it was only natural that the song became what it was.
08:11Back then, it felt like a promise of a brighter future.
08:14Now, it's a callback to simpler times.
08:17No one appreciates its success more than busted themselves,
08:20with band member Matt Willis claiming,
08:22quote,
08:23They paid my mortgage for four years.
08:25Thank you very much, Jonas Brothers.
08:27And your great-great-great-granddaughter
08:31He's doing fine
08:33Number 12.
08:35What Goes Around Comes Around Interlude
08:37Justin Timberlake
08:38Is this the way it's really going down?
08:41Is this how we say goodbye?
08:44Future sex love sounds helped JT shed his boy band roots,
08:48and tracks like this reinvented him with a more edgy, sexy new image.
08:52The title might be confusing on the surface,
08:55but within the track,
08:55the interlude brings out all its personality.
08:58Let me paint this picture for you, baby.
09:00Yo?
09:02You're spending nights alone,
09:04and he never comes home.
09:05Its lyrics unfold like a story,
09:07evolving from desire and attraction to lust and deceit.
09:11The interlude serves as a bridge between these two worlds,
09:14maintaining a seamless rhythm that keeps the pace both engaging and sensual.
09:18While some might think the iPod generation was all about bombastic hits,
09:23songs like this proved that a seductive, slow-burning beat
09:26could be just as irresistible to the senses.
09:28Number 11, Don't Ya?
09:37The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes.
09:39Speaking of sexy vibes,
09:49the Pussycat Dolls were an act that made it their signature sound.
09:53Their take on the song,
09:54originally recorded by Tori Alamaze,
09:57remains the definitive version,
09:59still associated with the group's peak.
10:01Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me
10:04Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was A Freak Like Me
10:08Much like the attitude the dolls embodied,
10:11the song invites us to sync with its energy,
10:13transforming it into a collaborative experience.
10:16Its sassy, flirty vocals match the track's low-key style,
10:20carrying that devil-may-care swagger that gave the group its unique identity.
10:24And with the music video in constant rotation,
10:27Don't Ya solidified its appeal,
10:29as fans everywhere couldn't help but dance along to the doll's groove.
10:33Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Fun Like Me
10:36Don't Ya?
10:40Number 10, Just Dance, Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis.
10:45By the late 2000s, music fans wanted a fresh new sound.
10:48That's where Lady Gaga came in to change things forever.
10:52Keep it cool, what's the name of the club?
10:55I can't remember, but it's alright, alright.
10:58Released at the tail end of the iPod era,
11:01Just Dance reinvigorated the musical landscape,
11:04putting headphones back on ears and bodies back on the dance floor.
11:08Much like the video promises,
11:09the track brought new life to a dying party,
11:12daring listeners to ride those infectious dance waves.
11:15It's success spread into multiple markets,
11:25even kickstarting a massively successful video game franchise that bears its name.
11:30For a song with such a lasting legacy,
11:33it's wild to think that Gaga and producer Red One wrote it in just 10 minutes.
11:38But considering the career she's since cultivated,
11:40that really shouldn't come as a surprise.
11:42Number 9. Every Time We Touch.
11:54Cascada.
11:55I still hear your voice when you sleep next to me.
12:01If you're convinced you can't dance,
12:03then one spin of this timeless track might prove you wrong.
12:06Because the moment it kicks into gear,
12:08all bets are off,
12:10grabbing everyone in the room along for the ride.
12:12Because every time we touch,
12:14I get this feeling,
12:15and every time we kiss,
12:17I swear I could fly.
12:19While the song is undeniable overall,
12:21it's the chorus that hooks us all the way through.
12:24It's hard to describe the relentless rhythm
12:26that Every Time We Touch thrives on,
12:28catching us in its pull from start to finish
12:31and refusing to let go.
12:33But that's exactly the point,
12:34as the song's ability to defy explanation
12:36allowed it to transcend across decades.
12:39Can't you feel my heart beat fast?
12:42I want this to last.
12:43Need you by my side.
12:46Number 8. Glamorous.
12:48Fergie featuring Ludacris.
12:50G-L-A-N-O-R-O-U-S.
12:57In 2006,
12:58there was arguably no bigger pop star than Fergie,
13:01whose debut album delivered an astonishing
13:03five top hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
13:06The performer dabbled with multiple genres
13:09for her first album,
13:10with Glamorous taking her to the land of R&B.
13:20Blending pop with soulful music,
13:22her collaboration with Ludacris
13:24brought a truly Fergalicious flavor to audiences.
13:27The smooth, sleek tempo sets the mood
13:29for an introspective, no-frills experience,
13:33as listeners share in Fergie's taste for glamour
13:36and desire to stay grounded.
13:38No matter how you interpret its message,
13:40the track carries a warm, comfy quality
13:42that makes listeners feel both welcomed and understood.
13:46And it's been a long road
13:48when the industry is cold,
13:50I'm glad my daddy told me so he let his daughter know.
13:53Number 7.
13:54One Two Step.
13:56Sierra featuring Missy Elliott.
13:58This beat is...
13:59Automatic, supersonic, hip, naughty, funky, freck.
14:03By now, you might have realized
14:05that the aughts were full of songs
14:06encouraging us to let go of all inhibition
14:08and just dance.
14:10This one is no different.
14:11But since dance is part of its whole identity,
14:14One Two Step has stayed alive in memory
14:16for more than two decades.
14:17Thanks to simple choreography
14:25and a beat locked perfectly to its vocals,
14:28it wasn't long before the track
14:29had us all stepping up to show our moves.
14:31That popping, electro-kick style
14:33became a staple of the 2000s,
14:35and One Two Step reminds us exactly why it took off.
14:39For some, it represented freedom.
14:41For others, it was a beautiful mystery.
14:43Either way, we were all in.
14:44I love it when we want to stop.
14:47Every time I want to stop.
14:49We are back together.
14:52Number 6.
14:53Mr. Brightside.
14:55The Killers.
14:56Breakups and heartbreak.
14:57What would the iPod generation have been without them?
15:00These themes brought a wide range of classics
15:02from the era,
15:03with Mr. Brightside one of its most significant releases.
15:06It started out with a kiss.
15:08How did it end up like this?
15:10It was only a kiss.
15:11It was only a kiss.
15:13Based on lead vocalist Brandon Flower's
15:15real-life split with an unfaithful ex,
15:18the song unleashes a surge of complex
15:20and unfiltered emotions.
15:22Fueled by Flower's emotional fallout,
15:25the song's relatable energy
15:26hits us right in the feels.
15:28Cause I just can't look.
15:30It's killing me.
15:32Even if you've never had this kind of heartbreak,
15:36the song makes you live through all of Flower's pain.
15:39And yet,
15:39not only is it hauntingly powerful,
15:42it's a track that reverberates like a universal truth.
15:45Open up my eager eyes
15:49Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
15:53Number 5.
15:54Umbrella.
15:55Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
15:57Although hits like Ponda Replay and Unfaithful
16:05brought Rihanna to the public eye,
16:06it was Umbrella that marked her ascension to the A-list.
16:10In 2007,
16:11it was impossible to turn on the radio or switch on MTV
16:14without coming across this song,
16:16quickly becoming one of the most replayed tracks of the decade.
16:19When the sunshine was shining together
16:22Told you I'd be here forever
16:24With a unique mix of pop, hip-hop, and R&B,
16:28Umbrella had something for everyone.
16:30That, combined with Rihanna's fresh, distinctive vocals,
16:33was the perfect storm for a smash success.
16:36Whether you leaned into the
16:37Ella, Ella,
16:39or were more inclined to go
16:40Eh, Eh,
16:42Rihanna's genre-defining hit
16:43had us under her trance.
16:45You can stand under my umbrella
16:47Eh, Eh, Eh, Eh
16:51Under my umbrella
16:52Number 4.
16:54Starstruck.
16:55303 featuring Katy Perry.
16:57I think I should know
16:59How
17:00To make love to something innocent
17:03Without me
17:04Leave my fingerprints out
17:05Now
17:07Now, this is a real blast from the past.
17:10While Katy Perry might draw mixed opinions
17:12from today's audience,
17:13there was a time when everything she touched
17:15turned into gold.
17:17As a featured artist on 303's incredibly catchy single,
17:21Starstruck was one of her earliest success stories.
17:24Run another girl across the bar
17:27Cause L-O-V-E's not what this was
17:29Back when Silly Fun tracks were in abundance,
17:33most were hit or miss,
17:35but Starstruck managed to stand out,
17:37climbing charts across several markets.
17:40For the average iPod user,
17:42this song set the tone for a raucous good time,
17:44as the quick and upbeat chorus is easy to get lost in.
17:48If nothing else,
17:49it made sure we knew how to spell L-O-V-E,
17:51even if we never learned how to pronounce it.
18:01Number three,
18:02Whatcha Say
18:03Jason Derulo
18:04Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek
18:06may not have reached mainstream fame upon release,
18:09but a sample of the song's bridge
18:10is instantly recognizable.
18:12First popularized by The O.C., it became one of the most memed choruses across the internet.
18:26However, Jason Derulo helped make it cool again, claiming the whatcha say catchphrase as his own.
18:31Although Derulo flawlessly owns his role, many listeners waited for the chorus just to bust out their own renditions.
18:45We can't blame them either, as the catchy hook is what immortalized this song into pop culture history.
18:50And honestly, who could keep quiet when the chorus practically begs us to go,
18:55Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, what did you say?
19:01Number two, Fireflies, Owl City.
19:07A lot of us preferred to drift off to sleep with our iPods plugged in.
19:11And if there's one song that captures that experience, it would have to be Fireflies.
19:24The power of the internet was in full force by the late 2000s,
19:28as viral buzz propelled Owl City's debut single to fame.
19:32Based on frontman Adam Young's Insomnia, its lyrics give voice to familiar bouts of restlessness.
19:38Why do I tire of counting sheep?
19:41Please take me away from sheep.
19:43When I'm far too tired.
19:45The moments before drifting off to sleep are when imaginations run wild,
19:48and Fireflies wraps up our nightly musings into one song.
19:52Its synth-pop bass is designed to appeal to our curiosities,
19:56and countless fans found themselves in its dreamy embrace right before turning in.
20:01Because my dreams are bursting out the sea.
20:05Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
20:09Any LimeWire remix.
20:11Nothing screamed LimeWire pirate download,
20:14more than your favorite song cut off by a random radio tag.
20:17It's your birthday, we gonna sip the cotton like it's your birthday,
20:20and you know the day.
20:23Visit rapstars4twain.com for the hottest hip-hop and R&B.
20:27One thing, A-Marie.
20:30One thing we can agree on, this song still hits hard.
20:33It's your head, that's one thing, you know, so it is.
20:35It's this one thing you do now.
20:38She Will Be Loved, Maroon 5.
20:40We spent every day jamming to this song in every way.
20:43I don't mind spending it every day.
20:48I want your car on in the pouring rain.
20:52Summer Girls, LFO.
20:54Released before the first iPod,
20:56and yet stayed on playlists through the whole era.
20:59I like girls that wear at the crime being fitch.
21:02I'd take her if I had one wish.
21:05She's been gone since that summer.
21:07Airplanes, B.O.B. featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore.
21:10So good, it spawned its own sequel.
21:13Can we contain that airplane from the night sky?
21:16I like shooting stars.
21:18Airplanes, I can really use a wish right now.
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21:32make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
21:35Number one, Songs of Innocence, U2.
21:40Such an absolute classic.
21:43The most beautiful sound I've ever heard.
21:48That was forced into all our iTunes libraries.
21:51All right, let's stop kidding around and move on to our real number one.
21:54Number one, United State of Pop, 2009.
21:58Blame it on the pop.
21:59DJ Earworm.
22:00I got pop, I got, damn, I got fucking electronic love.
22:05Beats, I got hip hop music with the future flow.
22:08The iPod shuffle was revolutionary for changing the way we consumed music.
22:12Rather than sticking to a single playlist,
22:15it shifted the culture from album-based to song-based listening.
22:19DJ Earworm took this to a whole new level,
22:21fusing all of our favorite hits into one epic medley.
22:24Gotta get get, gotta get get, boom, boom, pow.
22:27Gotta get, gotta get this year's remix.
22:30Future sound.
22:31Known for his annual tradition of blending the year's greatest hits,
22:35the 2009 edition remains his greatest triumph yet.
22:38Even over a decade later, fans can still recall every verse,
22:43a testament to the many times they heard it over and over again.
22:46When you think of the one track that united iPod users worldwide,
22:50DJ Earworm's masterpiece easily takes the crown.
22:53Which song did you have on repeat on your iPod?
23:04Let us know in the comments.
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