8 Music Videos That Will Give You Major Nostalgia for the Early 2000s
The Backstreet Boys. Britney Spears. Missy Elliott. The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Juvenile. 'N Sync. These are just a few of the artists and groups that regularly appeared at the top of the music charts in the early 2000s. While the fashion, music and other pop culture trends may be considered questionable as we look back upon them now, many Americans reminisce fondly on the 2000s.
Let's look at some of the music videos that helped defined what it was like to experience taking over for the '99 and the 2000s.
"I Want It That Way"
The lead single from the Backstreet Boys' third studio album Millennium, "I Want It That Way" was released in 1999 to usher in a new sound heading into the 2000s. The song was nominated for several Grammy Awards, and reached mass popularity in more than 20 countries worldwide, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"The album sold 1.1. million copies in its first week, earned them five Grammy nominations," Christina Garibaldi wrote for MTV, while making the case that Millennium is the greatest boy band album of all time, "and made Nick Carter, A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson household names."
"Toxic"
Once upon a time, Spears owned the music charts. "Toxic," released in 2004, reached global success. The intoxicating beat, use of a number of instruments and catchy chorus made the song a top 10 single in the United States.
Directed by Joseph Kahn, Spears appears as a sultry airline stewardess. "Oh, the taste of your lips I'm on a ride/ you're toxic, I'm slippin' under/ With a taste of a poison paradise," Spears sings, pointing out her caution in consuming her love interest, as they are addictive, like a poison. "I'm addicted to you, don't you know that you're toxic?"
"Get Ur Freak On"
Known for its Bhangra influence, a style of music and dance from India, Missy teamed up with Timbaland to produce this track for her third studio album Miss E... So Addictive in 2001.
"Missy be puttin' it down, I'm the hottest 'round," the rapper says over the fast paced track that peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. "I told y'all motherfucker, y'all can't stop me now." The track helped propel Miss E... So Addictive to platinum status.
"Californication"
Released as a hit single in 2000, "Californication" was featured on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' seventh studio album Californication. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have "written a whole album's worth of tunes that tickle the ear, romance the booty, swell the heart, moisten the tear ducts and dilate the third eye," Greg Tate wrote in a 1999 Rolling Stone review of the album. "All this inside of song forms and production that reveal sublime new facets upon each hearing."
The song spent 19 weeks on the charts and made it to No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
"Back That Azz Up"
"Back That Azz Up" dropped in 1999, but is still played in parties across the country to this day. Released as the second single from Juvenile's 1998 album 400 Degreez, the track spent 30 weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The edited version is known as "Back That Thang Up." Juvenile, one of the rappers that ushered in the era of twerking, was also known for the songs "Slow Motion" and "She Get It From Her Mama."
"Bye Bye Bye"
"It might sound crazy but it ain't no lie, baby bye bye bye," were the words that many 'N Sync fans remember as the chorus from the hit single "Bye Bye Bye." The song was released in 2000, as the first single from their second studio album No Strings Attached.
The song lyrics had a hidden meaning: The song referenced the band's breakup with former manager Lou Pearlman and RCA Records, according to the Billfold. The song won a Radio Music Radio award for best song of the year in 2000 and was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2001, for record of the year and best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal.
"She Will Be Loved"
Written by Adam Levine and James Valentine, "She Will Be Loved" was a hit single from Maroon 5's 2002 album Songs About Jane. The song has sold over 3 million copies in the United States, according to Billboard. The band's breakthrough track reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was nominated for a Grammy for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal; Maroon 5 won the best new artist Grammy in 2005.
Kelly Preston, best known for she role as Avery Bishop in Jerry Maguire (1996), was featured in the music video as Levine's love interest.
"Crazy in Love"
Released in 2003, "Crazy in Love" was one of Beyoncé's first solo hits from her 2003 debut album Dangerously in Love after she launched a solo career outside Destiny's Child. Teaming up with future husband Jay Z, Queen Bey's hit stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks.
Heralded as the greatest song of the 2000s by VH1, "Crazy in Love" received many awards, notably two Grammy awards (best R&B song and best rap/sung collaboration) and was nominated for a third (record of the year).
Correction: Feb. 8, 2016
