For almost three decades now, VH1 has been a pop culture hub for the masses, entertaining millions of viewers the world over with a celebrity-slathered assortment of reality television, music videos and outlandish TV competitions.
The "Video Hits One" channel has also been responsible for educating younger generations about the decades of music, front-page events and juicy trends that came way before our time. So far, VH1 has reached back as far as the 1970s to dish out the best songs and one-hit wonders of the past, and as of Oct. 3, it's finally brought us up to speed with the top 100 songs of the 2000s.
Although it's hard to believe it's been 10 years since some of these songs hit radio airwaves, it isn't quite as hard to figure out where some of these artists went terribly right or horrifically wrong. It's time to catch up with the list's top five artists just to see how good the last decade has been to them.
1. "Crazy in Love" — Beyonce featuring Jay-Z
First she was one of Destiny's children, then a single lady, but now the reigning queen of smash singles is getting ready to take on a whole new title: mom. And after their steamy collaboration for 2003's "Crazy in Love" video, who could expect the father to be anyone less than the Jigga Man himself? From its horn-heavy beat to Beyonce's sizzling "oh-no-no's" and Jay-Z's ever-poetic rhythmic flow, "Crazy in Love" had everyone doing the booty-pop the world over.
2. "Hey Ya!" — Outkast
Straight off the duo's double-release "Speakerboxx/The Love Below"(2003) album, "Hey Ya!" quickly shot to success as one of Outkast's most popular mainstream songs on the radio. Complete with a tinkling synthesizer and a catchy chorus that refused to be ignored, it was hard to find someone not shaking it like a Polaroid picture after the single was released. The best part? The track was followed with an equally fun video, chronicling the personalities of not one, not two but eight versions of front man Andre 3000. It doesn't get any better than that.
3. "Poker Face" — Lady Gaga
From the moment we saw a platinum blonde in a skintight, electric blue leotard slither out of the pool, one thing became immediately clear: This chick was here to stay. "Poker Face," released in 2008, was the pin pulled from the Gaga grenade, and with a slew of chart-toppers already under her belt, the world of pop culture has never been the same. From the hypnotic beat to its subtly sexual lyrics, Gaga threw herself into her character full-force and the results could not have been better.
4. "Lose Yourself" — Eminem
In 2002, if you were trying to pump yourself up before a big game (or rap battle) Eminem's Academy Award-winning "Lose Yourself" was the first song to pull up on your playlist. By keeping the beats in the background, the rapper kept his flow first and foremost, and these pulse-pounding lyrics made the track relatable back then and even today. And even though Eminem fell off the rap radar for a time, he's quickly made a comeback with the release of "Recovery" (2010) along with a stunning array of collaborations with artists from Rihanna to Bruno Mars. Even with his rocky past, Eminem has continued to prove to both fans and critics alike that he's cementing his spot in the rap hall of fame.
5. "Since U Been Gone" — Kelly Clarkson
Let's face it: Every girl (and even a few guys) has dreamed about destroying every worldly possession of the one who breaks her heart. In December 2004, "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson slipped into those shoes nicely, ripping both vocal riffs and all her ex's clothes in the breakup anthem "Since U Been Gone." It was raunchy and it was real, and with Clarkson's rafter-reaching voice to back up the rocking guitar, the song quickly became a smash for the songstress. Sure, Clarkson's been in and out of the spotlight since the hit track, but she'll always be remembered as the girl who did what a thousand girls wish they could do.
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