If pop music serves any function, it’s an attempt to capture a listener with an incomparable chorus. A good pop song has to have a stellar refrain. Without it, it can never hope to steal audiences from the millions of other pop songs trying to do the same thing. The three throwback pop songs from the 2000s below have excelled in earning listeners with their choruses. It’s impossible not to sing along to these pop hooks.
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Videos by American Songwriter
“Since U Been Gone” — Kelly Clarkson
While you may not be able to actually sing along to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” note-for-note, it doesn’t stop you from trying. In fact, I don’t know of anyone who can keep completely quiet during this 2004 banger. The chorus is anthemic, cathartic, and perfectly tailored to elicit a sing-along from a crowd.
The only thing better than the chorus of this 2000s pop song is its bridge. Clarkson somehow levels the song up with just a few key lines before launching right back into the unparalleled chorus. It’s pretty much a perfect song from start to finish, but it also has high points that keep the listener coming back.
“Bye Bye Bye” — NSYNC
Circling back to the top of the decade, NSYNC’s 2000 release, “Bye Bye Bye,” has to be one of the most well-known choruses ever. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a boy band fan, you likely know at least the titular line of this song.
Between the pitch-perfect melody and the dance in the music video, this pop hit is impossible to sit still or quiet for. Even if you don’t want to, you’ll find yourself singing, “I know that I can’t take no more / It ain’t no lie / I want to see you out that door / Baby, bye, bye, bye.”
“I Gotta Feeling” — The Black Eyed Peas
Moving forward to the end of the decade, we have The Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling.” This party anthem epitomized late-00s optimism. Almost every pop artist was trying to combat the recession of the era with bright, sparkly, keeping-the-night-going songs. Few did this as well as The Black Eyed Peas did here.
Even now, over a decade since it was released, this song manages to lift spirits. It’s nearly impossible not to be affected by the positivity in this track. You can try not to sing along to this hit, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more enticing chorus.
(Photo by: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
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(Original Caption) A singer called Joni. Joni Mitchell, Canadian singer-songwriter, United Kingdom, 1968. The guitar-pickin' gal is Joni Mitchell, a long blonde haired Canadian folk singer. Pictured last night outside the Revolution club, Joni is here (until 1st October) for radio, television and concert appearances. Apart from concert appearances, 25 year old Joni will be heard on "Top Gear" on Radio One and "The Monday Show" on BBC 1. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) -

English rock band the Beatles arrive at London Airport from the USA, with their manager Brian Epstein (1934 – 1967, in coach doorway), 2nd September 1965. From left to right, John Lennon (1940 – 1980), George Harrison (1943 – 2001), Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. (Photo by George Stroud/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -

Elvis Presley and Scotty Moore (left) performing on The Milton Berle Show at NBC's Hollywood studio, Los Angeles, California, 5th June 1956. Presley performed 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' and 'Hound Dog'. Press reaction to his performance was largely negative with his gyrating movements during 'Hound Dog' proving particularly controversial. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)





