5 Transcendent Pop Songs from the 2000s You Should Know

The 2000s was the era for pop songs that also transcended genres. Here, these songs take turns into grunge, rock, synthpop, and R&B while still staying true to their pop roots. From Timbaland and Katy Perry, to sleeper hit-maker La Roux, to Avril Lavigne showing off her punk side, here are five songs from the 2000s that you should definitely know.

Videos by American Songwriter

[RELATED: Catchy 90s Pop Songs That I Can’t Stop Singing in My Car—and Never Will]

“Bulletproof” — La Roux

The pop song “Bulletproof” by synthpop duo La Roux was a runaway hit in the U.K. in 2009, where it debuted at No. 1 on the Singles Chart. In the U.S., however, it became a sleeper hit, landing at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and taking over the airwaves. It’s an endlessly danceable hit that essentially snuck up on all of us. Still, it’s definitely worth knowing along with the tracks “In For the Kill” and “Tigerlily.”

“I Wanna Be Bad” — Willa Ford

Released in 2001, Willa Ford’s “I Wanna Be Bad” appeared on her debut album Willa Was Here. The song was a rebellious response to Ford’s record label requesting she tone down her music, and it led to a partnership with Lava Records instead. While Ford was trying not to emulate other pop stars like Britney Spears, the comparisons were immediately made. “I Wanna Be Bad” remains her only hit song, however, it’s definitely a powerful pop song worth including on any playlist.

“The Call” — The Backstreet Boys

“The Call” dropped in 2001 as a single on The Backstreet Boys’ album Black and Blue. It’s one of their more theatrical tracks, creating a narrative in the lyrics that tells the story of the speaker cheating on his partner. The music video expands the narrative, having each Backstreet Boy playing the unfaithful boyfriend in turn. Fun fact, the bass in the song was actually Howie D farting in the recording booth. You’re welcome for that knowledge.

“If We Ever Meet Again” — Timbaland ft. Katy Perry

“If We Ever Meet Again” dropped in 2009 from Timbaland’s third album Shock Value II. According to Timbaland, The Black Eyed Peas song “I Gotta Feeling” inspired him, and he liked the looseness of singing on the track instead of rapping. “To get somebody else to sing it, it might sound too overdone. I like it better with mistakes — I make mistakes. With me singing it, it gives it a different kind of swagger to it,” he told MTV at the time.

“Losing Grip” — Avril Lavigne

While “Losing Grip” is more grunge-influenced than most of Avril Lavigne’s pop songs on her 2003 album Let Go, it’s still a great addition to any playlist. It’s about the speaker “losing grip” with her partner and letting him slip away, and Lavigne showed off her incredible rock vocals in the chorus. It’s not full-blown pop, but the sensibilities resemble her more pop-leaning songs like “Complicated” and “Sk8ter Boi.”

Featured Image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage