The Best Songs of the New Millenium (Part 3 of 3)

The past two weeks, I've posted a bunch of songs that I thought were the best of the best of this decade so far. If you haven't read them yet, check out part 1 and part 2.

I've also forgotten some songs which deserved to be on the list, perhaps maybe in the top ten. One noteworthy song is 'Breathe Your Name' by Sixpence None the Richer. This was my top song for 2002. Did I mention that Leigh Nash looks stunning in the music video? A departure from her traditional Christian girl look. One other track to check out is 'Out of my League' by Stephen Speaks, I love the lyrics of that song.

Alright, here are the top five songs of the decade so far. In other words, the best songs that were released from the year 2000 up to the present. I've gone over the list numerous times, changing the order of the rankings more than once, evaluating each song meticulously to make sure I got it right. My top 3 picks are mostly even with each other, and each is a number one song in its own right. Depending on how gracefully these songs age, we could reorder them again when we come to the end of the decade.

One last thing, I reserve the right to be biased as it makes life more interesting.


5. Nobody's Fool - Avril Lavigne

I didn't take Avril Lavigne's first CD seriously. I thought she was a passing fad, popular at the moment, but easily forgotten. This song proves me wrong. And I also feel a little silly for making this number five but what the heck, it's one of my personal favorites. She raps, she sings, the song makes you feel good while listening to it, and it's about liberation and empowerment (I guess targeted for teenagers, but I'll ignore that just so I can enjoy this). Unexpectedly good and very underrated track.

4. No Phone - CAKE

This is from CAKE's latest CD and one of their best songs yet. I must warn you, the tune is extremely addictive and catchy. You will find yourself chanting over and over again to yourself "no phone". This song also has special meaning to me, as it captures my dislike for cellphones and its influence over modern society. No phone, no phone, I just want to be alone today. It just captures my whole emotion of despondence coupled with a lack of caring. Ten years from now, this song will be even ten times better.

3. Complicated Man - Minnie Driver

I was blown away with this song the first time I heard Minnie Driver sing it live on a late night talk show. I didn't even know she could sing. This song is very cool. Imagine an 80's style melody, combined with Driver's easy jazz type vocals, topped with some modern flair and interesting lyrics. By the way, I'm still looking for the complete lyrics to this song and for it be properly released as a single, rather than a bonus track in a Japanese Import CD. More than a year after first hearing it, I'm still not tired of listening. Plus I love murmuring the opening line of the song: "You turned out to be an ass like me..."

2. Then the Morning Comes - Smash Mouth

For some reason, I entirely missed hearing this masterpiece by Smash Mouth back in 2001. I heard the David Benoit instrumental version first, thinking this was some fine piece of work by Benoit. Only later to find out that this was actually an original Smash Mouth tune. To paraphrase Jim from The Office, I'm in love with this song. I wanna be more than friends with 'Then the Morning Comes'. It comes close to musical perfection. First of all, the singing and melody are extremely catchy and unique. You haven't listened to anything close to this. The lyrics are also something special, check this out:

You are you foe
Your friend
You are the paparazzi
You are the tragedian

Here's my favorite part:

And when it comes it moves so slow
Kinda like it's saying I told you so
Looking back before she goes
Tomorrow's gonna hurt

The words are kind of tough to decipher, and I guess it will mean different things to different people. Fortunately, I can personally relate to the lyrics. It's like it was describing my life in this decade. It's not often you get a song that is cool and personal at the same time. Makes me wonder why this isn't the number one.

1. In The End - Linkin Park

I'd like to congratulate Linkin Park for creating one of the best pure kickass songs ever made. This is a song about anger, betrayal, and revenge - in that precise order. It has every negative emotion you can find and that's why it's so good. The rap part is cool and calculating, the singing is intense and emotional. There's a story that's told that has a beginning and an ending. One of the best parts is the part where the lead vocal sings the same verse twice: "I've put my trust in you, pushed as far as I can go..." The first time is quite mellow, almost pleading. Then it repeats the same line, but this time with a more furious tone of voice. Same verse, entirely different meaning, pure genius. This song will age well over the next decades and will grow into a classic. And its popularity matches its quality which is a rare thing for a hit nowadays.

There you have it, the best songs of the new millenium. We're just about past the halfway point of this decade and I'm predicting the best song of this current time is still yet to be written.