Overplayed and saturated with cheese, these songs from the 2000s often evoke a strong response. Whether it’s nostalgic fondness or outright distaste, there’s still no denying that these songs once landed high up on the Hot 100 chart. At some point, these songs were unironically beloved, and that fact can’t be denied.
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“Pinch Me” — Barenaked Ladies
“Pinch Me” was released in 2000 on Barenaked Ladies album Maroon. It stuck in the Top 10 in the band’s native Canada, and came in at No. 15 in the U.S. on the Hot 100, and No. 2 in the Top 40. It remains a relatively popular song in the band’s discography, keeping with the usual kinetic lyric delivery.
While it didn’t reach the meme-level popularity of the band’s big 1998 hit, “One Week,” it still toes the line between goofy and witty. It’s enough to be a little tiring when you hear it multiple times, but also enough to recognize that it’s still a great song.
“Learn To Fly” — Foo Fighters
This song was heavily featured in the video game Rock Band, which is responsible for my personal lack of enthusiasm for it now. Once you’ve played this song over and over again trying to get a perfect score, the novelty starts to wear off.
However, “Learn To Fly” remains a hugely popular Hot 100 hit. It came in at No. 19 on the chart, making this Foo Fighters’ first entry on the Hot 100. There’s no doubt that it’s still a great song, one of many that carry the legacy of the iconic band.
“Kryptonite” — 3 Doors Down
As the debut single for 3 Doors Down, “Kryptonite” was a strong opener to the band’s sound and attitude. However, as time wore on, this song played constantly on the radio. It became more of a nuisance than anything, but there’s merit to its edge of corniness.
“Kryptonite” reached No. 3 on the Hot 100, making it the band’s highest-charting song on the list. It also stayed at No. 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart for 11 weeks, and the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for nine weeks. It has style and attitude, and, while a little dated, these things make it last.
“Higher” — Creed
“Higher” was released on Creed’s second album, Human Clay. It reached No. 7 on the Hot 100, staying there for a whopping 57 weeks. This made it Creed’s longest-charting song on the Hot 100. Miraculously, “Higher” was actually the result of the band improvising during live shows when they didn’t have that much material.
Similar to the effect of “Kryptonite,” this song has a particular attitude that makes it last beyond its meme appeal. While it has been overplayed over the years, there’s just something about a Creed song. It unlocks an ancient, dormant part of the brain that yearns for the simplicity of mainstream 2000s rock.
Photo by Jon Super/Redferns
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