Imagine this, it's Y2K, the era in which pop princesses and boy bands reigned supreme. You're wearing you're favorite Von Dutch trucker hat, you go to the store to buy actual CDs and wait until you get home from school or work to be able to catch music videos premiere IRT (in real time) on TRL.
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It's the dawn of the 21st century, before we had YouTube, iPhones or unlimited data plans and when MTV was the place we'd turn to to see the latest from pop's best and brightest and everything was baller.
Decades later, we revisit these old favorites and by doing so return to a time we spent hours draped over our parents' couches watching music video after music video. So we thought the best way to deal with our nostalgic feels was to round up a list of music videos that not only were and still are da bomb, but also happen to pretty much define the 2000s. Picking just 10 was totally whack and difficult decisions had to be made, so enjoy and please do not @ us.
1.Britney Spears - Oops I Did it Again [2000]
Classic Britney. If you look up the 2000s in the encyclopedia, you'll no doubt find the video for Spears' lead single off her sophomore album of the same name. The choreography to the chorus is arguably Spears' best-known. And basically it's a bubbly pop fever dream, complete with a reference to Titanic, a red leather unitard, and even a jaunt to Mars and it's amazing.
2.Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Pink and Lil' Kim - Lady Marmalade [2001]
Ya'll might have not known what you were saying, but you most definitely new this song, because this undeniable camp masterpiece had us all enamored and singing along. The combination of Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Pink and Lil' Kim taking on this risqué Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash tune is the definition of 2000s to its very core, but like really. Where's all my soul sistas? Lemme hear ya'll flow, sistas.
3.Pink - Get This Party Started [2001]
Even though Pink was so Missundaztood, we totally got her. And while in 2001 we were in middle school, and not getting any type of party started on a Saturday night, this song made us feel like we could, or at least sing into a hair dryer and pretend that we could.
4.Christina Aguilera - Dirrty [2002]
2002's "Dirrty" truly marked the end of an era for the one-time girl next door. And from a it a Phoenix arose, sporting uber thin eyebrows, a bikini top and leather chaps. Leading to a shift in the universe we will likely never forget, also its a freaking bop.
5.Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl [2004]
It's been 17 ears since Stefani dropped the iconic clapback track "Hollaback Girl," and tbh from her laid back Cali vibes, to all the pom poms and pomp and circumstance, it still has us saying "that's my s***" x2. Plus, we'll never forget how to spell bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S, again.
6.Britney Spears - Toxic [2004]
Yup, she did it again. Of course Britney's on here twice, she basically owned the first decade of 2000… at least. For this we only have 4 things to say; sexy stewardess vibes, riding on a motorcycle that's being driven by Tyrese, red hair Britney, and bedazzled nude body suit. That is all, take it away, Brit.
7.'NSYNC - It's Gonna Be Me [2005]
At one point in our lives, and safe to assume in yours too, 'NSYNC was EVERYTHING. So when this music video premiered in 2005, we were already very deep into our Justin Timberlake obsession and there was no going back, not that we'd even want to. From the moment the boys-as-action-figures punch through their boxes to the second they somehow morph into full-size humans and all leave the store with the same girl, we we're obsessed with it all. Also, we may or may no still have all five of the 'NSYNC bobble heads.
8.Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) [2008]
The choreography, the outfits, the black and white cinematography. Beyoncé is iconic and so is this music video. And hands down the best video of 2008 if not *Kanye voice* OF ALL TIME! (Sorry Taylor).
9.Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow [2009]
Also known as, BEP's rebirth into the "digital afterlife." Its depictions of what at the time was thought to be technology at it finest, is what makes it the very definition of the 2000s. Featuring glitches, codes and depictions of matter, the group members transform into different kinds of energy and it's all super hi-tech… well for 2009.
10.Lady Gaga - Bad Romance [2009]
Capturing the genius that is Gaga, "Bad Romance," with its mind-bending, futuristic set-pieces and elaborate plot and even more elaborate outfits (designed by Alexander McQueen) more than deserves a spot on this list. There's a pod, from which she emerges, a sci-fi sanatorium fashion show, and can we just talk about those Armadillo boots. Perfection from start to finish.
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