80. Faith Hill - "Breathe" (2000)
Courtesy Warner Bros.
This is the title song from Faith Hill's first #1 country and pop album. It is also where she established herself firmly as a top pop as well as country star. The song was nominated for a Grammy as Song of the Year and Faith Hill won the Grammy for Country Female with "Breathe."
79. Shakira - "Whenever, Wherever" (2002)
Courtesy Sony
This was Colombian singer Shakira's breakthrough from Latin charts into mainstream pop territory. It was her first English language single and the first single from her debut English language album Laundry Service.
78. My Chemical Romance - "Teenagers" (2007)
Courtesy Reprise Records
The first thing you'll notice in listening to My Chemical Romance's "Teenagers" is the sure touch with old-fashioned pop-rock hooks in the song. It serves the song exactly how an irresistible hook should.
In "Teenagers," My Chemical Romance depict current society as one in which teenagers are watched for any inkling of getting out of line with enforced norms. They are seen as simply fodder for advancing the goals of adults in power. The response, according to the song, is violence. It's a warning and explanation that have been made before, but rarely so directly in mass popular culture.
77. Outkast featuring Sleepy Brown - "The Way You Move" (2003)
Courtesy La Face Records
This is the smooth soul companion to OutKast's "Hey Ya!" It was primarily put together by Big Boi and followed "Hey Ya!" to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
76. Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" (2008)
Courtesy Columbia Records
This will probably be best remembered for its stunning, iconic black and white video. However, the song itself presents Beyonce standing up strongly for the women out there who are still single and putting men on notice how to treat them best.
75. Britney Spears - "Piece Of Me" (2007)
Courtesy Jive Records
Put down the tabloid and listen to Britney Spears on this second single from the album Blackout. She may indeed have serious serious personal problems, but this is quite simply a woman fighting back against what she perceives as injustice with fierce anger bubbling beneath the service of an extraordinarily sexy electro instrumental track. Rarely has a pop star so effectively answered critics.
74. Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell - "Drop It Like It's Hot" (2004)
Courtesy Doggystyle
Hit recordings don't get much more spare and simple in construction than this. Rapper Snoop Dogg went to the top of the pop singles chart for the first time here, and it solidified the Neptunes' stellar reputation in the upper ranks of top pop producers of the decade.
73. Missy Elliott - "Work It" (2002)
Courtesy Goldmind
Missy Elliott and producer Timbaland paid strong tribute here to old school hip hop. The result was a #2 pop single for ten long weeks.
72. Mary J. Blige - "Be Without You" (2006)
Courtesy Geffen Records.
For "Be Without You" Mary J. Blige hooked up with songwriting and production professionals from Jermaine Dupri's So So Def music group. The song's central plea for couples to look deep into their hearts and stay together if they find true love fits Mary J. Blige like a glove.
71. Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me" (2009)
Courtesy Big Machine
Somehow teenager Taylor Swift made teen love, angst, and romance sound incredibly fresh again with this song. It became the first country song to top Billboard Hot 100 radio airplay chart. The song itself is like a mini movie which is played out even more explicitly in the video.
