Sorry, busy few days. Going to finish the list tonight. I was hoping the time away would have given room for more replies.
Top 10
#10Dixie Chicks | Not Ready To Make Nice (2006)
I think the "situation" that occurred to the Dixie Chicks might be one of the most ridiculous things to happen in music this decade. It really shows the extent of hypocrisy evident in some parts of America still.
But there's a silver lining to everything and the shiniest is definitely this song. I think Not Ready To Make Nice captures everything that came out of that incident perfectly without being a political song. It's inspired by politics but I don't think it's a political song. It references what happened and how they're not going to just give in to what people think they should do. I think the best part of this song is the second verse:
I saw them perform live in 2006 and that portion of this song was probably the single-most incredible moment in music for me in my life and the applause that followed during the wailing string section was absolutely fantastic! I've never felt so proud to be in attendance of anything than I did at this moment and that alone was worth the price of the ticket.
#9Tegan and Sara | Call It Off (2007)
Tegan and Sara made one of my favourite songs of the decade and it fits in a perfect 2:22 timeframe. When they released their 2004 album So Jealous, it came out at a time when I was learning a lot about myself so listening to that record is like timetraveling back to then and re-experiencing everything all over again. Their 2007 album The Con was released following the breakup with my first boyfriend. In that sense, the CD being excellent was good but it was bittersweet because in some ways, it was the music to help me deal with that situation. The very last song on the album, however, was the most that spoke to me the most and I don't think a song had ever spoken to me so clearly and meaningful as Call It Off.
Musically, it's more simple than most of the songs on the album. Lyrically, it's complex and captures the feelings of a breakup.
These section always hit me the hardest because it's the realization that things are over but the thought that... maybe it could have worked? But maybe we'll never know. I won't be sad but I'll beat myself up over it anyway and wonder, did we make the right choice?
I think everyone needs a good breakup song. This song did that for me and I'll forever be thankful it exists.
#8Green Day | Jesus Of Suburbia (2005)
This song is a lot to take at once, but once you get into it, you've reached an awesome song! I do enjoy the overall feeling of this song as it deals with the underappreciated, unnoticed but very existent people of broken homes, runaways, people that don't fit in, outcasts, etc. While I didn't grow up in a broken home and have never really been a misfit in any way, I do somewhat feel that this song speaks to me in the sense that I know there are certain stigmas toward people that don't fit into this seeming ideal of a "perfect family" and the people that come from them and I think it's pretty depressing to know that for a lot of people in society, those types of people aren't and may never be accepted and it's pretty sad. I do very much enjoy the music video for this song as well. It does fit the song itself very well and was one of my favourite videos from the decade. Jesus of Suburbia is the definition of epic for the 2000s!
#7Killers | Mr. Brightside and Jacques LuCont's Thin White Duke Remix (2005)
While I didn't become familiar with this song until 2005, it does represent how I felt for most of the previous year. You see, in 2004, I had a huge crush on a girl. I think she was my first real interest and despite the events that have occurred since then, I do think she was probably my first love. I think, if I were straight, she could have been the one. I remember one day listening to this song and paying attention to the lyrics and being amazed and how absolutely spot-on they were.
I feel that this song is recorded and the emotion and feeling of wondering but rejection is captured perfectly and it's how I felt for most of the previous summer as she did have a boyfriend at the time. The lines "my stomach is such and it's all in my head" does protray a lot of my thoughts as well as a lot was going on in my head and yet I still kept my hopes up.
On the flipside though, the Jacques LuCont's Thin White Duke Remix is equally as good as offers up more emotional dispair in the remix that's suited for those endless nights at the crowded club with no one else but yourself to deal with. I still occasionally hear this remix at the club and it still speaks to me.
#6Frou Frou | Hear Me Out (2007)
I realize that I may be a bit depressing with my explanations for the songs I chose as my favourite of the decade. Well, that's me!
This is another post-breakup song that I favourited more recently than Call It Off. This song seems to deal more with the time after the breakup where you want things to go back to the way they were, despite what happened, the yearning to reach the stability of before is overwelming.
The music here captures what the lyrics for me. Sounds like a desolate nighttime city street. I listen to this song and feel like I'm walking in a very modern looking, brightly-lit downtown street but there's no one else in sight. Very lonely.
This line captures me the most:
because it's how I felt for a long time. Not allowing myself to let go was what made me feel like this. I wanted to let go but I wouldn't let myself do it. I didn't want to feel anything. But I did.
#5Amy Winehouse | Rehab (2007)
Finally! A song I can't relate to! But I still think this song is genius. Any song that can look at a situation and can successfully provide a different perspective of it is a winner. This song looks at the common alcohol addiction. More common than most people would want to admit. But nearly everybody that has ever had an addiction to anything, alcohol, drugs, whatever, has that period where they don't believe they do. The common denial stage. Amy is writing from that perspective.
There isn't a particular line in this song that I think stands out more than the rest because the entire song is on par with the subject. In denial. Refusing to accept there's a problem. No need to try and fix it. It's only temporary.
I think the thing about this song that does hurt it the most is that it became such a big hit and almost a parody of itself with Amy's own lifestyle. The song is likely now seen as more of a novelty and likely places Amy in a temporary one-hit-wonder category, which is too bad because lyrically, standing on its own, this is easily one of the best songs written and recorded this decade.
#4Brandi Carlile | The Story (2007)
I'm not sure what it was about The Story that captivated my full attention but when it did, it never let go since. Brandi's voice is capital on this song and I think she has one of the strongest and best voices for anyone recording music today. I think this is a wonderful love song that shows the importance of the person you're with and how you can have the most wonderful story with the best ending but without anyone to tell them to, and share them with, and do them for, it's pointless and you'll just remain silent, doing nothing.
#3Serena Ryder | Weak In The Knees (2007)
Another amazing vocalist. I remember hearing this song on the radio in the early part of summer 2007 and I was entranced. The chorus is just so innocently sweet.
Overall, the song is about how far someone would go in love, no matter how silly and to what extent, while at the same time questioning if any of it even matters. I think this song suits anyone that feels a longing for someone else.
I'll add that Serena live in concert, she's a powerhouse! Most amazing vocal performance I've seen in person.
#2Sarah Harmer | Lodestar (2000)
The first thing that I think of with this song is the imagery it provides. I always think of someone sitting in a boat in the lake at night with no moon. There's a single violin to backup the song with the light acoustic guitar and an upright bass and all compliment Sarah's sweet vocals very well. This song is another perfect example of one that builds up. 3 minutes in, the trumpet helps to bring in the climax of the song, which is what I anticipate the most whenever I hear the opening notes of the song. During the climax, when the drums kick in, there's this clever cello, which I love to hear on any song, that makes it feel so warm and comforting. I think this song is musical perfection.
#1Martina Sorbara | Bonnie & Clyde II (2002)
The first time I heard this song, I was in Grade 12. I used to use my TV as an alarm clock so it would wake up on the only music station we had at the time, MuchMoreMusic. Back then, they aired music videos at 7am. Occasionally, I'd catch the video for this particular song. After the third time or so, I finally took notice and tried to remember the artist and song title. All I knew was that she was someone I had never heard of.
I'm going to admit right now that I did somewhat force myself to like this song. The first five times or so of hearing it, nothing ever stuck out to me. But remembering back when I became a huge fan of Chantal Kreviazuk, I wanted to recreate that magic with someone else because I felt that I feeling of discovering a new artist, on your own, that you absolutely love is so rewarding and I thought maybe there was something there.
There was!
A month or two later, I bought Martina's album. It was the last CD I bought before I moved to university and was the one that help ease the transition from growing up in a town of 300 to living in a city of thousands and thousands of people. It was a big change for me. It all comes back to this song.
I feel that Bonnie & Clyde, as a song, helped me to open up more to the more-underground sound in music. Obviously still sounding fairly pop-oriented, it didn't get any radio airplay and didn't really become a hit. But I loved it anyway. Martina's sultry, sweet vocals were always spot on. The feeling of absolute freedom in the lyrics were what I felt when I lived away from home for the first time. The music was light, but still very complete.
Of any song I've listened to this song, I definitely think Bonnie & Clyde was the one I've listened to most. I know every note, every line, every single sound in the song. I've completely memorized every aspect of this song and I think it was an easy choice to decide that this would become my #1 song of the 2000s!
(unfortunately the official video isn't on youtube anymore.... which sucks because I do enjoy it)