Best Songs of the Decade (2000-2009)
5 Jan
Artwork by Adam Sarpalius
Here are Pretty Much Amazing’s Top 75 Songs of the Decade. Below you will find the entire list with three accompanying podcasts. For our reviews of the Top 25 songs, please follow this link.
75. UGK – Int’l Player’s Anthem (feat. OutKast)
74. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
73. Interpol – NYC
72. Band of Horses – The Funeral
71. Kid Cudi – Day N Nite
70. TV on the Radio – Staring at the Sun
69. Belle and Sebastian – Step Into My Office, Baby
68. Robyn – Be Mine
67. of Montreal – Oslo In The Summertime
66. Grizzly Bear – While You Wait For The Others
65. The Streets – Blinded By The Lights
64. Rihanna – Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z)
63. MGMT – Kids
62. Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
61. The Postal Service – Such Great Heights
60. The Shins – New Slang
59. Amy Winehouse – Rehab
58. Wilco – I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
57. Vampire Weekend – A-Punk
56. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – Falling Slowly
55. Joanna Newsom – Emily
54. Justin Timberlake – My Love (feat. T.I.)
53. Sigur Rós – Gobbledigook
52. The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
51. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
AAC (iPhone/iPod): pmaCAST #22 The Best Songs of the Decade, Pt. 1 (Chapters Enabled) [ALT]
MP3: pmaCAST #22 The Best Songs of the Decade, Pt. 1 (No Chapters)
50. Coldplay – Clocks
49. Bon Iver – Skinny Love
48. Fleet Foxes – He Doesn’t Know Why
47. Animal Collective – Fireworks
46. The National – Slow Show
45. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Upon This Tidal Wave
44. Outkast – Ms. Jackson
43. Madonna – Hung Up
42. Roisin Murphy – Ramalama (Bang Bang)
41. Animal Collective – Brother Sport
40. Eminem – Lose Yourself
39. Wilco – Jesus, Etc.
38. TV on the Radio – DLZ
37. LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great
36. Arcade Fire – Intervention
35. Sufjan Stevens – Chicago
34. Dizzee Rascal – I Luv U
33. Burial – Archangel
32. The Strokes – Hard To Explain
31. The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize??
30. Radiohead – Everything In Its Right Place
29. Panda Bear – Bros
28. Sia – Breathe Me
27. Hercules and Love Affair – Blind
26. Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On
AAC (iPhone/iPod): pmaCAST #23 The Best Songs of the Decade, Pt. 2 (Chapters Enabled) [ALT]
MP3: pmaCAST #23 The Best Songs of the Decade, Pt. 2 (No Chapters)
25. Lil Wayne – A Milli
24. The Knife – Heartbeats
23. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
22. Jay-Z & The Beatles – 99 Problems (Danger Mouse)
21. The Strokes – The Modern Age
20. Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling Into Place
19. LCD Soundsystem – Losing My Edge
18. Beyonce – Crazy In Love (feat. Jay-Z)
17. Kanye West – Jesus Walks
16. Arctic Monkeys – Leave Before The Lights Come On
15. Panda Bear – Comfy In Nautica
14. The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done
13. Spoon – The Way We Get By
12. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps
11. Daft Punk – One More Time
10. M.I.A. – Paper Planes
09. Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
08. Outkast – Hey Ya!
07. TV on the Radio – Wolf Like Me
06. Arcade Fire – Wake Up
05. Animal Collective – My Girls
04. Britney Spears – Toxic
03. Outkast – B.O.B.
02. Radiohead – Idioteque
01. LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends
AAC (iPhone/iPod): pmaCAST #24 The Best Songs of the Decade, Pt. 3 [FINAL] (Chapters Enabled) [ALT]
MP3: pmaCAST #24: Download (3115)
MP3: pmaCAST #24: Download (3115)
PMACAST - Periodical mixes and playlists of tracks you should be listening to. Subscribe for free on 
then this means the top songs of the year through july is…
My Girls
Brother Sport
While You Wait For the Others
Stillness is the move
pretty sweet list though.
not exactly because “brothersport” hasn’t officially been released as a single. and these picks were a bit more personal, while for the year-end lists, I try to take a critical approach.
More Animal Collective and Arctic Monkeys please.
like
i love so many of these songs too…had a bit of a smile reminiscing about my old faves that featured here! whoever said that music in the 21st century wasn’t memorable/had no great artists like the other decades!!
i totally agree with “all these things that i’ve done” but some of the other songs are not so great ones by great bands. i think seven nations should be replaced with fell in love with a girl, and step into my office baby should be replaced with get me away from here i’m dying and beautiful day should be replaced with sunday bloody sunday.
i’m glad you agree with “all these things…” I thought that I’d get a lot of crap for having a Killers song in my Top 5. Though I’m sure I will…
i’m glad to see a Killers song on SOMEONES list… they are, afterall, the band that really got me into loving music…
Dito on Caleb. And I gotta say that “Mr Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Remix)” was the track that got me hooked on remixes so.. no crap-comments from here
sunday bloody sunday is from 1983…
You picked way way too many of the recent trendy indie bands. Some of this list is good, but some makes me ill. I am not sure the list can be taken seriously without Idotechque being #1.
Almost every artist on this list is an established artist, so I’m not sure what you’re referring to with “recent trendy indie bands.” H&LA and MGMT are the only bands with only one album, but you can’t deny that “Blind” and “Kids” were immense songs. I played the hell out of them last year, and I continue to do so now.
And I hope you can take it serious with Idioteque being #2
… “All My Friends” was just too special to me.
Immense list Louis. I’m glad to see so many Kid A songs on here, I felt that maybe you weren’t a fan on the Best Albums of 2000 article you guys posted a few days ago. My list would be a bit different, but for the most part this is great.. and thank you for putting up mp3 links for the songs i haven’t heard yet
I don’t understand the appeal of Outkast’s “B.O.B.”
that song seems to be on everyone’s list. it was Pitchfork’s #1 song. I’m not a huge rap fan, and it basically sounds like the Beastie Boys anyway
listen to it dude, it’s fucking epic!
i concur. give it a few more listens if you’re not sold.
I am a huge fan of hip hop, and a HUGE Kast fan, but I never was a very big fan of that song either.
I’m glad someone had the balls to put “Toxic” in the Top 10! That song was brilliant… though I would have expected it from you and not from, say… GvsB LOL.. anyway, I like most of these songs alot. thanks for reminding me that this decade has brought a lot of great music to my ears.. this blog has too.
good list
I have some beef with your list.. mostly annoying things like “why is this song higher than that song” and “why do you have FOUR Radiohead songs in your Top 50 and why are they mostly from Kid A?” But putting All My Friends at #1 won me over. Good job
If I would have done such a list – hell… maybe I’ll do such a list^^ – there would probably be much more Radiohead on it.
Thing is. I don’t like people who say “why did you put so many songs from that band on it” and other thing is: Kid A was – and is – IMHO one of the best if not the best Radiohead album. Maybe I feel so, because I generally like concept albums.
The list in general is very nice. I remember nearly each song with a personal memory xD
The top 10 is basically cookie-cutter around these parts of the woods, all of the cool, indie blogs put All My Friends or Idioteque in the higher ranks, and B.O.B. is just a phenomenon across link-making in general. You through me in for a loop by adding The Killers, Roisin Murphy, and Britney Spears. I may not agree with the picks, but its refreshing to have something that’s not so bloghyped to be up there.
so ‘leave before the lights come on’ is your favorite arctic monkeys track? and the only one on your top 50? damn
i think its the greatest AM song ever. that EP is better than any of their albums.
I agree, that song is so much better than their other music. Obliterating one-night stands and promiscuous sex while still sounding utterly cool… yes, fantastic.
“Toxic” wasn’t that good was it?
it was pretty great! song and video
Great lists.
I don’t agree with every pick, but I can respect this a great deal. Some artists get repetitive (Radiohead, Animal Collective, Outkast mainly), but it’s pretty diverse in the long run. Good job. looking forward to the next ten years
Laika is your favorite song off Funeral? Crown Of Love? Rebellion (Lies)?? Wake Up??? Tunnels????
lol, the whole Funeral album should have been added then?
I knew that would have been an issue for some people
not because it’s a bad song, but because all of the songs you mentioned are also great. But “Laika” was the first Arcade Fire I ever fell in love with, so it holds a bit more meaning than the others, for me at least.
Awesome list! I’m going down listening to each song. This would make a SICK podcast
Just a thought…
Am I the only person in the world who doesn’t understand the “Crazy In Love” obsession? Pitchfork put it at number four.. and here its at #19 and I still think that’s way too high.
& omg, I totally forgot about Get Ur Freak On.. that song is fucking amazing. I love this list just for reminding me of that song.
how many radiohead albums are on this list?
how many radiohead songs are on this list?
a lot.
my only issue is that “International Players Anthem” is all the way down to #50.
Great, great list PMA. I liked it a lot better than GvsB and IGIF. I haven’t looked at Pitchfork’s… Top 500 seems insane. I might just skip to 50-1
three cheers for Madonna! that’s something you won’t see on gvsb’s list
But they did add Justin Timberlake “Rock Your Body” and R. Kelly “Trapped In The Closet”
I would have actually loved to see some JT or “Ignition (Remix)” on this list.
Any blogger in his right mind wouldn’t put Britney Spears (in the top ten?!) or Madonna on their lists. I’ll let Beyonce pass because the song is so damn catchy and Jay’s verse is one of his best ever.
…unless they really liked them more than they cared about what someone might think.
i was so stoked to see “All These Things That I’ve Done” on the list. nice one
I was 6 in 2000, so I know what you mean by these last 10 years being the most important in your life. And because I was only 6 in 2000, I missed out on a lot of great stuff, so thank you for adding mp3s.
where’s “Bro’s”?
I thought you’d put “My Girls” up higher. Is “Peacebone” really better? What about “Fireworks” or “Grass”? Either way, this list is really in line with what mine would be, give or take a few top 40 hits.
this list is hilarious
120 songs is too much, I only looked at the Top 50. and as far as I can tell, they were fine.
nice list
i will listen to this at work. wish there was a player so i wouldn’t have to click back every few minutes.
the list is okay but that photo is so perfect and beautiful. do you have the original sans text? the link you provided just goes to a collection of portfolios
i got it from here http://yayeveryday.com/post/3810
On my list there’d be more Interpol and Bloc Party (and higher up), and Snowden’s Black Eyes would have made it too. Kind of makes me want to see what my favorite songs of the decade are.
This must have taken forever just to load the top 50. Thanks
Sigh. It did. Thanks!
My favorite songs of the decade are:
MGMT: Kids
Modest Mouse: Float On
The Mars Volta: Televators, L’Via L’ Viaquez
Portugal. The Man: AKA M80 The Wolf
Elbow: Fugitive Motel, Red
The Boxer Rebellion: The Gospel of Goro Adachi
Muse: Starlight
Radiohead: Reckoner
GlasVegas: Geraldine
Woww. Great list dude. YOU should work for pma!! Nice job.
Nice list – How did you come up with it? Was it going through your library and highlighting any tracks that seem signifcant?
It seems like a huge project to undertake
You have “grass” by animal collective listed twice. fyi.
LOL. I just love it so much.
Ha, no thanks for catching that.
How is it possible for you to have 3 songs off Kid A in your top 50 songs of the decade on an album that clearly works brilliantly as a whole too and not think it is the best album of just the year 2000 let alone the decade?
Hmm, that is odd. But I guess there is no denying Idioteque, Optimistic, and Everything In Its Right Place
You won me over with Comfy In Nautica, that song is gold. Decent list overall though.
this will be my playlist for the next week. cheers
h8 pma. h8 this list.
thats for that valid input
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm……………………a good list but no madonna,rihanna ,blue………where are all of them?………………k so even vthout them it’s f9…good.
I’m glad to see wolf like me that high. Nice picks man.
what a great list
a nice mix altogether. i agree with a lot of the artists, but would probably have chosen other or additional songs for many of the selections (“paranoid android” by radiohead, britbrit’s “gimme more”, other arcade fire and killers songs, etc.).
Also–why no santogold?!?
there’s a lot of good stuff here. thanks for posting this.
Paranoid Android was 90s man… lol
o yea… i guess i overplayed it well into this decade.
I find it odd that your favorite song of the entire decade is so painfully MONOTONOUS. 7 minutes of the same 2 bass notes + 1 incessant piano chord bores me some awful. My ears beg for chord change that never comes! Haha, sorry but that song kills me. …Ah, but Idioteque is BRILLIANT and from #2 on, your list is pretty dang good.
Those two chords speak volumes man
but that song is all about the lyrics. It speaks to my brain and my heart.
wow so this is how you sum up a decades worth of music? sad.
i seriously doubt all of your music comprehension.. i mean could you repeat any more? im sorry but this is a very close minded list.
This comment underwhlems. What did I leave out that was so important to you?
I dont agree with everything on the list, but I respect the fact that a blogger posted his real opinion, regardless of what his readers think.
love the volume of spoon in there, esp “black like me” at #30. it’s one of the few songs i know that transcends “music” for me – listening to it takes me to a different place. but no deerhunter? give “spring hall convert” a few more listens and let it blow your mind.
I’m disappointed there are no songs by N.E.R.D. on this list…
i’m usually disappointed by N.E.R.D.
Though In Search Of is pretty decent.
Caramba camarada Luis, llegue a tu blog por casualidad buscando buena musica y me consigo con esta seleccion que rapidamente comence a descargar, cual fue mi sorpresa? que todo lo que habia descargado era una mierda, amigo estaba drogado cuando hizo esa lista? en 10 años eso es lo que tu dices “the best” anda que te coja un burro piazo e loco
Great list!
Theres always gonna be songs that should be on there, or songs that should be higher but thats because lists are so personal.
I find lists likes these very interesting reading!
Cheers
Strong list. It’s not going to please everyone, but I like the diversity.
And Britney Spears’s “Toxic” would be #1 in my book. Not that I am super-passionate about her, but it was an incredibly well-crafted pop song.
Good choices on the Radiohead songs, although the list could have been all Radiohead and I would not object. Arguably the best band of all time. If you know their album progression, there really is no other band that takes such a giant leap from their last album to their next one.
“Good choices on the Radiohead songs, although the list could have been all Radiohead and I would not object. Arguably the best band of all time. If you know their album progression, there really is no other band that takes such a giant leap from their last album to their next one.”
What a load of bullocks! Radiohead is just a band that people want to be something larger than what came previously. I would take the Beastie Boys anyday over Radiohead as the best band of the last 20 years as at least the Beasties make sense to people who like rock AND rap music. Radiohead are super creative and arguably the best band of 2000′s. But that is all my friend. No need to hype them up as most people here have heard of bands far greater than Radiohead in last four decades.
its highly – not 100% – but highly subjective… i hate callings bands “the best”
if you feel it, you feel it, if you don’t, then you don’t.
Easily one of the best lists I’ve seen. I rarely find people with nearly the exact same taste in music. Minus britney spears and some rap this looks very similar to my list. I like it…
Nice list, I guess I’ll have to make one soon. DLZ, NYC, and He Doesn’t Know Why are definitely some quality non-single pulls.
I think you might have overlooked one band..M83
ps. check this out..one of your favorite songs to one of my favorite edits..though you might enjoy it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag2PRmTL3rI
1. Hey Ya- Outkast
2. Maps- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3. Atlas- Battles
4. Get Your Freak On- Missy Elliott
5. B.O.B.- Outkast
6. Lips- Micachu
7. All My Friends- LCD Soundsystem
8. Hope There’s Someone- Antony and the Johnsons
9. Milkshake- Kelis
10. I Luv U- Dizzee Rascal
The WHITE STRIPES?? hello? Seven Nation Army? anyone??
#52
Jesus,etc? You are missing Wilco. They had a ton of great songs: ashes of american flags.
http://www.banamazing.com
I’m seeing a few parallels with our own list of tunes of the decade and I like it http://www.whatisthegrain.com/tunes-of-the-decade/
Good looking PMA. I’m glad you guys decided to revamp your list. Loving that I can download them in three parts.
Can’t really comment until the entire list is up, but it’s looking stronger than before already.
Favorites of this part of the list is: Emily by Joanna Newsom, Osla in the Summertime by of Montreal, and I Am Trying To Break Your Heart by Wilco -TRUE CLASSICS
Good list, but I think your song choices for Vampire Weekend and MGMT are odd (I’m assuming you’re only listing one song from each band?). “Oxford Comma” and “Time To Pretend” were bigger/more important singles, to me.
These songs made the lowest tier of your list? Holy shit, the rest better be good, bc this just became my favorite episode of the pmaCAST.
too many buzz bands. listen to something other than what the hype machine tells you to listen to.
@ “Rehab” – seriously? she has tons of better songs… but either way, I don’t think Wino should be on any Best of Decade lists.
http://www.freshandclean.blogspot.com
Just wanted to say thanks very much for all your hard work! I may not agree with one or two of the songs on the list, but I LOVE the fact that you’ve done this as it’s reminded me of some great songs. And I can’t wait for the next 2 parts. Happy Thanksgiving!
I think you should do write ups for the Top 25 songs(or atleast the Top 10) I’d like to know why you think they’re the best songs of the decade please.
Don’t worry, our Top 25 songs will come with stories for you to read.
“Just wanted to say thanks very much for all your hard work! I may not agree with one or two of the songs on the list, but I LOVE the fact that you’ve done this as it’s reminded me of some great songs. And I can’t wait for the next 2 parts. Happy Thanksgiving!”
Same here. Thanks guys, you’re awesome.
no Strokes?? o_O
Songs #51-75 is a bit too early for The Strokes don’t you think?
Great list so far. I’ve been listening to this mix all day. I would have had Sleepyhead in my top 10, but I’m interested to see where everything ends up.
i dont like it… why that song of sigur ros.. they have best :S
@luis: yes, i must have been half asleep, it’s a countdown!
when will you post the top 50?
Just posted up to 26 and will continue to post until we reach #1.
thanks! great list, by the way. looking forward to the top 25.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah *
UGH. I keep adding the “and”. Been doing this for years. Old dog, new tricks.
I agree with your list, just not the placing. But I can’t really speak my mind until I see your Top 25. TvotR’s DLZ, Hercules and Love Affair’s Blind, and Arcade Fire’s Intervention are some of my all time favorites
I know what you mean. Those were originally in my Top 25. But they barely missed it
huh. except for a few select songs, i think i prefer most of the songs 75-51!
how the hell is #71 in your top 100 of the year, much less the decade?
barf.
Where’s the obligatory Jacko shout-out? I hope This Is It (Orchestra version) or You Rock My World manages to crack the top 25!
Sorry. No MJ shoutouts will be found on this list.
Except in the comments.
American life? at top 25
internpol? lol
hey how do i get the chapters to work on my ipod or on itunes???? help plz
Already leistened to your list and im working out to drag and undrag you all those tracks im agree with. Most of theam are really the most important hits on this nearly ended deccade
Congratulations keep doing it
that iz da best shit i heard in years
i like this list alot
i was surprised that electric feel by mgmt wasn’t on there! but that’s probably just me.
So many titles missing… Bloc Party’s Banquet; Blur’s Out Of Time; Portishead’s The Rip; Mum’s Green Grass Of Tunnel; Damien Rice’s The Blower’s Daughter; Athlete’s Wires; Sigur Ros Gong or Glosoli; The Notwist’s Consequence; Florence And The Machine’s Dog Day’s Are Over; Sebastien Telleir’s La Ritounelle… And many, many more. Outkast nr 1 – No way!
I love your choices…got very confused at your site…what language…your music I LOVE!! and your site….please help me so I can translate…I saw list of songs then they were gone…thanks.
Peace + LOVE + Understanding!!
Hi Kelly:) That is written in polish, my native language. But I,ll translate if You like. I,m still learning blogging so I,ll try to find out how to employ automatic translator on the web page, but for the time being I can do it myself
Many thanks to your compliments and enjoy the year!!:)
Happy New Year from Glasgow! I have throughly enjoyed the last three pod casts and have had them running over the Christmas break (subjecting all visitors to this compilation). Rather than argue about order or point out personal favourites that have been skipped I’d just like to say thanks.
Umbrella, only 64! You ought to share some of that crazy shit you were smoking.
Glad “Toxic” got some love!
Twitter Comment
одному только этому блогу понятен этот список лучших песен за декаду [link to post]
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Explain in comprehensive English how “Toxic” by Britney is a top 1,000,000 song of this decade…
Otherwise it’s not a bad list… I love the Wilco, Arcade Fire, and Radiohead songs selected.
The choices and locations of the Strokes songs selected is questionable, but I’m glad they’re included.
hmmm..pretty good list, but i probably would have included Switchfoot’s, ‘Dare You To Move’ or ‘Meant To Live’
Good call on “Toxic,” which is brilliant. You hit most of the big pop songs of the decade, although I would have gone with Madonna’s “Music” in addition to “Hung Up,” “Poker Face” for sure and possibly “Just Dance” from Gaga, and certainly “What You Waiting For” by Gwen, not to mention Kylie’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.”
Also, Santigold?! “L.E.S. Artistes” would possibly be my #1.
Twitter Comment
Best Songs of the Decade (2000-2009) [link to post]
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no death magnetic songs?
aww. what a shame
mostly indie. i like it
im disgusted.
eminem’s lose yourself should be higher up.
blink-182? whered they go?! the offspring?
lady gaga? the killers?!!!! when you were young!
britney fucking spears made the fucking list?!
whoever made this list doesnt even know what music is.
this is a joke. im embarrassed by my generation.
green day??? wheretf did they go?
so true, i hate 8/10s of the songs on this list. jesus, this decade was terrible
I like a lot of the songs you’ve listed, and looking forward to exploring your list. However, I’ve listened to All My Friends and didn’t like it much. Sounded like they were playing the same tune over and over again for the whole 7 minutes.
@samantha
Oh, why don’t you go check out a billboard chart.
this list sucks.