The omission of indie rock bands that defined the decade’s underground sound became another major point of contention. Many critics argued that the list completely overlooked artists like The Strokes, Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, and Interpol. Others pointed to the high placement of songs like Train’s “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” at No. 42 and Creed’s “With Arms Wide Open” at No. 91, which felt like artifacts of early‑2000s radio that hadn’t aged as gracefully.
The Soundtrack of a Millennium: Reassessing VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the 2000s
Songs that didn't have massive chart success in 2004 but are now staples of "2000s nostalgia" playlists (like emo-pop or early indie rock) would be higher. vh1 100 greatest songs of the 2000s upd
An Oscar-winning track that became an anthem of dedication.
– Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys (2009) "We Belong Together" – Mariah Carey (2005) "In Da Club" – 50 Cent (2003) The omission of indie rock bands that defined
The 2000s were a chaotic, vibrant, and transformative era for music. We moved from portable CD players to iPods, witnessed the birth of streaming, and saw genre lines blur like never before. When VH1 released its "100 Greatest Songs of the '00s" special, it served as a high-energy time capsule for a decade defined by pop-punk, hip-hop dominance, and the rise of the "Indie" superstar.
To update the list, we considered the following factors: 42 and Creed’s “With Arms Wide Open” at No
Representing the late-2000s dance-pop resurgence, Gaga brought a new theatricality to the charts.
: Securing the #1 spot with "Crazy in Love" cemented Beyoncé's transition from group member to global solo icon. Her sister anthem "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" also secured a massive presence further down the list at #16.