10 Highly Underrated Songs From The 2000s

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According the ever-growing “lets milk this decade for all its worth” nostalgia meter, the 2000s were a great time for music. Here are some songs that seem to fall through the cracks when discussing the greats:

1. Suga Suga – Baby Bash ft. Frankie J

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rgStv12dwA&w=960&h=720]

I never thought this one got the long-lasting effect it deserves. To me, Baby Bash & Frankie J’s ‘Suga Suga’ is a lot like former Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis’ 2,000 yard season. Up there with the greats, yet for some reason never really mentioned.

2. Jimmy Eat World – 23

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0085_FUpics&w=960&h=720]

A little pop, a little alternative rock, a little emo, Jimmy Eat World was the perfect blend of people living in suburbs complaining about their problems that aren’t actually problems. This, of course, is a classic 2000s thing to do.

Between the commercial appeal of The Middle and the girls on tumblr appeal of Hear You Me, I always thought 23 got a little bit lost in the shuffle.

3. Every Other Time – LFO

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnfjZBTRXOQ&w=960&h=720]

LFO, in my somewhat legitimate opinion (I’ve written about LFO on in the internet like 3-6 times), is the most underrated boy band of the late 90s, early aughts pop era. Front man Rich Cronin (RIP) was one of the best, and I’ve always thought their top songs were just as good, if not better than the NSYNCs and Backstreet Boys of the world.

‘Every Other Time’ is so criminally underrated that I’m surprised people on twitter haven’t gotten irrationally outraged by this fact.

4. What Happened To That Boy? – Baby ft. Clipse

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX6rC1krGp0&w=960&h=720]

The cultural significance of this song was recently solidified during this year’s NBA playoffs.

5. Hurt – Johnny Cash

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aF9AJm0RFc&w=960&h=720]

I was twelve, the same age as Carlos from The Benchwarmers, when this song came out. I had never heard of Johnny Cash. I remember realizing that this is what older people were talking about when they said there’s no real music anymore.

**Probably can’t be considered that underrated. But its vastly underrated in the sense that this type of music, especially this day and age, is increasingly difficult to come by.

6. Outside – Staind

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVQpfoqsY8Q&w=960&h=720]

I was hanging out with a friend the other night, doing classic 20-somethings in NYC sorts of things. Obviously, part of our night included singing random lines from Staind songs. In order to maintain my vehement position of advocating this song as the best Staind song, it is included.

7. Bleed It Out – Linkin Park

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnuuYcqhzCE&w=960&h=720]

Linkin Park was such a huge staple for 2000s music, so its tough to argue that Linkin Park, as a band and musical influence, merit inclusion on this list. That said, you could definitely argue that relative to their body of work, certain songs are not as universally appreciated as others.

In terms of pure Linkin Parkness, I think Bleed It Out covers a lot of what makes Linkin Park such a strong band — for a group known for their versatility and ever-evolving sound, this song seems to highlight those strengths in a fast and wild 2 minutes and 46 seconds.

8. Jude Law And A Semester Abroad – Brand New

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvzHyHgc4lA&w=1280&h=720]

Jude Law And A Semester Abroad is the zenith of all things pop punk. It’s angry, but that rage is contained and channeled. The song title’s weird, but it works and for whatever reason feels right. It’s also the type of song you’ll get made fun of for listening to as a 24 year-old dude. Yet, you could be sure that the perpetrator of said mocking will proceed to open up spotify, change his settings to private, and blast away.

9. Where’d You Go? – Ft. Minor ft. Holly Brook

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk5jIDzWv_s&w=960&h=720]

Between this and high school basketball soundtrack anthem Remember The Name, Fort Minor’s solo project, The Rising Tied, turned out to be pretty successful. I think from a lyrics standpoint, this is one of Fort Minor’s true gems.

10. The Wrestler – Bruce Springsteen

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-6DM6iWKKo&w=1280&h=720]

A new age classic. Can’t help but feel. Don’t put a hashtag before the word feel, it cheapens the power of the song.