When all is said and done — when the last slice of pizza's gone cold and the beers have gone warm and the editorial staff has left the room fatigued and confused — a list of the Best 100 Tracks of the decade has to speak for itself. Still, though, we're writers and categorizers and, well, music fans here at Rhapsody; in short, we blather. So a few words: it was decided only one track per artist, and yes, choosing between "B.O.B." and "Hey Ya" was exceedingly difficult. Initially, ballots were submitted; we then took the results of that balloting and used them to form the starting point of our marathon discussions, of which this list is ultimately the product of -- the aforementioned fatigue, yes, but also a single music-loving group's 10 years' worth of passion and contemplation, as shot through a cannon of caffeine, closed doors and deadlines. We hope you enjoy; whether you do or do not, please comment. As always, you can hear any track on this list — heck, you can hear every track on this list — by simply signing up for a free Rhapsody trial subscription.
Rhapsody subscribers can click here to hear a playlist with all the top 100 tracks.
100. Estelle, "American Boy"
99. The Streets, "Fit but You Know It"
98. Black Eyed Peas, "Boom Boom Pow"
97. Shakira, "Hips Don't Lie"
96. The Rapture, "House of Jealous Lovers"
95. Linkin Park, "Numb"
94. Pink, "Don't Let Me Get Me"
93. U2, "Beautiful Day"
92. Toby Keith, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)"
91. The Raconteurs, "Steady as She Goes"
90. D’Angelo, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
89. Lil Mama, "Lip Gloss"
88. Sara Bareilles, "Love Song"
87. Band of Horses, "Funeral"
86. Flaming Lips, "Do You Realize??"
85. James Blunt, "You're Beautiful"
84. Talib Kweli, "Get By"
83. Taylor Swift, "Love Story"
82. The Swell Season, "Falling Slowly"
81. Mike Jones, "Still Tippin'"
80. Miranda Lambert, "Kerosene"
79. Damien Marley, "Welcome to Jamrock"
78. Basement Jaxx, "Where's Your Head At"
77. Carrie Underwood, "Before He Cheats"
76. Kid Rock, "All Summer Long"
75. Three 6 Mafia, "Stay Fly"
74. 50 Cent, "In Da Club"
73. Switchfoot, "Dare You to Move"
72. Christina Aguilera, "Beautiful"
71. Fallout Boy, "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs"
70. Daddy Yankee, "Gasolina"
69. Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"
68. Death Cab for Cutie, "I Will Follow You into the Dark"
67. Dropkick Murphys, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"
66. Panjabi MC feat. Jay-Z, "Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke)"
65. Clipse, "Grindin'"
64. Justice, "D.A.N.C.E"
63. Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, "Get Low"
62. Lily Allen, "Smile"
61. Queens of the Stone Age, "No One Knows"
60. Vampire Weekend, "A-Punk"
59. Nas, "Made You Look"
58. Snow Patrol, "Chasing Cars"
57. Soggy Bottom Boys, "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow"
56. The Fray, "How to Save a Life"
55. Nickelback, "Photograph"
54. José González, "Heartbeats"
53. Muse, "Knights of Cydonia"
52. Madonna, "Music"
51. The Postal Service, "Such Great Heights"
50. The Strokes, "Last Night"
49. Merle Haggard, "Wishing All These Old Things Were"
48. TV on the Radio, "Staring at the Sun"
47. Snoop Dogg, "Drop It Like It's Hot"
46. Jimmy Eat World, "The Middle"
45. Amerie, "1 Thing"
44. Lil Wayne, "A Milli"
43. Alicia Keys, "Fallin'"
42. Norah Jones, "Don't Know Why"
41. Spoon, "The Way We Get By"
40. Scissor Sisters, "Take Your Mama"
39. Animal Collective, "My Girls"
38. Johnny Cash, "Hurt"
37. The Killers, "All These Things That I've Done"
36. Usher, "Yeah"
35. Radiohead, "Idioteque"
34. Big & Rich, "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"
33. Lady GaGa, "Poker Face"
32. MGMT, "Kids"
31. Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"
30. Rihanna, "Umbrella"
29. Lupe Fiasco, "Superstar"
28. Daft Punk, "One More Time"
27. Kelis, "Milkshake"
26. System of a Down, "Chop Suey!"
25. Kylie Minogue, "Can't Get You Out of My Head"
24. Gorillaz, "Feel Good Inc."
23. Feist, "1234"
22. T.I., "What You Know"
21. Peter, Bjorn and John, "Young Folks"
20. Franz Ferdinand, "Take Me Out"
19. Britney Spears, "Toxic"
18. Justin Timberlake, "Cry Me a River"
17. Coldplay, "Fix You"
16. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Maps"
15. Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"
14. Jay-Z, "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
13. Green Day, "American Idiot"
12. Amy Winehouse, "Rehab"
11. Kanye West, "Jesus Walks"
10. The Shins, "New Slang"
9. LCD Soundsystem, "All My Friends"
8. R Kelly, "Ignition (Remix)"
7. Modest Mouse, "Float On"
6. Beyonce, "Crazy in Love"
5. Missy Elliott, "Get Ur Freak On"
4. Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"
3. M.I.A., "Paper Planes"
2. Outkast, "B.O.B."
1. White Stripes, "Seven Nation Army"
100. Estelle, "American Boy"
99. The Streets, "Fit but You Know It"
98. Black Eyed Peas, "Boom Boom Pow"
97. Shakira, "Hips Don't Lie"
96. The Rapture, "House of Jealous Lovers"
95. Linkin Park, "Numb"
94. Pink, "Don't Let Me Get Me"
93. U2, "Beautiful Day"
92. Toby Keith, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)"
91. The Raconteurs, "Steady as She Goes"
90. D’Angelo, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
89. Lil Mama, "Lip Gloss"
88. Sara Bareilles, "Love Song"
87. Band of Horses, "Funeral"
86. Flaming Lips, "Do You Realize??"
85. James Blunt, "You're Beautiful"
84. Talib Kweli, "Get By"
83. Taylor Swift, "Love Story"
82. The Swell Season, "Falling Slowly"
81. Mike Jones, "Still Tippin'"
80. Miranda Lambert, "Kerosene"
79. Damien Marley, "Welcome to Jamrock"
78. Basement Jaxx, "Where's Your Head At"
77. Carrie Underwood, "Before He Cheats"
76. Kid Rock, "All Summer Long"
75. Three 6 Mafia, "Stay Fly"
74. 50 Cent, "In Da Club"
73. Switchfoot, "Dare You to Move"
72. Christina Aguilera, "Beautiful"
71. Fallout Boy, "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs"
70. Daddy Yankee, "Gasolina"
69. Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"
68. Death Cab for Cutie, "I Will Follow You into the Dark"
67. Dropkick Murphys, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"
66. Panjabi MC feat. Jay-Z, "Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke)"
65. Clipse, "Grindin'"
64. Justice, "D.A.N.C.E"
63. Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, "Get Low"
62. Lily Allen, "Smile"
61. Queens of the Stone Age, "No One Knows"
60. Vampire Weekend, "A-Punk"
59. Nas, "Made You Look"
58. Snow Patrol, "Chasing Cars"
57. Soggy Bottom Boys, "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow"
56. The Fray, "How to Save a Life"
55. Nickelback, "Photograph"
54. José González, "Heartbeats"
53. Muse, "Knights of Cydonia"
52. Madonna, "Music"
51. The Postal Service, "Such Great Heights"
50. The Strokes, "Last Night"
49. Merle Haggard, "Wishing All These Old Things Were"
48. TV on the Radio, "Staring at the Sun"
47. Snoop Dogg, "Drop It Like It's Hot"
46. Jimmy Eat World, "The Middle"
45. Amerie, "1 Thing"
44. Lil Wayne, "A Milli"
43. Alicia Keys, "Fallin'"
42. Norah Jones, "Don't Know Why"
41. Spoon, "The Way We Get By"
40. Scissor Sisters, "Take Your Mama"
39. Animal Collective, "My Girls"
38. Johnny Cash, "Hurt"
37. The Killers, "All These Things That I've Done"
36. Usher, "Yeah"
35. Radiohead, "Idioteque"
34. Big & Rich, "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)"
33. Lady GaGa, "Poker Face"
32. MGMT, "Kids"
31. Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"
30. Rihanna, "Umbrella"
29. Lupe Fiasco, "Superstar"
28. Daft Punk, "One More Time"
27. Kelis, "Milkshake"
26. System of a Down, "Chop Suey!"
25. Kylie Minogue, "Can't Get You Out of My Head"
24. Gorillaz, "Feel Good Inc."
23. Feist, "1234"
22. T.I., "What You Know"
21. Peter, Bjorn and John, "Young Folks"
20. Franz Ferdinand, "Take Me Out"
19. Britney Spears, "Toxic"
18. Justin Timberlake, "Cry Me a River"
17. Coldplay, "Fix You"
16. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Maps"
15. Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"
14. Jay-Z, "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
13. Green Day, "American Idiot"
12. Amy Winehouse, "Rehab"
11. Kanye West, "Jesus Walks"
10. The Shins, "New Slang"
9. LCD Soundsystem, "All My Friends"
8. R Kelly, "Ignition (Remix)"
7. Modest Mouse, "Float On"
6. Beyonce, "Crazy in Love"
5. Missy Elliott, "Get Ur Freak On"
4. Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"
3. M.I.A., "Paper Planes"
2. Outkast, "B.O.B."
1. White Stripes, "Seven Nation Army"
Portions of album content provided by All Music Guide © 2011 All Media Guide, LLC ® 1999-2011 Rhapsody International Inc.
Argument-starting for sure--which is half the fun of making any best-of list. But what would make this list even more interesting would be another post showing the different criteria and how you weighted them. That's why the Rolling Stone "best 500 rock albums" coffee table book was so engrossing--the back stories, cultural influence, and so forth (of course that's way more work, sorry).
awful...just plain awful. Should be named pop radios top 100 tracks. Funny that your list of hip hop albums could be so dead on yet have Missy Elliot in the top 10?
Why do you think the decade is over?
When you start to count to ten, do you begin by counting 0?
Why is BSB "Straight Through My Heart? not listed?
Michael Jackson isn't on? Seriously. This list not completed. By far!
well, wen u count the number of yrs btween 2000-2009 (including those 2 years) it amounts 2 ten. if u include 2010 as well... that doesn't make it a decade does it?
Btw number 13: green day rock. Just had to say that cuz i'm seein them in june :D
wow...taylor swift, snoop dogg, and lil wayne are on this list. not just lil wayne but his worst song. this is horrble
Dear god..Nickleback is on this list? WHY!? And, honostly, there isnt really a whole lot of good music to pick out of the last ten years anyways..
Swift is Love Story is 83rd
What a sorry ass decade for music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
whhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?, What about Mariah's We belong together, 14 weeks at number 1!!! that list really sucks, and MJ's You rock my world???
@James - Common sense here guy. Would you include 2000 as part of a 90's list, or 1990 as part of an 80's list?
Modest Mouse? I can't believe 'Float On' made it -7th-
Great song, great beat, great band...enough said :)
Wow, Michael Jackson didn't make any songs in this decade... sheesh idiot.
Where is Linkin Park!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? :@
no way. 21 guns didnt even make it? you know that song was epic.
p.s ballack13, 'numb' by linkin park is number 95
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Wow, shoddy list. Who made this up?
OH GOSH HOW COULD YOU FORGOT PHOENIX ???
WoW! You would think that the list would have to top songs of each year? It may be possible that I missed them, but, yeesh!! FYI: Michael Jackson didn't come out with any new songs this decade!!!!!
Dig the last for the most part, but where's The Roots' "Seed 2.0?"
C'mon people, everybody has its own opinion. It's natural that you don't agree with the list, but that's how it works. Next time, do your own list, with your own opinion. But don't be mad if people don't agree with it. Because they won't.
All Summer Long made this list? Have you listened to the chorus of that song lately? Rhyming "things" with "things"? I had that kind of lyric writing ability when I was 6!
lady gaga got #33 but ONLY #95 FOR LINKIN PARK AND NO MICHAEL JACKSON?
what a top 100 tracks of the decade list.
American Idiot at # 13? Apparently that is who made this list.
why do people like gnarls barkley?!?
Terrible list. Toxic? That is perhaps one of the worst tracks of all time.
Also, what about "Lose Yourself" from Eminem? And "In Da Club" at #74? That should have landed in the top 15, no questions ask. Or the Killers "Mr. Brightside." Last but not least, "Mrs. Jackson," by Outkast. Still one of the most chorus lines out there.
Rolling Stones had a much better list, this one is a waste.
This is the worst list of crappy music I've ever seen in my life. "Seven Nation Army"? That song is something I could play before I learned how to walk. Pop may be popular, but it disgraces good musicians everywhere. "American Idiot" is an okay song, but compared to some other rock bands: no.
What's wrong with a straight count? Rhapsody must have a way of tracking how many times a track is played right... One song per artist...PLEASE? Seriously, I would like to see the metrics.
this. list. sucks. seriously. pa-the-tic. pffft fck rhapsody
Just one artist im supprised that didnt make the list was Train, i mean come on "Drops of Jupiter" anyone?
Was 1980 part of the 60s?