Taste is subjective. That said, in the ‘00s we occasionally, as a nation, had some odd tastes when it came to music.
Sure, there were plenty of great songs that we embraced, but we also liked some singles that we wouldn’t dream of adding to a playlist today, and no radio station in their right mind would think of playing as a throwback.
We combed every Billboard Hot 100 from the first decade of this millennium for the most random #1s we could find, and the following 12 songs, some good, some we had totally forgotten about, are what we came up with.
Crazy Town – Butterfly
Year: 2001
With all the great nu metal bands that existed, it gets no more random than having Crazy Town being the one that saw this kind of chart success.
Make no mistake, “Butterfly” is a fantastic song, but to put “Butterfly” reaching #1 into perspective, Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie” only reached #80.
D4L – Laffy Taffy
Year: 2006
How much were we, as a people, obsessed with southern hip-hop in the ‘00s? We were so obsessed that we vaulted D4L to the #1 spot with “Laffy Taffy.”
The song is now considered by many to be one of the worst #1s of all-time, but it made it to #1, so the joke’s really on us.
Akon w/ Snoop Dogg – I Wanna Love You
Year: 2006
This song qualifies as a random #1 because the album version is about wanting to have sex with a stripper, and the word “love” was originally “fuck.”
One has to wonder how many school dances came to a screeching halt when the DJ accidentally played the real version of the song.
Xtina, Lil’ Kim, Mya, & Pink – Lady Marmalade
Year: 2001
Here’s an idea, let’s cover a ‘70s classic, that has a French chorus, using some of the most random female artists we can possibly throw together in some sort of awkward pop music lady Voltron.
Somehow, it worked, but no one’s been crazy enough to attempt to replicate the formula since.
Soulja Boy – Crank That (Soulja Boy)
Year: 2007
Give us a stupid dance, and we will make your song a ridiculously huge hit. Case in point, Soulja Boy, whose “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” inspired half the nation to dance, and the other half to roll their eyes and groan.
Mims – This Is Why I’m Hot
Year: 2007
When “This Is Why I’m Hot” was first serviced to DJs I had a show on a local radio station, and my co-host and I each received a copy of the single in the mail. We had the same reaction – This is terrible, it’s going to be huge.
We were right on both counts, and Mims was never heard from again.
Nelly w/ Paul Wall, Ali, and Gipp – Grillz
Year: 2006
It wasn’t random to see Nelly at #1, as he’s been there quite a bit during his career. What’s random is that he managed to reach the top spot with a song about expensive teeth.
Who, honestly, could relate to this?
Lil’ Wayne w/ Static Major – Lollipop
Year: 2008
Lil’ Wayne has given us a plethora of great songs over the course of his career, which is why it’s so strange that “Lollipop,” arguably one of his worst singles, turned out to be one of his biggest commercial hits.
In the ‘00s it was almost as if we were encouraging rappers to underachieve on the mic.
Owl City – Fireflies
Year: 2009
An innocuous little song that just happened to come around at exactly the right time, “Fireflies” didn’t really leave a lasting impression, but no one’s going to be mad at it, either.
Most of us haven’t thought about “Fireflies” since 2009, but hopefully Owl City is doing well for himself. Who didn’t love his collab with Carly Rae Jepsen?
Clay Aiken – This Is The Night
Year: 2003
Although it may seem like a distant memory, it wasn’t all that long ago that American Idol had everyone’s attention. Because of this, when each season came to its conclusion a bunch of the singers released singles, most of which were pretty forgettable, schmaltzy tunes involving triumph. The popularity of the show launched many of those songs to number one.
This is how Clay Aiken bumped 50 Cent’s “21 Questions” from the top spot with “This Is The Night.”
Speaking of forgettable songs by American Idol contestants …
Fantasia – I Believe
Year: 2004
Fantasia hit #1 with “I Believe.”
I challenge anyone to say they’ve listened to this song since the week of its release.
Oh, but we aren’t done with the mediocre American Idol songs yet, because up next we have …
Taylor Hicks – Do I Make You Proud
Year: 2006
The gray haired crooner, who seemed like the unlikeliest of American Idols, hit #1 with “Do I Make You Proud.”
The best thing about this song is that it inspired Weird Al to write “Do I Creep You Out.”
Want more blasts from the past? Check out our #ThrowbackThursday page.
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