The Best Pop Songs of 2001

A look at the best pop songs of 2001, including hits from Britney Spears, N*Sync, and Alicia Keys.

Introduction

It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 15 years since 2001, but the best pop songs of that year are still as fresh and relevant today as they were back then. From classics like Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time” to more overlooked gems like Jennifer Lopez’s “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” there was no shortage of great music to choose from in 2001. Here are some of our favorites:

Britney Spears – “I’m a Slave 4 U”

The lead single from Britney’s third album, “I’m a Slave 4 U” was an instant pop culture phenomenon. The song, which features a signature whistle hook, is an ode to young love and was one of the first pop songs to feature heavy electronic production.

Alicia Keys – “Fallin'”

“Fallin'” is a song by American singer Alicia Keys from her debut studio album Songs in A Minor (2001). Written by Keys and produced by Jeff Bhasker, the track was released as the album’s lead single in the United States on June 26, 2001. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and top five in several countries. “Fallin'” was certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of four million copies in the US. This made Keys the second female artist to achieve this feat since Gloria Estefan.

Nelly Furtado – “I’m Like a Bird”

“I’m Like a Bird” is a song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado for her debut studio album, Whoa, Nelly! (2000). It was released as the album’s lead single on October 24, 2000. The song was written by Furtado and produced by Gerald Eaton and Brian West. “I’m Like a Bird” won the Juno Award for Single of the Year and received two Grammy nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Song of the Year.

Jennifer Lopez – “Love Don’t Cost a Thing”

Jennifer Lopez’s “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” was one of the biggest pop hits of 2001. The song debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for three weeks, making it one of the longest-running #1 singles of the year. The song also topped the charts in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

Destiny’s Child – “Survivor”

“Survivor” is a song by American group Destiny’s Child. The song was written and composed by group member Beyoncé, Anthony Criss, Mathew Knowles and Durrell Babbs for the band’s third studio album of the same name. It was released as the lead single from the album on February 21, 2001, by Columbia Records. The song won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 44th Grammy Awards.

Usher – “U Remind Me”

“U Remind Me” is a song by American singer Usher. It was released on July 10, 2001, as the second single from his third studio album 8701. The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and became Usher’s second number-one single on that chart, following his collaboration with Lil’ Jon on “Yeah!”. Internationally, the song peaked at number four in Canada, number six in the Netherlands, and number eight in New Zealand.

Outkast – “Ms. Jackson”

Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson” was one of the best pop songs of 2001. The song was a massive hit, spending seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Ms. Jackson” won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and was also nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Janet Jackson – “All for You”

Jackson’s seventh studio album, All for You (2001), was her second with Virgin, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 605,000 copies, giving Jackson her fifth consecutive album to open at the top of the charts. The album was described as “a celebration of the joys of romance”, and features a host of ballads and up-tempo tracks that fuses “hip-hop with classic pop.” Jackson co-wrote every song on the album with her producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

The album’s lead single, “Doesn’t Really Matter”, became Jackson’s ninth number one single on the Hot 100 chart, making her the only artist in American music history to achieve this feat. The second single, “All for You”, was released in April 2001. The song peaked at number one on the Hot 100 for seven weeks (non-consecutively) and became Jackson’s tenth number one single on that chart, tying her with Mariah Carey for sixth place amongst female artists with the most number ones.

Conclusion

After much debate, soulful crooner Usher’s “U Remind Me” was ultimately crowned the best pop song of 2001. The contest was close, but in the end, Usher’s smooth vocals and catchy chorus won over voters.

Runners up included Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U,” which came in second place, followed by Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack,” Nelly Furtado’s “Turn Off the Light,” and Alicia Keys’ “Fallin.”

It was a good year for pop music, and these five songs were the cream of the crop. So crank up the volume and enjoy!