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A Look Back at the 40 Best Songs of 2003 for Major Y2K Vibes

We’re currently in the year 2023. If we’re doing our math correctly that means two things—it’s been twenty years since 2003, the year where some of the greatest songs of the 2000s dropped, and…we’re starting to get kinda old. Ignoring the latter, 2003 was indeed a great year for music. It was the year Beyoncé went solo, dropping her debut album Dangerously in Love. All the shorties were “In da Club,” especially if it was their birthday. It was the year Jay-Z released one of his greatest recordsThe Black Album. Rock was thriving on the mainstream charts. Reggae and dancehall crossed over and was topping the charts as well. Music was good, and most importantly, the best songs of 2003 featured a good mixture of genres, artists, and originality—something that needs a comeback in the music industry if you ask us.

Today we’re going to take a look back at some of the top songs from 2003 to give you a major Y2K throwback. Enjoy.

RELATED: The 30 Best Songs of the 2000s, Ranked

1. Crazy In Love – Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
  • Release Date: May 14th, 2003

From the minute 21-year-old Beyoncé Knowles strutted down that alley and asked us if we were ready, it was clear that she was a legend in the making. Twenty years after its release, “Crazy In Love” remains one of Bey’s signature anthems and among the greatest songs released during the 2000s. The beginning of something special for sure.

2. In da Club – 50 Cent
  • Release Date: January 7th, 2003

In the summer of 2003 it was hard to not find anybody in the club jamming to “In da Club,” and ” Go shorty, it’s your birthday” became the “cool” thing to say whenever it was someone’s birthday—at least in elementary school.

3. Get Busy – Sean Paul
  • Release Date: January 27th, 2003

An example of that mid-2000s reggae and dancehall crossover onto the US Billboard charts that we mentioned earlier. Sean Paul certainly had his fair share of hits in the 2000s, and “Get Busy” is among his most notable.

4. Unwell – Matchbox Twenty
  • Release Date: February 3rd, 2003

We weren’t crazy—we were just a little impaired for “Unwell” by Matchbox Twenty, which was released in February 2003 but became something of a summer smash.

5. When I’m Gone – 3 Doors Down
  • Release Date: September 23rd, 2002

While this song was officially released in the fall of 2002, its success carried over into 2003. Twenty years later one thing remains clear—we will always still love 3 Doors Down, even when they’re gone.

6. Right Thurr – Chingy
  • Release Date: April 14th, 2003

The original version of “Right Thurr” was a banger, but everybody knows the remix was where it was at thanks to Ms. Trina.

7. Bring Me to Life – Evanescence
  • Release Date: April 7th, 2003

Wake me Up! I Can’t Wake Up! Save me!!!!

8. Get Low – Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins
  • Release Date: February 18th, 2003

If Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz “Get Low” didn’t actually have you gettin low from the window to the wall, then we don’t know what to tell you other than you missed out.

9. Picture – Kid Rock
  • Release Date: November 12th, 2002

Another fall 2002 hit that carried over into 2003, and frankly, one of Kid Rock’s greatest hits.

10. Baby Boy – Beyoncé featuring Sean Paul
  • Release Date: August 3rd, 2003

The beat. The vocals. The video. The dance break. A classic that remains on repeat till this day.

11. Miss You – Aaliyah
  • Release Date: October 28th, 2002

A poignant song considering how much we were (and still are) missing Aaliyah. “Miss You” was released towards the end of October 2002, and continued to have success on the charts into 2003.

12. All I Have – Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J
  • Release Date: December 14th, 2002

Released at the tail end of 2002, Jennifer Lopez and LL Cool J’s duet “All I Have” remains a memorable slow jam.

13. 21 Questions – 50 Cent featuring Nate Dogg
  • Release Date: March 4th, 2003

50 Cent made the song, and Nate Dogg took the track to the next level per usual.

14. Shake Ya Tailfeather – Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee
  • Release Date: June 29th, 2003

That time when Nelly, Diddy, and Murphy Lee came together to create a fire track for the Bad Boys II soundtrack.

15. Beautiful – Christina Aguilera
  • Release Date: November 15th, 2002

Thank You to Christina Aguilera for creating one of the most beautiful (no pun intended) songs of all time.

16. Into You – Fabolous featuring Tamia
  • Release Date: June 16th, 2003

One of the defining songs of summer 2003 that puts you right back in that era every time you hear it.

17. Bump, Bump, Bump – B2K & P. Diddy
  • Release Date: October 23rd, 2002

Baby turn around and let me see that sexy body go Bump, Bump, Bump! The jam.

18. I’m With You – Avril Lavigne
  • Release Date: November 18th, 2002

There’s a reason why this song received a Grammy nomination for “Song of the Year.” Avril Lavigne had some massive hits in the 2000s.

19. Magic Stick – Lil’ Kim featuring 50 Cent
  • Release Date: April 8th, 2003

Definitely can’t forget this summer jam, which was also nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.”

20. Mesmerize – Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
  • Release Date: December 16th, 2002

Yet another catchy 2000s track from Ja Rule and Ashanti, which remains a favorite of many.

21. Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) – Ashanti
  • Release Date: May 19th, 2003

A timeless single from Ashanti that can fit right in with the songs being released today.

22. Where Is the Love? – Black Eyed Peas
  • Release Date: May 12th, 2003

Where is the love was a question that needed to be asked in 2003, and still needs to be asked in 2023 because…where is the love yo? We need much more of it around these parts.

23. Lose Yourself – Eminem
  • Release Date: October 28th, 2002

Considered to be one of Eminem’s greatest tracks, “Lose Yourself” dropped in the fall of 2002, and reached the peak of its success in 2003.

24. How You Gonna Act Like That – Tyrese
  • Release Date: November 19th, 2002

How you gonna up and leave me now? How you gonna act like that (Shaq singing meme)? The 2003 breakup anthem.

25. Frontin’ – Pharrell featuring Jay-Z
  • Release Date: June 3rd, 2003

Before Pharrell was, ya know, the head of Louis Vuitton, he was putting out songs like this. Seeing the clips of him and Jay-Z performing “Frontin'” at one of the Louis Vuitton events was definitely a major nostalgic moment.

26. Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
  • Release Date: March 17th, 2003

Yet another insanely catchy track released from Justin Timberlake’s debut Justified.

27. So Gone – Monica
  • Release Date: April 8th, 2003

Missy on the beat. Monica with the vocals. Missy in the back with the background vocals. Perfection.

28. Never Leave You – Uh Ooh, Uh Oooh! – Lumidee
  • Release Date: May 12th, 2003

Lumidee remains a legend for this forever summer anthem that will always be in rotation.

29. Beautiful – Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell & Uncle Charlie Wilson
  • Release Date: January 21st, 2003

See I just want you, to know that you are really special (Shaq singing meme again). One of Snoop’s greatest in our opinion.

30. Miss Independent – Kelly Clarkson
  • Release Date: April 10th, 2003

Kelly Clarkson won American Idol and hit the ground running. Hit after hit we tell you.

31. My Love Is Like…Wo – Mya
  • Release Date: June 9th, 2003

Mya did the damn thing with this song and its accompanying music video.

32. Suga Suga – Baby Bash featuring Frankie J
  • Release Date: July 21st, 2003

You got me lifted, shifted, higher than the ceiling. Another jam from 2003.

33. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
  • Release Date: February 17th, 2003

F*cking classic. Do you hear us? A f*cking classic.

34. Me, Myself, and I – Beyoncé
  • Release Date: October 19th, 2003

That time Beyoncé gave us the mother of all breakup anthems for the ladies.

35. The Way You Move – Outkast featuring Sleepy Brown
  • Release Date: August 25th, 2003

The song that was a staple of just about every wedding in 2003 and 2004.

36. Stand Up – Ludacris featuring Shawnna
  • Release Date: August 19th, 2003

The instructions went like thiswhen Ludacris moved you moved. And when he told you to stand up, you had to stand up. Just like that.

37. Someday – Nickelback
  • Release Date: July 28th, 2003

The good ole days when songs were created that made you tear up. A beautiful track by Nickelback.

38. Hey Ya!
  • Release Date: August 25th, 2003

The song that still has us shaking it like a polaroid picture. Remember those?

39. “In Those Jeans” – Ginuwine
  • Release Date: May 7th, 2003

Levi’s, Prada, Baby Phat. If you know you know.

40. You Don’t Know My Name – Alicia Keys
  • Release Date: November 10th, 2003

The waitress that worked at the coffee shop on 39th and Lennox delivered a pretty catchy song that’s still a jam to this day.

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