It’s hard to believe these songs are almost 20 years old. It seems like almost yesterday when I first heard Pink’s “Get The Party Started” that became an anthem for celebration and having fun. Norah Jones’s “Don’t Know Why” gained an audience for her sultry style…which she has since changed. The Dixie Chicks had a hit with their version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landside,” then faced a radio ban of their music when they criticized President Bush.
John Mayer struck gold with “Your Body Is A Wonderland,” but later got bounced by Taylor Swift. Sherry Crow’s Summer hit, “Soak Up The Sun,” got a lot of airplay on the radio. So did Nelly’s sexy “Hot In Here.”
Do you remember these songs from 2003? Any favorites here? GRADE: B+
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Vanessa Carlton– | A Thousand Miles | 3:58 |
| 2 | Norah Jones– | Don’t Know Why | 3:05 |
| 3 | Nickelback– | How You Remind Me | 3:43 |
| 4 | Dixie Chicks– | Landslide | 3:48 |
| 5 | Eminem– | Without Me | 4:23 |
| 6 | Nelly– | Hot In Herre | 3:49 |
| 7 | Ashanti– | Foolish | 3:47 |
| 8 | Michelle Branch– | All You Wanted | 3:36 |
| 9 | Avril Lavigne– | Complicated | 4:04 |
| 10 | John Mayer– | Your Body Is A Wonderland | 4:06 |
| 11 | Sheryl Crow– | Soak Up The Sun | 3:18 |
| 12 | P!NK– | Get The Party Started | 3:11 |
| 13 | Britney Spears– | Overprotected | 3:19 |
| 14 | Craig David– | 7 Days | 3:55 |
| 15 | Sting– | Fragile | 4:21 |
| 16 | James Taylor (2)– | October Road | 3:56 |
| 17 | Bowling For Soup– | Girl All The Bad Guys Want | 3:17 |
| 18 | Dave Matthews Band– | Where Are You Going | 3:51 |
| 19 | *NSYNC– | Girlfriend | 3:59 |
I know quite a few of these. My favorites are “Get This Party Started” and “Don’t Know Why”. Also, I know Nickelback faces opprobrium from all quarters, but I quite like “How You Remind Me”. And I completely agree that it’s hard to believe these songs are almost 20 years old!”
Deb, exactly! It seems just like yesterday when I was listening to these songs on the radio! There was a story on Canadian TV that two cops were reprimanded because they forced people they arrested to listen to Nickelback songs in their squad car all the way to the Police Station. Cruel and unusual punishment?
By 2003, the year I retired, I wasn’t really listening to the kind of stuff that got nominated for Grammys. Still, I’m familiar with about half the artists listed, at least in the sense that I knew who they were. For me the key question when it comes to lists like this is whether I ever bought any of their music. Only Eminem and James Taylor get a “yes” on that, and what I bought by Taylor was years before this.
Michael, 2003 was about the time Patrick and Katie were transitioning to music streaming services and telling me music CDs were “obsolete.”
“Remember these songs from 2003?” I don’t even remember 2003. These songs — and most of the artists — are out of my wheelhouse.
Perhaps if you reviewed a compilation of Mongolian throat singing…Nah, probably not then, either.
Jerry, I have some unusual music CDs in the On Deck Circle that you might recognize. And, of course, some Oldies CDs which are always fun to listen to!
As usual, the ones I remember are those that played on Lowry Mays’ MOR stations during rush hour commute–Pink, Crow, Jones, Chicks. James Taylor is on the Colbert show this week, guesting with the house band.
Fred, same here. I listened to the radio on my morning commute to the College, then listened to more songs on the commute home.
It feels like 19 years to me…they have been fairly tumultuous decades, alas.
Nora Jones’s jazz-flavored songs at this point, with a sexual pun or two running through “Don’t Know Why”, has certainly stuck with me, as has Pink’s and a few of he catchier more bubblegum items, such as Avril Lavigne’s and Sheryl Crow’s, have as well. I’d probably recognize most if not all if I played them back.
And, as usual, trying to do several things at once, I forgot to doublecheck, and these were 2003 Grammys, so the songs were released in 2002…so, the big 2-0 since release, at least.
If you have Epix or (I think it was) Hulu, you can enjoy the four episodes of the fine if too-rushed series, WOMEN WHO ROCK, just wrapped up on Sunday, and full of interviews, etc., with a reasonably good subset of the women who helped create and sustain rock music over the last 70 years.
Todd, I’ll check it out! Thanks for the heads up!
i recognize the artists but not the songs. Although if I heard them…perhaps. We saw Norah Jones perform with her back to the audience. So shy.
Patti, I was a big fan of Norah Jones’s first two albums. Then, she changed her style and lost me.
Familiar with some of the singers but not the songs.
Neeru, some of these songs became part of U.S. TV commercials so they had their listening life extended.
Never listen to pop or MOR stations so most of these don’t sound familiar although I know the artist’s names. If I heard them I might know some of these. During this period I was listening a lot to younger rock artists such as Beck, My Morning Jacket, The National The White Stripes and Wilco.
Steve, the GRAMMY AWARDS seem to favor middle of the road groups and performances. Anything edgy tends to be ignored by them.
The exceptions have been best album wins by Beck and Arcade Fire. Arcade Fire is the only best album winner that was not on a indie label.
Steve, Patrick was a big fan of Arcade Fire in 2003. I liked the early Beck and still listen to those albums.
was meant to say that Arcade Fire was on a indie l label. Forgot to check, before posting.
Wow! I REALLY wasn’t paying attention in 2003. The only song I recognized was Pink’s Let’s Get This Party Started.
Beth, but Pink and her “Let’s Get This Party Started” became icons!
Do I know them? WHat do you think? Well, a few, the Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow and Dixie Chicks, but that’s about it.
Jeff, it’s amazing how many of these artists faded away after 2003!
Most of these folks could still be heard from…albeit those who didn’t have complete crooks as managers probably didn’t need to worry about where their next meal was coming from…possibly Bowling for Soup’s name was too prophetic.
Todd, 20 years later and the success rate isn’t great for many of these performers. Of course, the music industry transitioned to streaming which created a whole new set of complications for artists.
And how are you measuring success, George? When touring is possible, a bunch of these people tour rather profitably. As you note, the charts are driven by different criteria than they used to be. None of these folks is getting Spotify numbers in the Bad Bunny range, but thems the breaks. 20 years later, even folks such as Sting/Gordon Sumner with a fairly prominent 20 years previously don’t usually remain Atop the Pops in the #1 Recording sense…the Rolling Stones are essentially as much a nostalgia act as the Beach Boys are today, And the grind for rock musicians is at least as wearying as it is for most others…
Todd, success in the Music Industry usually comes down to money. Few musical performers and groups are making money on Spotify or any of the other streaming services. That’s why they’re forced to tour (although most of them hate that, especially the older groups).