The early 2000s have returned in full force.
Well, maybe we can skip that brief moment when we all thought wearing jeans underneath a dress was a good look…but other than that, the essence and sound of the millennium’s beginnings have returned.
Understandably, the sound and style of many of our fan favorites have changed after twenty years. It can be difficult to remember where they began. We frequently forget that most today’s top-ranked performers started with very different sounds in the land before iPhones.
The return to the ever-popular Y2K vibe has us nostalgic, and we’d like to take you along for the ride. Here are the first songs ever released by your favorite female artists today.
Work it Out was Queen Bey’s first solo single, released in 2002. The beautifully melodic R&B sound moved many people. We are relieved to learn that Beyonce did indeed Work it Out as we sit here in the year 2022, as she remains a chart-topper.
Taylor Swift has been smashing records left and right since the release of Midnights, her new album of instant classic caliber. As part of this celebration, she recently announced The Eras Tour. Swift is a celebrity who actively changed and celebrated her brand publicly. The singer has come a long way since her first single, Tim McGraw. In 2006, the sweet song with an undeniably country sound was released.
Rihanna has had an incredible year (and an exciting year yet to come.) She recently released Lift Me Up, her first song in six years, is set to perform at the Super Bowl, and had a baby (which isn’t music news, but we’re still excited!) It’s easy to forget that the singer’s illustrious career began in 2005 with the release of the iconic song Pon de Replay.
The Punk Princess- Pop has returned with a vengeance. Avril Lavigne was a pop-punk staple in the early 2000s, and the star is one of many leading the charge back to that era. She re-recorded her debut album for the 20th anniversary of its release. Her incredible career began in 2002, with the release of her edgy but heartfelt song Complicated. We’re here for it as the singer continues to honor her past while creating new music.
Britney Spears will always be known as the true Princess of Pop. The star was finally released from conservatorship within the last year. She has already begun to compose new music. She was nominated for an award with Elton John for their collaborative song Hold Me Closer. The star’s legendary musical career began with a song that we still listen to on repeat:…One More Time. Given the song’s ongoing popularity, it’s difficult to believe it was released in 1998. (Okay, so 1998 isn’t the early 2000s, but what are we doing here if Britney isn’t on this list?)
The band Paramore has returned to the music scene. This iconic band and Avril Lavigne are returning the world to the beloved years of pop punk. Fans have been ecstatic to learn that a new era of Paramore is on the way. The band recently headlined the ACL Music Festival and has a long list of exciting tour dates ahead of them. Pressure, released in 2005, was the song that launched the band on their meteoric rise.
Time to go bring ourselves back to the start of it all and spend our day listening to these songs on repeat!