Compldting 2005
20 - "She Will Be Loved," Maroon 5
19 - "Encore," Eminem featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent
18 - "Lose My Breath," Destiny's Child
17 - "Mockingbird," Eminem
16 - "Rich Girl," Gwen Stefani featuring Eve
The second half opens with more of Maroon 5's sensitive-guy pop-soul. They try, I suppose, but I'm immune to their charms. Except for...you know.
Eminem is back for the second time this week on a track that features both his mentor Dr. Dre and his protege 50 Cent. Some decent rhymes, and it ends with Eminem referencing Dre's highy anticipated final CD ("Don't worry about that Detox album, it's comin'.") Eight years later, and it still hasn't been released. But I can't say I'm worried about it.
Next are Destiny's Child with their first single after Beyonce became a solo superstar. It's a request for satisfying sex set to a furious marching-band drumbeat. It's between this and "Jumpin', Jumpin'" for the title of best thing they've ever put out, as far as I'm concerned. I was hoping they'd do it during their brief reunion during B's halftime show last week. I thought it would really work in that stadium setting. Ah well, it was still good enough that when they left the building, they took most of the electricity with them.
Then it's more Em, this time showing his sensitive side while explaining to his daughters why he's away from them so often and why he isn't with their mother anymore. Part of comforting them involves singing "Hush Little Baby," although in his version, he pledges violent revenge on non-singing mockingbirds and jewelers who would sell his daughters insufficiently brilliant diamond rings. Maybe not the most polite sentiment, but certainly driven by love.
This group ends with the second single from No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani's solo debut. It's a remake of a 1993 song by British reggae duo Louchie Lou and Michie One, which itself repurposed the chorus of "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof. Dr. Dre produces, Eve raps. It's all right, but I don't like it nearly as much as the song she put out before this "What You Waiting For." That's a classic. Seriously.
15 - "My Boo," Usher featuring Alicia Keys
14 - "Nobody's Home," Avril Lavigne
13 - "Numb/Encore," Linkin Park and Jay-Z
12 - "Breakaway," Kelly Clarkson
11 - "Friends and Lovers" Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz featuring Usher and Ludacris
The second half begins with a collaboration between superstars Usher and Alicia Keys on a midtempo ballad about how a first love stays with you even after you move on to someone else. Smoothly sung, and worthy of the talents of both.
Avril Lavigne picked up another hit with this rocker about feeling lost and having nowhere to turn. A decent example of her more serious side.
Next are the combination of Linkin Park and Jay-Z with a blending of one of the former's hits with a rhyme from the latter's Black Album. Not surprisingly, it's the rock band that benefits more from the collaboration. Jigga actually makes Linkin Park almost tolerable.
Then it's Kelly Clarkson with the title track from her blockbuster second album. It's the wish of a girl to break out of her small-town existence and see the world, co-written by none other than Avril Lavigne. A sweet little song, but the ones that followed all blew it away.
Rounding out this section is Lil' Jon and co., hooking up again with the "Yeah!" crew of Usher and Ludacris on this uncharacteristically tender ballad. A little lewdness does creep in, but still, this is pretty tame for them. And that's not what you want from these guys.
I feel like Top Ten tonight.
10 - "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," Green Day
The Bay Area pop-punks had their biggest pop hit with this mornful midtempo ballad from the album that re-established their relevance, American Idiot. Good album and all, but I'm not sure turning it into a Broadway musical was the best way to keep up their cred.
9 - "Drop it Like it's Hot," Snoop Dogg with Pharell
Snoop's only pop charttopper was this consists of his drawling delivery, a guest rhyme from one half of The Neptunes, and a track that's mostly tongue clicks and 80s keyboards. The lyrics don't really matter, because it's just plain catchy.
8 - "Since U Been Gone," Kelly Clarkson
And here it is, the song that took Ms. Clarkson from talent contest winner to genuine superstar. It was originally written by Max Martin and Dr. Luke with Pink in mind, but after she turned it down and Hilary Duff proved incapable of hitting the higher notes, Clarkson got it, rocked it up, and owned this declaration that a breakup was the best thing to ever happen to her. Pretty much universally loved, and deservedly so. Just great pop.
7 - "True," Ryan Cabrera
This kid's other hit was this ballad that apes Extreme's "More Than Words." Maybe his true calling is playing 90s soft-rock in a cafe frequented by soccer moms.
6 - "Soldier," Destiny's Child
Their second "comeback" single was this track expressing their desire for men with street cred and "hood status." Rappers Li'l Wayne and T.I. show up to seemingly personify this ideal. Not one of my favorites.
5 - "Beautiful Soul," Jesse McCartney
McCartney (no relation) started out as a child soap star, then joined a boy band, and finally achieved success on his own with this meh "what's inside is what counts" pop song. I don't care if that's his real name, he should have changed it out of professional courtesy.
4 - "I Don't Want to Be," Gavin DeGraw
Hailing from New York's Catskill Mountains, DeGraw scored his breakthrough hit with this pop-rocker about just wanting to be himself. As per the lyrics, he actually is the son of a prison guard and a specialist. This song became the theme to the long-running drama One Tree Hill. That show just ended, presumably with an episode where a second tree mysteriously appeared on the hill, causing the locals to riot in anger and confusion. At least that's what I like to think happened.
3 - "Over and Over," Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
Nelly racked up another hit with this ballad that features vocal contribution from country star McGraw. The man was golden at this time.
2 - "1, 2 Step," Ciara featuring Missy Elliott
The "First Lady of Crunk" had her second smash with this slinky track about dancing featuring the always welcome Missy Elliott. Maybe not quite "funky fresh" but still fun and cool.
And on top eight years ago was...
1 - "Let Me Love You," Mario
The only #1 to date for Baltimore's Mario Barrett was this soul ballad on which he offers himself as an alternative to a woman's cheating boyfriend. It's a good track, and Mario's voice is a notch above his contemporaries in the genre. It topped the charts because it was genuinely better than the similar songs out there. I like the justice in that.
I'm going to save discussion about Seacrest and his style for another time.
Next time: 2006.
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