21 Songs From The '90s And '00s That Were, Are, And Always Will Be Crowd-Pleasers
If there's one thing you cannot say about the '90s and '00s, it's that these decades didn't serve up some seriously awesome music.
Sony Music Entertainment / Via giphy.com
Artists like Britney, Beyoncé, and more answered the call for amazing music that lifted your spirits.
These 21 hits were definitely on your go-to playlist while you were preparing to party.
1."Yeah!" by Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris
Year of release: 2004
Usher, Lil Jon, and Ludacris formed a '00s trio that made one of the most epic songs of the decade with "Yeah!" It spent 12 weeks in the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which was well-deserved, because it was (and is) the song for getting a crowd going.
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2."This Is How We Do It" by Montell Jordan
Year of release: 1995
If you lived through the '90s and didn't blast "This Is How We Do It" at some point or another to boost your mood before a night out, I'd be shocked. The track was Montell Jordan's debut single, and ever since its release, it's been one of the most ubiquitous party songs out there.
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3."U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer
Year of release: 1990
MC Hammer kicked off the '90s with this up-tempo track, which is his most well-known song to date. He sampled the Rick James track, "Super Freak," for "U Can't Touch This," but put his own spin on it. The result was a catchy anthem that audiences couldn't help but add to their song lists.
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4."Waiting for Tonight" by Jennifer Lopez
Year of release: 1999
"Waiting For Tonight" was an essential playlist addition for any late '90s or '00s celebration. With the lyrics, "From all of my sadness, the tears that I've cried / I have spent all of my life / Waiting for tonight," JLo instantly got listeners in an optimistic, party-ready mindset.
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5."I'm Every Woman" by Whitney Houston
Year of Release: 1993
Whitney's version of the Chaka Khan classic, "I'm Every Woman," makes listeners feel powerful, confident, and ready for a celebration. It's Whitney at her best, and it brings out the right vibes for heading out on the town.
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6."Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
Year of release: 2003
There have been numerous amazing Beyoncé and Jay-Z collabs over the years, but "Crazy in Love" will always be a standout. When Beyoncé started the song by asking listeners, "You ready?" we were introduced to a pop masterpiece that quickly earned a spot on any '00s mix.
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7."Pon de Replay" by Rihanna
Year of release: 2005
A 17-year-old Rihanna made us all want to get on the dance floor when she dropped "Pon de Replay" in '05. If you were not inspired to tell the DJ to increase the volume after hearing this song, you were not listening to it right.
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8."Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean
Year of release: 2006
Shakira's hips don't lie, and I don't lie when I say this is a song pretty much everyone has loved to jam out to since its debut. It was a bop then, it's a bop now, and a bop it will forever remain.
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9."Let's Get It Started" by Black Eyed Peas
Year of release: 2004
This title pretty much says it all – "Let's Get It Started" was the way to start off a great night in the '00s. The song inevitably made its way onto your pre-party music collection, plus you likely danced to it at many celebrations you attended during the aughts.
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10."Gimme More" by Britney Spears
Year of release: 2007
There are many Britney hits that could be added to a '90s or '00s playlist, like "...Baby One More Time," "Toxic," or "Oops!... I Did It Again." Another example is "Gimme More," which was a fierce, catchy chart-topper and a party mix must-have.
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11."California Love" by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre
Year of release: 1995
2Pac and Dr. Dre may have represented the West Coast when they made "California Love" together, but the song resulted in music fans jamming out worldwide. From '95 to today, your music collection is lacking without this memorable hip-hop hit.
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12."Just Dance" by Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis
Year of release: 2008
Who could forget Gaga's first hugely successful song when building a getting-ready music mix from the '90s and '00s? "Just Dance" will forever be a true gem of the aughts that makes you want to bust a move.
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13."The Next Episode" by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg
Year of release: 2000
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Nate Dogg absolutely brought their A-game for "The Next Episode." The song started the new millennium with a banger you couldn't help but listen to until you had all of its lyrics memorized.
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14."Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" by Shania Twain
Year of release: 1997
"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" inspired '90s music fans to boldly have a fun time, let loose, and, of course, do it in style. A going-out playlist would be incomplete without this song, which was one of greatest bops of the decade.
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15."Dirrty" by Christina Aguilera
Year of release: 2002
When you were prepared to blow off some steam, "Dirrty" was the number one '00s song to turn to. After listening to Christina belt out this number, no one could resist having some fun and letting their inner party animal come out.
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16."Motownphilly" by Boyz II Men
Year of release: 1991
Boyz II Men deviated from the moving ballads they've come to be known for with this song, proving their talents extend to uptempo melodies. This East Coast party tune is infectious and definitely gets some fun memories flooding in for all '90s music lovers.
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17."Get the Party Started" by P!nk
Year of release: 2001
Anyone who was around in the '00s will remember P!nk blessing us with this single! "Get the Party Started" was a necessity when you were getting ready for a gathering and totally feeling yourself.
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18."Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by Backstreet Boys
Year of release: 1997
Backstreet Boys were not playing when they released "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" 25 years ago. This epic number brought the party with it and set the tone for a lively evening of stepping out with your '90s crew.
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19."Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliott
Year of release: 2001
Billboard wrote that, in 2007, Missy told Blender magazine "Get Ur Freak On" "could be about dancing, the bedroom, whatever. You’re cleaning your house? Get your freak on!” Following this vibe, the track was a great fit for a variety of song lists, including your going-out selections.
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20."SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland
Year of release: 2006
Justin and Timbaland made everyone listening to this song in the '00s feel like they, too, were singlehandedly bringing sexy back. It was in heavy rotation in 2006, both on the radio and on personal playlists.
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21."Spice Up Your Life" by the Spice Girls
Year of release: 1997
A girl power anthem that never fails to motivate is "Spice Up Your Life" by the Spice Girls. Whether you were stepping out for a wild party or just a casual gathering, this song was surely included in your music compilation to prepare for the occasion.
