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by Charles Bell, Tyler Glover, Aprille Hanson-Spivey & Julian Spivey
100. "Mud on the Tires" by Brad Paisley (2003)
Album: Mud on the Tires Songwriters: Brad Paisley & Chris DuBois From 1999 to the early 2010s, Brad Paisley owned country music. He dominated radio stations with more than 50 charted singles for Billboard’s country singles chart and pumped out albums every year or two years from 1999 to 2014, with his last album dropping in 2017. With a stellar voice and remarkable guitar skills, he was the perfect combination of revering true country music, while also putting his own modern and often humorous spin on it. While he has been out of mainstream country for a while, aside from occasional appearances on award shows for duets, his impact on the genre today remains immense. I could fill up this list with stellar Paisley tunes, from the humorous “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song)” to the more profound “Welcome to the Future,” but “Mud on the Tires” is my choice. The title track of his 2003 album, one of his two albums that were certified double platinum, reached No. 1 on the Billboard country charts in 2004. It is a fun, romantic, truck-infused song that didn’t make you want to roll your eyes, written by Paisley and Chris Dubois. Lyrically, it paints a beautiful picture of a couple celebrating their purchase of “a brand new Chevrolet” and taking off to get “a little mud on the tires,” down dirt roads with crickets and campfires. It has the same Southern charm as Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Fishin’ in the Dark.” Paisley’s silky drawl and superior guitar riff toward the end help solidify it as one of his best and one of the best of the genre, standing out high above a sea of clichéd truck anthems today. AHS
99. "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z & Alicia Keys (2009)
Album: The Blueprint 3 Songwriters: Shawn Carter, Alicia Keys, Alexander Shuckburgh, Janet Sewell-Ulepic, Angela Hunte, Sylvia Robinson & Bert Keyes I’ve always admired how much New Yorkers appreciate their state. Nothing embodies New York pride quite like "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. This song is iconic for various reasons, from the lyrics to the shots in the video. I believe the primary reason this song is iconic is the hope it brought not only to the hip-hop community but also to communities worldwide. If you go back to when this song was released, we were experiencing a once-in-a-century economic crisis. Newly elected President Barack Obama ran a campaign discussing hope for the future. Although this song was mainly about New York, I think hearing the words in Keys’s iconic voice, “There’s nothing you can’t do,” resonated with so many people at the time. If you think about some of the more iconic songs throughout our time, you can always relate them to a specific period or situation. The 2000s era of hip hop was truly special. A great argument can be made that this song capped that era. - CB
98. "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z (2003)
Album: Dangerously in Love Songwriters: Beyoncé Knowles, Shawn Carter, Rich Harrison & Eugene Record A list of the best songs of the last 25 years would not be complete without including “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé featuring her now-husband, JAY-Z. “Crazy in Love” was the lead single from Beyoncé’s first solo debut album, Dangerously in Love. It was very sad to hear that Beyoncé was leaving her incredibly successful group, Destiny’s Child. However, from the moment her first solo single played, you could argue that maybe she should have been doing this by herself all along. “Crazy in Love” went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks and would go on to win two Grammy awards: Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. In 2018, Billboard ranked this song as the Best Song of the 21st century so far. This is the perfect song to get out on the dance floor on a Friday night after a long week at work. It isn’t just any dance song, though; “Crazy in Love” manages to do something that so many songs set out to do but don’t consistently achieve. It managed to become iconic, instantly memorable, and so catchy that it ensured everyone would go “crazy!” You would not think a song that says “uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh" to a specific beat would leave such a lasting impact, but it does. This song captures the feelings that we can have for someone who manages to make us become crazy and unlike ourselves. We will do things out of the ordinary because of the connection we have with this person. Music has a way of evoking a wide range of emotions, and every song serves a distinct purpose. This song brings us joy. It may have come out way back in 2003, but dance parties around the world are still completing their setlist with this blockbuster hit. TG
97. "This Land" by Gary Clark Jr. (2019)
Album: This Land Songwriter: Gary Clark Jr. Gary Clark Jr. has taken up the mantle as the best blues-rock guitarist of his generation, and his blues are more than the old-school “she done me wrong” trope. The modern world comes with its own kind of blues – the being treated like an other when you’re just trying to survive a crazy and cruel world. Clark experiences this in “This Land,” off his 2019 album of the same name, which was inspired by an incident with a neighbor who repeatedly asked who lived on Clark’s 50-acre property in Austin, Texas, not believing that Clark, a black man, could own the home. Clark takes on the upsurge in hate and racism experienced during the Trump years, whom he name-drops. The song, which also has a terrific remix version with The Roots, including an opening rap by Black Thought, won Clark Grammys for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance. JS
96. "Simple Song" by The Shins (2012)
Album: Port of Morrow Songwriter: James Mercer The Shins will likely forever be primarily known for their 2001 indie classic, “New Slang,” and its appearance in Zach Braff’s 2004 film, “Garden State.” While that’s a terrific song, I think the best track the band has ever produced is “Simple Song,” from its 2012 album Port of Morrow. Much like how “New Slang” hit it big after its inclusion in “Garden State,” it was the inclusion of “Simple Song” in another artform (though on a smaller scale) – the finale of the penultimate season of “How I Met Your Mother” – that introduced the song to me. I’ve been in love with it ever since. “Simple Song” tells the story of blossoming love and was inspired by frontman/songwriter James Mercer’s marriage and early relationship period leading up to the birth of their first daughter. The way the music builds to its raucous ending effectively mimics the feelings of love that often emerge early in a relationship. It’s a beauty. JS
95. "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias (2001)
Album: Escape Songwriters: Enrique Iglesias, Paul Barry & Mark Taylor In 2001, I was a young teenager who just wanted to be loved. I wanted to have a girlfriend like everyone else did. Looking back now, I know that I wasn’t falling for anyone. I was just in love with being in love. Every love song that hit the radio felt like it was made for this hopeless romantic and his future love. That is why when “Hero” by Enrique Iglesias came out, it was the perfect song for me. The Spanish singer-songwriter touches on the universal feeling of wanting to be the hero for the one we love. The singer is pleading with them to let them be that person for them. The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became extremely popular. While this song is a fantastic love song, the main reason it must be included on this list is the significant role it plays in American history. This song was released eight days before the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. “Hero” is one of the few songs chosen by radio DJs in New York City to be remixed with audio from police, firefighters and civilians at Ground Zero. Iglesias was even asked to sing the song live for the televised benefit concert “America: Tribute to Heroes.” When I hear this song now as an adult, it makes me think of those we lost in those acts of violence against our country and the heroes that we saw that day. Men and women who did not come home to try to save other people, answering the call of duty. They will always be our heroes. TG
94. "Last Nite" by The Strokes (2001)
Album: Is This It Songwriter: Julian Casablancas When The Strokes burst onto the scene in late 2001 with “Last Nite,” it felt both of its time and timeless—maybe it was that kickass opening guitar riff that borrowed heavily from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ classic “American Girl.” It was the type of rock music you want pulsating through your veins. The band openly admitted they ripped off the classic rock riff with frontman/songwriter Julian Casablancas saying, “People would say, ‘You know that song ‘American Girl’ by Tom Petty? Don’t you think it sounds a little like that?’ And I’d be like, ‘Yeah, we ripped it off. Where you been?.” Rolling Stone ranked “Last Nite” as the 155th greatest song of all time in 2001, 14 spots higher than “American Girl,” which I disagree with, but it’s still a fantastic song. JS
93. "Texas Hold 'Em" by Beyoncé (2024)
Album: Cowboy Carter Songwriters: Beyoncé Knowles, Brian Bates, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Atia Boggs, Megan Bülow, Nathan Ferraro & Raphael Saadiq “Texas Hold ‘Em,” one of two singles first released off Beyonce’s country album Cowboy Carter, is one of the most important songs of the last 25 years because you have a larger-than-life artist creating an album full of Americana flavor, and at its core, a celebration of Black music. Debating whether the album is country or not misses the point. The 27-track album encompasses a diverse range of genres, from country to opera, pop to rap, and even a touch of Western influence, all with a hint of Beyoncé flair. She’s one of the most accomplished artists of our time, and this album is a big statement when it comes to genres and whether or not artists should be put in a box. Beyoncé has proven again that she can’t be contained. And unlike some country artists today who don’t get near the scrutiny she has, Beyoncé was born and raised in Houston. Written by Beyoncé and six other writers, Brian Bates, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Atia Boggs, Megan Bülow, Nathan Ferraro, and Raphael Saadiq, it reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and country charts. It has a fun Texas swing to it, with lyrics like, “This ain't Texas (woo), ain't no hold 'em (hey) / So lay your cards down, down, down, down.” She dives into a few Southern cliches, like rugged whiskey and a hoedown, but there’s no mention of a truck. In this case, it’s a Lexus. A gem of the track is the masterful musician Rhiannon Giddens, who plays banjo and viola. It’s a song that hooks you with its soul, playfulness and catchy lyrics. AHS
92. "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappell Roan (2024)
Album: Non-Album Single Songwriters: Chappell Roan, Justin Tranter & Dan Nigro Chappell Roan is an artist that many of my Swiftie friends began listening to last summer. They kept telling me to check into her and that if I loved Taylor Swift, I would love Chappell Roan as well. It took me a few weeks, but after hearing numerous publications proclaim Chappell Roan as “your favorite artist’s favorite artist,” I knew I had to give her a chance. Chappell Roan has quickly become one of the most exciting new artists in recent years. This past February, she won the Grammy for Best New Artist and was nominated for Album of the Year for her smash hit album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Her hit song, “Good Luck, Babe!” would also be nominated for Record and Song of the Year. Quite simply, it should have won at least one, if not both, of those awards. “Good Luck, Babe!” was my favorite song of 2024. In this song, Chappell Roan sings about how a girl she loves is denying the feelings she has for her. She tells her that she can “kiss a hundred boys in bars,” but she won’t get over her. My favorite lyric in the song is “You have to stop the world just to stop the feeling.” So many of us think that we can “turn off” our genuine feelings of love for someone, and it just isn’t possible. If you love someone, you love them. You only hurt yourself by denying it. This song is such a banger and will be remembered for years to come for its uniqueness and blunt honesty. TG
91. "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by The Soggy Bottom Boys (2000)
Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Songwriter: Traditional (Unknown) It’s wild to think that there was such a big bluegrass craze reborn by the Coen Brothers' 2000 film “O Brother, Where Art Thou” that the film's soundtrack won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The highlight of that soundtrack was an, at the time, almost 100-year-old traditional folk song called “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” usually called “Man of Constant Sorrow” in its previous recordings, which include one on Bob Dylan’s self-titled debut album in 1962. In the film, George Clooney’s character, Ulysses Everett McGill, is performing the song. In reality, he was lip syncing to Dan Tyminski, a performer in Alison Krauss’ talented Union Station band. Tyminski’s beautifully twangy vocals, mixed with the superb musicianship on the record, helped bring a genre and sound unknown to many outside of Appalachia to the forefront of American music. JS
90. "Slow Motion" by Juvenile feat. Soulja Slim
Album: Juve the Great Songwriters: Juvenile & Soulja Slim In my lifetime, the decade from 2000 to 2009 was the best for hip hop. I wasn’t around for much of the '80s, and I was just a kid in the '90s, so I might be biased toward my own era. This era was so special because of the competition not only from various artists but also the singles they were constantly producing. These days, the term “hit” is used way too loosely when it comes to music. It seems like every song released is referred to as a hit. “Slow Motion” by Juvenile is a TRUE hit. The song can be identified within its first three seconds. I have friends from all backgrounds, and even in 2025, that song is still popular. During this era of hip-hop, a shift occurred from the classic gangsta rap to a smoother, calmer approach. Juvenile took that to the next level with “Slow Motion.” If you go out to a party, bar or any similar atmosphere, there is a good chance you will hear this song and it’ll receive plenty of recognition from the crowd. I consider “Slow Motion” to be a hype song, which is wild considering its slower-paced beat. This type of song, being able to ignite a crowd, is a testament to its exceptional quality. CB
89. "American Skin (41 Shots)" by Bruce Springsteen (2001)
Album: Live from New York City Songwriter: Bruce Springsteen The legendary songwriters don’t shy away from the harsh realities and truths of the real world. Bruce Springsteen has rubbed some more conservative-leaning music fans the wrong way due to his political views. He’s never been more political in a song than 2001’s “American Skin (41 Shots),” which he debuted in concert in mid-2000, first appeared on the live album Live in New York City in 2001, and didn’t have a studio version until it appeared on High Hopes in 2014. The song took on the NYPD shooting death of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed Guinean immigrant, in February 1999, doing so from the perspective of a mother warning her child of color how to act around police and the perspective of the police. Despite not be an anti-police song, it sure pissed off some, with the NYPD’s police commissioner calling for a boycott of Springsteen’s New York City shows at that time. Rudy Giuliani, then the Mayor of New York City, condemned the song and asked Springsteen not to play it in New York. Not only did Springsteen play it, but it also ended up on the live album. JS
Song No. 90-86 coming soon!!
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