Beyoncé
The girl-group superstar who bet on herself and became simply the biggest star in music. From "Crazy in Love" in the summer of 2003 to "Single Ladies" closing out 2008, Beyoncé's solo run WAS the sound of the decade.
#2000s Pop
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Christina Aguilera
The Mickey Mouse Club grad who became the 2000s' designated voice—every critic conceded she could really sing, which was the whole point of the rivalry with Britney Spears. She went from a 1999 debut that shipped ten million records to the leather-chaps reinvention of Stripped, proving she was more than a pretty face with pipes.
![Video thumbnail — Gym Class Heroes: Cupid's Chokehold ft. Patrick Stump [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eiiU-Fky18s/maxresdefault.jpg)
Cupid's Chokehold
"Take a look at my girlfriend" — a hook borrowed from Supertramp, sung by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, rapped around by Travie McCoy. "Cupid's Chokehold" shouldn't have worked, and then it was everywhere in 2007.
Destiny's Child
One of the best-selling girl groups of all time and the defining R&B girl group of the late 1990s and early 2000s, famous for the powerhouse lineup of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. With hits like 'Say My Name,' 'Bills, Bills, Bills,' 'Independent Women,' 'Survivor,' and 'Bootylicious,' they defined an era of confident, sexually liberated pop music while launching Beyoncé toward her eventual superstardom.
P!nk
The raspy-voiced anti-pop-star of the TRL era — the one who mocked the pop machinery while beating it at its own game. Missundaztood sold 13 million copies on pure attitude, and "Get the Party Started" is still doing exactly what it promised.
Destiny's Child — Say My Name
The call-and-response hook that defined an era of R&B, and the most dramatic lineup announcement in pop memory — disguised as a music video premiere. 'Say My Name' introduced the world to Destiny's Child in their most iconic form — and to the concept that your favorite song's original singers might not be the ones who got famous for it.
"Since U Been Gone" — Kelly Clarkson
The breakup-scream anthem of the 2000s. Kelly Clarkson needed an identity beyond American Idol; Max Martin and Dr. Luke handed her a pop-rock chorus that demanded everything a voice could give, and every car ride since has been a rehearsal.