The Real Reason Why “It Wasn’t Me” By Shaggy Wasn’t Supposed To Be A Single At All
Let's take a trip down memory lane. It's the early 2000's, when high school dances were a thing and CDs were played in your CD player. This was all before mp3 players and iPods were a thing. It doesn't hurt to look back on the songs we listened to non-stop. Basically, your CD playlist from 2002 just got a whole lot more intriguing.
If you're looking for nostalgia, we've gathered some of the best songs from the early 2000's. I know you know the lyrics to "Hey Ya!", but it also holds a very unique record that could only happen in the new millennium.
Rock Your Body Was Written For An Iconic Musician
The beat for the song was intended for Michael Jackson's album Invincible. But, Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams sold the track to the former NSYNC member instead. The song helped Timberlake transition from a teen idol into a legitimate pop star.
The most iconic moment was when he performed the song twice at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Yeah! By Usher Never Made The Cut On His Debut Album
The song almost didn't make Usher's Confessions album. The Atlanta native explained to MTV News,
"Once me and Lil Jon finished the record; we did a little research on the record only to find out that 'Freek-A-Leek' by Petey Pablo had the same beat. At times I wonder if it would have made a difference if the beat was never changed. Nobody knew it was going to be a huge record."
Destiny's Child Faced A Lawsuit For Survivor
Former group members LaToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson filed a lawsuit against the current members. They claimed some of the lyrics, like "You thought I wouldn't sell without you/sold nine million" violated a previous agreement that prevented either party from insulting each other.
The case would eventually be settled in 2002.
My Humps Isn't The Most Popular Dance Song
The lyrics were voted as the worse in dance music. The UK Global Gathering ran a poll in July 2012. 22% of voters picked "My Humps," but "Nassaja" by Scooter and "Up and Down" by the Venga Boys came in the top three.
"My humps" is repeated 34 times in the song.
Avril Lavinge's Complicated Has Been Viewed A LOT On YouTube
In January 2018, the music video reached over 255,000,000 views on YouTube. Naturally, Weird Al Yankovic wrote a parody called "A Complicated Song."
Yankovic sings about overeating cheesy pizza, marrying your cousin, and getting your head knocked off by a roller coaster.
In Da Club Faced A Very Interesting Lawsuit
In January 2006, the rapper was sued for copyright infringement by Joesph Weinberger, the former 2 Live Crew manager who owns the rights to the group's rap catalog.
Weinberger claimed that 50 Cent plagiarized the line "It's your birthday" from the track of the same name from former frontman Luther Campbell's Freak For Like 6996 album.
Hey Ya! Is The First Song To Achieve Something In The New Millenium
The song was the most downloaded off iTunes when the service was picking up steam. This was a massive boon for the service and the song as people could legally download it for 99 cents without buying the whole album.
Thanks to the exposure, "Hey Ya" became the first song in history to achieve one million downloads.
Can't You Get Out Of My Head Was Written For A Popular British Group
Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis originally wrote this for S Club 7. After their manager, Simon Fuller heard the demo, he felt it wasn't right for the group and rejected it. It was offered to Sophie Ellis-Bextor but she also turned it down.
Davis met with Minogue's reps, and after hearing it, he booked it for Minogue to record.
Lose Yourself Wasn't The Song Used In The First Trailer For Eight Mile
When Universal Pictures released the first trailers, the song didn't exist. Instead, the studio wanted to use "Cleanin' Out My Closet." However, Eminem thought the song was too personal to use for the movie. The rapper wrote "Lose Yourself" as B. Rabbit.
Writing in character was nothing new for the man who went by the moniker Slim Shady.
It Wasn't Me Wasn't Supposed To Be A Single At All
This was not supposed to be the single. It became a huge hit out in Hawaii after a radio DJ on KIKI FM Music played it. That convinced the record company to release it as a single.
But, little does anyone know, the song was inspired by a bit called "No Loyal Men" by comedian Eddie Murphy.
Alicia Keys Drew Inspiration For If I Ain't Got You From Aaliyah
The single was inspired by the death of singer Aaliyah, and other events in Keys' life. "If I Ain't Got You" peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, and it was the New Yorker's second consecutive R&B chart-topper.
She also won Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Milkshake Was A Last Minute Addition To A Movie
Kelis performed this song on Saturday Night Live on Valentine's Day 2004. The song also appeared in the movie Mean Girls, which was written by Tina Fey. According to Fey, the scene was written as Regina George's little sister is giving a lap dance to a teddy bear.
Instead, they had the girls dance to "Milkshake."
Hollaback Girl Drew Inspiration From Kurt Cobain's Ex-Wife
The former No Doubt frontwoman got the idea for the cheerleader theme after Courtney Love talked about her in Seventeen magazine.
"Being famous is just like being in high school. But I'm not interested in being the cheerleader. I'm not interested in being Gwen Stefani. She's the cheerleader, and I'm out in the smoker shed."
By It Was Beyonce Who Asked Jay Z To Appear On Crazy In Love
This was the first single from Beyoncé's debut solo album, Dangerously In Love. There was little doubt that Beyoncé would find her footing as a solo musician. As the former leader of Destiny's Child, "Crazy In Love" blew away expectations.
Jay-Z's contribution was a last minute decision, as Beyoncé asked him to get on the song.
Get Ur Freak On Was A New Beginning For Missy
Missy's single marked the first music video where she worked without Hype Williams. The issue was that Elliott didn't want a trademark and had a hard time fitting the image that was expertly laid out for her in Williams' videos.
Instead, she turned to Dave Meyers, who became her go-to director for her next ten videos.
Oops!.... I Did It Again Lead To Some Controversy
Spears performed the single and a cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones. It was a two-song melody at the 2000 MTV Music Video Awards. The image shocked audiences due to Spears performing in a nearly nude bra and matching pants.
Parents and media questioned the singer's breakout striptease too.
Hot In Herre Actually Caused A Fire, But Not At Nelly's Concert
In the summer of 2002, this was a huge hit. But, Nelly's Grammy performance of this song was a questionable one. The stage was designed to look like it was engulfed in flames while Nelly was performing. Days later, nearly 100 people died from pyrotechnics at a Great White concert in Rhode Island.
It wasn't even mentioned at his show.
1,2 Step By Ciara Is An Actual Dance
The song is about a dance which Ciara demonstrates in the music video. Missy Elliott's rap verse is somewhat similar to a verse from Teena Marie's 1981 single "Square Biz."
Instrumentally, the song features a Crunk n' B track, and with a strong influence of 1980s electro dance music.
Foolish Was Built Around Some Classic Eighties Tunes
The track is built around a keyboard sample from the 1983 DeBarge song, "Stay With Me." The other notable sample features elements from the remix of "One More Chance" by The Notorious B.I.G. and "M.V.P." by Big L.
The music features Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard, who plays the musician's boyfriend.
What's Luv? Is Nothing But A Reference To Tina Turner
Fat Joe's single references the Tina Turner single 'What's Love Got to Do With It." The music video was filmed at Fordham University in New York. The video had plenty of cameos from DJ Kay Slay Capone and the rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga.
Actress Maia Campbell played Joe's love interest.
