What have you been watching and listening to for the last twenty-five years?

Were you stuck in the past watching Turner Classics or 80s action flicks? Were you listening to a specific decade or musical genre?

After 9/11 and during the pandemic, I relied on certain films and songs to help me escape the chaos. Many of them weren’t from the 21st century, but if you share the remote and control of the car music with your kids, they will drag you out of your comfort zone and introduce you to wonderful films and exceptional music.

After checking out lists of films from that time period on Wikipedia and songs from Billboard’s top 100 lists of songs, I selected a film and a song from each year. Most of my selections aren’t from the number one slots. I have eclectic tastes, so it wasn’t difficult to select a variety of themes and musical genres. The hard part was that most of the music I enjoy comes from Indie artists who rarely make the Billboard Charts. Making the decision to stick to hit songs was like “killing my darlings” when I edit a manuscript. I found a few  favorites, and others are fan favorites. Do any of the films or songs surprise you? What would you have chosen? If you’re unfamiliar with any of these selections, be sure to check them out. I hope you enjoy this sampling of films and songs from 2000-2024.

2000:

Almost Famous (The Grammy winning soundtrack by Nancy Wilson is awesome.)

Oops I Did it Again by Britney Spears (topped the charts in at least 20 countries)

2001

Spirited Away (animated feature by Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki)

The Space Between by Dave Matthews Band (their first top 40 hit in the U.S.)

2002

The Pianist (received four Academy Awards nominations and won three Academy Awards)

Lose Yourself by Eminem (Academy Award-winning song from the 2002  film, 8 Mile)

2003

Finding Nemo (the best-selling DVD title of all time)

Crazy in Love by Beyonce (muti-award-winning pop, hip-hop, and R&B love song)

2004

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (the second highest grossing film in 2004)

If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys (Inspired by events that affected Keys’ life)

2005

Brokeback Mountain (selected in 2018 for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as culturally , historically, or aesthetically significant)

Mr. Brightside by The Killers (Their debut single was a sleeper hit, holding the highest popularity rating iTunes offers for 20 years)

2006

Children of Men (Dystopian action thriller)

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley (debut single  by American soul duo CeeLo Green and Producer Danger Mouse)

2007

No Country for Old Men (written, directed, produced, and edited by the Coen Brothers based on Cormac McCarthy’s 2005 novel)

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol  (Northern Irish Scottish alternative rock band – this song gained significant U.S. popularity after being featured on Grey’s Anatomy)

2008

The Hurt Locker (winner of six Academy Awards including Best Picture)

Love Remains the Same by Gavin Rossdale (Rossdale’s most successful single to date)

2009

Inglorious Basterds (black comedy war film by director Quentin Tarantino featuring an alternative history story of two converging plots to assassinate Nazi Germany’s leadership)

Use Somebody by Kings of Leon (Grammy Award winning song)

2010

Inception (Science fiction action heist film written and directed by Christopher Nolan)

The Only Exception by Paramore  (a musical and thematic departure for the band)

2011

War Horse (America Film Institute Awards Film of the Year 2011)

Rolling in the Deep by Adele (the largest crossover hit in The U.S. since 1985 and Adele’s first #1 song in the U.S.)

2012

Skyfall (film #23 in the Bond Series)

We Are Never Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift (multi-platinum certifications in four countries)

2013

Twelve Years a Slave (Based on the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northrup – winner of three Academy Awards)

I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons ( Their highest charting song in the U.S. to date)

2014

The Grand Budapest Hotel (a 17-actor ensemble cast – winner of four Academy Awards)

A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay (charted in the top ten in over 16 countries)

2015

Room (Academy Award for Best Actress - Brie Larson)

Photograph by Ed Sheeran  (certified quadruple platinum I the U.K.)

2016

Arrival  (science fiction drama)

Needed Me by Rhianna (a mellow dubstep-influenced electro-R&B song)

2017

Get Out (American psychological horror written, co-produced, and directed by Jordan Peele)

What About Us by Pink (a political protest song)

2018

Black Panther (American superhero film starring Chadwick Boseman)

Say Something by Justin Timberlake with Chris Stapleton (written and produced by Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Laurence Dopson, and Floyd Nathaniel Hill with additional songwriting by Chris Stapleton)

2019

Joker (grossed over $1 billion internationally)

Truth Hurts by Lizzo (this viral sleeper hit was featured in the Netflix movie Someone Great)

2020

Soul (Animated fantasy-dramedy - winner of two Academy Awards)

If The World Was Ending by J.P. Saxe with Julia Michaels (Nominated for Song of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards)

2021

Spider-Man: No Way Home (nominated for Best Visual Effects at the 93rd Academy Awards)

Cry Baby By Megan Thee Stallion featuring DaBaby (This is their third collaboration)

2022

Everything Everywhere All at Once (winner of seven Academy Awards)

Cold Heart by Elton John  with Dua Lipa (a medley of four songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin et al.)

2023

Oppenheimer (winner of seven Academy Awards)

Flowers by Miley Cyrus (best-selling global single of 2023)

2024

Wicked (the highest-grossing Oz-related film and the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time)

Lose Control by Teddy Swims (32 week climb on Billboard Hot 100 is the longest consecutive climb to number one of all time so far)