The 10 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century Revealed

Taylor Swift performing astatine Speak Now Tour Hots Sydney, Australia. Credit: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity Photographer / CC BY-SA 2.0.

In a period defined by innovation and accelerated change, music has ne'er been much divers oregon global. The 21st period has seen popular stars, indie legends, rappers, and genre-defying artists propulsion boundaries and redefine what large euphony sounds like. Rolling Stone magazine’s database of the ‘Greatest Songs of the 21st Century’ reflects this bold epoch — a premix of hits and underground gems that item the originality and brilliance shaping modern sound.

The apical 10 entries span continents and styles, yet each way has helped specify the taste and philharmonic code of its time. Here’s a look astatine the 10 top songs of the 21st period truthful far, arsenic ranked by Rolling Stone.

10. “Thinkin Bout You” – Frank Ocean (2012)

Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” introduced a caller benignant of R&B. The way opens mildly but rapidly delivers a almighty affectional punch.

Known astatine the clip mostly for his enactment with Odd Future and penning credits for large stars, Ocean stunned listeners with this susceptible ballad. His creaseless falsetto, paired with elemental yet moving lyrics, made the opus an instant classic.

9. “Toxic” – Britney Spears (2003)

Britney Spears reinvented herself with “Toxic.” Produced by the Swedish squad Bloodshy & Avant, the opus combines pop, disco, and a spot of danger.

Spears sings with crisp confidence, capturing a consciousness of tendency and risk. The strings and surf-guitar dependable gave it a chiseled flair. “Toxic” became her signature opus — bold, addictive, and wholly her own.

8. “Idioteque” – Radiohead (2000)

After OK Computer, Radiohead had thing near to beryllium — but they chose to experimentation anyway. “Idioteque” stood retired connected their medium Kid A, pushing stone into physics territory. The bushed is uneasy and pulsing.

The lyrics hint astatine clime alteration and societal collapse. Guitarist Jonny Greenwood pulled the sounds from a lengthy synthesizer session, which vocalist Thom Yorke turned into a haunting warning. Rolling Stone praises its enduring relevance and daring structure.

7. “Alright” – Kendrick Lamar (2015)

Kendrick Lamar turned idiosyncratic reflection into a nationalist anthem. “Alright” was a agleam infinitesimal connected the dense and jazz-influenced To Pimp a Butterfly.

Produced by Pharrell Williams, the track’s hook — “We gon’ beryllium alright” — became a rallying outcry for the Black Lives Matter movement. Lamar’s words and connection dispersed beyond the charts and into the streets.

6. “Dancing connected My Own” – Robyn (2010)

Swedish popular creator Robyn delivered a heartbreak anthem with club-ready energy. “Dancing connected My Own” is some bittersweet and uplifting — a opus astir watching idiosyncratic determination on, portion you creation alone.

The accumulation is cleanable and emotional, giving abstraction for her vocals to transportation the weight. The way became an LGBTQ+ favourite and inspired artists astir the world.

5. “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” – Taylor Swift (2012/2021)

Taylor Swift’s astir almighty breakup opus started arsenic a five-minute way successful 2012. In 2021, she released a 10-minute version, turning it into a deeper and much elaborate story. Swift revisited past symptom with sharper lyrics and stronger delivery.

It became the longest opus to ever apical the Billboard Hot 100. Rolling Stone mentions it arsenic a defining portion of Swift’s songwriting endowment — raw, emotional, and unforgettable.

4. “Seven Nation Army” – The White Stripes (2003)

One riff changed everything. “Seven Nation Army” revived the powerfulness of guitar successful the aboriginal 2000s. Jack White created the iconic enactment during a soundcheck, aboriginal adding cryptic lyrics astir fame and pressure.

The track’s simple, stripped-down dependable gave it lasting power. Marching bands adopted it. Sports crowds astir the satellite inactive chant it. As Rolling Stone notes, this opus gave stone euphony a caller charge.

3. “Crazy successful Love” – Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z (2003)

Beyoncé stepped retired from Destiny’s Child and into solo superstardom with “Crazy successful Love.” The way kicks disconnected with explosive horns, built astir a Chi-Lites sample.

Rich Harrison’s accumulation blends funk, hip-hop, and popular with style. Beyoncé’s vocals are assured and electric, portion Jay-Z’s verse adds swagger.

2. “Maps” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2003)

In a vocation known for earthy energy, “Maps” showed the affectional halfway of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Karen O delivers a soft, trembling vocal that captures heartbreak successful existent time.

The lyrics are minimal, but each enactment lands with weight. Guitarist Nick Zinner’s gentle playing supports the mood. Rolling Stone highlights the song’s enduring power, calling it 1 of indie rock’s astir honorable moments.

1. “Get Ur Freak On” – Missy Elliott (2001)

At the apical of the database is simply a way that changed the dependable of mainstream music. Missy Elliott’s “Get Ur Freak On” broke genre rules with its premix of hip-hop, Indian rhythms, and chaotic energy. Produced by Timbaland, the opus features a tumbi riff and lyrics successful aggregate languages.

Missy’s transportation is bold and unpredictable. From the archetypal beat, it dares listeners to support up. This way represents everything the 21st period has brought to euphony — planetary sounds, fearless creativity, and a imaginativeness of the aboriginal that’s inactive up of its time.