Terms that come up more than once in our list of the best songs of the 2000s: "crazy," "idiot," "falling." That's the decade in a nutshell. Too much crazy-making. Too many people acting like idiots. Too many things (buildings, savings, morale) in free-fall. Appropriately, a majority of the songs that will endure beyond the '00s rallied around a common theme: learning to live like there's no tomorrow. Because you never know.
50. 'I Predict a Riot,' Kaiser Chiefs (2004)
An anthem of anarchy perfectly suited to kick off our list. Things are about to get a bit gory, we tell thee.
49. '1234,' Feist(2007)
Thanks to this Canadian singer-songwriter, teenage hope will now forever be tied to iPods and pastel leotards.
48. 'The Seed (2.0),' The Roots (2002)
Neo-soulman Cody Chesnutt sings the hooky refrain to this reboot of his song 'The Seed,' and the psychedelic garage funk laid down by Illadelph's finest hip-hop band renames it rock 'n' roll.
47. 'A Beautiful Mine,' RJD2 (2006)
Best known as the impeccable theme to 'Mad Men,' this combo deal -- space-age pop, chaotic breakbeats, a moody string quartet -- initially appeared on RJD2's excellent collabo with Aceyalone.
46. 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl,' Jet (2005)
Hand clapping, amplifier buzz, spittle on the microphone. Whatever else you might think of Jet's Beatles-and-Stones
