Kelly Clarkson – My Life Would Suck Without You
‘My Life Would Suck Without You’ was a brilliant comeback for Kelly Clarkson, even if the record label politics behind it remain questionable.
max martin
Britney Spears – Stronger
‘Stronger’ was always a powerhouse pop song for Britney Spears. But now, it’s a triumphant anthem of survival.
Shayne Ward – If That’s OK With You
‘If That’s OK With You’ was a triumphant comeback for Shayne Ward, even if it did divide opinion somewhat.
Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone
‘Since U Been Gone’ wasn’t just a seminal moment in Kelly Clarkson’s career; it also marked the mid-’00s resurgence of Max Martin.
Britney Spears – 3
What better way for Britney Spears to mark a decade in the music industry than reuniting with Max Martin for a song celebrating threesomes?
Solid HarmoniE – To Love Once Again
‘To Love Once Again’ was probably the song that needed to make a decisive move for Solid HarmoniE. And it did…but in the wrong direction.
Backstreet Boys – Larger Than Life
‘Larger Than Life’ is perhaps the most fitting representation of a group – and a brand of pop music – that had reached its apex.
*NSYNC – It’s Gonna Be Me
‘It’s Gonna Be Me’ siphoned the essence of *NSYNC’s ‘No Strings Attached album’ down into an immense three-and-a-half-minute pop package.
Robyn – Do You Know (What It Takes)
We didn’t know it at the time, but ‘Do You Know (What It Takes)’ was a landmark moment for pop music in the ’90s and far beyond.
Backstreet Boys – The One
‘The One’ was never actually planned to be a single. That is, until Nick Carter made a call that changed the Backstreet Boys’ destiny.
Backstreet Boys – The Call
‘The Call’ found our ever-dependable Backstreet Boys entangled in an intense concoction of lust, betrayal and revenge.
Backstreet Boys – Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
‘Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)’ became the Backstreet Boys’ biggest hit so far. Thanks, in no small part, due to *that* music video.
Celine Dion – That’s The Way It Is
She was synonymous with some of the biggest power ballads of the ’90s. However, Celine Dion’s final single of the decade was anything but…
Britney Spears – (You Drive Me) Crazy
‘(You Drive Me) Crazy (The Stop Remix!)’ saw Britney Spears release a re-imagined track from her debut album with spectacular results.
*NSYNC – Tearin’ Up My Heart
It took two attempts, but ‘Tearin’ Up My Heart’ (eventually) became one of *NSYNC’s earliest hits in the UK
Backstreet Boys – Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)
‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’ was more than just a comeback single for the Backstreet Boys. It was a cultural reset for pop music as a whole.
Britney Spears – Oops!…I Did It Again
‘Oops!…I Did It Again’ launched Britney Spears’ second album. And it turned out to be one of the most meta-pop moments of all-time.
Robyn – Show Me Love
‘Show Me Love’ is a fascinating collaboration between two huge names in pop music who crossed paths while heading in drastically different directions.
Britney Spears – Overprotected
‘Overprotected’ marked Britney Spears’ first true emancipation from her girl-next-door persona as she rejected many of the values she’d previously embodied.
Five – Until The Time Is Through
They might have been pop’s biggest rebels in the late ’90s, but even Five didn’t defy convention as they released a slushy ballad just in time for Christmas.
Westlife – When You’re Looking Like That
‘When You’re Looking Like That’ is Westlife’s best single in every respect…except for the fact that it was never credited as a single in the UK at all.