15 Forgotten Reasons Why 2000 Was The Best Year In Pop Music

1999 may have been the year of the ultimate pop takeover, with the quadruple-punch of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys dominating the airwaves. But it was 2000 that saw the peak of pop music, as the bubblegum hype spilled over to Europe. Sure, there were big songs like *NSYNC‘s “Bye Bye Bye,” Destiny’s Child‘s “Say My Name” and Jennifer Lopez‘s “Waiting For Tonight.” But forget about all that! The true gems came from talented newcomers who tried to make their own mark in the pop world.

While the careers of these pop acts ended up being comically fleeting, their 15 forgotten gems of Y2K pop continue to live on — from the nostalgia playlists on a college girl’s iPod to tacky underground techno clubs. So grab your Discman, throw on your sparkly halter top and journey through a musical time capsule below!

15. “Mirror Mirror” — M2M

Sweden may be the pop music mecca of the world, but back in 2000 Norway was only a few steps behind. The biggest act that came from the country was M2M, a duo composed of childhood friends Marion Elise Raven and Marit Elisabeth Larsen. One of their more memorable songs, “Mirror Mirror,” is quintessential moody pop music. But the breathy, Britney-esque vocals and eerie rhythmic guitars weren’t enough to prolong their career — M2M disbanded two years later.

14. “Dance With Me” — Debelah Morgan

For some inexplicable reason, Latin-infused music became ubiquitous in 2000. There was Ricky Martin‘s “She Bangs,” 98 Degree‘s “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” and Debelah Morgan‘s “Dance With Me.” Even though Morgan was the lesser-known artist out of the group, her sultry lyrics and powerhouse vocals immediately made her stand out. And how about that flawless whistle register towards the end of the song? Mariah…who?