Illustration by JARRETT QUON/Daily Bruin
By Tamar Boyadjian
Daily Bruin Contributor
The music scene in 2000 was full of hit albums, catchy singles,
controversy, destruction and rebirth.
From album releases to band breakups, 2000 had music news that
spanned all different genres.
In the world of pop music, teens continued their crazed
obsession over boy group, *NSYNC, which released its second album,
“No Strings Attached,” selling 2.4 million copies and
demolishing the highest sales record set by its rivals, the
Backstreet Boys. Female pop star Britney Spears also set a new
sales record with her album “Oops I did it again.”
Eminem’s “The Marshall Mathers LP,” became the
fastest selling hip hop album of all time, but also one of the most
controversial albums of 2000. The rapper, who throughout the year
was sued twice by his mother and once by his wife and ended up in
jail numerous times, was attacked by critics for using violent and
homophobic lyrics in his album. The lyrics became topics of
discussion in the media and led to his album being banned in New
Zealand.
In the blues world, Eric Clapton and blues legend B.B. King made
an album together titled, “Riding with the King.” The
album sold over a million copies and landed in the top 10 on
several charts.
Other releases in 2000 included an New Orleans rapper,
Mystikal’s fourth album, “Lets Get Ready,”
featuring the song, “Shake Ya Ass” which took the album
to the top of the charts. Atlanta hip-hop group Outkast also
released its new album, “Stankonia,” and displayed the
smoother side of hip hop.
Veteran artists also released new albums this year, including
Madonna, who released her eighth album, “Music,” in
September. In October, Radiohead released its new album, “Kid
A,” which debuted at No. 1 on U.S. charts. PJ Harvey released
her sixth album, “Stories from the City, Stories from the
Sea” and U2 released its tenth studio album, “All That
You Can’t Leave Behind,” and was subsequently banned in
Burma, because the song “Walk On” was dedicated to
Burma’s pro-democratic movement.
Metallica filed a law suit against the file-sharing software
company, Napster, in April for the illegal distribution of
copyrighted MP3s. As a result, more than 600,000 users were blocked
from using Napster at Metallica’s request in May. Despite the
suit, Shawn Fanning, the inventor of Napster, expressed apathy for
the band when he appeared on stage in a Metallica T-shirt during
the MTV Video Music Awards. Metallica was victorious in the end,
however, when Napster was ordered by a federal judge to remove all
copyrighted songs from the file-sharing network.
In addition to its legal battle, Metallica had a new song,
“I Disappear,” which was featured on the soundtrack for
the film, “Mission Impossible 2.” The soundtrack also
featured songs from hard rock groups Limp Bizkit, Godsmack and the
Foo Fighters.
Metallica wasn’t the only band that had songs receive lots
of radio air play; Carlos Santana teamed up with Matchbox
20’s lead singer, Rob Thomas and released the hit single
“Smooth.” Aimee Mann came out with her hit single,
“Save Me” from the “Magnolia Movie
Soundtrack.” Sisqo released the “Thong Song,” and
D’Angelo released “Untitled (How Does it
Feel).”
Although D’Angelo may have felt pretty swell about his
success in 2000, other musicians weren’t feeling the same,
and the year was filled with numerous bands breaking up. Oasis
released and toured a new album, “Standing in the Shoulder of
Giants,” but guitarist, Noel Gallagher, left in the middle of
the tour to spend time with his wife and daughter.
Phish decided to take a break and spend time with its respective
families. Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine announced
that he was quitting the band, after being with it for nine years.
The three remaining members are determined to carry on, however,
and De La Rocha plans to pursue a solo career.
Country superstar, Garth Brooks, also decided to take a break to
spend time with his family, but has promised to make another album
in the future.
And even though Smashing Pumpkins decided to break up, the band
compiled material from “Machina/The Machines of God” to
release a 25 track album “Machina II/ Friends and Enemies of
Modern Music” through lead singer Billy Corgan’s new
label, Constantinople Records.
Despite all of the contributions and departures in music last
year, 2001 has arrived and the world must officially say “Bye
bye bye” to 2000.