Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth. In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.
We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2003, the year I celebrated the completion of my 28th trip around the sun. A mere 22 songs remain familiar to me today, with just 15 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.
#98: Eminem – Superman
iTunes stats: 12 plays
Peaking at #15, it was the third single from his fourth studio album.
#89: Eminem – Sing for the Moment
iTunes stats: 12 plays
Sampling Aerosmith’s Dream On, it reached #14 on the Hot 100.
#79: Christina Aguilera – Fighter
iTunes stats: 13 plays
Inspired by November Rain by Guns N’ Roses, it topped out at #20.
#76: Chingy featuring Ludacris and Snoop Dogg – Holidae In
iTunes stats: 11 plays
The second single from the rapper’s debut album, it went to #3 on the Hot 100.
#73: Jewel – Intuition
iTunes stats: 0 plays
Starting a shift to a more pop sound, the lead single from her fifth studio album peaked at #20.
#70: Puddle of Mudd – She Hates Me
iTunes stats: 21 plays
Originally written in 1993, it became the fourth and final single released from the band’s debut album, reaching #13.
#59: No Doubt featuring Lady Saw – Underneath It All
iTunes stats: 12 plays
Spending two weeks at #3, the song remains their highest charting single.
#55: Jennifer Lopez – Jenny from the Block
iTunes stats: N/A
Topping out at #3, it was the lead single from the actress/singer’s third studio album.
#51: Ludacris featuring Shawnna – Stand Up
iTunes stats: 33 plays
Spending a single week atop the Hot 100 in December of 2003, it spent 28 total weeks on the chart.
#36: Missy Elliot – Work it
iTunes stats: 21 plays
The rapper’s most successful single, it spent ten weeks at #2.
#35: Dixie Chicks – Landslide
iTunes stats: N/A
A cover of the Fleetwood Mac song, it went to #7 on the Hot 100 before its run was cut short by singer Natalie Maines’ criticisms of President George W. Bush triggered a boycott.
#30: Justin Timberlake – Cry Me a River
iTunes stats: N/A
Inspired by his relationship with Britney Spears, it peaked at #3.
#28: Eminem – Lose Yourself
iTunes stats: 55 plays
Spending 16 weeks in the top ten, it spent twelve of those weeks at #1 to wrap up 2002 and start 2003.
#18: Avril Lavigne – I’m with You
iTunes stats: 11 plays
Reaching #4, the singer’s third single was inspired by her feelings of loneliness over being single.
#16: Christina Aguilera – Beautiful
iTunes stats: 18 plays
Written and produced by Linda Perry, the song became Aguilera’s longest-charting solo hit, spending 27 weeks on the Hot 100 topping out at #2.
#13: Nelly, P. Diddy, and Murphy Lee – Shake Ya Tailfeather
iTunes stats: N/A
Featured on the Bad Boys II soundtrack, it spent four weeks atop the Hot 100 in the fall of 2003.
#11: Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins – Get Low
iTunes stats: N/A
The debut single from Lil Jon and friends went to #2.
#10: Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy – Bring Me To Life
iTunes stats: 32 plays
The lead single from the group’s debut album, it topped the Modern Rock chard and reached #5 on the Hot 100.
#7: Chngy – Right Thurr
iTunes stats: 20 plays
The rapper’s debut single, it spent five non-consecutive weeks at #2.
#4: Beyonce featuring Jay-Z – Crazy in Love
iTunes stats: N/A
The lead single from Beyonce’s solo debut, it spent eight weeks at #1.
#2: R. Kelly – Ignition
iTunes stats: N/A
Parodied by Dave Chappelle on his Comedy Central show, it spent five weeks at #2.
#1: 50 Cent – In da Club
iTunes stats: 12 plays
The lead single from his debut album, it spent nine weeks atop the Hot 100.
