Below you will find 2000's year end chart.  I have listed every song that has charted on my Top 50 based on the 2000 calendar year (an amazing 268 songs!).  Below the chart is the calculation method for year-end totals and how I've ranked the songs (my methodology has changed greatly since 1999's Top 30 year-end countdown).  I have also included links to a couple of other pages related to year-end 2000, including an artists' page (I countdown various artist categories based on my weekly Top 50), a fan page (where you can email me a list of your favorites for  the year), and a commentary page for my Top 50 year-end chart (where you can read my evaluation of the year at Craig's Top 50).  I hope you enjoy navigating through the year-end sites, just as I have enjoyed throwing it all together for you.

Shall we get started?  I suppose I'm ready so "CHOP CHOP" (I hate this phrase!!), let's get to it.

Craig

The first part of the countdown is mostly those records just making their debut on the Top 50 or those records with minimal chart life.  Gabrielle takes the distinction of having the shortest run on the Top 50 of any song all year with "When a Woman."  The song spent a single week at #49.  This portion of the chart is composed of several artists' Top 50 debuts.  They are noted on the chart by a solid yellow background on the artist's name.  ATC, Jessica Simpson, Thunderpuss*, Nine Days, Brian McKnight, Amanda Ghost, Mary J. Blige, David Gray, and Joy Enriquez scored their first Top 50 this year.  Of those, only Jessica Simpson, Mary J. Blige, and LFO scored at least another Top 50 hit during the year.  Thunderpuss receives an asterisk (*) because of its remix work on a good number of our charting songs.  Song titles highlighted in a red font represent those songs that are still charting on the Top 50 and will be included in 2001's year end chart as well.  The artists in the blue font represent those artists with multiple titles on the year-end chart.  In the event of a point total tie, tie breakers were decided by peak position, number of weeks at the peak position, and weeks on chart.  And finally, if the position number is in purple, it represents the artist's biggest Top 50 career hit.  Shall we move on....

In this second portion of the chart, on the point total for "When You Say Nothing At All" by deja vu, an asterisk (*) by the point total represents that the song was also on the 1999 year-end chart.  This will show up throughout the chart.  Britney Spears scored four Top 50 hits this year and in this segment, we see two of them.  "Oops...I Did It Again" charted two times, but only peaked at #37.  Following the title track to Spears' second album was the single "Lucky," which logged a single week at #38.  It probably makes sense to note here that many of these songs with low peak positions charted based on radio airplay alone.  During the second half of 2000, I almost completely abandoned radio listening so most of the music that charted after July was music I chose to listen to and not something forced down my throat by these awful programmers who THINK they know what people want to hear.  This segment of the year-end chart features Madonna's lowest charting song ever on my Top 50.  "Vogue 2000" charted based on club play and a little Napster airplay, but after trying and trying to like this song, it just makes me want to pull out the old cassette maxi-single and hear the original 12" remix of the song.  After hitting #1 with "Iris" in 1998, the Goo Goo Dolls are also in this segment with their two charted songs.  Without a soundtrack like CITY OF ANGELS, I found it very difficult to really get into their music (although "Slide" was fairly successful in 1999).  Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell also makes her first of three year-end chart appearances with "Bag It Up."  The song has a great remix and the album version isn't too terrible, however, the song gets really old really quickly so it lost steam at #36 on the weekly countdown.  Donna Summer also makes her first of two chart appearances with her currently charting single "The Power of One."  Mariah Carey's first of three chart hits also shows up in this segment of the chart, and also offers as the first of three 98 Degrees songs and the debut Top 50 for R&B fave Joe.  Robbie Williams, Steps, Fragma, and Leann Rimes also make their first chart appearances here.  Kylie Minogue's most recent  Top 50 "Please Stay" rounds off the section at #221.  Look for her several more times throughout the countdown.

Again, in this segment of the chart, we see more of the songs that charted over two years 1999 and 2000.  We also see the first of a handful of country artists (ok, by handful, I mean three).  Dixie Chicks scored a Top 50 with "Goodbye Earl."  This segment of the chart also seems to be inundated with remixed classics, including "Love Will Save the Day 2000" by Whitney Houston, "Where is My Man 2000" (1993's remix was much much better) by Eartha Kitt, and "Situation 2000" by Yazoo.  This portion also contains a few cover tunes:  Amber's "Do That To Me One More Time," Barbara Doust's "I Found Someone," and Jessica Williams' "I Am Woman," from the movie TRICK.  Two Iglesias boys make it to the countdown as well.  Julio Iglesias Jr. had a sole record chart this year and "One More Chance" finishes at #220. Enrique Iglesias shows up on the year-end tally for the first of five times with his 1999-2000 charter "Rhythm Divine."   Robbie Williams famously unpopular "Rock DJ" surfaces in this segment of the chart.  The song, initially, grabbed me and I fell in love with it, but I was quickly weary and stopped listening to it, leaving it to stall at a mere #29 on the weekly countdown.  I still love the song and I think that if I were to chart it now, it would probably go a little higher as I've grown to respect Williams more as an artists over the last few months.

    Mary Griffin charted this year with "Perfect Moment" and only hit #25 with the tune (Rochelle started the year at 2000 with the song at #1 and will show up later in the countdown).  In 1999, Griffin had similar chart success with her version of "Knock on Wood," an Amii Stewart cover from the movie 54.  Speaking of disco queens, Donna Summer's second (of three) year-end chart entry shows up at #178.  "Love is a Healer" is from her VH-1 album LIVE AND MORE:  ENCORE.  Whitney Houston also shows up again on the chart with 1999's #1 smash "My Love is Your Love."  Steps and Cher also chart with #1 hits from last year.  Amber makes her second of five year-end chart hits.  "Taste the Tears" is from the album THE HITS REMIXED, released in late 2000.  The song was also featured in HBO's hit series SEX IN THE CITY.  Alabama 3 enjoyed some chart success with the theme song to another HBO hit series THE SOPRANOS, and finished at #180 with "Woke Up This Morning."  Cathy Dennis scored her first chart hit since 1992's top 20 "You Lied to Me" (a song that I am still enjoying) with a 2000 update of her #2 hit "Touch Me (All Night Long)."  Ricky Martin finishes at #196 with the chart disappointment "She Bangs."  The song quickly died on me and only charted at #20 on the weekly countdowns.  It is not Martin's only year-end charter (there are two more), but it is his lowest charting single on the Top 50.  So far, I am not impressed by SOUND LOADED.  Destiny's Child finally made the weekly survey with "Say My Name," but stalling at #30 for a couple of weeks leaves the song at #195 overall.  Melissa Etheridge comes in with 1999's #10 hit "Angels Would Fall" from BREAKDOWN.  The album's second single is also on the year-end survey.  Macy Gray's first of three chart hits ends the year in this segment as well.  "Why Didn't You Call Me?" didn't have the staying power of her first big hit "I Try" but did manage to climb to #183 for the year. 

    In this segment of the chart, we see a few 80's artists who charted with dance hits this year.  The Eurythmics' "Seventeen Again" began its chart life in 1999, but hit #11 in 2000.  Boy George is featured on Faithless' second Top 50 hit (only one this year) called "Why Go?"  Pat Benetar charted thanks to an updated dance version of her top hit "We Belong."  Donna Summer's highest entry in the year-end tally is her #2 recharting of her hit "MacArthur Park."  Since I was not doing charts in the 70's, the song charted as "MacArthur Park 2000."  It was featured on FIRE ISLAND CLASSICS, a dance album compilation released in late 1999.  Planet Perfecto's two year-end chart entries are "Not Over Yet" (featuring Grace) and "Bullet in the Gun," at #165 and #153, respectively.  At #152, is one of my favorite songs right now.  "Let Me Love You" by Da Buzz is a great little pop tune and also has a great little remix--nothing, however, beats the original.  The first of two Everything but the Girl songs finishes at #150.  "Lullaby of Clubland" is currently charting on the weekly survey, and so far has made it to #11.  Kina's current smash (at #2 on the weekly) soars into the year end at #169 with only four weeks on the weekly Top 50 under its belt.  "Girl From the Gutter" should easily go on to score big in 2001 as well.  The song has the highest average points per week (current total points divided by number of chart weeks) at 64.  Euro-sensation Aqua has their highest chart entry from the weekly and the year-end charts with "Cartoon Heroes."  I must say how disappointed in their AQUARIUS album I was when I first listen to it.  Granted, it has some really fun moments, but there is nothing that stands out quite like "For Once In Your Life Be A Man," "If Only I Could Turn Back Time," "Dr. Jones," and "Candyman" from their debut album AQUARIUM.  Janet Jackson's sole chart entry in 2000 only logged a single week at #19 and finishes the year at #167.  Another disappointing artists, I have hardly found listenable Ms. Jackson's music after "Together Again."  THE VELVET ROPE was a huge disappointment and "Doesn't Really Matter" reminds me of the dreadful "Runaway."  With rumors of a new album in the works, I can only pray that Janet gets 'nasty' again and gives us some good, rough Janet Jackson music and not this sweet, sugar-coated pop crap that the likes of Britney and Backstreet Boys are releasing.

    One hit wonders seems to be the theme of this segment of the year-end chart.  Alena lands at #128 with "Turn it Around," her only chart hit.  S Club 7, Voice V, Love Inc., Shanna, Miss Jane, and Coco Lee also scored one Top 50 each in 2000.  Whitney Houston and Enrique Iglesias' superstar duet "Could I Have This Kiss Forever?" lands at #129.  In 1999, "When You Believe" by Whitney and Mariah Carey had a similar chart fate, but we will see later in the countdown one of Whitney's duets that actually made a mark in the charts in 2000.  The Pet Shops Boys have the distinction of the longest titled Top 50 of 2000 with "I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore."  From the NIGHTLIFE album, this third top 20 hit was the duo's last entry in the Top 50.  We will see the album's first two singles later in the countdown.  Lulu's superhit from 1999 "Hurt Me So Bad" finishes at #147 based on its seven week run during 2000.  The song spent a healthy twenty-three weeks in the Top 30/Top50 in 1999-2000.  It peaked at #1 for two weeks.  Christina Aguilera seemed to get stuck at #12 on the weekly charts as the first of her two #12 peaking songs, "Come On Over..." lands at #125 for the year.  This portion of the chart also includes international pop superstar Robbie Williams first Top 50 chart entry (the #7 hit "Angels" at #139) and highest ranking song for year-end, as well as his #12 duet with Kylie Minogue ("Kids" at #141).  Although having his highest charting song finish way down the chart at #139, Robbie Williams had a very successful chart year and will likely see even more success in 2001 (see the Artists' Page to find out how her ranks among the year's artists). 

    As we head into the top 100 of the year and a more exciting portion of the year-end chart, the last twenty-four tunes were all decent hits.  At #101, we have Pink's first Top 50 "There You Go," and at #124 we have the Backstreet Boys second highest charting year-ender "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely."  It is of some worth to note that the BSB have yet to score a top 10 hit on my weekly countdown.  They stalled at #11 with two different singles in 1999 and another this year (it shows up later in the countdown).  Another Jackson makes the countdown as Michael Jackson's #12 hit "Ghosts" finishes at #103.  Mariah Carey wraps up her appearances on the year-end countdown with this segment of the chart, finishing at #104 with her cover of Phil Collins' "Against All Odds..." (I charted the version without Westlife) and at #120 with "Can't Take That Away..."  While Carey has had far better success in the past, her achievements in 2000 are remarkable as I have found her music to grow increasingly tiresome over the years.  Notice that none of the songs charting on the 2000 year end countdown by Mariah features a rap artists.  That formula is just old.  There is so much to love about Mariah's vocal prowess, but she can't seem to just perform--she has to go the route of big publicity with huge-named rap artists featured on most of her singles these days.  Newcomers Madison Avenue's top 10 hit comes in just under the top 100 breakoff.  "Don't Call Me Baby" would have seen greater chart success and longevity had it not charted in such a crowded Top 50.  Britney Spears' only top 10 hit since 1999's "(You Drive Me) Crazy" finishes at #108.  The #6 hit "Stronger" certainly didn't break her formula, but at least it wasn't a note for note copy of one of her previous hits.  I think Spears could be likable but I don't feel that her career is being managed that well (gotta kinda wonder if we'll be seeing Spears return in ten years with an album similar to the angry THE COLOR OF SILENCE that Tiffany, who was also poorly managed, released this year).  Speaking of teensters, Deborah Gibson (my chart's 80's and early 90's pop queen) scored two hits this year and the first comes in at #109.  "What You Want" was the first single promoted from her February 2001 scheduled release MYOB.  2000's last weekly #1 hit lands at #115 for the year.  "Don't Tell Me" by Madonna was her third #1 of 2000 and second from her latest album MUSIC.

The top 100

     We've now gotten into the most exciting portion of the year-end chart--The Top 100.  Most of the songs on the survey from #100 and up are fortified chart smashes.  It is here we will find the less forgotten songs of 2000.  These are the songs that will be blasting from my stereo speakers for some time to come.  Starting us off at #100 is the first and only chart hit from Alice Deejay.  "Better Off Alone" was a radio smash earlier this year and managed a peak at #6 (before falling into the overplayed category).  The song was so great that I wish radio hadn't killed it so it would have had a longer chart life.  Next, at #99, is Bananarama's first chart hit since 1994's #1 "Every Shade of Blue" from ULTRA VIOLET.  Rerecorded for a performance at GAY in the UK, "Robert DeNiro's Waiting 2000" brought new life into one of my favorite 80's tunes.  The song just missed the top 10 and spent two weeks at #11.  Leann Rimes had her biggest hit since "How Do I Live?" with "I Need You."  Ironically, I heard this song on the radio this morning and remembered why is it ranked among my favorites of the year.  This beautiful ballad spent a single week at #13, which isn't too shabby on a chart of predominantly club music.  It took two chart runs, but The A*Teens were finally able to crack the top of the charts with their ABBA cover "Mamma Mia."  Although most of their covers have charted on notoriety alone, this pop gem was definitely worthy of hit status.  It took me a while to finally get into it, but it ranks as one of my favorite ABBA covers of all time (Erasure's "Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)" is my alltime fave with Information Society's "Lay All Your Love on Me" and Hazell Dean's "The Winner Takes It All" running close second and third).  Shannon's chart success this year was once again fueled by the remixes of two of her classic dance floor anthems.  "Let the Music Play 2000" hit #7 and spent two weeks there.  Ironically, in 1991, the song was remixed and rereleased and hit #7 as well (more on Shannon in later commentary).  Destiny's Child finally scored a hit with their single from the CHARLIE'S ANGELS soundtrack.  "Independent Women Part 1" hit #1 and is still charting in the top 15.  The original version of the song is standard DC fair while the remix of the song is a phenomenal piece of House art.  I'm throwing my hands up in the air!!  'N Sync takes the boy vocal group of the year award and sees their second of three year-end charters at #93.  "It's Gonna Be Me" was their first Billboard #1 hit and made it to #7 on my survey.  

    More than a few songs charted and then recharted in 2000.  Christina Aguilera's #12 hit "I Turn to You" had a quick chart life during both of its charts, as a ballad and as a club mix, but the two combined land her on the survey at #90.  It is Aguilera's highest charting song on the year-end survey.  Roxette's "I Wish I Could Fly" stalled at #21 and then reentered the Top 50 and made it to #20.  The song finishes at #82 overall.  

    Tina Cousins makes a few appearances in the bottom portion of the Top 100 chart.  "Nothing to Fear," her #10 hit that is still charting, comes in at #87, while her most recent #1, and current top 5 hit, "Killin' Time" lands at #77.  I expect "...Time" to chart fairly well on 2001's year end as it is still gaining a lot of points each week.  Cousins is also featured on the #85 SASH! hit "Mysterious Times."  It was her first Top 50 charter.  Former Go-Go and 80's solo superstar returned to the countdown for the first time in almost a decade this year.  "All God's Children" hit #3 and finishes at #83.  The controversial "Affirmation" by Savage Garden comes in at #84 but failed to chart any higher than #16.  Rochelle's 1999-2000 three-week #1 smash "Perfect Moment" lands at #81 for the year, having spent only 11 of its twenty-one chart weeks in the Top 50 during 2000.  Backstreet Boys have their highest song on the survey in this portion of the chart as well.  "The One," a catchy little pop tune with an equally catchy remix, peaked at the BSB's fatal #11 position.  After listening to Millennium, though, there seems to be a possibly brighter future of chart success for the Boys.  

    Eiffel 65 starts this segment of the countdown for their first, and biggest to date, hit "Blue (Da Ba De)" at #76.  Kylie Minogue had a superb chart year and her Paula Abdul penned hit "Spinning Around" lands at #75 for the year.  "Spinning Around" was Kylie's first top 10 solo hit since 1988's "It's No Secret."  Steps shows up a few times in this portion of the countdown:  first, with their update of the Bee-Gee's classic "Tragedy," they hit #5 and finish at #74, and then at #72 for the year is their #2 smash "Deeper Shade of Blue."  Steps had eight Top 50 hits this year, more than any other artist.  We also have two Braxtons on the chart.  Superstar Toni Braxton returned earlier this year with the top 10 hit "He Wasn't Man Enough."  Her sister debuted on the charts this year with "If You Don't Wanna Love Me," which hit #10 and finishes the year at #73.  Ace of Base also returned with a brief chart run of the #7 hit "Everytime it Rains."  Potential Song of the Year nominee (my pick) is "Desert Rose" by Sting featuring Cheb Mami.  The song was everywhere this year, from MTV to VH-1, from the dance floors to the easy listening radio stations.  This is probably the one that you couldn't have avoided this year, even if you tried.  At #69 is a cover of Garth Brooks' classic "The Dance."  Now Rockell has gotten a lot of flack for this performance, however, I love it and it made it all the way to #1 on my weekly chart (12/23).  The song is currently top 10 and should chart well into the new year.  

    I charted a couple of Hazell Dean classics this year.  I discovered her when I purchased the ABBA tribute album to get a copy of the now I realize it's awful Bananarama cover of "Waterloo."  "The Winner Takes it All" (#68) and "They Say It's Gonna Rain" (#65) are both several years old but found top 10 chart success this year.  Don Ho's daughter Hoku had a top 10 hit with "Another Dumb Blonde," probably the song most likely to be classified as a novelty hit on the year end.  Nothing else by Hoku charted in 2000, but I've been listening a bit to some of her other music and it's not too bad.  Deborah Gibson's top 5 smash from earlier this year, "You Belong to Me," finishes at #66.  Back in her heyday, Gibson easily snagged several of the top positions on my year end surveys (for example, in 1992 she was at #55 with "One Step Ahead," #50 with "Reverse Psychology," #43 with "Play the Field," #36 with "Another Brick Falls," #4 with "Mood Swings/Try," and #2 with "Sure").  She also finished at #2 in 1991 with "(This So-Called) Miracle."

    There are several new artists in this segment of the chart, as well.  Ireland's answer to Britney Spears hit the US in full force this year with her debut single "Gotta Tell You."  The song finishes the survey at #60.  Wamdue Project hit #2 with their only charter "King of My Castle."  Lara Fabian scored in a big way this year with her two-week #2 hit, "I Will Love Again," giving her the #53 position for the year.  

     The first song in this segment, at #52, is the first solo hit from Veruca Salt frontwoman Nina Gordon.  Gordon eased up the charts in November and December, finally peaking at #2 with "Tonight and the Rest of My Life," a Sarah McLachlan-ish ballad.  Macy Gray's debut "I Try," which spent two weeks at #5 early in the year, finishes at #48 for the year.  There are a couple of other first chart songs between #52 and #21.  Filter lands at #50 with their first Top 50 hit, "Take A Picture."  Aaliyah's Billboard #1 airplay hit finishes at #48 for the year for a weekly chart peak at #2.  "Try Again" also had two chart runs, although the second was not lengthy as compared to other double chart lives this year.  Beth Hart scored a heavy hitter with her heavy-themed song "LA Song," which just misses the year-end top 20 and finishes at #22.  Carol Burnett's daughter Erin Hamilton scored her first chart hit with "Melt" from her ONE WORLD album.  Hamilton is best known for her dance anthem covers of "Dreamweaver" and "The Flame."

   Mel C had a banner year with two top 5 smashes and a currently charting hit.  She first entered the charts with "Never Be the Same Again" and stalled at #30 because my focus shifted to her next single, the fabulously done "I Turn to You."  "I Turn.." charted and spent four weeks at #4 in one of the tightest top 10 periods of the year.  "Never..." recharted and logged a single week at #5 and went on to land at #29 overall for the year.  The former finished at #35 for the year and both singles are from NORTHERN STAR.

   Ricky Martin scored yet another #1 hit with "All About the Money" famed Meja.  "Private Emotion" scored Ricky his second #1 hit (following last year's "She's All I Ever Had").  It is also his highest charting single this she.  Melissa Etheridge also scores a year-end hit with "Enough of Me," the second single from BREAKDOWN.  "Enough..." ranks at #32 for the year and was Etheridge's highest charter since "I Want to Come Over" in 1997.  Celine Dion did what I thought to be impossible for her and that was to return to the top spot on the Top 50.  Fueled by a remix, "I Want You to Need Me" spent a single week atop the chart and is Dion's first chart-topper since "All By Myself."  

   Tina Cousins' year-end chart performance wraps up in this segment of the chart.  Cousins scored a total of seven songs for the year, including "Forever," a #1 hit that finishes at #33 for the year.  At #25, is what is currently her biggest chart hit, the two-week #1 smash "Pray."  Cousins should show nicely for the countdowns on the Artists Page (links will be below once it is up and running).

   Erasure ends the year at #31 with their #9 hit "Freedom," which is currently moving back up the weekly charts (it has made it to #13 so far) fueled by a remix by Motiv8.  "Freedom" didn't catch on immediately but as with any Erasure song, I eventually fell in love with it. 

   Wrapping up their appearances on the year-end chart are the following:  Steps' "Better the Devil You Know" (#41) is their second highest ranking song of the year following "Stay with Me" (#38).  'N Sync has their highest charting hit ever at #27 for the year.  "Bye Bye Bye" had an irresistible hook and a fabulous video to boot.  One of my faves of the year and the highest ranking by the myriad of boy vocal groups plaguing radio these days.  Cher, who had four songs in 1999's year-end top 10 finishes with her highest charting song of the year (and actually one that began its chart life in 1999) "Dov'e L'Amore" at #30.  Billy Ray Martin and Jocelyn Enriquez finish the year dancing onto the year-end chart at #39 and #40, respectively. Savage Garden's only #1 hit this year, "Crash and Burn," lands at #42.  "I Knew I Loved You" ends the year at #47.  

    The Pet Shops Boys wrap up their chart appearances with two songs in this chart segment.  At #37 for the year is their sensational #4 duet with Kylie Minogue (she was just everywhere this year!) called "In Denial."  It's the story about a daughter trying to help her father come to grips with his homosexuality--with a dance beat!!  Only the PSB!!  At #23 for the year is the 1999-2000 hit for the boys "New York City Boy."  "NYC Boy" originally charted in 1999 and spent two weeks at #8.  After falling out of the top 10, it rebounded and scored two weeks at #4.  Both tunes are from NIGHTLIFE.   

    Amber suffers from the two year chart syndrome.  "Above the Clouds," the third longest running #1 hit of 2000 (5 weeks) finishes at #26 for the year.  In 1999, the song began its chart run and landed at #63 for the year.  Because a lot of its bonus points (point gainer awards, etc) were earned in 1999, those points do not count toward the record for this year and holds the song back in its year-end ranking.  Most definitely one of my favorite songs of the past year, I expect Madonna's "Don't Tell Me" to have the same fate next year.

    Come back, come back, wherever you are!  Several artists who had been absent from the charts found renewed chart success in 2000.  Tina Turner scored her first top 10 hit since "Missing You" and toured for "the last time" (in quotes because you never know how farewell concerts a diva might have <cough> babs <cough> retire <cough> already <cough> dammit!).  "When the Heartache is Over" spent a single week at #9 and finishes the year at #51.  Most definitely my 1995 Artist of the Year, Nicki French, whose last Top 50 hit was the top 5 "Is There Anybody Out There?." hit #6 with a song that won the Eurovision competitions over the summer.  "Don't Play That Song Again" is typical French and, loving her formula for pop music, that isn't a bad thing at all.  Jocelyn Enriquez had me "shaking my Craigbooty" (borrowed from Sam!--not the booty, the phrase) with "When I Get Close to You," a two-week #1 hit that finishes the year at #40.  Billie Ray Martin, who saw #1 hits with "Your Loving Arms" and "Running Around Town" in 1995, returned to chart success after a dismal charting in 1999 of the forgettable "Pacemaker."  "Honey," which debuted in 1999, rose in 2000 and spent three weeks at #2.  The song finishes the survey at #39.  Shannon hit #1 for a third time with "Give Me Tonight 2000" and finished at #24 overall.

And now...the top 20!

    Whitney Houston's highest charting year-end hit wasn't even one of her two #1 hits that charted.  A ballad from MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE found an extended life on the dance floor with some monster remixes.  Most definitely one of Houston's best performances yet.  Now, if she would only stop stuffing whatever it is she's stuffing up her nose and get back to focusing on her music, she could very well see a promising chart life in the future.

With their only top 10 hit since "Missing" and "Wrong," EBTG took its time climbing the chart with this song.  Starting its chart run in the last weekly chart of 1999, "Temperamental" spent an amazing nineteen weeks on the countdown (in 1999, I only charted a Top 30 so its chart run would have been much longer if I had done a Top 50).  Most definitely one of my favorite dance tunes of the year, I start to move everytime I hear it.

Enrique Iglesias scored a number of hits in 2000, but only a couple actually made it to the top 10.  This song showed his versatility as more than just a Latin love singer.  One of my favorites from his album and a multi-formatted hit sensation.  Iglesias is the first on our top 20 list to have more than one song in the final 2-0 for the year. 

    One of three #1 hits for Madonna in 2000, this song created quite a stir for loyal fans who were loving it and those classic music buffs who claimed she killed their God and destroyed one of the best songs in music history.  My opinion, if one person in the music industry was to do a cover of an American classic such as this song, Madonna is that person!  She brought a classic rock song to a whole new generation of people.  Now, if she would just stay out of the movies...

Iglesias' highest charting single on the year end survey, this album track is my favorite song that he has done so far.  Stalled at #3 by a powerful top two, Iglesias' hit is also the top ranking song by one of the artists to be a part of 1999's supposed Latin music movement.  

    Country superstars Lonestar found a place on the pop charts in 2000 and on Craig's Top 50.  They scored the year's second longest running #2 hit with "Amazed."  As with most people, I preferred the original country version of the song as opposed to the remixed pop version.  This is the group's first and only chart hit.

    New artist Pink soared through the charts with her second single.  Peaking at #6 and then falling down the chart to #35, "Most Girls" was reenergized by a groovy little dance mix and shot back to #4 on the weekly survey.  When I first heard "There You Go," I seriously saw Pink to be a flash in the pan, but now she is charting with her third chart hit.

At the year's midway point, the top ranking song of the year was this surprise dance hit.  I never thought I would see a Paula Cole song chart so well, but this one has had me dancing all year.  Spending four weeks at #1, this song ranks among the top 5 chart hits (based on position alone).

Ginger Spice takes the highest solo ranking of any of the Spice Girls this year with the second release from her SCHIZOPHONIC album.  Halliwell shines on this one (it is my favorite from the album) and has a remix of it that would get even the most deeply rooted wallflowers shaking their groove thang.  Of Halliwell's four charting Top 50 songs, this is her only top 10 hit.  Check out the Artists page to see how she ranks in competition with Sporty Spice (Mel C).

    I'm loving Abigail this year!!  Following her top 10 and #1 success with dance covers of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Constant Craving," and "Losing My Religion and to the #6 hit from 1999 "Let the Joy Rise," this house tune was one of the best dance records and has had the longevity to prove it.  I was fortunate enough this year to see Abigail in concert two times, the second at a club intimate enough that I got to meet her and talk to her for a bit.  If you haven't heard this one, check it out now!! 

    It could be argued that this year was all about Kristine W.  She has four of the top 10 songs of the year and my pick for album of the year with STRONGER.  Her chart success began the first week in January 2000 with a DJ promo release of "Clubland."  The jazz-infused house anthem immediately caught my attention and after being absent from the charts since 1997, Ms. W had returned--and in a fabulous way.  Another artist I got to see in concert this year, and had the pleasure of meeting at the Millennium Festival in DC in late April, no matter where I am, when she sings I listen!

    And still charting...Amber had two chart lives with her third top 10 of the year.  "Love One Another" spent three weeks at #4 as an album track and is currently recharting with a peak at #11 as a commercial single.  From AMBER and THE HITS REMIXED, a Thunderpuss remix has kept this club hit going for more than six months.  This is Amber's highest on the final tally.  Last year, Amber stole the #1 position of the year with her first single from the AMBER project "Sexual (Li Da Di)."

Billboard's #1 of the year lands at #8 on my survey.  Hill spent two weeks at #10 with the original released version of this country crossover smash.  With the release of a mix by Hex Hector, the song found new life in the clubs and recharted as a remix.  It peaked at #4 the second time around and is the first song in our survey to have over 1000 points for the year and our highest charting country crossover tune.

    In late May, on a little thing called Napster, I downloaded what was supposed to be a "rough draft" of Madonna's upcoming single simply titled "Music."  I immediately fell in love with the song and quickly started to snag other tracks from her late summer scheduled release.  Anyway, finally in July, I charted what would become the title track to her upcoming release, her first since 1998's RAY OF LIGHT.  "Music" was the year's highest debuting song on the Top 50, bowing at #23.  It also held the record for the largest jump into the top 10 (#23-#10) but has since been pushed to second by Kina.  Madonna also has the distinction, along with Tina Cousins and Kristine W, of being one of the only artists to have three #1 hits in 2000.  This was most definitely one of the year's highlights in music (no pun intended) as Madonna scored her first Billboard #1 album since 1989's LIKE A PRAYER and her first Billboard #1 single since 1994's "Take A Bow."

Newcomer Anastacia scored an internation pop hit with this soulful anthem.  Reminiscent of Taylor Dayne, this diva-in-training screamed her independence to the world.  From her debut album NOT THAT KIND, "I'm Outta Love" made the year's biggest move into the #1 position, jumping from #13 after already peaking at #3 and falling out of the top 10.  I expect this one to resurface in 2001 as her album is released stateside.  I imagine this song will be promoted as a single once again.

Sneaking into the #1 is the little heard of dance floor darling by Victoria Newton.   After reaching the summit, this song spent weeks and weeks hanging around the Top 50, bouncing back and forth and up and down the chart.  This was the year's first song, and one of only two songs, to reach the thirty week mark on the Top 50.  I think that if I charted a recurrent songs chart that this one would be at the top spot for some time to come.  If you haven't heard it, definitely try to get your hands on it.  It's one of 2000's most beautiful performances.

What could I possibly say about Ms. W???  She soared to the top this year, although missing the #1 spot with the title track to her second album (ironically, another of her songs held "Stronger" from hitting #1).  Not only is this the year's highest charting non-#1 song, it is also my charts longest running #2 song ever (beating Cher's six week run at #2 in 1999 with "Strong Enough"--appropriately, both songs contain the word STRONG in their titles).  "Stronger" spent the last several weeks of 2000 moving up the chart again with the Napster download of the ballad version of this pop/house anthem.  The song even reentered the top 10 in the year's last chart week.  This is the second of four top 10 year end hits for Kristine W. 

The Top 50's longest running #1 since "Justify My Love" spent seven weeks atop the chart in 1990-1991, Kristine W scores the third of her four top 10 year-end finishers at #3.  This song held "Stronger" from the top spot for seven weeks and has been in the top 10 for twenty consecutive weeks.  "Lovin' You" is Kristine's biggest hit to date (the song will easily surpass Kristine's point total for her fourth year-end top 10) and was her third #1 in 2000 from the STRONGER album.  Only thirteen points separate this song from the year's #2 song...

What was a shoo-in for the year's top spot finishes at #2 for the year.  This six-week #1 smash saw two chart runs in 2000, the first based on the DJ promo remixes serviced to clubs and the second fueled by my purchase of the album STRONGER.  This was the second longest running #1 hit of the year ("Lovin' You scored seven weeks atop the chart).  "Stand in Love" is also tied with Victoria Newton's "Martha's Harbour" (#5) for the most weeks spent in the Top 50 at thirty weeks.  "Stand..." was Kristine's second #1 of 2000, following "Clubland" (#10).  This song easily secures a spot in my top 10 of all time.

    Slipping into the top spot for the year is probably the year's biggest surprise hit.  Gabrielle, who charted in 1994 with "Dreams" and went to #1 with the pop/club hit, returned to the chart with the title track from her latest album.  The song has had the most spectacular chart life:  40-27-16-6-2-1-5-6-10-10-14-17-10-8-7-4-5-5-7-7-9-6-5-4-7-16-17-27

    Mistakenly, I have said in my commentary that "Rise" spent twenty-three weeks in the top 10, however, the song spent twenty non-consecutive weeks in the top 10.  That was enough, however, to score Gabrielle the #1 spot on the 2000 year-end chart.  The song spent only a single week at #1.  It debuted on the chart week ending June 24, 2000 and in six short weeks was atop the chart.  In December, it was questionable as to what would land at the top spot for the year and "Rise" has done it by a whopping 57 point lead over "Stand in Love."  The success of the song even surprised me as I was rooting for the Kristine W to have the top spot.  Gabrielle will likely continue chart success with other songs from RISE including the current #10 hit on the weekly chart "Sunshine" and songs like "Should I Stay."

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