By Todd Martens

Looking back at the last decade in songs is not an easy task. There were plenty of great singles, and works by Beyonce and Justin Timberlake are reflected in the pages ahead. But the 2000s meant more than having a sexy-back and taunting an old lover. Unlike cinema or television, music has the ability to react and reach almost instantly. In a decade marked by war and depression, music was often on the front line. So sure, pop music can make you dance, but the decade won't be defined simply by shaking a bootie.

Here's a look at some of the timeless songs of the 2000s, with an honorable mention for each year.