The 2000s were a time when various music scenes—garage rock, post-punk, hip-hop, electro, and more—intermingled, giving rise to new musical trends.
The songs by bands that debuted with fresh sounds from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s still shine with an undiminished allure today.
This time, we’re introducing the debut tracks that can truly be called the starting points for the many bands that colored the music scene of the 2000s.
Let’s look back together on these timeless gems that blend nostalgia with freshness.
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Debut Songs of Western Bands That Colored the 2000s (1–10)
Brothers & SistersColdplay
Coldplay, an indispensable presence when discussing the rock scene of the 2000s.
Before they shook stadiums, this indie-era release captures them in their true dawn.
Produced in just four days in April 1999, the work condenses a raw yet delicate alternative rock charm, distinct from the grandeur that would come later.
The title conveys solidarity with their peers, as well as a youthful resolve to break old conventions and step forward into something new—you can feel it vividly.
The track reached No.
92 on the UK charts, serving as the very prologue to their story.
Glimmers of the talent that would lead to the later masterpiece Parachutes shine throughout, and the naïve atmosphere unique to their origins remains a key part of its appeal.
Mr. BrightsideThe Killers
The moment you hear the intro—those exhilarating, fast-paced guitar riffs—memories of the 2000s come rushing back for many people.
Hailing from Las Vegas, The Killers became a sensation in the UK before their home country, emerging as one of the most popular bands of the 2000s with worldwide success.
Their debut single is a truly emotional classic, pairing a poignant melody with the spiraling jealousy and paranoia of suspecting a lover’s betrayal.
Brandon Flowers’s anguished, cathartic vocals are consistently outstanding—you can’t help but want to sing along.
Initially released in 2003 and re-released the following year, the track reached No.
10 on the U.
S.
Billboard chart.
It’s also included on their iconic debut album, Hot Fuss.
This is the perfect song for blasting away overwhelming jealousy with a high-energy rock sound.
Dead on ArrivalFall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy, a band that enjoyed immense popularity in the 2000s pop-punk scene.
Featured on their debut album Take This to Your Grave, released in May 2003, this track channels the band’s early impulses with its breakneck guitar from the intro and urgent beats.
While it deals with themes like breakups and the restless anxiety of youth, its exhilarating melody feels like it blows those feelings away.
It’s also included in the music game Rock Band, letting you fully experience their rough-edged yet catchy appeal.
When you’re weighed down by inescapable anxiety, listening to it might make your heart feel a little lighter.
UnoMuse
Despite being a simple three-piece, Muse won popularity with an epic, singular sound that paid no mind to passing trends.
Released in June 1999, this track was their momentous debut single, heralding the beginning of their legend.
The dynamic shift from a softly plucked, Spanish-tinged guitar riff to an explosion of fierce band energy showcases the budding originality that is quintessentially Muse.
Its defiant theme—pressing forward on one’s own path without yielding to outside pressure—shakes the listener to the core.
It reached a peak of No.
73 on the UK Singles Chart and was also included on their acclaimed debut album, Showbiz.
If you’re looking to resist a powerful force or stay true to your convictions, this song will undoubtedly give you a strong push forward.
PressureParamore
Not only a band that represents the 2000s pop-punk scene, Paramore—whose immense influence on female artists in the 2020s is undeniable—made their debut with this track.
Included on their 2005 debut album “All We Know Is Falling,” it captures feelings of youthful impatience and the urge to resist pressure from those around us.
The driving guitar riffs and urgent beats, paired with then-16-year-old Hayley Williams’s emotional vocals, create a sound that truly stirs the listener.
The track is also known for its Simlish version featured in the game The Sims 2.
The raw momentum of an album made in just three weeks seems to function as an energy that breaks through an inescapable sense of stagnation.
It’s an emotionally charged pop-punk number that distills the spark of their early impulses.
Let’s Shake HandsThe White Stripes
With just guitar and drums—the smallest lineup for a rock band—The White Stripes helped lead the garage rock revival of the 2000s.
Released in March 1998 as their first official recording, this track is a garage-punk number that feels like their early impulse vacuum-sealed.
Jack White’s raw guitar riffs and Meg White’s tight drumming fuse together to radiate an unadulterated cool.
The simple call to shake hands plays like a greeting to listeners, while also sounding like a declaration that they won’t be bound by old conventions.
It’s a track you’ll want to hear at the start of something new, with their fiery performance captured in live releases like Under Great White Northern Lights.
Mansard RoofAnimal Collective
Vampire Weekend burst onto the late-2000s indie rock scene with the unusual pedigree of being Ivy League graduates from New York.
Their style—folding Afro-pop elements into sleek pop songs—felt remarkably fresh at the time.
This time, we’re focusing on the track that marked the beginning of their brilliant career, released in October 2007.
In just two short minutes, it distills buoyant keyboards and a sprightly beat into something that feels like the pure sound of summertime bliss.
The lyrics by frontman Ezra Koenig—who crowns the title with an architectural style and captures everyday scenes with intellectual flair—are wonderful as well.
This piece opens the landmark debut album Vampire Weekend, a bona fide classic that eloquently encapsulates the band’s musical identity.
It’s a superb song I’d highly recommend when you’re in the mood for intelligent, refreshing rock.