Debut songs by Western rock bands from the 2000s

HeartbeatNEW!Tahiti 80

Tahiti 80 – Heartbeat

A track by Tahiti 80, the Rouen-born French band known for their unique pop-soul that bridges French pop with US/UK indie sensibilities.

It’s effectively their debut song, included on their debut album “Puzzle,” with the Japanese edition released as a single in April 2000.

With its smooth vocals and sophisticated arrangement, you can almost feel the delicate flutter of a heart at the start of love.

The album featuring this track became hugely popular in Japan and was certified Gold in December of the same year.

With its comfortable beat and mellow texture that stylishly colors everyday life, it’s a quintessential French pop number of the 2000s.

CavortingNEW!The Courteeners

The Courteeners – Cavorting

This is the debut single by The Courteeners, known as a band that carries on Manchester’s music scene that produced Oasis and The Smiths.

Its crunchy guitar riffs, driving rhythm, and provocative vocals layered over the arrangement create an unforgettable impact the moment you hear it.

The lyrics, which declare they’ll drag down the posers in the scene, are a declaration of war from their youth.

You can’t help but feel the heat of the 2000s post-punk revival in its sound.

Released in August 2007, the track served as the lead single from the classic album St.

Jude and was named NME’s Single of the Week.

It’s a number to play when you want to experience the raw, early rush of indie rock—brimming with defiance and self-belief.

Another NumberNEW!The Cribs

The Cribs – Another Number

The Cribs are a trio made up of twin German brothers and their younger brother, a band that helped lead the UK indie scene in the 2000s.

Their sound, rooted in a DIY ethos, continues to captivate many listeners today.

Here is their debut track, where it all began.

Despite its lo-fi, rough-edged garage rock sound, the bittersweet, catchy melody is sure to linger in your mind.

Sung in a gritty vocal style, the lyrics convey a sense of urgency about being just another face in the crowd, as well as a heartfelt longing for connection with someone.

The song’s signature seven-note guitar riff has become an anthem at live shows, with fans breaking into a mass singalong—an unforgettable sight.

Released as a 7-inch single in November 2003, it also appears on their debut album “The Cribs,” which was recorded in just seven days—a track brimming with raw, early-days energy.

Eddie’s GunNEW!The Kooks

The Kooks – Eddie’s Gun

Bursting onto the mid-2000s UK rock scene with an irresistibly poppy, catchy sound, The Kooks made an immediate splash.

The anecdote that their name comes from a David Bowie song also speaks to their musical roots.

Released in July 2005 and reaching No.

35 on the UK charts, their memorable debut single marked the first step in a rapid rise that would lead to the later platinum album Inside In/Inside Out.

The song’s charm lies in the buoyant rhythm crafted by its sprightly guitars and the exquisite pop sensibility woven together with frontman Luke Pritchard’s slightly affected vocals.

At the same time, their distinctive sensibility shines through as the lyrics humorously sing about a man’s earnest troubles—far from straightforward.

It’s a gem packed with the band’s youthful appeal, perfect for lifting your mood on a weekend drive.

PressureParamore

Paramore: Pressure [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

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

The White Stripes – Let’s Shake Hands (Official Music Video)

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.

Dead on ArrivalFall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy: Dead On Arrival [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

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.