10 Disturbing 2000s Songs Because of What We Know Now

10 Disturbing 2000s Songs Because of What We Know Now

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re breaking down songs from 2000 to 2009 that have taken on a darker meaning in the years since their initial release.

“Son of Sam” (2000)
Elliott Smith

Beloved indie rock singer-songwriter Smith is said to have struggled with substance use disorder, as well as ongoing mental health issues. Acclaimed for his poetic, powerful songwriting and Beatlesque arrangements, his often upbeat, poppy compositions belied their intense subject matter. Upon his still-mysterious 2003 passing, fans looked to his music for potential clues that Smith left. “Son of Sam,” the first single from his “Figure 8” album (his last to be released during his lifetime), stands out in its embrace of what comes after we exit this mortal coil. That said, Smith denied that it was about David Berkowitz, the actual Son of Sam killer, and described the song as “just an impressionistic song about destruction and creativity.”

“Floating in the Forth” (2008)
Frightened Rabbit

Mellow Scottish indie rockers Frightened Rabbit started out as a solo project for singer Scott Hutchison, before developing into a full-fledged musical outfit of its own. Hutchison, who had reportedly struggled with depression for years, went missing on May 9th, 2018. Although Scottish police and other members of the band reported this, the singer’s body was discovered at Port Edgar of the River Forth in South Queensferry, a Scottish town west of Edinburgh. Eagle-eyed fans were quick to point out “Floating in the Forth,” off of the band’s second studio album, “The Midnight Organ Fight,” as seemingly predicting Hutchison’s tragic demise.

“Whatever” (2002)
Our Lady Peace

Unlike most of the songs and artists on our list, the creepiness of this hard-charging post-grunge tune has nothing to do with any of the band’s members, or with the band itself at all. Rather, the reason that Our Lady Peace made the choice to stop performing “Whatever” live is because of the late Chris Benoit. For the uninitiated, Benoit was a Canadian WWE superstar, winning 30 championships in total. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be his legacy: from June 22nd to June 24th, 2007, Benoit took the lives of his wife and 7-year-old son, before ultimately taking his own. “Whatever” was Benoit’s entrance theme from 2002 to 2007.

“Like a Stone” (2003)
Audioslave

Like Elliott Smith, Soundgarden and later Audioslave singer Chris Cornell was no stranger to incorporating dark, heavy themes into his music, often drawn directly from his own battles with declining mental health and often heavy substance use. “Like a Stone,” the second single from the band’s self-titled debut album and their biggest hit, was the furthest thing from an exception to this. A plainly stated message to a loved one who has passed away, Cornell explained the song as being about “concentrating on the afterlife you would hope for, rather than the normal monotheistic approach.” “Like a Stone” doubly functions as a posthumous tribute to the singer himself, who took his own life following a Detroit concert in 2017.

“Lucky” (2000)
Britney Spears

This revealing pop song, written and recorded at what was arguably the height of Spears’ fame, is a quietly devastating, clearly scathing indictment of the monster that is celebrity. Although the song focuses on a fictionalized character (also called “Lucky”), it’s abundantly clear that Spears’ song is more than a little autobiographical, drawing from her own experiences with achieving fame at too young of an age. “Lucky” has been noted by critics and fans alike for predicting Spears’ future clashes with paparazzi, as well as her own personal struggles — particularly those associated with her controversial conservatorship, uncovered in the 2010s and ‘20s.

“Rehab” (2006)
Amy Winehouse

The rebellious British soul singer was famous for being just that — a rebel. Her breakout single “Rehab” was evidence of this, and explained, in no uncertain terms, Winehouse’s insistence that she wouldn’t go to, well, rehab. The singer’s only Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, “Rehab” still goes hard today due to Winehouse’s rock star charisma, inimitable vocals, and the song’s throwback soul/R&B/pop hybrid sound. The uptempo tune now carries a bittersweet weight due to its tragic, inextricable association with Winehouse’s 2011 death from alcohol poisoning, among other health issues.

“Breaking the Habit” (2004)
Linkin Park

This moody, electronic, fast-paced alt-rock jam is somewhat atypical in sound for nu metal legends Linkin Park. However, from its lyrics, it’s instantly clear to the listener that this is a classic Linkin Park number. Those lyrics, in an unusual turn for the band, were courtesy of Mike Shinoda, as opposed to Chester Bennington — Shinoda more commonly wrote his own rap verses, but took a detour for “Breaking the Habit.” That said, the song takes on a deeper significance after Bennington’s untimely 2017 passing by his own hand. Although Linkin Park’s output was often blunt and raw, “Breaking the Habit” dispenses with the aggression to plaintively contemplate one’s own mental health.

“Ignition (Remix)” (2002)
R. Kelly

Honestly, we could probably just do a list of R. Kelly songs that are disturbing because of what we know now. Until then, however, we’ll stick to calling out the “Pied Piper’s” biggest, most enduring 2000s hit (and yes, he really did refer to himself as the “Pied Piper”). A colossal smash at the time of its release, and routinely listed as being among the best songs of that decade — the song’s ubiquity made it even harder to listen to following Kelly’s 2019 arrest on racketeering and human trafficking charges. A catchy, irresistibly playful R&B tune, the remix to “Ignition’s” vehicle-based euphemisms are now more cringeworthy than comedic.

“Hurt” (2002)
Johnny Cash

Legendary country rebel Cash and industrial metal provocateurs Nine Inch Nails aren’t, at first glance, a marriage made in Heaven. However, when you listen to the former’s cover of the latter’s “Hurt,” originally about singer Trent Reznor’s chronic substance use, you can understand why Reznor commented that “that song isn't mine any more.” Recorded for Cash’s “American IV: The Man Comes Around” album, the stark, stripped-down acoustic rendition famously tugs at the heartstrings with its plaintiveness, as well as with the singer’s now-weathered vocals. It goes without saying, then, that Cash’s “Hurt” cover hits way differently after the singer’s death in September 2003, just under a year after “American IV’s” release.

“I Need a Girl (Part One)” (2002)
P. Diddy featuring Usher & Loon

Where do we start with this one? This song played as creepy even at the time: Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ostensible love song describes treating a woman as the rapper’s personal property, intended only to serve his needs. If that sounds uncharitable, consider Combs comparing the object of the song to a “brother,” or his now-ironic charge that the women in his life were abusing him. A sizable hit at the time of its release, “I Need a Girl” and its sequel received renewed attention and scrutiny after Combs’ September 2024 conviction on racketeering and trafficking charges. A quick scan of the song’s lyrics make it clear as to why.

Which 2000s song is hard for you to listen to nowadays? Let us know in the comments!