A turbulent decade provided music to match.
Britney Spears started out as a major contender for Madonna's Queen of Pop crown before she lost her mind - and her underwear.
For those of a certain (young) age, it was all about Miley Cyrus or the Jonas Brothers. Justin Bieber of Stratford, Ont., was closing in fast in the teen pop arena by decade's end, although 19-year-old country cutie Tayor Swift pretty much owned 2009. So what if she can't sing live?
Probably the most significant thing that happened in music was Michael Jackson's death on the eve of a comeback tour - one final tragic chapter in the King of Pop's increasingly bizarre life. His death (which was still being investigated) triggered bumper sales of his catalogue.
Other commercial success stories in the '00s included R&B singer Rihanna, who was the best-selling artist of the decade. But she gave a celebrity face early in 2009 to domestic abuse, following a beating from her then boyfriend, singer Chris Brown.
Music purchasing and delivery habits aside, the tunes themselves reflected a tumultuous time in our world's history - from 9/11, to the Iraq war, to the implosion of the world's economy and the election of the first black president in America. (There sure was no shortage of inspiration for politically and culturally minded songwriters.)
I'll never forget David Bowie sitting cross-legged and playing a music box alone on stage at Madison Square Garden, as he perfectly kicked off The Concert for New York City with a cover of Simon And Garfunkel's America.
Or the first time I saw the video for Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' Hurt. It felt like he was saying goodbye, and he indeed died shortly afterward. Some artists just instinctively know the right song for the moment.
Sadly, though, some don't - as Janet Jackson found out during her 2004 Super Bowl performance in which Justin Timberlake exposed her right breast, the famous "wardrobe malfunction" on live TV. Her career has never really recovered.
In concert, three highlights stick out for me. Tops was the sight of close to a half-million people all rocking out to AC/DC's Back in Black during the 'SARS-stock' benefit rock festival at Downsview Park in Toronto in 2003, followed closely by a pair of 2007 performances: only 300 fans getting to see The White Stripes as they played a small hockey arena in Iqaluit, Nunavut, as part of their Great White North Tour; and Neil Young returning to Toronto's Massey Hall after 36 years.
Madonna, U2, and The Rolling Stones also continued to wow fans in both arena and stadium settings, while both Madge and U2 released some of their strongest music in years.
TOP 10 MUSIC: MOST-PLAYED SONGS
Clocks, Coldplay
Hey Ya!, Outkast
Umbrella, Rihanna
Brother Down, Sam Roberts
Crazy, Gnarls Barkley
1234, Feist
Gold Digger, Kanye West
Single Ladies, Beyonce
Rehab, Amy Winehouse
Stan, Eminem featuring Dido
TOP 10 MUSIC: TOURS
By Jane Stevenson
Madonna, Drowned World Tour
U2, Elevation Tour
Rolling Stones, Licks Tour
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, The Rising Tour
David Bowie, A Reality Tour
Radiohead, 2006 Tour
The White Stripes, Great White North Tour
Neil Young, Chrome Dreams II Tour
David Byrne, The Songs Of David Byrne and Brian Eno Tour
Leonard Cohen, 2008 Tour
TOP 10 MUSIC: NEW TALENT
Pink
MIA
Arctic Monkeys
Feist
Kings Of Leon
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Arcade Fire
The White Stripes
Cat Power
Damien Rice
TOP 10 MUSIC: PERSONALITIES
Eminem
Jack White
Jay-Z
Lady Gaga
Amy Winehouse
Dixie Chicks
Pink
Kanye West
Brandon Flowers
Noel Gallagher
