Remember the first-generation iPod? When it was introduced on Oct. 23, 2001, Apple's iconic, brick-like MP3 player would go on to help the company's revitalization in the late 1990s and early 2000s and also completely revolutionized the way we listen to music.
In 13 years, the iPod has gone through many makeovers, and Apple has added a slew of spin-off products, such as the iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano. Shortly before this anniversary, Apple quietly discontinued the iPod Classic when it reopened its online store after the launch of the iPhone 6 in September. Sadly, it seems the beloved click wheel is a thing of the past, like dinosaurs, the Rolodex and floppy disks,
But you know what never dies? Classic music. And 2001, the year that Apple introduced the iPod, had some real gems. We would have to wait until 2003 before we could buy music from iTunes, but we still found ways to get these early Millennium jams on our iPods. Take a walk down memory lane on this inherently nostalgic occasion, and listen to the 10 songs that topped the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in the first year of the iPod's release.
1. "I'm Real" by Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule (Week of Oct. 20 and Oct. 27)
With J.Lo, what you see is always what you get.
2. "Family Affair" by Mary J. Blige (Week of Nov. 3 to week of Dec. 8)
To this day, you still cannot resist getting up out of your seat when "Family Affair" comes on. Anything Mary J. Blige does is timeless.
3. "U Got it Bad" by Usher (Week of Dec. 15, 2001; Week of Jan. 19, 2002 to week of Feb. 16, 2002)
Usher's then-girlfriend, TLC's Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, stars alongside him in the music video for this song. My, that was a long time ago.
4. "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback (Week of Dec. 22, 2001 to week of Jan. 12, 2002)
Believe it or not, there was a time when people actually really liked Nickelback. I don't know what they were thinking.
5. "Always on Time" by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti (Week of Feb. 23 and March 2)
So much Ja Rule in the early 2000s. So little time.
6. "Ain't It Funny" by Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule (Week of March 9 to week of April 13)
Didn't I tell you there was a lot of Ja Rule at this time?
7. "Foolish" by Ashanti (Week of April 20 to June 22)
The video for one of Ashanti's biggest singles was like a mini-movie, even featuring Terrence Howard.
8. "Hot in Herre" by Nelly (Week of June 29 to Aug. 10)
The song told us the simple solution to feeling more comfortable when it gets hot. Spoiler alert: It's "take off all your clothes."
9. "Dilemma" by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland (Week of Aug. 17 to Sept. 28; Week of Oct. 19 to Nov. 2)
There's nothing more 2001 than a song featuring Nelly and a Destiny's Child-era Kelly Rowland. In a word, it's perfection.
10. "A Moment Like This" by Kelly Clarkson (Week of Oct. 5 and Oct. 12)
Before Kelly Clarkson became the superstar she is today, she got her start with this first single after being crowned the winner of the inaugural season of American Idol.
