I was hoping that the sad, sad weather lately was just a passing depression, but it has gone on long enough for me to realize the parade of different shades of grey isn’t going anywhere. I’m trying really hard to hold on to that sunny Summer feeling of earlier in the season with some help from About.com. They have compiled the top ten songs of the Summer from official charts since 2000. You can check out the lists in full here, but I’m just gonna post about the number one songs, because I figured they must have the most potent dose of summery goodness, right?

Well, hold on to your umbrellas folks, because here are the number one songs of the last eight Summers!:

2000

   Aaliyah – Try Again

I have to admit I get a little embarassed whenever I hear this song, because for the longest time I thought the lyrics were ‘if you flush it goes to sea’ instead of ‘if at first you don’t succeed’. I thought it was weird she was singing about where poop goes and I really didn’t understand why you had to ‘dust yourself off and try again’ afterward, but I never thought to look it up. I don’t even want to think about how many times I’ve made a fool of myself in public, because I loved this song so whenever it came on I sang it loud and oh so proud.

2001

Lifehouse – Hanging By a Moment

Hmph. It doesn’t exactly scream fun in the sun, does it? But it is insanely catchy and stays in your head like a flesh-eating worm.

2002

   Nelly – Hot In Herre

Now that’s more like it! Sadly, Nelly hasn’t dished out as many big contagious instant hits lately. This is a classic, thanks to this song, nobody pronounces the phrase ‘hot in here’ the same again. Even when I try to say it the right way my tongue inevitably lingers a liiittle too long on the ‘rrr’.

2003

   Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z – Crazy In Love

Definitely THE BEST song in this list! It’s the most amazing Summer anthem and it never fails to get my blood boiling. If you’re days have been as dreary as mine this is the ultimate three minute remedy against the cloudy blues.

2004

Usher – Confessions, Pt. II

Man, that’s a lot of drama for a Summer hit. It’s about some guy who knocked up his mistress and has to confess the whole sordid affair to his girlfriend, not exactly the kind of song you think of for your BBQ party mix.

2005

Mariah Carey – We Belong Together

Well, you gotta give it up to Mimi. Before this song blew up – when she was known as “Mariah Scarey” or as I called her “insane” – I was so sure she was going to be just another segment on a ‘Whatever Happened To …’ type show, but she clawed her way back into the pop world’s bossom and it looks like she’s here to stay.

2006

   Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland – Promiscuous

The new more boobalicious Nelly Furtado has been getting some criticism because her videos are steamier and she’s showing more skin than in her “I’m Like A Bird” days. I don’t really give a crap, her music still rocks and compared to some teenybopper pop princesses her videos are damn near demure. She and Timbaland have made superb songs, so it’s no wonder that their combined powers produced gems like these.

2007

Fergie – Big Girls Don’t Cry

Naaaahh, there is no way … Everybody knows Rihanna and her Umbrella owned the Summer of 2007! And I’m not just saying that because I have a thing against Fergie. It’s hard to explain why I can’t stand her so I won’t bore you with my half-assed explanation, but this can’t be right. Anyhoo, I’m not so sure About.com got their figures straight. That makes me question every other entry as well … Man, I’m so glad I based this whole post on their shoddy data.