Eminem, Nelly, Usher, Ashanti, and Nickelback ruled the music charts in 2002 showing there's room for a variety of music genres to appeal to the popular opinion of listeners. Based on radio play and album sales, Nickelback's How You Remind Me took the top spot as the best song of 2002 according to Billboard.
1. How You Remind Me by Nickelback
How You Remind Me stayed on the Billboard top radio songs for 49 weeks despite only spending four weeks at number one. According to Nielsen Soundscan, this was the most played song on the radio for the entire decade. Featuring heartfelt lyrics and plenty of guitar riffs for fans of harder rock songs, this song paved the way for Nickelback's continued success.
2. Dilemma by Nelly Featuring Kelly Rowland
Dilemma spent 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard radio play charts and sits at number four on Billboard's best songs of 2002 based on airplay and sales. The song was an international hit sitting at number four on the UK top 100 chart and the Austrailian Top 100 chart. The song features a catchy beat and lyrics about a forbidden love.
3. Foolish by Ashanti
Foolish made quite a mark on the Billboard charts, running at number one for radio song for 10 weeks. Describing her inability to walk away from a bad relationship, Ashanti creates a picture of a situation too many women can relate to.
4. U Got it Bad by Usher
U Got it Badwas Usher's top hit in 2002 spending 10 weeks at number one on Billboard's radio play chart and hitting number 7 on The ARC Weekly Top 40 top pop songs of 2002. The song chronicles what it looks like when you're consumed with a love relationship and features a sultry beat.
5. Lose Yourself by Eminem
The Eminem Show won the 2003 Grammy for best rap album and was the number-one selling album of 2002, according to the Billboard 200. Lose Yourselfwas the featued song from Eminem's movie 8 Mile and speaks about him taking advantage of his chance to succeed despite the setbacks of life. The song spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard radio play chart. Eminem was later named the top-selling artist of the decade.
6. Hot in Herre by Nelly
Hot in Herre won the 2003 Grammy for male rap solo performance. This song, however, didn't just have critical appeal; it's sexy lyrics and a pounding beat made it the track of the year for getting people out on the dance floor. It was also the number three single on the Billboard best songs of 2002 chart.
7. Ain't it Funny by Jennifer Lopez
Spending six weeks at number one on the Billoboard radio song charts in 2002, Ain't it Funny by Jennifer Lopez was also popular around the world late in 2001. The song features a Latin dance beat with lyrics about fate and love.
8. A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton
A Thousand Miles was the number one song of 2002 on the ARC Weekly Top 40 radio program and a top ten hit from Billboard's best song's of 2002. Vanessa Carlton managed to bring a youthful voice to the pop charts without the outrageous dress and behavior of many other teen stars. In the midst of over-produced rock and dance tracks, the song's simple mix of piano and vocals was a refreshing change of pace.
9. In the End by Linkin Park
While mixing rock and rap was nothing new in 2002, Linkin Park made the combination more radio-friendly with a heavy use of samples, beats and profanity-free lyrics. In the End highlighted this style by mixing rap verses with a melodic chorus. The song was number five on the 2002 ARC Weekly Top 40 list and number seven on Billboard's best songs of 2002.
10. Wherever You Will Go by The Calling
Wherever You Will Go by The Calling charted fifth on the Billboard best songs of 2002, and it topped the Adult Top 40 for 23 weeks. This is an enduring love song about a man's devotion for the woman in his life. This touching song became The Calling's greatest hit ever.
