# Best #1 Modern/Alternative Rock Song of the Year: 2001 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 28, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842 "2014-11-28T19:41:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/1 "2014-11-28T19:41:19Z")
The first year I can’t even vote for the least offensive song, because I legitimately hate all of these. Instead, as always, I’ll expend my energy listing alternative songs from 2001 I actually liked (in no particular order): Ben Folds, “Annie Waits” The White Stripes, “Fell In Love With A Girl” The Divine Comedy, “Perfect Lovesong” The Coup, “5 Million Ways To Kill A CEO” The Shins, “New Slang” Lovage, “Book of the Month” Stereolab, “Captain Easychord” Fugazi, “Argument” Her Space Holiday, Hassle Free Harmony" ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/2 "2014-11-28T20:27:59Z")
It’s interesting that we have two instances this year where the #1 alternative single lines up with the Hot 100 #1 - “Butterfly” and “How You Remind Me”. That’s a rare alignment for sure. My vote, however, goes to “Smooth Criminal”, because it’s a great rendition of the song from a band that turned out to be a one-hit wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/3 "2014-11-28T20:58:08Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > The first year I can’t even vote for the least offensive song, because I legitimately hate all of these. Instead, as always, I’ll expend my energy listing alternative songs from 2001 I actually liked (in no particular order): > > Ben Folds, “Annie Waits” > The White Stripes, “Fell In Love With A Girl” > The Divine Comedy, “Perfect Lovesong” > The Coup, “5 Million Ways To Kill A CEO” > The Shins, “New Slang” > Lovage, “Book of the Month” > Stereolab, “Captain Easychord” > Fugazi, “Argument” > Her Space Holiday, Hassle Free Harmony" From that list, The Shins-“New Slang”. From the poll, none. Why is Nickelback considered Alternative Rock? ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/4 "2014-11-28T21:01:27Z")
Ick. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/5 "2014-11-28T22:10:30Z")
Everybody’s complaining about this list, but there are a few good songs on here. The Lifehouse song is what Nickelback might do if they actually had talent. “Drive” is a good song. So is “Fat Lip” (feel free to flame me for that), as is “Smooth Criminal”. The last 2 were serious contenders for me, but I opted for “It’s Been Awhile” as my pick. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/6 "2014-11-28T22:28:21Z")
Oof. Gun to head, I’ll go with Sum 41. In my middle age, I’ve actually gotten more and more open to that teenybopper California pop punk sound. I don’t hate it nearly as much as I used to. The rest, though? Still can’t stomach 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/7 "2014-11-28T23:16:24Z")
Went with Incubus, but glad that Alien Ant Farm is leading the pack, the version blows Michael Jackson’s original out the yard! Of course good songs in 2001 that did not hit the top. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/8 "2014-11-28T23:17:27Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s interesting that we have two instances this year where the #1 alternative single lines up with the Hot 100 #1 - “Butterfly” and “How You Remind Me”. That’s a rare alignment for sure. > > My vote, however, goes to “Smooth Criminal”, because it’s a great rendition of the song from a band that turned out to be a one-hit wonder. Crazy Town’s song is atrocious. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/9 "2014-11-29T02:13:20Z")
Michael Jackson’s song wins easily. Nickelback is dead-ass last. Lifehouse (not this song in particular, but the band in general) is one step above Nickelback, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/10 "2014-11-29T02:18:55Z")
I gave Staind “It’s been awhile” my vote, hey I liked the song. As I believe others have suspected, I also like some Nickelback songs (which by definition means I like all Nickelback songs, since beside Rock Star they all pretty much sound the same). The [Also Rans from PlayList Research](http://www.playlistresearch.com/2000s/2001modern.htm). Sneak preview - White Stripes “Fell In Love With A Girl” (I agree with woodstockybird, it was a good song) does makes the 2002 Also-Ran list. The also-ran list is running deep into the Limp Bizket/Linkin Park/Blink-182 period, but I do like “RADIOHEAD - Optimistic” from it. A lot of the other songs I probably would know on listen, but I can’t get the ambition to YouTube them at this time. The Radio Background Noise era…:smack: ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/11 "2014-11-29T04:39:05Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Oof. Gun to head, I’ll go with Sum 41. In my middle age, I’ve actually gotten more and more open to that teenybopper California pop punk sound. I don’t hate it nearly as much as I used to. The rest, though? Still can’t stomach 'em. Hey, thanks for taking that bullet! I would go the same way - Green Day-ish pop-punk, Canadian style. I thought their first album was pretty catchy. Then the lead singer hooked up with Avril Lavigne ;). Why the White Stripes didn’t end up at #1 - what a fun, in your face song… ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/12 "2014-11-29T10:22:23Z")
**Alien Ant Farm** - _Smooth Criminal_ An excellent cover of one of **Michael Jackson** ’s greatest songs. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/13 "2014-11-29T19:45:25Z")
I checked to be sure, turns out I still like _In The End._ Who knew! ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/14 "2014-11-29T23:55:23Z")
I’m trying to wrap my head around the lack of “Annie Waits” or “Fell in Love with a Girl,” but given the choices I’m taking Incubus for purely sentimental reasons. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2014, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-2001/705842/15 "2014-11-30T08:19:35Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s interesting that we have two instances this year where the #1 alternative single lines up with the Hot 100 #1 - “Butterfly” and “How You Remind Me”. That’s a rare alignment for sure. > > My vote, however, goes to “Smooth Criminal”, because it’s a great rendition of the song from a band that turned out to be a one-hit wonder. Plus, IIRC, the Lifehouse song was the most played song on radio that year. I don’t remember if it peaked at #2 on Hot 100 and was blocked by something, or if it was a victim of chart methodology.