‘L’Amour Toujours’ N°103 – Vintage 2000s Music Videos

Cleptomaniacs, Amira, Justin Timberlake, Ronan Keating, Jennifer Lopez, Craig David, Will Young, Jordin Sparks, Katy Perry, Ashanti, Westlife, Alicia Keys

They are the performers of twelve vintage love songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (06/52) BUT … in the Noughties 2000s.

Here, they are reunited in one glorious playlist. Enjoy!

WATCH IN FULL

YouTube player

For TWELVE more ‘L’Amour Toujours’ – Vintage 2000s Music Videos – week 06/52 – click here

AUDIO ONLY

Tracklist

HEAR IT

1 . Cleptomaniacs – All I Do

“Cleptomaniacs – All I Do” stands as an intriguing intersection of house music innovation and Motown reverence.

The roots of the track stretch back to Stevie Wonder’s prolific teenage years, where, at just 16, he penned this ode to unrelenting devotion, later handed off to Tammi Terrell for her 1967 release.

Fast forward to 2001, and the Soulfuric collective—Brian Tappert, John Julius Knight, and Marc Pomeroy—reimagined the song under house beats, only to encounter a legal block from Wonder’s team, which stripped the track of his original vocals.

Instead, UK singer Bryan Chambers steps in, injecting a layered richness to the tune, allowing the remix to see the light through Defected Records’ polished lens.

The “Original Club Mix,” a centerpiece of its adaptations available online, pairs breezy rhythm with Chambers’ emotive timbre, achieving a streamlined balance between reverence for the source and bold sonic reinvention.

It’s a track that fits snugly in the house genre but retains an old-school warmth, a balancing act that echoes across 2000s club collections and nostalgic Spotify playlists, without overreaching into overproduced slickness.


Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

HEAR IT

2 . Amira – My Desire

Released in 1997, “My Desire” by Amira plants itself firmly in the UK garage genre with an unmistakable swagger.

The song marries emotive, yearning vocals with the kind of relentless rhythm that typifies late ’90s garage house—a hectic blend of smooth and jagged edges.

Icy synths and a bouncing bassline hold hands while the vocal delivery stays locked in a tension between vulnerability and command.

The track has become a key feature in countless UK garage compilations; its presence feels less a conscious choice and more an inevitability in curating the era’s legacy.

The 2001 CD maxi-single came at a time when UK garage was starting to recede commercially but remained a mainstay in underground circles.

Among the various remixes, the tagline goes to the “Dreemhouse Remix,” which manages to toe the line between reinvention and homage without veering into unnecessary theatrics.

The accompanying music clip finds itself less in regular circulation and more preserved as a niche artifact on platforms like YouTube.

While “My Desire” lacks the flash of chart dominance or high-profile accolades, this track refuses to gather dust, existing as a slow pulse in the enduring heartbeat of UK garage history.


Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

HEAR IT

3 . Justin Timberlake – Like I Love You

Justin Timberlake’s “Like I Love You” emerges as a sleek introduction to his solo career, a crisp departure from his boy-band beginnings. It’s a taut pop-R&B concoction, powered by The Neptunes’ trademark production—a minimal yet infectious blend of staccato guitar licks and sharp beats that never overstay their welcome.

The song enlists Clipse for a smattering of verses, their presence lending a hip-hop credibility to Timberlake’s falsetto-laden performance. These contrasting elements at times feel like guests who’ve RSVP’d late to a dinner party but nonetheless manage to complement the vibe.

Chart trajectories notwithstanding, the track thrives on its meticulous mix of sultry tension and polished restraint. Timberlake’s vocal delivery flirts coyly with the line between boyish infatuation and genuine allure. It’s calculated, sure, but there’s an undeniable craftsmanship at work here.

The music video mirrors this balancing act: Timberlake smolders in dimly lit settings, dance routines sharp enough to wink at pop tradition without veering into parody. The whole package screams confidence, calculated just shy of arrogance.

Performances like his MTV VMA debut in 2002 showcased Timberlake as a performer hell-bent on shedding his teen idol skin, and while “Like I Love You” doesn’t exactly break new ground, it lays a solid foundation for what’s to come. It’s a statement piece, made with a precision engineered to keep the listener engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

If anything, the track serves as a reminder that Timberlake understands what moves a pop audience, even if he’s still lingering on the edges of something bolder. Its polished production and undeniable catchiness spotlight an artist ready to recalibrate his persona, inching closer to the mainstream spotlight on his own terms.


Featured on the 2002 album “Justified”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Twitter

HEAR IT

4 . Ronan Keating – I Love It When We Do

Ronan Keating’s “I Love It When We Do” hums with a polished sheen typical of early 2000s pop, blending saccharine melodies with his warm, radio-friendly vocals.

Released in 2002 as part of his album *Destination*, the track seeks to capture the exuberance of love, though its earnestness tips occasionally into predictability.

Keating’s performance feels effortless, navigating the fluffy lyrics with a boyish charm that has cemented his appeal among fans who gravitate to the comfort of safe, middle-of-the-road pop.

Musically, the song leans heavily on formulaic structures, underscored by lively acoustic strums and a predictable rise-and-fall dynamic that practically screams “feel-good singalong.”

Its inclusion in live performances, from the expansive O2 Arena to the more intimate summer concert at Audley End, shows its pliability as both a communal anthem and a personal serenade.

Though not groundbreaking, “I Love It When We Do” remains a crowd-pleaser, a snapshot of Keating’s unabashedly romantic ethos.


Featured on the 2002 album “Destination”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

HEAR IT

5 . Jennifer Lopez – Love Don’t Cost a Thing

Jennifer Lopez’s “Love Don’t Cost a Thing,” released in 2000, serves as a shimmering anthem of self-assured independence wrapped in a pop-R&B guise.

The track deploys a sleek production that leans on polished beats and layered harmonics, steering clear of excessive complexity while embracing a radio-friendly charm.

The lyrics, co-written by a committee that includes Damon Sharpe and Greg Lawson, pivot around a declaration of love unburdened by materialism—a sentiment that sits at odds with Lopez’s highly stylized, glamour-infused public persona.

The timing of the release, during Lopez’s high-profile relationship with Sean Combs, sparked inevitable gossip about whether the song doubled as a lyrical subtweet, although this remains tantalizingly unconfirmed.

Commercially, the track is unstoppable, reigning on international charts with a particular coup in the UK and Canada, offering proof of Lopez’s then-burgeoning dominance on the global pop stage.

The accompanying music video, directed by Paul Hunter, alternates between Miami’s breezy beaches and Malibu’s rugged coastline, featuring a now-famous scene of Lopez ditching her jewelry as if discarding societal expectations.

Choreographed by Darrin Dewitt Henson and including future husband Cris Judd in a supporting role, the video’s deft blend of high-gloss visuals and laid-back rebellion cemented its constant rotation on MTV’s “Total Request Live.”

Lopez’s live performances of the track, from the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards to the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, underscore her knack for combining vocal delivery with compelling stagecraft, even if her vocal prowess isn’t her signature strength.

While the track champions emotional authenticity, its production and marketing lean heavily into polished artifice, creating an intriguing tension between message and medium.

Twenty-plus years later, “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” functions both as a cultural artifact of early-2000s pop and a testament to Lopez’s talent for navigating stardom’s crossroads of music, fashion, and celebrity.


Featured on the 2001 album “J.Lo”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Facebook

HEAR IT

6 . Craig David – Hidden Agenda

“Hidden Agenda” by Craig David, a slick entry from his 2002 album *Slicker Than Your Average*, harks back to the UK garage vibes that propelled him into the spotlight.

This track reunites David with Mark Hill, the Artful Dodger producer who co-penned some of his earlier successes.

There’s a polished smoothness here, paired with relatable lyrics on trust and human connection, but it doesn’t stray far from the formula that catapulted him to fame with hits like “7 Days.”

The song’s polished mid-tempo beat is unmistakably Craig—easy to digest, but perhaps too cautious to be bold.

The accompanying video, filmed in Tlacotalpan, Mexico, leans into a glossy aesthetic, boosted by Roselyn Sánchez’s effortless screen presence, but it’s more postcard than narrative.

Remixes like the Soulshock & Karlin version and the Plasma spin keep the dance floors interested, though none significantly reshape its core appeal.

An interpolation of Jon B’s “Don’t Talk” adds a nostalgic undercurrent, though the result feels safer than experimental.

While it’s an enjoyable listen, “Hidden Agenda” leaves one wondering if David is playing it too close to the middle of the road.


Featured on the 2002 album “Slicker Than Your Average”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Facebook

HEAR IT

7 . Will Young – Leave Right Now

“Leave Right Now” by Will Young, a standout track from his 2003 album “Friday’s Child,” solidifies itself as a polished piece of pop craftsmanship.

The song rides on the coattails of Eg White and Louis Eliot’s poignant songwriting, matched by Stephen Lipson’s equally meticulous production.

It didn’t just stop at being a chart-topper; it casually strolled into territory that earned it a 2004 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically, proving it had hooks sharper than a brand-new suit.

The music video, helmed by Kevin Godley, is an understated drama unfolding in a single, unbroken take where a tangle of emotions erupts against the backdrop of a private party.

Will Young’s emotive delivery, paired with Tracey Ackerman’s backing vocals and Anne Dudley’s orchestral arrangements, gives the track a finely tuned balance of vulnerability and grandeur.

Unintentionally or otherwise, the song’s tidy structure and radio-friendly sound make it almost too perfect—like an immaculately decorated cake you’d almost rather photograph than eat.

Its cultural afterglow extended to compilations and international album editions, a reflection of how comfortably it transcended its British roots.

In hindsight, “Leave Right Now” feels less like a moment of emotional impulse and more like a calculated confession, cloaked in just enough honesty to resonate but polished enough to gleam.


Featured on the 2003 album “Friday’s Child “.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : YouTube

HEAR IT

8 . Jordin Sparks – No Air (w/ Chris Brown)

“No Air” pairs Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown in a labyrinth of desperate questions and emotional dependency, layering glossy pop production over themes of suffocating love.

Originally written for a solo male vocalist, the track morphed into a duet—a decision that adds tension but never overplays the drama.

The interplay between Sparks’ crystalline delivery and Brown’s smooth vocal timbre hits its stride, offering both a contrast and a complement.

Lyrically, it’s unashamedly theatrical, almost crying out for a Broadway spotlight: “Tell me how I’m supposed to breathe with no air?” teeters between arresting and overwrought.

Released in 2008 as part of Sparks’ self-titled debut, the single pulls no punches in its bid for radio dominance, complete with soaring hooks designed to stick like glue.

Its production, courtesy of Harvey Mason Jr. and Damon Thomas, leans heavily on clean, spacious arrangements that let the voices shine but occasionally feel weighed down by their own polish.

Commercially, the song is bulletproof, raking in number-one spots in markets like Australia and New Zealand while lodging itself comfortably near the summit of the Billboard Hot 100.*

The accompanying music video, set against muted urban backdrops, is as straightforward as its sentimental core, relying on steely gazes and longing stares to underline its motif of separation.

At its peak, “No Air” crystallized late-2000s pop trends: the duet as spectacle, emotion amplified to sporting arena levels, and a production sheen so slick you could practically see your reflection in it.

What it lacks in subtlety, it compensates for in sheer, unapologetic pop catharsis—the kind that was destined to soundtrack melodramatic text messages and backseat choir sing-alongs alike during its heyday.


Featured on the 2007 album “Jordin Sparks “.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Twitter

HEAR IT

9 . Katy Perry – Thinking Of You

“Thinking of You” by Katy Perry waltzes onto the scene from her 2008 album, *One of the Boys*, draped in melancholic nostalgia.

Originally recorded back in 2002 and later reimagined for a slicker production, this song stands out as a delicate pop ballad grappling with heartbreak and the pangs of yearning for a lost love.

The track is framed by a restrained instrumental arrangement, with Perry’s voice gliding between vulnerability and resolve, as if torn between the ghost of a past romance and the hollowness of a present relationship.

Chart-wise, it peaked modestly at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100—a position that neither screams success nor whispers insignificance, though its short-lived climb hints at an audience unsure whether to fully engage with its aching gaze backward.

The dual music videos embody the song’s polarized emotional terrain. The original 2007 rendition keeps its visuals straightforward, while the 2008 revamp spins a World War II-era narrative, replete with bereavement and sepia-toned longing, making it almost overly cinematic in its ambition.

Despite not being a blockbuster hit, the song remains a snapshot of Perry in her pre-superstar stage—a pop artisan navigating vulnerability before the fireworks of later fame burst forth.


Featured on the 2008 album “One of the Boys”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Twitter

HEAR IT

10 . Ashanti – Only U

Released in 2004 and sitting firmly within Ashanti’s transition into a more mature artistry, “Only U” marries the grit of a rock-inspired electric guitar riff with glossy pop-R&B textures.

Ashanti’s sultry vocals oscillate between vulnerability and raw longing, set against Seven Aurelius’s dramatic production, whose sampling of Club Nouveau’s “Why You Treat Me So Bad” feels hypnotic without being overly derivative.

The track radiates tension, both lyrically and sonically, with Ashanti singing of desire as if it were an unshakable fever—a motif amplified by the instrumentation’s throbbing pulse and shadowy undertones.

Chart-wise, it carves an interesting trajectory, landing at a modest number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 but skyrocketing to number two across the Atlantic in the UK, where its dark, edgy appeal resonated widely.

The music video, helmed by Hype Williams, takes aesthetic risks, plunging Ashanti into a neon-drenched dystopian fantasy influenced by “Blade Runner,” a choice that aligns oddly but compellingly with the song’s desperate sensuality.

The inclusion of Herbal Essences product placement in such a brooding visual landscape feels like an amusing clash of high concept and corporate marketing, but Ashanti weathers it with her trademark poise.

While it’s not her most vocally demanding track, “Only U” finds its strength in its ability to feel sleek yet rough, calculated yet emotive—a balancing act that avoids collapsing under its ambition.

Its UK success points to an appreciation for bold production choices that might have felt overshadowed by safer, radio-friendly R&B in the US.

By wrapping aching vulnerability in a polished grittiness, “Only U” captures attention not by what it perfects, but by what it risks.


Featured on the 2004 album “Concrete Rose”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Instagram

HEAR IT

11 . Westlife – Unbreakable

Westlife’s “Unbreakable” walks the familiar line of grand pop balladry, where sentimental declarations of forever love meet melodramatic production.

Released in 2002 as the flagship single for their greatest hits album, it’s a polished package designed to tug heartstrings without straining vocal cords.

The track leans heavily on soaring strings and gentle piano, a formula perfected by boybands to secure their dominance over wedding playlists and breakup mixtapes alike.

Its lyrics—wrapped in unrelenting optimism about unshakable bonds—veer toward cliche but are rescued by the sincerity of the delivery.

Jörgen Elofsson and John Reid’s songwriting layers melody with a predictability that feels intentional, less about surprise and more about dependable reassurance.

It’s a song as safe as it is sweeping, guided by Steve Mac’s trademark production that ensures every glossy note lands with precision.

The music video, heavy on beachfront drama and vehicular tragedy, matches the song’s emotional weight with visual melancholy that toes the line between cinematic and soap operatic.

Yet beneath the calculated surface, “Unbreakable” subtly reveals Westlife at their cultural zenith, merging musical reliability with commercial acumen.

For a band often dismissed as formulaic, this track digs its heels into their soft pop dominance, an unashamedly earnest embrace of their genre’s strengths.

While it may not convert skeptics, it understands its audience well, delivering every line, note, and harmony with the precision of artists who know their place and wield it confidently.


Featured on the 2002 album “Unbreakable – The Greatest Hits Volume 1”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

HEAR IT

12 . Alicia Keys – No One

“No One” marks Alicia Keys at the height of her artistic and commercial power, blending poignant lyricism with a commanding vocal intensity that refuses to waver or crack under scrutiny.

Released in 2007, this track sidesteps fleeting trends, opting instead to forge a timeless anthem of vulnerability and resolve, cemented by a stripped-down arrangement of steady piano chords and hypnotic drum loops.

The production, co-helmed by Keys and Kerry Brothers Jr., focuses less on grandiosity and more on creating a sense of intimacy—a sonic vow delivered with absolute certainty.

The global accolades were inevitable: topping charts across continents, saturating radio waves, and smashing digital sales records to the tune of multi-platinum certifications that speak to its universal appeal.

Yet for all its successes, the song’s near-monochromatic production may inspire a yearning for greater dynamism, a reminder of the risk-averse tendencies that often accompany commercial juggernauts.

Visually, the accompanying music video mirrors this duality. Directed by Justin Francis, its shifting settings aim to evoke emotional depth but ultimately feel like controlled simulations of spontaneity. Rain-drenched streets and empty rooms offer Instagram-ready backdrops but don’t expand the song’s narrative.

“No One” thrives less by breaking barriers and more by solidifying Alicia Keys as a trusted voice for those seeking uncomplicated sincerity in a world of overproduced sentiment.


Featured on the 2007 album “As I Am“.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Twitter

For THE FULL ‘L’AMOUR TOUJOURS’ COLLECTION click here

This week Top 20 New Music on RVM *

(*) According to our own statistics, upadted on February 2, 2025

Comments are closed.