2000 2009

The 2000s were a decade that marked the beginning of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium. It was a momentous decade that was marked by the popularity explosion of the internet, the attack on the World Trade Center, the death of Michael Jackson, and the development of green initiatives leading to products such as the Toyota Prius.

Music

Entertainment

Fashion

Cars

Innovations REVISED 11/23/11

  • The iPod
  • TiVo
  • Kindle

Events

  • Terrorist attacks
  • Space Shuttle Columbia
  • Hurricane Katrina
  • President Barack Obama

Defining Decades Webpage

What happens here, stays here. (2002) Las Vegas

Music

The styles of music that were considered popular truly evolved in this decade.  Hip-hop and rap music became influential with the popularity of artists such as Eminem, The Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Timbaland.  Traditional “pop” music maintained a strong hold with teenage female vocalists such as Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears rising to stardom and “boy bands” such as The Backstreet Boys and The Jonas Brothers remaining popular.  Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake (of N’Sync fame) launched what has become a very successful solo career.  Other “pop” artists enjoying great success were Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson (the first winner of American Idol – see the 2000-2009 Entertainment page).  

Adult contemporary music continued to remain strong on the scene thanks to contributions from artists such as Alicia Keys, Daughtry, Colbie Calliat and Sara Bareilles.  Some contributions to this category included “crossover” music from artists in other genres such as country music.  Country became a very strong category with successful artist like Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw became a huge draw.

Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Beyonce and Usher all enjoyed success in the R&B genre.  Emo music saw new life in the 2000s with the popularity of Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Panic At The Disco.

It was during this decade that Michael Jackson (2009), Lisa Lopes of TLC (2002), Aalihah (2001), and Jam Master Jay of Run DMC (2002) passed away.javascript:;

Entertainment

Reality television exploded in popularity following the launch of Surviror in the U.S. in 2000. This style of television claims to be entirely unscripted and usually features ordinary people instead of famous actors in dramatic or humorous situations. Another reality show, American Idol, which began in 2002, features people competing against each other for a recording contract. It is claimed by some to be one of the most revolutionary shows in television history.

2002 was a momentous year in the film industry as it was the first year that an African American won an Oscar for a lead role. As it happened, Halle Barry won for Best Actress (Monster’s Ball) while Denzel Washington won the Oscar for Best Actor (Training Day).

The internet site YouTube was launched in 2005, enabling users to share video files. Using it to self-market, people have posted video of their skills here and even become celebrities (ie. Justin Beiber). By the year 2007, YouTube was the most visited site on the internet behind Google and Facebook.

The 2000s saw the passing of a number of notable entertainers. Among them were Anna Nicole Smith (2007), Heath Ledger (2008), John Ritter (2003), Natasha Richardson (2009), Steve Irwin (2006) and Bernie Mac (2008).

Fashion

Brief Description and History: The fashion trend that dominated 2000-2009 is “Boho-chic”. Boho-chic is a combination of nontraditional, eclectic styles influenced by gypsies, hippies, and artistic clothing of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The style is one of balance between messy and feminine, while establishing a sense of uniqueness and individuality. Being boho-chic is versatile in itself, as the trend can be on a range from artsy to exquisite. Boho-chic is derived from the traditional gypsy or bohemian styles of India and Pakistan. Some of the original designs of gypsy clothing are tunics, peasent tops, sarongs, caftans, salwar suits, and kurtas. Additional elements are handmade fringe, patchwork, beading, and tiny mirrors. Many of these traditional elements are seen in the bohemian styles of today.

Key Elements: Some key elements of the modern boho-chic is loose and flowing, with a mix of colors and prints, often with layers. Fabrics used are natural, and at times, organic cotton, silk, and linen, while the colors are muted and earthy. Other defining elements of boho-chic are: short and long flowing skirts, especially in white; furry gilets ( a sleeveless jacket or vest); embroidered and flowing tunics; cropped jackets; large faux-coin belts; sheepskin boots (mainly UGGS); cowboy boots with intricate stitching; baggy cardigans; scarves with paisley prints; uneven hems, and tights or leggings. Some noted designers of boho-chic are Stella McCartney and Zarmina.

The Trendsetters: Boho-chic was first donned by actress Sienna Miller and model Kate Moss at the Glastonbury Festival in the U.K., in 2004. At the same time, the American version of the modern bohemian was popularized by the Olson Twins (Mary Kate and Ashley), and became fashionable in areas of New York City, specifically Greenwich Village and Soho. The trend caught on quickly, in the post-9-1-1 era, because of its emphasis on creating a personalized, eclectic look. Boho-chic influenced the resurgence of vintage shops, especially in New York City, as many celebrities have been seen scouring the racks for individualized jewels.

Cars

Brief description and history: The most definitive car of 2000-2009 is the Toyota Prius. The Prius was the first hybrid car to be mass-produced, and became a global sensation in conjunction with the growing environmental concerns of the 2000’s. In 1992, Toyota Motor Corporation announced the Earth Charter, which was a document that outlined the company’s goals to develop vehicles with the lowest emissions possible. In 1995, the hybrid concept car was shown at the Tokyo Motor show. Then, two years later, in 1997, the Toyota Prius made its first appearance in Japan. Though the Prius was privately shipped to a number of countries after its debut, it was not offered in the U.S. until 2001. There are three generations of the Prius since its introduction in 1997, and continues to be one of the most popular hybrid vehicles sold. Toyota chose the name Prius, which is Latin for “to go before.”

Key Features: The Toyota Prius is a combined hybrid vehicle, and can be run on electric power and/or gasoline. It is aerodynamic, which allows wind resistance and air resistance. Also, an electric water pump eliminates the need for serpentine belts, and the American and Canadian models use a vacuum flask to store coolant to reduce warm-up time. Touted for its low emissions and gas mileage, all three generations of the Prius deliver. The first generation Prius had a combined 41 miles per gallon (mpg). The second generation Prius had a combined 46 mpg, and the third generation has a combined 50 mpg. The Toyota Prius is and continues to be the car with the lowest fuel emissions and the best gas mileage manufactured.

A Green Conscious: There have been a number of tax incentives offered to boast the sales of green conscious cars, including the Prius. During the 2000’s the American government offered a $2,000 tax credit from gross annual income, in order to encourage car buyers to buy green. Other American companies such as Bank of America, Google, and Clif Bar & Co., also offer incentives for their employees, as do some European countries. In addition to the rebate incentives, a number of celebrities have been seen proudly driving their Toyota Prius. These green conscious trendsetters also help to increase Prius sales, and encourage others to go green.

Innovations

2001 - 2006
On October 23, 2001 Apple Computers publicly announced their portable music digital player, the iPod. In April 2007 the 100 millionth iPod had been sold! It is estimated that approximately 86% of MP3 player users own an iPod. The iPod was announced several months after the release of iTunes, a program that converted audio CDs into compressed digital audio files, and could organizes your digital music collection. The iTunes Store followed and became the market leader soon after its launch. Apple advertised the sale of videos through the store in 2005; full-length movies became available in 2006.

2004
The TiVo® Premiere DVR (digital video recorder) is the world's first Smart DVR. It brings the best entertainment from cable and the web together in one place, with one remote and one simple search across everything. Other DVRs are frustrating and difficult to use; TiVo is elegant and intuitive, and it does everything! It handles Netflix Instant, Amazon Instant Video, and Blockbuster on Demand; lets you surf videos from sites like YouTube; acts as your cable box and pulls in over-the-air signals; hosts and streams music. It's even reported to have saved marriages!

2008
Amazon Kindle — With the superior legibility of electronic ink, long battery life, and the ability to hold thousands of pages, e-book readers were already quite handy in 2008. But Amazon made them even more convenient by adding a free cellular connection for downloading newspapers, magazines and books—in seconds. A true innovation! There are other electronic readers competing for the market, and prices continue to fall. This is a device to watch in the future.

Events

September 11, 2001
Islamic fundamentalist terrorists hijack four U.S. airliners. The attack of two planes levels the World Trade Center and the crash of a third plane inflicts serious damage to the Pentagon causing a total of almost 3,000 deaths. The fourth plane is crashed by heroic passengers into a Pennsylvania cornfield preventing the terrorists from hitting a second target in Washington, D.C. The plot is attributed to the Al-Qaeda organization led by Osama Bin Laden.

Feb 1, 2003
On its 113th mission the U.S. space shuttle Columbia broke up 203,000 feet over north central Texas as it descended toward a landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Columbia, the oldest space shuttle in the fleet of four, was the first space shuttle to be launched into Earth orbit in 1981. Seven astronauts were lost in this disaster, which was the second of the program.

Aug. 29, 2005
Hurricane Katrina slammed into the U.S. Gulf Coast destroying beachfront towns in Mississippi and Louisiana, displacing a million people, and killing almost 1,800. When levees in New Orleans were breached, 80% of the city was submerged by the flooding. 100,000 people were trapped in the city without power, food, or drinking water. Rescue efforts were so delayed and haphazard that many were stranded for days on rooftops and in attics before help arrived. Relief workers, medical help, security forces, and essential supplies remained profoundly inadequate during the first critical days of the disaster.

November 4, 2008
Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States. By becoming the first African-American president his election surmounted the last racial barrier in the United States of America. In his victory speech he said “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”

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