The Sounds of the 21st Century

Tom Eames
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An unofficial continuation of BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the 21st Century. If you’ve found this podcast, then chances are, like me, you were a massive fan of BBC Radio 2’s Sounds of the 20th Century. Created by Trevor Dann’s Company, the original series ran from 2011 and 2012. Each episode was an hour of one particular year’s biggest moments (news, TV shows, films, sports etc), alongside that year’s memorable hit songs. It was similar to the Rock and Roll Years TV shows from the ’90s, which broadcasting legend Trevor Dann was also behind. What was particularly awesome about it, was that it didn’t feature any ‘talking heads’, analysis or hindsight. They were simply audio collages of each year, allowing you to work out what was being played, and to make connections to what happened in the following years. With the series ending after the year 2000, I was left bereft and wanted more. As someone who is obsessed with nostalgia, charts and pop culture, and because the 2000s were my formative years, I decided to give making an unofficial continuation a go myself. So this series is an ongoing project that will continue the original series from 2001 onwards, with attempts made to keep it in the original style as much as possible (including the theme tune, run-length etc). Each episode aims to be a 60-minute snapshot of the world (largely from British eyes!), as it was back then. Archive news clips have been taken from various sources (such as BBC News, Sky News, Channel 4, ITV, The Guardian, CNN and other news networks). However, as I only have access to what is available online, some clips, particularly from the early years of the internet, may sound a bit tinny in quality, as they were ripped from incredibly old files (such as old .ram files – remember them?), that no longer exist since I made the first few episodes back in 2012. NOTE: If you’ve previously downloaded the series – I have since made revisions to the episodes in 2022. Please re-download to get updated versions with improved intros and other new clips. The series is in no way endorsed by Trevor Dann or the BBC, but was meant as a bit of fun, as a homage to the brilliant series, and to give fans something new. Trevor himself has been kind enough to acknowledge the series, as long as I call it ‘Bootleg Sounds of the 21st Century’. In 2021, the original series returned as Sounds of the 21st Century. It was in a slightly different style, with Claudia Winkleman replacing original host Jeremy Vine. I greatly encourage everyone to listen to the original series if you can track it down. The 2021 series can be found here. Please do get in touch in the comments sections if you’d like to say hello or give feedback – or follow me on Twitter (@eamezey).

  1. 2015

    07/08/2023

    2015

    The Paris attacks, FIFA scandal, Jeremy Clarkson's fracas, The Force Awakens... Tracklisting: Eastenders – Who Killed LucyMark Ronson – Uptown FunkBuckingham Palace denies Andrew claimsPoldarkCharlie Hebdo attacksHozier – Take Me to ChurchAustralia allowed in EurovisionPiers Morgan joins GMBOMI – CheerleaderPrincess Charlotte bornThe DressJustin Bieber – What Do You MeanJustin Bieber – SorryGeneral Election – debates/Tories win/SNP success/resignationsJames Bay – Hold Back the RiverTunisia beach attackEllie Goulding – Love Me Like You DoCalais migrant crisisFurious 7 Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth – See You AgainNepal earthquakeLost Frequencies – Are You With MeJeremy Clarkson fracas Love IslandJason Derulo – Want to Want MeSame sex marriage in US and IrelandJess Glynne – Hold My HandSnapchatMajor Lazer – Lean OnBritain win Davis CupJess Ennis wins HeptathlonLewis Hamilton wins F1Walk the Moon – Shut Up and DanceTyson Fury beats KlitchsckoSepp Blatter arrested, FIFA scandalJurassic WorldElon MuskLittle Mix – Black MagicAlton Towers crashTrump announces Presidency runDrake – Hotline BlingHatton Garden raidThe Weeknd – Cant Feel My FaceJames Corden Jeremy Corbyn becomes leaderYears & Years – KingCaitlyn JennerNadiya wins Bake OffQueen is longest reigning monarchCalvin Harris – How Deep is Your LoveGermanwings crashJustin Bieber – Love YourselfTim Peake in spaceStar Wars the Force AwakensParis attacksAdele – Hello

    59 min
  2. 2014

    05/26/2020

    2014

    Indyref, Benefits Street, Tower of London poppies... Tracklisting: Donald Trump does the ALS Ice Bucket ChallengePharrell Williams – HappyUKIP and Nigel Farage win at European electionsMagic – RudeNude celebrity photo iCloud hackEd Sheeran – SingUkraine revolution / Russia annexes CrimeaAriana Grande – ProblemBake Off‘s BingateElla Henderson – GhostRocket lands on comet 67PGuardians of the GalaxyRobin Williams diesMr Probz – Waves (Robin Schultz remix)Teacher Ann Maguire killedSam Smith – Stay With MeScotland votes to stay in the UKClean Bandit – Rather BeFacebook buys WhatsappBenefits StreetLewis Hamilton wins second F1 ChampionshipRory McIlroy wins two MajorsMeghan Trainor – All About that BassWorld Cup: England out at group stage, Luis Suarez bite, Germany thrash Brazil, Germany beat Argentina in finalSigma – Nobody to LovePhilip Hughes deathNico & Vinz – Am I WrongStreaming included in chartsTrue DetectiveMax Clifford jailed / Rolf Harris jailed / Bill Cosby allegationsKaty Perry – Dark HorseSolange vs Jay Z elevator fightIggy Azalea & Charli XCX – FancyPeaches Geldof diesGeorge Ezra – BudapestPewDiePie on YouTubeTaylor Swift – Shake it OffHong Kong’s umbrella revolutionFerguson protests / Black Lives MatterRoute 94 & Jess Glynne – My LoveFlight MH370 goes missingFlight MH17 shot down over UkraineSia – ChandelierEbola outbreakBarack Obama warns of global pandemicJohn Legend – All of MeBoko Haram kidnap schoolgirlsRise of ISISKiesza – HideawayBoris Johnson to stand as MPTake That – These DaysTower of London poppiesEd Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud

    59 min
  3. 2013

    01/29/2020

    2013

    Murray's Wimbledon, Lee Rigby, a royal birth, Richard III is found... Tracklisting: ‘Let me take a selfie’Bastille – PompeiiHorsemeat scandalLorde – RoyalsNorth Korea’s nuclear tests, truce with South Korea endsGTAVBoston Marathon bombingswill.i.am & Britney Spears – Scream & ShoutPope Benedict retires, Pope Francis announcedOneRepublic – Counting StarsRussia meteorSelfiesMiley Cyrus and twerkingMiley Cyrus – Wrecking BallDhaka garment factory collapseNaughty Boy & Sam Smith – La La LaNigel Farage’s UKIP riseBauer – Harlem ShakeDavid Cameron promises EU referendumEllie Goulding – BurnMurder of Lee Rigby in WoolwichPassenger – Let Her GoGhouta chemical attackJustin Timberlake – MirrorsMorsi removed as President of EgyptLes MiserablesPrince George bornDaft Punk – Get LuckyHugo Chavez diesMargaret Thatcher diesAvicii – Wake Me UpEdward SnowdenIcona Pop – I Love ItWigan win FA CupSir Alex Ferguson retiresAndy Murray wins WimbledonKaty Perry – RoarHMV saved from administrationBlurred Lines controversyRobin Thicke – Blurred LinesOscar Pistorius arrestedIan Watkins jailedHouse of Cards on NetflixPaul Walker diesRichard III’s body foundGoggleboxBedroom taxThe Lumineers – Ho HeyGay marriage passedMacklemore & Ryan Lewis – Thrift ShopPlebgateTaylor Swift – I Knew You Were TroubleClutha bar disasterMichael Schumacher ski accidentNelson Mandela diesPink & Nate Ruess – Just Give Me a ReasonFrozenIdina Menzel – Let It Go

    1 hr
  4. 2012

    01/13/2018

    2012

    The London Olympics, Jimmy Savile scandal, Diamond Jubilee, Avengers... Tracklisting: Benedict Cumberbatch’s Olympics introCarly Rae Jepsen – Call Me MaybeFelix BaumgartnerBoat race is hijackedEmeli Sande – Next to MeDiamond JubileeGary Barlow – SingTyphoon BophaRudimental – Feel the LoveMan City win Premier League in final secondsChelsea win Champions LeagueEngland knocked out of Euro 2012 on penalties, Spain winAlex Clare – Too CloseAndy Murray beaten in Wimbledon finalBradley Wiggins wins Tour de FranceEurope win Ryder CupChris Moyles leaves Radio 1Whitney Houston diesJames Arthur – ImpossibleIsrael-Hamas ceasefireKeeping Up with the KardashiansLance Armstrong stripped of titlesGotye – Somebody That I Used To KnowStephen Lawrence killers jailedDark Knight Rises shootingSwedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry ChildShard is openedCatfishOlympic flameLondon 2012 opening ceremonyDavid Guetta & Sia – Titanium2012 Olympics highlightsNicki Minaj – StarshipsParalympicsAvengersJimmy Savile scandalSchofield vs CameronAdele – SkyfallPhilpott house fireRihanna – DiamondsPrince Harry nakedFifty Shades of Grey salesPsy – Gangnam StyleTrayvon Martin shootingSandy HookFun – We Are YoungSyria civil warMalala shotAndy Murray wins US OpenRobbie Williams – CandyDonald Trump’s Presidential ambitionsObama wins second PresidencyTaylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back TogetherDuchess of Cambridge is pregnant, Australian radio prank callGabrielle Aplin – Power of Love

    59 min
  5. 2011

    12/09/2016

    2011

    UK riots, a royal wedding, phone hacking scandal, Game of Thrones... Tracklisting: – Mrs Brown’s Boys – Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger – News of the World shuts down – Phone hacking scandal, Murdoch trial – Jessie J – Price Tag – Occupy Wall Street – Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar – Unemployment levels at record low – UK riots – Rizzle Kicks – Down with the Trumpets – Japan earthquake – Christina Perri – Jar of Hearts – Amy Winehouse dies – Steve Jobs dies – Nicki Minaj – Super Bass – Obama releases birth certificate, Donald Trump takes credit – Rebecca Black - Friday – Amanda Knox released – Olly Murs – Heart Skips a Beat – Tucson shooting, Gabrielle Giffords survives – Norway attacks – Lana Del Rey – Video Games – Vincent Tabak guilty of Joanna Yeates murder, Christopher Jeffries innocent – Adele – Someone Like You – David Cameron rejects EU referendum, Nigel Farage not happy – The Wanted – Glad You Came – Conrad Murray guilty of causing Michael Jackson’s death – One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful – Ryan Giggs super injunction – The Only Way is Essex/Made in Chelsea – Jimmy Savile dies – LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem – Rory McIlroy wins first golf major – Novak Djokovic dominates tennis, wins first Wimbledon – Man Utd 1 Man City 6 – Gary Speed dies – Ed Sheeran – The A Team – Prince William and Kate Middleton wedding – Final Harry Potter movie – Osama bin Laden killed – Professor Green & Emeli Sande – Read All About It – Kim Jong Il dies – Coldplay – Paradise – Burqa ban in France – Italy PM Silvio Berlusconi resigns – Rihanna & Calvin Harris – We Found Love – Richard Keys and Andy Gray sexism row – Game of Thrones – Egypt President Hosni Mubarak resigns – Colonel Gaddafi killed in Libya – Iraq War ends – Military Wives – Wherever You Are

    59 min
  6. 2010

    01/25/2016

    2010

    Chilean miners, Glee, coalition, Haiti disaster... Tracklisting: – David Tennant leaves Doctor Who – Usher – OMG – BP oil spill – Glee – Glee Cast – Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’ – Snow in Britain – Helping Haiti – Everybody Hurts – Haiti earthquake – Chile earthquake – China earthquake – Pakistan floods – Iceland volcano halts flights – Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed – Sherlock – Alexander McQueen dies – Adele – Rolling in the Deep – Gordon Brown’s bigot gaffe – Lady Gaga & Beyonce – Telephone – John Terry’s affair and captaincy axe – Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP – We No Speak Americano – Isner v Mahut at Wimbledon – AP McCoy wins Grand National and Sports Personality – Chelsea win the Double – Vuvuzelas – Rihanna – Only Girl in the World – England thrashed by Germany at the World Cup – Spain win World Cup – Qatar wins World Cup 2022 bid – Despicable Me – Wikileaks Afghanistan war logs – Eminem & Rihanna – Love the Way You Lie – General Election: TV debates, Tories win, Brown resigns, Tory/Lib Dems coalition – Plan B – She Said – Ed Miliband beats David in Labour leader election – Justin Bieber – Baby – Polish President Lech Kaczynski killed in plane crash – Old Spice advert – Owl City – Fireflies – 6 Music saved – Take That reunite with Robbie Williams – Take That – The Flood – Greece bailout – Downton Abbey – Steve Jobs launches Apple’s iPad – Tinie Tempah – Pass Out – US/Russia arms treaty – Chris Evans first Radio 2 breakfast show – Inception – Cumbria massacre – BoB & Hayley Williams – Airplanes – Raoul Moat manhunt – Facebook reaches half a billion users – The Social Network – Prince William and Kate Middleton engagement – Bruno Mars – Just the Way You Are – The Great British Bake Off – One Direction formed on X Factor – Matt Cardle – When We Collide – Tony Blair faces Chilcot inquiry – Cee Lo Green – Forget You – Chilean miners freed – Katy Perry – Firework

    59 min
  7. 2009

    07/27/2015

    2009

    Recession, Lady Gaga, Somali pirates, Fred the Shred, Michael Jackson's death... Tracklisting: – Jedward on X Factor – Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers – Christian Bale meltdown – Barack Obama inauguration – Lily Allen – The Fear – UK is in recession – La Roux – In for the Kill – Woolworths closes down – Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow – Somali pirates hijack US ship, Captain Phillips praised – Kesha – Tik Tok – Josef Fritzl sentenced – Susan Boyle audition on Britain’s Got Talent – Fred ‘the Shred’ Goodwin’s pension, RBS losses – MPs expenses scandal – Lady Gaga – Poker Face – Gurkhas granted UK settlements, Joanna Lumley celebrates – Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling – Manchester United win Premiership, lose Champions League final – Thierry Henry handball against Ireland – Jenson Button wins F1 – Roger Federer beats Andy Roddick in Wimbledon final – England win the Ashes – Sir Bobby Robson dies – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody – Swine flu outbreak – Go Compare, Compare the Meerkat ads – Jason Mraz – I’m Yours – Gaza ceasefire – Jay Z and Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind – Pilot lands plane in Hudson River – Red Dwarf returns – Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift, Obama calls him a ‘jackass’ – Taylor Swift – Love Story – Stephen Gately dies – Jade Goody dies – David Guetta and Kelly Rowland – When Love Takes Over – Tiger Woods affair scandal – Cheryl Cole – Fight for this Love – Rihanna beaten by Chris Brown – Alexandra Burke – Bad Boys – Amanda Knox sentenced for Meredith Kercher murder – Oasis split – BNP’s Nick Griffin on Question Time – Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) – Terry Wogan’s final breakfast show – Michael Buble – Haven’t Met You Yet – Harry Patch dies – Florence + the Machine – Dog Days Are Over – UK soldiers in Afghanistan – Avatar – Michael Jackson dies – Michael Jackson – This Is It – Rage Against the X Factor – Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name

    59 min
  8. 2008

    03/24/2015

    2008

    Credit crunch, Boris Johnson, Dark Knight, Usain Bolt, Barack Obama... Tracklisting: – Taken – Nickelback – Rockstar – Lehman Brothers bankrupt – Credit crunch – Sam Sparro – Black & Gold – Fidel Castro steps down – Slumdog Millionnaire – Israel strikes on Gaza Strip – The Script – The Man Who Can’t Be Moved – David Cameron declares end of New Labour – Boris Johnson elected Mayor of London – The Killers – Human – Shoes thrown at George W Bush – Beijing Olympics opening ceremony – Basshunter – Now You’re Gone – Michael Phelps breaks Olympic record – Usain Bolt wins two golds, breaks two world records – Rebecca Adlington & Christine Ohuruogu win gold – Chris Hoy wins Sport Personality of the Year – Guru Josh Project – Infinity 2008 – Portsmouth win FA Cup – Manchester United beat Chelsea in Champions League final – That Mitchell & Webb Look: Football! – Pink – So What – Nadal beats Federer in ‘greatest’ Wimbledon final – Lewis Hamilton wins F1 – Iron Man – Medvedev is Russian President – Zimbabwe election – Girls Aloud – The Promise – Islamabad hotel bombing – Kanye West – Love Lockdown – Sichuan earthquake – Grand Theft Auto IV – Breaking Bad – US Presidential Election: John McCain chooses Sarah Palin for VP, Barack Obama wins Democratic nomination – Estelle & Kanye West – American Boy – Mark Speight dies – Beyonce – If I Were a Boy – Phoenix Rover lands on Mars – Large Hadron Collider – Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire – Heath Ledger dies – The Dark Knight – Mumbai attacks – Leona Lewis – Run – Bill Gates retires – The Inbetweeners – Duffy – Mercy – Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross’ Sachsgate row – Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe – Katy Perry – I Kissed a Girl – Twilight – Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown – No Air – Twitter rise – Kid Rock – All Summer Long – John Sergeant leaves Strictly Come Dancing – Coldplay – Viva La Vida – OJ Simpson jailed – Flo Rida & T-Pain – Low – QE2 retired – Take That – Greatest Day – Barack Obama elected US President – Elbow – One Day Like This

    1 hr
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About

An unofficial continuation of BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the 21st Century. If you’ve found this podcast, then chances are, like me, you were a massive fan of BBC Radio 2’s Sounds of the 20th Century. Created by Trevor Dann’s Company, the original series ran from 2011 and 2012. Each episode was an hour of one particular year’s biggest moments (news, TV shows, films, sports etc), alongside that year’s memorable hit songs. It was similar to the Rock and Roll Years TV shows from the ’90s, which broadcasting legend Trevor Dann was also behind. What was particularly awesome about it, was that it didn’t feature any ‘talking heads’, analysis or hindsight. They were simply audio collages of each year, allowing you to work out what was being played, and to make connections to what happened in the following years. With the series ending after the year 2000, I was left bereft and wanted more. As someone who is obsessed with nostalgia, charts and pop culture, and because the 2000s were my formative years, I decided to give making an unofficial continuation a go myself. So this series is an ongoing project that will continue the original series from 2001 onwards, with attempts made to keep it in the original style as much as possible (including the theme tune, run-length etc). Each episode aims to be a 60-minute snapshot of the world (largely from British eyes!), as it was back then. Archive news clips have been taken from various sources (such as BBC News, Sky News, Channel 4, ITV, The Guardian, CNN and other news networks). However, as I only have access to what is available online, some clips, particularly from the early years of the internet, may sound a bit tinny in quality, as they were ripped from incredibly old files (such as old .ram files – remember them?), that no longer exist since I made the first few episodes back in 2012. NOTE: If you’ve previously downloaded the series – I have since made revisions to the episodes in 2022. Please re-download to get updated versions with improved intros and other new clips. The series is in no way endorsed by Trevor Dann or the BBC, but was meant as a bit of fun, as a homage to the brilliant series, and to give fans something new. Trevor himself has been kind enough to acknowledge the series, as long as I call it ‘Bootleg Sounds of the 21st Century’. In 2021, the original series returned as Sounds of the 21st Century. It was in a slightly different style, with Claudia Winkleman replacing original host Jeremy Vine. I greatly encourage everyone to listen to the original series if you can track it down. The 2021 series can be found here. Please do get in touch in the comments sections if you’d like to say hello or give feedback – or follow me on Twitter (@eamezey).

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