We may have just entered 2024 but after a quick glimpse at the music charts you’d be forgiven for thinking it was 2004.
In recent weeks the top 40 has been flooded with a resurgence of Noughties hits after Gen Z have discovered songs long loved by Millennials.
Outrageous movie Saltburn gave an unlikely boost to Sophie Ellis-Bextor after her iconic track Murder on the Dancefloor was used in the full frontal final scene of the psychological thriller.
Simultaneously fellow Noughties pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield is making a fresh bid for number one after her 2004 hit Unwritten featured in Sydney Sweeney rom-com Anyone But You.
Now MailOnline takes a look at the other Noughties icons that have made a comeback and are taking advantage of their new audience with Gen Z.
As Gen Z spark a chart resurgence for Sophie Ellis-Bextor (left) and Natasha Bedingfield, we take a look at the Noughties icons who got a second chance at success
Just as his sister Natasha began storming the charts, Daniel Bedingfield also announced a long-awaited comeback, 23 years after the release of Gotta Get Thru This (pictured 2005)
New Zealand-born Daniel became a household name in the early-2000s and will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his chart-topping single with a new tour
Daniel Bedingfield
Just as his sister Natasha began storming the charts, Daniel Bedingfield also announced a long-awaited comeback, 23 years after the release of his chart-topping debut single Gotta Get Thru This.
New Zealand-born Daniel became a household name in the early-2000s after capitalising on the rise of UK garage by releasing a string of hit singles that included two number ones, and a bestselling debut album named after his first hit.
But fans of the enigmatic star have been starved of new material for the last twenty years, with Daniel, now 44, releasing the second of his two albums, titled Second First Impression, in 2004.
Announcing the news with Instagram followers on Tuesday, he wrote: ‘I’m so excited to announce a run of UK shows this April to celebrate over 20 years of ‘Gotta Get Thru This’… Register now for pre-sale access via the link in my bio!’
The singer and musician will perform tracks from the album – which includes the hits James Dean (I Wanna Know) and If You’re Not The One – in London, Birmingham and Manchester throughout April.
The mini-tour – comprised of three shows and featuring a yet to be disclosed special guest – will be Daniel’s first since 2005, undertaken little more than a year after a car accident almost cost him his life.
Daniel was left with series head and neck injuries following a collision in his native New Zealand while he was visiting his parents over Christmas.
N-Dubz
Hip-hop trio N-Dubz, made up of Dappy, 36, his cousin Tulisa, 35, and Fazer, 36, earned cult status as a band that united high school cliques in the Noughties (pictured in 2008)
They originally formed in 2000 and embarked on a successful career, earning a new legion of fans when they brought out comeback single Charmer in May 2022 (pictured 2023)
They earned cult status as a band that united high school cliques in the Noughties.
So former nerds, emos and chavs across the country rejoiced when N-Dubz announced they were reforming.
The English hip-hop trio, made up of Dappy, real name Costadinos Contostavlos, 36, – his cousin Tulisa, 35, and Fazer, real name Richard Rawson, 36, also managed to earn a new legion of fans when they brought out comeback single Charmer in May 2022.
They originally formed in 2000 and embarked on a successful career, with their two albums Uncle B and Against All Odds certified platinum in the UK.
In 2009 they hit No.1 on the UK Singles Chart with ‘Number One’, a collaboration with Tinchy Stryder.
Before going on to win four MOBO awards; Best Newcomer in 2007, Best Album and Best Act in 2009 and Best Song in 2010 for their single Playing with Fire.
They also won a O2 Silver Clef Award in 2009 and were nominated for Best British Single at the BRITs in 2010.
Sugababes
Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy originally formed the pop group in 1998, but went through numerous line-up changes over the years (pictured in 2001)
Fans were sent into a frenzy when the Sugababes announced they were reforming with their original lineup after a 21-year hiatus (pictured in 2023)
Fans were sent into a frenzy when the Sugababes announced they were reforming with their original lineup after a 21-year hiatus.
Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy originally formed the pop group in 1998, but went through numerous line-up changes over the years with all three original members eventually being replaced.
Siobhan left in 2001 and was replaced by Heidi Range, Mutya left in 2005 and was replaced by Amelle Berrabah and Keisha was replaced by Jade Ewan when she departed in 2009.
The replacement members stopped making music in 2011.
In 2022 the group announced their reunion with Mutya, Keisha and Siobhán making an epic comeback at Glastonbury’s Avalon stage, blowing fans away as they performed classic such as Round Round.
The performance was such a hit that festival security were forced to close off the field due to massive crowds gathering to watch.
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh, Sarah Harding and Cheryl took an initial break in 2009 before they split for good in 2013 (pictured in 20025)
Cheryl, Nadine, Nicola and Kimberley launched a tour marking 21 years since they and the late Sarah Harding won Popstars: The Rivals
As the United Kingdom’s biggest selling girl group of the 21st century, Girls Aloud singles were probably already familiar with Gen Z.
Yet many will now get a chance to see them performing live after they announced their reunion for a greatest hits tour.
Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh are planning to hit the road in May and June 2024 in recognition of this month marking 21 years since they and the late Sarah Harding won Popstars: The Rivals.
The group have not recorded new music but just want to celebrate their back catalogue.
Cheryl revealed they had been discussing the plans for some time but put the idea on ice when Sarah – who died in September 2021 – was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She said in a statement: ‘Now I think there is an energy that does makes it feel right. It’s the right time to celebrate Sarah, it’s the right time to celebrate the band and the right time to celebrate the fact we can still do this 21 years later. That’s a big honour in lots of ways.’
Aqua
Aqu’s signature tune Barbie Girl was a No. 1 hit in 14 countries (pictured: Lene Nystrøm, René Dif, the spikey-haired keyboardist Søren Rasted and guitarist Claus Norree in 1997)
Lene , René and Søren enjoyed a comeback last year with the box office success of the Barbie movie and their collaboration on the remixed tune (pictured in February)
With Barbie officially the biggest movie of 2023 it was unsurprising that Aqua’s 1997 hit Barbie Girl enjoyed a sudden resurgence.
The signature tune was a No. 1 hit in 14 countries when it was released and proved to be just as catchy when it reemerged.
The Danish group, formed of vocalists René Dif and Lene Nystrøm, keyboardist Søren Rasted, and guitarist Claus Norreen, also collaborated with Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice for a remixed version of their hit on the movie’s soundtrack.
The song debuted at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Aqua’s second single to enter the Top 10.
The band, formed in 1989, also capitalised on their return to the spotlight as they headed on a world tour.
Busted
Busted’s Matt Willis, Charlie Simpson and James Bourne reunited for a 20th anniversary tour with 14 dates across the country last year (pictured in 2002)
The pop trio, who formed in 2000, had four UK number one singles and won two BRIT awards before they split in 2005 (pictured in 2023)
Last year Busted announced they were reuniting with a 15-show tour and a new album.
The Year 3000 band, comprising Charlie Simpson, James Bourne and Matt Willis came back together in order to honour their 20th anniversary.
The pop trio, who formed in 2000, had four UK number one singles and won two BRIT awards before they split in 2005.
After splitting, the members went on to pursue their own unique career paths.
Charlie founded metal band Fightstar and has also enjoyed moderate success as a solo artist.
Matt went on to pursue a career in TV after winning I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2006 and subsequently married wife Emma in 2008, before helping to found McBusted in 2013.
Meanwhile, James went on to form the ill-fated pop-punk band Son Of Dork and later went on to pen three musicals.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Sophie was beaten to the top spot by Daniel Bedingfield’s Gotta Get Thru This when Murder on the Dancefloor was originally released in 2001 (pictured in the music video)
Outrageous movie Saltburn gave an unlikely boost to Sophie after her iconic track was used in the full frontal final scene of the psychological thriller (pictured: Barry Keoghan)
Sophie was beaten to the top spot by Daniel Bedingfield’s Gotta Get Thru This when Murder on the Dancefloor was originally released in 2001.
But more than two decades later the song has surged up the Spotify charts and mirrored its original success thanks to Gen Z discovering the singer.
Following her recent chart success, it emerged last week that Sophie clinched a big-money deal with her old record label.
The hit has also handed the singer success in the lucrative American market for the first time – something that friends of the star say has ‘taken her aback’.
During the pandemic, Sophie – daughter of former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis – became a sensation after dancing in her kitchen and putting clips on social media.
It led to her making an album called Songs From The Kitchen Disco and also won her a deal with the BBC, which airs a playlist of hers each week on its Sounds app.
Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha’s song Unwritten, which was released in 2004 and experienced chart success on both sides of the Atlantic, has grabbed the attention of music fans again
The Anyone But You soundtrack song has been trending on TikTok as people use it in their videos (pictured: Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powel )
Natasha’s song Unwritten, which was released in 2004 and experienced chart success on both sides of the Atlantic, has grabbed the attention of music fans again.
The Anyone But You soundtrack song has been trending on TikTok as people use it in their videos, bringing it back to the attention of the masses and giving the star her first UK hit since her 2007 song Love Like This, on which she collaborated with Sean Kingston, and which reached number 20.
The musician said of her music making a comeback on social media: ‘I’ve had songs in movies before but this time I really love the way it’s been used in such a special way that it makes you feel joyful.’
She added: ‘People are actually singing it as they leave the theatre! Over the years Unwritten has somehow become an anthem to sing at the top of your lungs. This makes me the happiest girl in the world.’
Reality television fans will also know Natasha’s song Unwritten when it was used as the theme tune for MTV show The Hills from 2006 until 2010.