Top 10 Nickelodeon Songs That Didn't Have to Go That Hard
Nickelodeon songs, Take a Hint, Boyfriend, Goofy Goober Rock, Follow Me, Beggin On Your Knees, I'm In Between, About You Now, Worldwide, Ripped Pants, If That's Not Love, Victoria Justice, Big Time Rush, SpongeBob SquarePants, Zoey 101, Miranda Cosgrove, Naked Brothers Band, Macy Gray, As Told By Ginger, Snoop Dogg, catchy songs, nostalgic music, cartoon music, teen shows, TV, Cartoon, Animated, Streaming, watchmojo, watch mojo, top 10, list, mojo,
Top 10 Nickelodeon Songs That Didn’t Have to Go That Hard
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Nickelodeon songs that were so good, we’d still listen to them today.
Although brothers Nat and Alex Wolff might be better known for their acting careers now, when they were very young they had their sights set on a joint music career with “The Naked Brothers Band”. Alex played the drums while older brother Nat was the frontman, and wrote all the band’s music. One of their most nostalgic songs has to be “If That’s Not Love”, which served as the show’s theme song. Its simple but sweet lyrics summarize the real heart of the “The Naked Brothers Band”: music, love, and friendship.
Few things are funnier to young kids than the unmistakable sound of the embarrassing mishap of ripping one’s pants. When Spongebob takes his jokes too far and Bikini Bottom turns on him, he sings this surprisingly good song to lament his situation. “Ripped Pants” is reminiscent of 1960s surf rock music, which perfectly fits the show’s retro nautical vibes. The voice of Spongebob, Tom Kenny, has said that this is one of his favorite episodes in the series, and we have to agree. Not only is it such classic “Spongebob” humor, it also features one of the most iconic songs in Nickelodeon history.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if The Monkees got a Backstreet Boys makeover? Well wonder no more, the answer lies in the hit Nickelodeon show “Big Time Rush,” which follows real-life boy band Big Time Rush in their fictional television misadventures. They may have been totally manufactured by Nick, but this boy band actually came out with some genuinely stellar music. One of their best songs was definitely “Worldwide,” which explores how difficult it is to be a famous pop star touring around the world when all you want to do is be home with the one you love. Big Time Rush even reunited virtually in 2020 to bring us an updated version of the song to lift our spirits during the pandemic. It’s cheesy but definitely catchy, and totally nostalgic.
Miranda Cosgrove made her musical debut singing the “iCarly” theme song “Leave It All to Me,” but her cover of The Sugababes’ “About You Now” is definitely the best thing to come out of her too-short-lived music career. This single was heavily promoted during the release of Cosgrove’s EP of the same name, and you might remember seeing this music video during commercial breaks on Nickelodeon. This energetic pop song totally holds up today, and deserves a spot on any hype music playlist. And yes, that is Diego Boneta from “Scream Queens” and “Rock of Ages” playing Cosgrove’s love interest in the music video.
This soulful track was performed by none other than Macy Gray, the Grammy-award winning singer of “I Try.” Her distinctive raspy voice gives it a unique style and very different feel from other cartoon themes, and the song’s lyrics reiterate a timeless lesson we’ve all heard before. For middle schooler Ginger Foutley, who strives to raise her social status in school, the grass looks way greener on the other side. It takes some growing up, however, to realize that’s not always true. There’s an extended version of the song that’s definitely worth a listen, because 45 seconds of Macy Gray’s iconic voice just isn’t enough.
We all know what it’s like to have someone in a group project try to take all the credit without doing any of the work. But Tori’s lazy partner Ryder, takes things to an alarming level. He exploits a full-on romantic relationship with Tori to try to improve his grades. Luckily, Tori finds out before it’s too late and busts out this legendary song as a solo number, much to the embarrassment of Ryder. This season-two song was one of “Victorious’s” earlier hits, and it more than holds up today. Beyond the song’s performance within the show, a separate music video was also released featuring the “Victorious” cast – and it’s just as legendary as the original.
What’s the easiest way to ensure your 2005 kids show will be a hit? Get Britney Spears to co-write the theme song and have her little sister star in it, obviously. We all were totally obsessed with Britney in the early 2000s, when the pop star was at the peak of her popularity and one of the biggest musical artists in the world. “Zoey 101” saw Britney’s younger sister Jamie Lynn taking her turn in the spotlight, but first, the show needed a theme song. Jamie Lynn was apparently nervous about recording vocals after she and Britney wrote the track together. Who better to derive encouragement from than the Princess of Pop herself? It’s really no surprise that “Follow Me” ended up being one of the most recognized themes from our childhoods.
It might sound far-fetched even for a cartoon that the power of rock and roll is enough to free the citizens of Bikini Bottom from Plankton’s mind control helmets. That’s before you lend an ear to the track. “Goofy Goober Rock” is a cover of Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock” with modified lyrics, and dare we say it’s even better than the original? It certainly has meme power going for it. Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider said of the experience “They paid me a lot of money…God bless ‘Spongebob Squarepants.’” Never before has an ice cream parlor sounded so cool, and never before has Spongebob rocked harder.
With over 25 million streams on Spotify, “Boyfriend” is by far Big Time Rush’s biggest hit, almost fifteen years after the song’s initial release. It’s pure 2010’s boy band magic, right down to the rap interlude by none other than Snoop Dogg. The music video is just as fun and well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it since it was playing during commercial breaks on Nickelodeon. Snoop for some reason has a time machine, and invites the boys of Big Time Rush into the future through his portal to perform at a super cool futuristic party. It’s got 2010 written all over it.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Given Tori and Jade’s often rocky friendship, “Victorious” fans knew not to expect many duets between the two singers. After hearing this song though, it makes us think maybe the real reason was that they were just too powerful as a duo. This number taps into a feeling many know all too well - that one guy who doesn’t realize you have absolutely no interest in the supposed game he’s spitting, and doesn’t seem to want to take no for an answer. It’s high energy and performed by two of the strongest voices in the “Victorious” cast. The lyrics are also surprisingly risque for a Nickelodeon show, which only facilitated its longevity. It’s the ultimate Nickelodeon song we still can’t get enough of today.
Whether they’re your guilty pleasure indulgences or unskippable faves, we want to know which Nickelodeon songs you’re still listening to this year. Let us know in the comments!
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Nickelodeon songs that were so good, we’d still listen to them today.
#10: “If That’s Not Love”
“The Naked Brothers Band” (2007-09)Although brothers Nat and Alex Wolff might be better known for their acting careers now, when they were very young they had their sights set on a joint music career with “The Naked Brothers Band”. Alex played the drums while older brother Nat was the frontman, and wrote all the band’s music. One of their most nostalgic songs has to be “If That’s Not Love”, which served as the show’s theme song. Its simple but sweet lyrics summarize the real heart of the “The Naked Brothers Band”: music, love, and friendship.
#9: “Ripped Pants”
“Spongebob Squarepants” (1999-)Few things are funnier to young kids than the unmistakable sound of the embarrassing mishap of ripping one’s pants. When Spongebob takes his jokes too far and Bikini Bottom turns on him, he sings this surprisingly good song to lament his situation. “Ripped Pants” is reminiscent of 1960s surf rock music, which perfectly fits the show’s retro nautical vibes. The voice of Spongebob, Tom Kenny, has said that this is one of his favorite episodes in the series, and we have to agree. Not only is it such classic “Spongebob” humor, it also features one of the most iconic songs in Nickelodeon history.
#8: “Worldwide”
“Big Time Rush” (2009-13)Have you ever wondered what it would be like if The Monkees got a Backstreet Boys makeover? Well wonder no more, the answer lies in the hit Nickelodeon show “Big Time Rush,” which follows real-life boy band Big Time Rush in their fictional television misadventures. They may have been totally manufactured by Nick, but this boy band actually came out with some genuinely stellar music. One of their best songs was definitely “Worldwide,” which explores how difficult it is to be a famous pop star touring around the world when all you want to do is be home with the one you love. Big Time Rush even reunited virtually in 2020 to bring us an updated version of the song to lift our spirits during the pandemic. It’s cheesy but definitely catchy, and totally nostalgic.
#7: “About You Now”
Miranda CosgroveMiranda Cosgrove made her musical debut singing the “iCarly” theme song “Leave It All to Me,” but her cover of The Sugababes’ “About You Now” is definitely the best thing to come out of her too-short-lived music career. This single was heavily promoted during the release of Cosgrove’s EP of the same name, and you might remember seeing this music video during commercial breaks on Nickelodeon. This energetic pop song totally holds up today, and deserves a spot on any hype music playlist. And yes, that is Diego Boneta from “Scream Queens” and “Rock of Ages” playing Cosgrove’s love interest in the music video.
#6: “I’m in Between”
“As Told by Ginger” (2000-06)This soulful track was performed by none other than Macy Gray, the Grammy-award winning singer of “I Try.” Her distinctive raspy voice gives it a unique style and very different feel from other cartoon themes, and the song’s lyrics reiterate a timeless lesson we’ve all heard before. For middle schooler Ginger Foutley, who strives to raise her social status in school, the grass looks way greener on the other side. It takes some growing up, however, to realize that’s not always true. There’s an extended version of the song that’s definitely worth a listen, because 45 seconds of Macy Gray’s iconic voice just isn’t enough.
#5: “Beggin’ on Your Knees”
“Victorious” (2010-13)We all know what it’s like to have someone in a group project try to take all the credit without doing any of the work. But Tori’s lazy partner Ryder, takes things to an alarming level. He exploits a full-on romantic relationship with Tori to try to improve his grades. Luckily, Tori finds out before it’s too late and busts out this legendary song as a solo number, much to the embarrassment of Ryder. This season-two song was one of “Victorious’s” earlier hits, and it more than holds up today. Beyond the song’s performance within the show, a separate music video was also released featuring the “Victorious” cast – and it’s just as legendary as the original.
#4: “Follow Me”
“Zoey 101” (2005-08)What’s the easiest way to ensure your 2005 kids show will be a hit? Get Britney Spears to co-write the theme song and have her little sister star in it, obviously. We all were totally obsessed with Britney in the early 2000s, when the pop star was at the peak of her popularity and one of the biggest musical artists in the world. “Zoey 101” saw Britney’s younger sister Jamie Lynn taking her turn in the spotlight, but first, the show needed a theme song. Jamie Lynn was apparently nervous about recording vocals after she and Britney wrote the track together. Who better to derive encouragement from than the Princess of Pop herself? It’s really no surprise that “Follow Me” ended up being one of the most recognized themes from our childhoods.
#3: “Goofy Goober Rock”
“The Spongebob Squarepants Movie” (2004)It might sound far-fetched even for a cartoon that the power of rock and roll is enough to free the citizens of Bikini Bottom from Plankton’s mind control helmets. That’s before you lend an ear to the track. “Goofy Goober Rock” is a cover of Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock” with modified lyrics, and dare we say it’s even better than the original? It certainly has meme power going for it. Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider said of the experience “They paid me a lot of money…God bless ‘Spongebob Squarepants.’” Never before has an ice cream parlor sounded so cool, and never before has Spongebob rocked harder.
#2: “Boyfriend”
“Big Time Rush” (2009-13)With over 25 million streams on Spotify, “Boyfriend” is by far Big Time Rush’s biggest hit, almost fifteen years after the song’s initial release. It’s pure 2010’s boy band magic, right down to the rap interlude by none other than Snoop Dogg. The music video is just as fun and well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it since it was playing during commercial breaks on Nickelodeon. Snoop for some reason has a time machine, and invites the boys of Big Time Rush into the future through his portal to perform at a super cool futuristic party. It’s got 2010 written all over it.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Danny Phantom (Theme Song)”,“Danny Phantom” (2004-07)
A Catchy Rap Recounting the Origin Story of Our Favorite Half-Ghost“All That (Theme Song)”, “All That” (1994-2005; 2019-20)
Total ‘90s Nostalgia Brought to You by TLC“Sweet Victory”, “Spongebob Squarepants” (1999-)
A Show-Stopping Performance Turned Fan Favorite Moment“I Found a Way”, “Drake and Josh” (2004-07)
The Song That Had Us All Majorly Crushing on Rock Star Drake Bell“Da Pixie Rap”, “The Fairly Oddparents” (2001-17)
Method Man & Redman Perform a Surprisingly Great Cartoon Villain Number#1: “Take a Hint”
“Victorious” (2010-13)Given Tori and Jade’s often rocky friendship, “Victorious” fans knew not to expect many duets between the two singers. After hearing this song though, it makes us think maybe the real reason was that they were just too powerful as a duo. This number taps into a feeling many know all too well - that one guy who doesn’t realize you have absolutely no interest in the supposed game he’s spitting, and doesn’t seem to want to take no for an answer. It’s high energy and performed by two of the strongest voices in the “Victorious” cast. The lyrics are also surprisingly risque for a Nickelodeon show, which only facilitated its longevity. It’s the ultimate Nickelodeon song we still can’t get enough of today.
Whether they’re your guilty pleasure indulgences or unskippable faves, we want to know which Nickelodeon songs you’re still listening to this year. Let us know in the comments!
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