Aly & AJ, Michelle Branch, & Fefe Dobson Defined 2000s Pop Rock 🤘 MTV Golden Age

Whether you bought a skinny tie after seeing Avril Lavigne wear one in 2001 or you made a Tik Tok to “Potential Breakup Song” in 2021, you can’t deny the cultural impact of the early aughts female pop-rock movement. Three of the era’s biggest acts-Michelle Branch, Fefe Dobson, and Aly & AJ-reflect on the 2000s music scene, their own biggest hits, what the music industry still needs to work on, and why this golden age in music history is still impacting pop culture today.
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[@MTV]

Did I have Avril Lavigne's GIRLFRIEND'S lyrics written in hot pink, black, and impact font in my AIM profile?! I SURE DID!!!!!

[@GabrielPires_BR]

Under My Skin album! >>>>

[@Sipeo.]

Please do more videos like this! This is the MTV that I remember and love!

[@nehsangbong7259]

FeFe was so groundbreaking. As a black girl growing up I used to get weird looks from my white peers because other than pop, hip hop and R&B I also loved Rock music. From the 70s to the 2000s. But when I discovered FeFe I felt complete, like if a black girl can sing Rock, then of course I can listen to Rock.

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Hell yah!

[@nehsangbong7259]

@@fefedobsonofficial you're a legend 🙌🏽. Thank you for breaking barriers especially for black and brown girls that love rock. 💜 I still listen to your music.

[@Sipeo.]

Search Sipeo - I’m Dead! We are back!

[@Sipeo.]

@@fefedobsonofficial let’s collaborate!

[@davidaward3696]

Neh Sangbong i know exactly how you feel. I was sometimes ridiculed for listening to rock and country music on multiple occasions growing up, not just R&B/Soul, Gospel, Hip Hop, and Pop. But when Fefe came around, I stopped caring about what others think almost immediately.

[@tmal4689]

Fefe getting the recognition she deserves 🥺🥺

[@fefedobsonofficial]

MTV always got my back!

[@camilas.1739]

I didn't know her until now, she's great

[@sherstewart3146]

This warms my entire heart!

[@unorthodoxblackgirl8112]

I’m so happy fefe Dobson is in this. She definitely inspired me a lot being a woman of color in the pop/rock scene. It was refreshing and I don’t think a lot of people talk about her enough. That being said... I think she should’ve gone so much farther.

[@lifeafterlawschoolwithmari8627]

Same here! I loved Fefe!

[@sherstewart3146]

This! All of this!!!!

[@wildhopeXx]

Yess I love the Fefe appreciation! She deserves her flowers for being such a trailblazer and so ahead of her time during the early 2000s era. Will always be a fan of her💕

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Thank you!! ♥

[@whileyoucan]

We are forever in debt to Fefe Dobson for the road she's paved for others. She's the real deal and so caring of her fans. Everyone go stream her underrated second album "Sunday Love". We love you Fefe!

[@BruceLee3x]

Totally used This is My Life as my MySpace profile song.

[@rockerdude8289]

And she wrote songs for Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez.

[@sherstewart3146]

Yaasss! This!!!

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Thank you!! ♥

[@fefedobsonofficial]

@@BruceLee3x 😂

[@MozartHerbert]

Michelle Branch was in the soundtrack of every popular teen movie back in the early 2000s, miss those days ❤️ Aly and AJ second album still is my favorite of them ever, so mature for that time.

[@sarahjay9220]

I love your PFP 💖

[@harpsgalore6584]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHmmhqKDnNucrbc&lc=UgxMCAFvP8SRzMUWZlF4AaABAg.9NDmcgeQzdk9PDiIxbW-Qm I remember Michelle Branch was even parodied in a Disney Movie called Camp Rock. Yes Demi Lovato played Michelle Branch in the Michelle Branch Parody. At First I thought Michelle Branch had unreleased songs out there that was remixed and released for a different crowd.

[@SherlockHom3boy]

FeFe you always made sense to me! 💜

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Thank you ❤️

[@xSoReckles93]

I love Fefe. Being a black girl who loved rock music seeing FeFe felt refreshing and like I wasn’t the only one. Thank you for including her🤎

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Lots of love ♥

[@Perlesni]

This made me SO emotional. Can all these women tour together? Please? I would DIE.

[@HardFreckles]

Aly and Aj were SOOO underrated. I know every word to their first two albums and I’ve always been so blown away by the lyrics on them, they were so deep and complex and they wrote them when they were like 14-16

[@anahodge5134]

💯 I absolutely loved them. Still love them and their new music as well

[@tanishanichole]

Fefe Dobson change my life! She made me feel like it was okay to like the music I wanted regardless of genre.

[@sherstewart3146]

This!!! As a young black girl in Jamaica, Fefe made me feel so good and ok to like genres like pop rock and alternative. I still listen to her songs!

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥️

[@fefedobsonofficial]

@@sherstewart3146 Thank you ♥️

[@BruceLee3x]

I played Fefe's CD like crazy on the drive to work every morning and evening on the drive home.

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Take Me Awayyyy ♥

[@rockerdude8289]

@@fefedobsonofficial Take me far away from here. I will run with you

[@tomcarson985]

Love Michelle Branch & Fefe. Glad to see that Fefe is getting props here. Fefe should have been way bigger here in the US. The fact that Michelle Branch's former record label killed her career because they got pissed that she created the Wreckers.

[@wizardwilson3625]

These women defined a generation, it’s crazy to think that time has come and gone. I’m 36 years old, this music was a big part of growing up for me. I wished I would have slowed down back then. I was young and in such a hurry to grow up. I feel like it went so fast. It’s great to see these girls again, it brings back memories.

[@Chrismoore95146]

FeFe needs more recognition. Plz someone , give her recognition , we need people like FeFe right now .

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Thank you!! ♥

[@nehsangbong7259]

These women were the soundtracks of my childhood. I miss this era of music 🎶 😩. If you don't know how iconic these people were, you're too young. FR.

[@milena1liva]

Avril is a legend, cant wait for her new pop-punk album this year

[@Aliehsov]

I am delighted to hear Michelle and FeFe talk about representation, it’s so important

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Amen ♥

[@hailiesbong2734]

FeFe getting the props she deserves 😭we love to see it

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Thank you!! ♥

[@Asian6oy]

I WANT FEFE DOBSON TO COME BACK 😭

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Working on new music! Gone but never far...

[@ifyouseekme6694]

I love you

[@Asian6oy]

@@fefedobsonofficial OMG I CAN'T WAIT MY QUEEN 😍

[@beyondthestacks]

Michelle Branch is still one of the best! She also was super nice when I worked her few years ago. Truly a great human!

[@sirlestondupless2482]

Fefe Dobson 😭❤❤❤

[@fefedobsonofficial]

😢❤

[@sirlestondupless2482]

@@fefedobsonofficial Goodness 😲 It's really you! 🙈💕 You are an inspiration and your music has helped me through some very difficult times and is still always like therapy to me. Much love forever your fan from South Africa. 🙌🏾❤

[@mmurph]

Artists that play their own instruments , and write their own songs. No costumes, no gimmicks, real issues. Remember that?

[@kilaa3417]

There have always been "costumes and gimmicks " and all of what you mentioned lol

[@mmurph]

@@kilaa3417 it wasn’t at the forefront, and I was talking about it as it pertains to the artists in the video. I didn’t mean entirely. And I was talking about these particular artists and ones similar to them. 🙄

[@hailiesbong2734]

*sigh*

[@omnilove1]

I started to tear up! Because these women! Felt like HOME! They all made me feel comfortable and strong in who I am! Love them all! Id love to see them all in concert

[@taureangraves122]

Fefe u make my heart sing

[@fefedobsonofficial]

❤️ thank you!!

[@AngellBunny_]

@@fefedobsonofficial I loved you being a part of this. You opened people back up to being themselves and not being afriad!!❤️ thank you for being the best inspiration for many!💋

[@leonelakebi7830]

The early 2000s were THE BEST!!!!!

[@Sasfierce45.67]

yooo FeFe was everything to me as a little black girl

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Thank you!! ♥

[@Sasfierce45.67]

Ahhhh I’m shook ! She responded!

[@SauceGoddessCe]

I'm here for Fefe 💚💚💚

[@AngellBunny_]

Same🥰🥰

[@Chrismoore95146]

Me too 😊

[@fefedobsonofficial]

You're so sweet ♥

[@TheLexLeeJam]

FEFE 🥰🥰🥰

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥

[@rockerdude8289]

Thanks for posting this! Pop rock, pop punk and alternative rock have always been my favorite genres. I love all of these ladies: Avril Lavigne, Fefe Dobson, Aly & AJ, Michelle Branch, Skye Sweetnam, Krystal Meyers, Orianthi, Lesley Roy, Everlife and Lillix.

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥

[@rockerdude8289]

@@fefedobsonofficial You're amazing! I can't wait to hear your new music.

[@sherstewart3146]

Fefe ❤❤❤🤗

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥

[@amourtoujours779]

Fefe!!!!!!!!! ❤❤❤

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥

[@TheNoise]

MAKE POP ROCK POPULAR AGAIN PLEASE AND THANK YOU

[@ConcertgoerJ.R.]

I remember Michelle Branch during my childhood days and being a big fan of hers, plus I was also a huge Avril Lavigne too because of her huge hit Complicated! I also love Fefe Dobson’s hit Take Me Away when it came on the radio!

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥

[@shagsmith3410]

I always thought Avril was more corporate than she let on. Michelle Branch was more original.

[@wtannernorman8633]

I’m so happy Fefe is FINALLY getting some recognition outside of Canada

[@CapriceCole]

FEFE DOBSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Cause if you're ready to be My EveryTHING"

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Yesss ♥

[@aoryward]

Omigosh! Michelle Branch and Fefe Dobson! I haven’t listened to their stuff in so long! Where did this type of alt rock go?

[@GenF91]

What a great era that is missed. So fortunate to have grown up in it.

[@DESTANYkBOOTHES]

I’m so in love with these comments for FEFE DOBSON ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ and ALY AND AJ!!! Take the time to listen to aly and Aj division ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥

[@DESTANYkBOOTHES]

@@fefedobsonofficial well deserved Queen 👸🏽

[@evew4195]

Ahh this is such a time capsule for me, especially Fefe 😊

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥

[@marqwright6436]

Fefe and Michelle were my faves. Still are.

[@landonkane2570]

Michelle Branch will always be my #1. I have learned a lot from her

[@joeycalderon9996]

Mine too!! And me too!!

[@Crazy4jrj]

Yessss fefe Dobson you really helped me feel less alone growing up and seeing someone that looked like me playing the music that I loved. Hope to see and hear more of you in the future!!

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Thank you!! ♥ Working on new music at the moment

[@AngellBunny_]

FEFE DOBSON GANG WYA??😊❤️❤️

[@TonyLaJolla]

💯💚💫

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Writing my new album ♥

[@rockerdude8289]

@@fefedobsonofficial Please make it pop rock and pop punk.

[@shyannealexis1600]

I miss pop rock so much

[@allentrice1703]

If I love the 2000s besides the '90s, I could as afford about Aly and AJ! Thanks for need it! 👍💓💕💞👱👩🎵🎵🎵🎶🎶🎶

[@Hollandfox7]

Absolutely obsessed with everyone in this video, such an incredible time to be alive ❤️🥺

[@TonyLaJolla]

so so GLAD they acknowledged Fefe Dobson. She was groundbreaking. Oh and she’s talented AF. 💫 Please keep giving Fefe and the rest of these unproblematic, ageless artists their flowers. PS. POP ROCK WILL NEVVVVVERRRR DIE ☄️

[@fefedobsonofficial]

Thank you!! ♥

[@bunnyhoney314]

Fefe was the first time I'd heard a black girl singing rock music and I've loved her ever since

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥

[@landysmith1898]

I hope Fefe releases more music soon. 😩

[@fefedobsonofficial]

New music is on the way. Working on my new album 💿

[@landysmith1898]

@@fefedobsonofficial truly can’t wait! thank you for being the representation i needed to see on tv growing up of a badass black woman singing rock music. ❤️‍🔥

[@TaraBrooke]

Thank you so much for making this video. What a special era this was

[@vinrsn]

Avril and Michelle are everything to me

[@iAvrilFan1]

all these beautiful and talented icons, thank you for this video!!!

[@marcobenavides16]

I believe rock-pop is making a comeback. But some young stars are mixing it with "pop-punk" which sometimes can get confusing. Still it's great to see it back!

[@GabrielPires_BR]

Avril Lavigne foreverrrr! Love her last album "Head Above Water" :)

[@socalencounter]

All these women were way ahead of their time when they entered the music scene. Respect 🙌

[@Johnsrocknvinyl77]

This is the music I grew up with it has to come back it's so nostalgic for me and they still hold up.

[@nathanielfelker9493]

Fefe Dobson is epic! Her new album 'Emotion Sickness' is awesome!

[@iangrant9958]

I loved all of them growing up as a teenager. Aly and Aj, Michelle Branch and so many others spoke to me with their music. But what really did it for me was Fefe Dobson. Being a 12 year old black kid in 2003, you had to only like Hip Hop and R&B and nothing else. I remember seeing Fefe for the first time on MTV’s TRL. My sister knew I was into rock music and wanted to play rock guitar and she screamed for me to come into her room. And she was like check this girl out! And then I saw someone who not only was a strong presence to begin with, but a 18 year old girl who was black, who looked like me playing rock and roll (I learned we had the same background having mixed heritage and Jamaican roots, having connections to Canada, and being Pisces since our birthdays are a day apart lol). I was like in shock and loved her ever since. I remember saying “My God! This is what I wanted to see and she looks like me!” And even though I grew up loving other female artists, She was one of the artists who definitely helped me through my tween/teen phases. Her music was and still is so relatable and I felt the same things she felt. I knew every song she did and every word. She made me feel confident in listening to rock and being myself. She made it cool to be black and play rock. After all of that, I still listen to her music (old and new) as if I was 12 years old again dreaming of playing with her on the guitar one day. Thank you Fefe for everything that you’ve done and pushing boundaries for not only women, but for black people ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥ thank you for sharing this Ian.

[@iangrant9958]

@@fefedobsonofficial 😭😭 no thank you! I love you always! You’re one of my biggest inspirations!❤️

[@kevyxcx5829]

I was/am obsessed with LITERALLY ALL OF THEM AND THEIR MUSIC

[@star_fruitti]

Ahhh my nostalgia years ♥️

[@peternewturkey]

Really cool video! Nice job MTV!

[@brunongomess]

AVRIL yassss early 2000s pop rock musicians made me who i am! thank you!!!

[@HS-ny4mo]

Ooooooooh the chills that came down my spine.

[@thepplpleaser]

Thanks so much for the upload

[@blueditto]

i always remember everywhere by michelle branch from the lizzie mcguire episode where lizzie gets her first boyfriend and first kiss. 😊

[@gracelikerain5039]

Aly and Aj used to be my favorite

[@justinjun3896]

Love this

[@jackwp17]

I feel lucky to have been able to grow up in this era. To have popular artists that wrote their own music, that rocked and were authentic! It's something that you kind of stopped seeing for a bit, glad it starting to return.

[@sh3sonlin3]

QUEENS!

[@aadyamehra3188]

really a golden age!!!

[@chubidelrosario4417]

Love Michelle Vanessa Aly and aj

[@crosssylvia7679]

Aj always made a difference

[@Blueeyedsoul1986]

All of these Michelle aly and aj Avril I've listened to when I was a teen

[@jenniferjackson3684]

All these ladies were my jams....ohhh the memories 🙃🙂😊

[@Sipeo.]

This is MTV.

[@deltaxz]

So crazy and awesome to see Avril Lavigne has a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.

[@stephen_sezs]

My TRL teen heart just exploded

[@justanotherchannel3085]

These girls alongside Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan were THE pop rock girls, they aren't pop they aren't rock they are their own world, I'm proud to be from that generation!

[@davidaward3696]

Yes. So are Hayley Williams and Krystal Meyers. These two ladies are just pure class in my eyes.

[@justanotherchannel3085]

@@davidaward3696 mmm yes and no, cause they are more pop punk tbh

[@rockerdude8289]

@@davidaward3696 Was Krystal Meyers famous? And yes, Hayley and Krystal are more pop punk. I love them both and Skye Sweetnam as well.

[@davidaward3696]

@@rockerdude8289 Of course. She is a Christian rock singer, though not on the same level of fame as the other ladies.

[@rockerdude8289]

@@davidaward3696 I love her song "Fire", "Anticonformity" and "Rescue Me". If you like her, you might also like Jessie Daniels. Jessie's music is like a mix of Ashlee Simpson, Michelle Branch, Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne.

[@nigellawrence9580]

This is my dream

[@gracelikerain5039]

I remember them

[@michaelvaughn3703]

I still love you Michelle!!!! ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@spiceupyourlife7755]

Aly looks different now

[@Johnsrocknvinyl77]

She used to be blonde for so many years. If she died her hair back she'd look more like herself. She said she changed it for a movie role and never really went back to blonde.

[@elcanalderebeca]

Saludos gente bella 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@TheSomalist]

Does MTV even do music anymore? I live in the US and I would love to know if they broadcast music. Let me know, please. 🙏🏿

[@jmesabeats5800]

I LOVED Pop Rock at that time, but now I listen to Bedroom Pop. It's more chill, but it's still pretty good.

[@rockerdude8289]

Bedroom pop? Like Olivia Rodrigo's "drivers license"?

[@jmesabeats5800]

@@rockerdude8289 lol No, more like this playlist. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH3HoXh3mNd2apo

[@inkasaraswati7625]

It wasn't until recently that I realised what a golden age early 2000s was for female pop/pop rock artists was, glad other people feel the same! A lot of my fave artists were born in that era like KT Tunstall and Missy Higgins in addition to all of the women mentioned here. I never heard of Fefe, though, I don't think her music was ever brought here where I live, but I'll definitely check her out.

[@sailor707]

okay but skye sweetnam, anyone?

[@rockerdude8289]

I was scrolling down the comment section to see if someone mention Skye Sweetnam, now here you are! "Tangled Up In Me" is a bop!

[@rockerdude8289]

She has gone punk metal.

[@rafaelcollao8364]

I love Fefe

[@fefedobsonofficial]

♥

[@yaz6599]

One of my friends told me Ashlee Simpson should’ve been added in this video too. Do y’all agree?? 🤔🤔🤔

[@rockerdude8289]

Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson, Lillix, Skye Sweetnam, Lesley Roy, Orianthi, Everlife, Allison Iraheta...

[@valerieg8917]

Not FeFe Dobson making me grateful for Justin Timberlake! Ugh. I still love her and the song. All her music is great. Hope she releases more soon.

[@fefedobsonofficial]

😂❤

[@fabric.soundz]

❤️

[@MrNeilTV]

Gahhhh I loved this! Miss this genre of music. Not to sound like an old mom but our music sounded like music not all this weird edm auto tune crap lmao

[@easyrecipesanddeliciousfoo2954]

💖🌸💖🌸💖

[@sherstewart3146]

Whatever happened to Suchin Pak? She was the best interviewer on MTV back in the day!

[@mybiasjisoodekumyheart2742]

Sup💗

[@MeeEee-ge1zg]

Now it's just television

[@omariolaidley394]

Hey people

[@JulianLaro]

MUTHA Branch really was the leader in teen heartbreak anthems in the early 2000s

[@rockerdude8289]

Agree. She was like the Olivia Rodrigo of the early 2000s.