Is our 2000s pop-punk and emo cover playlist anchored heavily, if not solely, by Goldfinger’s “99 Red Balloons”? Yes. Should “Boys of Summer” by The Ataris have made this list? Also yes.

When we first decided to do a mixtape episode about our favorite 2000s pop-punk and emo covers, it was because we weren’t sure if New Found Glory’s “Kiss Me” warranted a full episode. After recording, we realized not only hadn't we picked “Boys of Summer” by The Ataris (much to the dismay of our Twitter followers), we had managed to ignore “Kiss Me” entirely as well.

2000’s Cover Draft on Apple Music | 2000’s Cover Draft on Spotify

Be that as it may, we think we did OK, and believe strongly that the following tunes belong on any such playlist (of course we always welcome your feedback, on here or on Twitter @_ReminiscentFM):

Reminiscent · Playlist · 16 songs · 5 likes

7) Wonderwall, Cartel

Damn the bubble. Cartel deserved better, and their AOL session was magic, if only because of the solo in that Wonderwall cover.

6) Such Great Heights, Streetlight Manifesto

Crazy horn work. Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up. Big fans of Give Up here at the show.

5) We Will Become Silhouettes, The Shins

This was very close to becoming a full Postal Service cover list. The Shins manage to make it their own, almost an entirely different (if not superior) tune.

4) Everywhere, Yellowcard

This song rips as is, but Yellowcard does it justice. Fun, fast… and furious? Mostly fun.

3) 99 Red Balloons, Goldfinger

The first cover song our high school garage band learned. In turn, it was the only song we played for about a full calendar year.

2) Beat It, Fall Out Boy feat. John Mayer

Finishing off the list with two MJ tunes. Mayer slaughters this feature, and Stump does a fine job on vocals. Again, most of these songs are already really fantastic, but it’s a fun take. (I know I already conveyed this thought, but Mayer really does go to town on this track, perhaps only to prove that he can? It’s truly nasty.)

1) Smooth Criminal, Alien Ant Farm

This Alien Ant Farm video is possibly the best ever and that’s not even me trying to be hyperbolic I just really, really fucking like everything about it.

Thanks for being here, everybody.

Check out our “Best 2000s Cover Songs” episode below:

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Must-haves for your 2000s pop-punk, emo cover songs playlist