2000s Portuguese Pop Essentials

Dotted with sparse acoustic confessionals and string-powered collages, this playlist lays out a noughties pop panorama brimming with heartfelt poignancy. Artists from across the pop spectrum delivered songs generous in emotion, touching on themes of love, pain and colonial injustice to the tune of country-laced rock, reggae, rap and neo-soul. But the dawn of the century also gave the scene plenty of reasons to party: Whether it was the female-led pop of Just Girls or the brassy, dubby mixtures of Cool Hipnoise, dance-floor hits abounded, injecting the future with high energy and hope.