20 Landmark Songs Of The 2000s

By Ed Nash /

20. La Roux - In For The Kill

La Roux was a key player in the decade€™s movement of brilliantly sassy independent female artists. She looked to the 80s for inspiration and channelled its synth pop into a 00s context. With this song she articulated feminine independence with the brilliantly nasty chorus of €œI€™m going in for the kill, I€™m doing it for the thrill, I€™m hoping you understand, and don€™t let go of my hand.€ Over a soundtrack that sounded like an Ecstasy rush, it brilliantly utilised minimalistic synths, drum machines and a falsetto vocal that locked onto that killer chorus. The four note keyboard riff was reminiscent of Kraftwerk at their peak. Despite a haircut that was pure 80s Annie Lennox, this was a very Twenty First century take on girl power. Focused, independent and insouciant. Whilst contemporaries such as Goldfrapp made supremely accomplished records, they didn€™t possess the edge of €˜In for the kill€™. This sounded and looked as alien as David Bowie did in the film €˜The man who fell to earth€™. Yes, that androgynous, otherworldly and beguiling. La Roux certainly wrote other songs that were equally as powerful, €˜Bulletproof€™ being a case in point. But €˜In for the kill€™ was a brilliantly contemporary mix of selfishness and vulnerability. Delivering it in the most polished of fashions made it a perfect fit with the 00s ideal €“ be slick, be quick and be better than the competition.