Top 10 Songs That Will Make You Feel Old
#10: “I Kissed a Girl” (2008)
Katy Perry
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This was the single that started it all for Katy Perry, who caused considerable controversy for singing these four words. It wasn’t that long ago that this kind of statement was condemned by news sources and some of the general public. Of course, this all happened years prior to her days judging on “American Idol" or singing "Teenage Dream." Several social and cultural changes have occurred since the song’s release that honestly make it seem like long-lost history. And, it was an undeniably catchy song that started off a string of hits for the artist. Perry’s lyrics were ahead of their time in celebrating the LGBT community and advocating for kissing whoever it is you want to kiss.
#9: “Say My Name” (1999)
Destiny’s Child
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"Say My Name" was an important single for the earth-shattering R&B group Destiny's Child. The enjoyable track was released as the third single off of their album "The Writing's on the Wall." With a fierce statement about confronting a cheating partner, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won two Grammys. Listeners from the late 1990s will remember that this hit was a game-changing success for the R&B genre. 1999 feels like ages ago, especially with songs like "Say My Name" prepping the world for Beyoncé's solo career. It's pretty crazy to think of everything that the artist achieved since the release of this hit.
#8: “You Get What You Give” (1998)
New Radicals
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Singer/songwriter Gregg Alexander masterminded the New Radicals and created their one and only studio album in 1998. They were primarily known for the throwback jam and hit single "You Get What You Give." The track incorporates a number of pop culture references, and Alexander wrote it about being young and hoping for a better future. If the name-dropping lyrics didn't take you back to a different time, the music video certainly will. It stands as an encapsulation of the late 90s with shopping malls and bucket hats galore.
#7: “All the Small Things” (2000)
Blink-182
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“All the Small Things” represented the popularity of pop punk in the early 2000s. Blink-182 was the band that carried the flag for the genre into the new century, and “All the Small Things” was among the catchiest radio hits of its era. The hilarious music video took aim at the boy band craze of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. Just hearing the chorus takes you back to the decade of black hair dye and baggy clothes. Regardless of how old you were when the song first came out, it's impossible not to feel young again listening to Tom DeLonge belt the chorus.
#6: “Smooth” (1999)
Santana feat. Rob Thomas
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With “Smooth,” Santana proved they were a multi-genre music icon. Some people may have never known about the band’s appearance at Woodstock, but they definitely knew this hit. It was also one of the most successful singles in history. The inclusion of Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas put the final stamp on its status as an almost-millennium touchstone. Their unlikely team up was the chaotic experiment that only the late 1990s and early 2000s could have produced. Its number one status helped the song reach crossover audiences for years after the release. Santana’s rip-roaring guitar provided the sound for both boomers and millennials alike! “Smooth” might make us feel old, but it still rocks.
#5: “Dilemma” (2002)
Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland
“Dilemma” calls back to the bygone era of heartfelt R&B ballads. Add to that the combination of artists like Nelly and Kelly Rowland and you got this 2000s classic. At the time, rapper Nelly was rising fast, and singer Rowland was exploring her post-Destiny's Child career. There’s something special about going back and listening to two stars at their peak. The hip-hop artist and his band-aid personified the next wave of rappers and R&B artists mixing with more pop sensibilities. “Dilemma” collected the best influences of the period and mashed them into a romantic time warp.
#4: “Wannabe” (1996)
Spice Girls
The female group Spice Girls and their debut single “Wannabe” re-energized the pop scene. This smash-hit single just makes the memories comes flooding back. 90s kids never forget the first time the girl power anthem shook the world. Their original fanbase had kids of their own to introduce to this memorable musical statement to. During its prime, the song soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 as one of the biggest breakthroughs of the decade. The five women have since reunited through the years to remind everyone of their magical quality. Over twenty years later, this anthem still brings back all the joy of its first release.
#3: “A Thousand Miles” (2002)
Vanessa Carlton
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Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" is one of the most 2000s-sounding songs ever. It harkens back to a time of renowned singer/songwriters like Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne. The track’s beautiful piano intro immediately transports listeners back to the first decade of the 21st century. Carlton did attempt to best this hit, but it’s always remained her most defining piece. “A Thousand Miles” was further immortalized by Terry Crews in “White Chicks.” Even then, the single was several years old and had been considered something of a modern classic. This open-hearted single gets the nostalgia flowing no matter how many times you listen to it.
#2: “You Belong with Me” (2009)
Taylor Swift
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Believe it or not, Taylor Swift’s “You Belong with Me” was only from her second album, “Fearless”, which won two Grammys. It reached number one on the Billboard 200 charts and marked a major turning point for Swift’s career from country to pop music. Amazingly, "You Belong with Me" hasn’t lost an once of its power, even after all these years. It’s hard to imagine that it’s been over a decade since the track took the singer’s career to another level. We still blast this in our rooms late at night, wishing we had a cute neighbor to write notes to.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Bad Day” (2005), Daniel Powter
Powter’s Catchy & Ubiquitous Hit Is the Ultimate 2005 Pop Statement
“Who Let the Dogs Out” (2000), Baha Men
There Isn’t a More Iconic Musical Question to Send Us Back to the Early 2000s
“Let Me Love You” (2004), Mario
Mario’s R&B Love Song Still Tugs at the Heartstrings for 2000s Kids Young & Old
“1985” (2004), Bowling for Soup
This Nostalgia Fest Will Make You Feel Even Older After Realizing Even Its References Have Aged
“Girlfriend” (2007), Avril Lavigne
Lavigne’s Hold On 2000s Pop Punk Reaches Its Peak with This Huge Hit
#1: “Baby” (2010)
Justin Bieber feat. Ludacris
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Justin Bieber emerged from YouTube stardom to deliver this chart topper with Ludacris. The pop singer became an overnight phenomenon as a result. Young girls screamed and their parents plugged their ears. Of course, it was much more complicated than that. “Baby” was the ultimate love it or hate it track for the 2010s. Bieber's status as a teen idol began here, in this commendable pop production. Regardless, the superstar only flew higher by the end of his first decade in the music industry. He also released the single when he was only fifteen years old. If that doesn’t make you feel old, we don’t know what will.
