Were you born between 1981 and 1996? Do you find yourself reminiscing over things like Saturday morning cartoons and having recess on a playground that was probably just a little bit too unsafe? Do people younger than you call you cringe for rocking your skinny jeans and side-parted hair in 2024? (You look great by the way!) Well, you might be a millennial. So, just for you, for me, and for everyone else like us, I've compiled this list of 10 unforgettable millennial anthems. So, grab your favorite iced coffee, and let's dive into this nostalgia trip!
10. 1985 - Bowling For Soup (2004)
Starting off strong with Bowling For Soup's 2004 hit, "1985". This one was the first truly millennial anthem that came to mind when I came up with the topic for this week's article. It's a classic hit that pokes fun at someone once young in 1985. It references pop culture from the 80s, including a myriad of pop and rock artists from the iconic decade. So, what makes this about millennials? Well, it came out when most of us were pretty young and it was an absolute radio HIT. It was played everywhere back in 2004 and was completely unavoidable. What makes it hit so hard now though is the timeline. 1985 and 2004 were 19 years apart. 2004 and 2024 are 20 years apart. If Bowling For Soup made this song today, it would be about 2005, and that's just crazy to me. Time flies.
9. Closer - The Chainsmokers (2016)
"Closer" by The Chainsmokers is the newest song on this list, but trust me, it qualifies. When this song came out in 2016, many of us younger millennials were freshly squeezed out of high school or navigating our early 20s. "Closer" references things like cars we have but can't afford and Blink-182 songs that we couldn't put down. (I'm pretty sure Halsey's talking about "I Miss You".) It even references stealing a mattress from a roommate. If this doesn't capture the essence of being a young scatter-brained adult just doing your best, I don't know what does. The song crams so much meaning into simplicity that it's almost embarrassing how telling this track really is. Definitely give it a listen.
8. TikTok - Kesha (2009)
"TikTok" by Kesha (no, not THAT TikTok!) is a song that embodies the go big or go home attitude of the late 2000s effortlessly. In a time where every single song was about partying, this one went the hardest. It's got that exaggerated valley girl spirit that Kesha would become known for in the early years of her career. Not to mention this song is pretty much the catchiest thing to come out of 2009. This was a real banger to hear on the car radio. If you're anything like me, you still don't know what it means to wake up feeling like P Diddy or why Kesha wanted men who looked like Mick Jagger, but you don't care. The beat outweighs the lyrics here, but it doesn't stop you from singing them as loud as possible anyway.
7. It's Gonna Be Me - *NSYNC (2000)
"It's Gonna Be Me" is a song that started a universal meme amongst those of us who were there. You have to be just the right age to see a picture of ramen noodles in April and know why it's funny. It's true. I don't make the rules here. Beyond that though, *NSYNC were absolute icons in the late 90s and early 2000s, contending with The Backstreet Boys to see who could be the biggest boy band ever. You might even remember losing a friendship over this band. Both groups were just that big at the time. You felt like the coolest kid in school if you brought your portable CD player with this album in it.
6. No Scrubs - TLC (1999)
TLC's "No Scrubs" is a song that awakened independence in so many of us growing up. It is truly the epitome of Y2K girl power goodness that we all ate up as kids. TLC made waves back in the 90s, but this was by far their biggest hit. It was just empowering, and it still is! I think for those of us who have been put through the wringer when it comes to relationships, "No Scrubs" was the original female empowerment tune that gave us the courage to stay away from the worst kind of guys. Plus, it's really fun to sing! The meaning is timeless and the beat is amazing. What more could you ask for?
5. Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne (2002)
Our favorite pop-punk icon, Avril Lavigne hit us millennials straight in the feels with her album, "Let Go" in 2002. It included unforgettable hits such as "Complicated" and "I'm With You", but the one that stood out the most to me was "Sk8er Boi". With some of the best storytelling an A-list artist has ever produced, Sk8er Boi was something that really solidified Avril's mark on pop music at the time. It was a spiteful tale about a girl who thought she was too good for the local punk rocker. When he ends up famous, Avril reveals she's with the skater boy now. This seems pretty simple now, but in the early 2000s it was absolutely groundbreaking. If you were around when this song was big, there is no way you don't feel a little bit of nostalgia when you hear it.
4. A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton (2001)
Okay, when I say millennial anthem, it's hard to pick a favorite, but this one is TRULY unforgettable. Everyone knows "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton. Even if you have never sought this song out, even if you don't want to know it, you know it. Much like "1985", this song was everywhere. It's a wholesome love song that really captured our hearts when we were young. Now, it's often memed for being so mainstream, but honestly, that's just proof of it's undeniable influence. Some folks like to say it's a song for "white girls" but I guarantee you, they're secretly singing it at karaoke on Thursdays down at the Irish pub. You can't hate it. Vanessa Carlton is an amazing musician and the staying power of "A Thousand Miles" proves it.
3. Toxic - Britney Spears (2003)
It was pretty tough to choose from Britney's insanely large and influential discography, but ultimately, "Toxic" gets the slot. released in 2003 with an infectiously catchy beat, the overall style of the track makes it unique and unforgettable. That's not to insult the rest of Britney's music, because there were plenty of other iconic jams in there, but how do I explain that this one just hits differently? It could be the squelchy robotic synths mixed with violins. Maybe it's the unforgettable outfit Britney wore in the music video. You know the one, and even if you don't the video is right below this paragraph. Either way, "Toxic" is a song that no one is embarrassed to love. It has no demographic. It's just that good.
2. Our Song - Taylor Swift (2006)
If you somehow weren't around for Taylor Swift's debut, let me tell you, it was a magical time. This is where the magic of the Eras tour shows was born. Taylor didn't start out playing sold-out stadiums. She was a small country artist who found her footing playing small towns (like mine!). "Our Song" gave us that taste of wispy teenage romance that we all fantasized about in middle school. I would venture to say that this song, alongside "Teardrops on my Guitar" were the tracks that made Taylor a household name for so many of us. It's incredible to see how far she's come as an artist and going back to the debut album always brings waves of nostalgia. Maybe someday Taylor will bring the debut songs back to the stage!
1. Low - Flo Rida feat. T-Pain (2007)
Okay, here we go. "Low" by Flo Rida is undoubtedly the most unforgettable millennial anthem. This was a song that had to be played at every single school dance between 2007 and at least 2014, which is so funny when you think about how music has changed over the years. This track was pretty explicit. I can't even be sure this type of thing would fly at a school dance in 2024. Do they still play this? Did any of us actually own Apple Bottom jeans in school? I had never even heard of them until this song. I'm from a small town in the middle of nowhere and didn't relate to these lyrics in the slightest. That didn't stop us, though. If this song came on, everyone was on their feet. The trend was just too powerful. The beat was too powerful. Something going on here was TOO powerful, and I guarantee if you hear this song today, something dormant in you can't keep you from dancing. That's just how it is.
So, what did you think of our top 10 unforgettable millennial anthems? Is it what you expected? Do you remember these? There are so many more great songs from the era that it was incredibly hard to narrow them down to just 10. Regardless, thanks so much for making it to the end! Tell us your thoughts at one of our socials below.
Written By Shelbi Baker
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.
Comments