Middle school — it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Mostly the worst, if we're being honest. But even though things could have been better back then, there is one thing that needs no improvement: your middle school dance playlist. They're the songs you laughed to, cried to and listened to while wearing Hollister from head to toe.
So sit back, relax and reminisce about the songs whose lyrics you may have had written in your AIM profile.
1. "Low" by Flo Rida
This song got everyone unbelievably pumped. No one gets middle school blood flowing quite like Flo Rida. Also, because 13-year-old you was beyond clever, you probably remixed it to say, "Abercrombie jeans, Uggs with the fur." The whole gym was indeed looking at you.
2. "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" by Soulja Boy
We all did the dance. We all looked stupid. It's just something we have to live with and try to get past now.
3. "Sandstorm" by Darude
Cult-like circles formed. Tribal-like rain-dancing commenced. For the entire song. When the beat dropped, you were never the same.
4. "Lips of An Angel" by Hinder
It was the first slow song of the night without fail. Also, it was the best slow song of the night since no one had been rejected or started crying yet.
5. "The Cha Cha Slide" by Mr. C The Slide Man
Perfect because it told you exactly what to do and when. There was zero room for embarrassment. Except when Mr. C urgently commanded you to "reverse." What does that mean, Mr. C? We had such a good thing going.
6. "Cyclone" by Baby Bash ft. T-Pain
If you didn't lose your mind when this song came on, we can't be friends. I don't know what happened to Baby Bash, but I do know that he made me believe in magic back in the day. Pure, dirty-worded magic.
7. "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey
Somehow everyone knew every word to a song that was released before they were even conceived.
8. "Walk Away (Remember Me)" by Paula DeAnda ft. The DEY
This song gave many anxious middle schoolers an existential crisis: Is it a slow song? Is it a fast song? Should I go find Jason now, or should I wait for a definite slow song? I'm getting stressed just thinking about it.
9. "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" by Aerosmith
A heart-wrenchingly emotional ballad, it was the perfect background song for the start of a two-week relationship. Either you or one of your friends was probably in the bathroom crying at this point.
10. "Don't Trust Me" by 3OH!3
No one was exactly sure how to do the Helen Keller and talk with their hips, but they were damn well going to try.
11. "Smack That" by Akon ft. Eminem
Everyone sang along passionately to vulgar lyrics they barely understood. Someone was inevitably kicked out for grinding at some point in the duration of this song.
12. "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin
The unofficial closing song to every middle school dance. Hopefully you were dancing with someone tolerable because this song is legitimately 10-minutes long. Also, hopefully you ducked and covered before the lights came on and everyone saw that your blue eye shadow was running.
