Music is a beautiful thing. One of the only things in the world that can bring even the most diverse groups of people together as one. It’s amazing how even a single beat to that summer jam from your freshman year of high school can bring out so many emotions and memories. From those crazy drives all around town doing who knows what and partying a little harder than we should have, music was there, in the center of our experience and shaking our hearts with some killer bass. Spanning over every genre are musical legends, one hit wonders and those songs that everyone tries to dismiss as ever existing. To some, it’s their “shower jams” and to others their “cruise tunes”, but we all have those songs that we absolutely belt out at the top of our lungs when no one else is around, and do so without any regret. Although we may refuse to admit our guilty pleasures, we all know that life just wouldn’t be the same without these hidden jewels of music.
"A Thousand Miles" - Vanessa Carlton
The original and absolute title winner of pop ballad’s. The chorus alone is guaranteed to bring emotions out of even the most stoic of men. Don’t even lie, you know every single word and you’ve probably sung “Making my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass and I’m homebound” like it’s the theme song to your life while strolling the hallways in school.
"Beautiful Soul" - Jesse McCartney
If you’re a girl, you more than likely grew up believing this song was written about you from the number one heartthrob, J-Man Boys, this no doubt set the standards high, but you loved it. Don’t even deny it.
"Holla Back Girl" - Gwen Stefani
Cheers to the song that will forever play in our heads when we read or hear the word “bananas”. It’s not just “bananas” it’s “BA-NA-NA-S”. Doesn’t matter if you’re 14 or 65, you will always rely on this dynamic beat to get you through your basic fruit spelling needs.
"143" - Bobby Brackins
This song changed the game. Suddenly ending your texts with “xoxo” or “ily” was just not acceptable anymore. “143” completely took over social media. I think it’s safe to say that a majority of the people that sang the numerical sequence “143” didn’t even know what that meant or what it stood for, but we loved it anyways.
"Genie in a Bottle" - Christina Aguilera
The implications of this song when we all realized what dirty message was being conveyed was ground shaking. You definitely envisioned yourself as some exotic, sexy genie who could seduce anyone or anything in your path, no matter how much of a potato you looked like while attempting to dance and lip sync in front of the mirror.
"Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson
The number one empowering, “rip your heart out” song that all of us, no matter what age, thought was written about some person in our life. Whether you’re coming to grips with being broken up with or celebrating your mom finally getting off your case about cleaning your room, you finally could “breathe for the first time”.
"Milkshake" - Kelis
Teaching all girls world-wide that they have the ultimate key in life. Their milkshakes CAN in fact bring all the boys to the yard. Enough said.
"Buttons" - The Pussycat Dolls
What it do baby boo? A collaboration that includes one of music’s most provocative girl groups and the godfather of rap, Snoop D-O-double G, was a song destined for greatness. This song was one for the ages, inspiring it’s listeners to dance like a bunch of intoxicated strippers.
"Every Time We Touch" - Cascada
Is it a love song or is it an EDM jam? No one will ever know. But what we DO know is that this song will always get the party started, the people singing, and the adults staring.
"Say My Name" - Destiny’s Child
Hands down the hottest girl group to ever do it. Destiny’s Child’s Say My Name was and always will be the go to song to turn on when you just want to feel like a straight up boss with your squad.
"Baby Got Back" - Sir Mix-a-Lot
The song that forever ruined your life if your name is “Becky”. Are you even human if you don’t know the beginning dialogue in this song? Whether you’ve got a first class apple bottom or your salt shaker just don’t shake, you like big butts, and you can not lie.
"Obsessed" - Mariah Carey
Can you even have a song list regarding music’s greatest without giving Mariah a shout out? This tune has been blessing us with it’s notorious and rhythmic “oh’s” since 2009 and won’t die anytime soon. Sing it loud and sing it proud, attitude is everything.
