We all remember the days from Junior High. Back when Google bought YouTube, people eventually began switching from MySpace to Facebook, and Halo 3 was released for Xbox. However, one of the biggest memories from those days was not the classes or teachers that gave too much homework. It was the music students had on their iPods. My taste in music was also interesting. Those tracks certainly helped during the good and bad days. Here is my playlist of the hit songs from middle school.
1. "Dani California" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Their music combines alternative rock, funk, punk rock, and psychedelic rock. This one is known for its awesome drum beat.The song tells the story of a girl from California whose life is cut short. The lyrics are sad, but the rhythm is uplifting.
2. "Miss Murder" - AFI
This band is known for alternative rock and post-hardcore music. This song does not have a definitive meaning. Some fans suggest that it is about Jesus forsaking people or Satan betraying God. Either way the hook is what makes it unique.
3. "Unfaithful" - Rihanna
Rihanna is known for R&B, Hip-hop and reggae music. She is one of my favorite singers. Her talent really shines in this song. It is about the guilt a woman feels after she cheated on her spouse and was inspired by the band Evanescence.
4. "...To Be Loved" - Papa Roach
This song fits the bands style of Nu metal and hard rock. I like the energy and tempo. It was the theme song for WWE Raw, which I occasionally saw on the weekends. The song also was in the trailer for the movie "Never Back Down".
5. "Waiting On the World to Change" - John Mayer
To be honest, I do not like John Mayer as a person. However, I did listen to some of his music in school, and this one was good. It is about problems in the world that occur due to the negligence and corruption of our leaders. This was an amazing song and its political message about standing up to those in power and fighting for the people is motivating.
6. "When You Were Young"- The Killers
The music by this band is alternative rock and post-punk. This song was inspired by Bruce Springsteen. I remember playing it on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. It's about the relationship of a man and a woman told through flashbacks.
7. "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
During the time when I was interested in post-grunge music, this was one of the bands I liked. The singer Chris Daughtry placed 4th during the 5th season of American Idol. The music is slow, but the lyrics tell a powerful narrative. The song is about a man who turns his life around after being release from prison.
8. "Irreplaceable" - Beyoncé
When it comes to pop and R&B singers, Beyoncé is one of my favorites. She has a beautiful voice, and I like the middle range tempo of this song. It was released during the peak of her rise to fame, and is among the top best songs of the decade. The song is about unfaithfulness and female empowerment.
9. "Fergalicious" - Fergie
I enjoyed the hip hop and dance style of The Black Eye Peas. However, I like this song by Fergie, who I had a crush on. The song combines electronic, hip hop, dance, and R&B elements. It revolves around the self-worth and beauty of Fergie.
10. "Rooftops" - Lostprophets (A Liberation Broadcast)
This alternative rock band is one of the few emo groups that I listened to while in junior high. This song is my favorite since it has a nice rhythm. I used to play this song on Lego Rock Band. It is about teenage rebellion against those in positions of authority like parents or managers at work.
11. "Who Knew" - P!nk
I do not have many favorite pop singers, but Pink is different. Her music is rebellious and catchy, which made sense during the teen years. This song launched Pink's rise to fame. It is about a death or end of friendship, which is relatable since there are many people who lost a friend due to bad relationships or addictions. Perhaps they knew someone that did.
12. "White & Nerdy" - "Weird Al" Yankovic
In junior high, I liked parody songs by artists and still do. One of my favorites is Weird Al Yankovic because his comedy hip hop music has funny lyrics, great rhythm, and does a nice job with mocking pop culture. This song which satirizes "Ridin" by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone, shows off the rapping skills of Weird Al. It was his first single to reach platinum.
13. "Hey There Delilah" - Plain White T's
One of my favorite emo pop bands in Junior High was the Plain White T's. I really liked the smooth guitar playing and quick tempo of the song. Frontman of the band, Tom Higgenson wrote the song as a dedication to steeplechase and cross country runner Deliah Dicrescenzo. What is great about this song is Tom does a unique take on the stereotypical love song involving a guy singing about a girl who lives far away.
14. "Hips Don't Lie " - Shakira
Another genre I enjoyed was Latin pop and salsa music. Shakira was one of my top favorite singers. I definitely had a crush on her, and still do after watching her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance this year. This song is about Shakira's intuition to decide that if a song makes her want to dance, then it's ready to be released.
15. "When I'm Gone" - Eminem
I would listen to music by Eminem since he appeals to struggling adolescence who are going addictions, divorce, bad parenting or other struggling. From his music, I become more appreciative of the family, good upbringing, and life that I have. I like this song because it shows a more compassionate side of Eminem as he comes to the realization that he needs to rid himself of his dark personality and become a better parent to his kids.
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