A Playlist From The iPod Of A Middle Schooler During The Good Old Days

The good old days consisted of One Direction and J. Beibs, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Mar 11, 2020

343

A Playlist From The iPod Of A Middle Schooler During The Good Old Days

https://unsplash.com/photos/JAHdPHMoaEA

Ah, the good old days. Before all-night study sessions took over our lives, and responsibility became more than cleaning out the dishwasher five minutes before Mom got home from work. The days when you would grab your iPod from your backpack (iPod Touch in my case), plug in your ear buds, and look out the car window like you're in a dramatic music video. The days when life was easy, simple, and controlled not by an iPhone but that good, old iPod Touch. The only way to truly reminisce about the good old days, though, is to be taken back into the colorful universe of your iPod playlist from middle school.

"Firework" - Katy Perry

Giphy

"Baby, you're a firework." Don't ever let yourself believe you're just a "plastic bag floating through the wind" because you are POPPIN'. One of the most motivational bops of the good old days.

"The Edge of Glory" - Lady Gaga

Giphy

A long song that really didn't mean anything to me back then, but I knew Lady Gaga as the meat-dress lady at the time and that was a weird-cool person for middle-schoolers to be a fan of. It made you a little individualistic, a little rebellious, and a little popular to be a Lady Gaga fan. (Side-Note: I am a BIG fan of Lady Gaga now - her music and the person she is!)

"Someone Like You" - Adele

Giphy

Middle school was when Queen Adele released her "21" album and gave us the ultimate list of car-window-music-video songs, especially the everlastingly popular "Someone Like You."

"Good Feeling" - Flo Rida

Giphy

Had a good day at school? Talked to your crush? Going to a slumber party that night? Finally the weekend? If your middle school-self answered "yes" to all of the above, then you probably started blasting "Good Feeling" as soon as your mom picked you up in the carpool line.

"Who Says" - Selena Gomez

Giphy

The Disney queen, am I right? I don't remember a single middle school girl not head-over-heels supportive of Alex Russo and her budding music career. Especially when she released a bop that made every girl feel beautiful no matter if their crush checked the "yes" or "no" box on the locker note.

"What Makes You Beautiful" - One Direction

Giphy

And in middle school, One Direction (and my subsequent adoration for them) was born. This song was the beginning of One Direction, and I still blast it as loud as I did back then.

"Put Your Hearts Up" - Ariana Grande

Giphy

The start of Ariana's career... maybe it wasn't her best song, but it was her only song during the good old days. That being said, it was a must-include on my middle school playlist.

"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson

Giphy

I don't know about you, but I was dramatic in middle school, and this song was the perfect mix of dramatics for any long car ride. It also helped to build your confidence back up at the end of a bad day when you got called-out for passing notes in class. Hey, the embarrassment didn't kill me, so I guess it just made me stronger?

"Dynamite" - Taio Cruz

Giphy

I listened to this song TOO much... to the point that I actually started to hate it... Nevertheless, it remained on my playlist for the entirety of middle school, haunting my dreams.

"Just The Way You Are" - Bruno Mars

Giphy

This song made me want a boyfriend who would serenade me with this song. It had that empowering vibe that a lot of the songs from the good old days did, but it was also just so cute.

"Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen

Giphy

The VIRAL song of the good old days. This song took off, making Jepsen somewhat of a one-hit wonder, but man, it was a bop. It was on every middle-school playlist, the soundtrack to every music video you and your friends made, and the "Renegade" dance of the good old days.

"Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons

Giphy

The song that introduced me to my love for alternative music. It topped the charts, meaning everyone was listening to it, even though it was so unique from the everyday jams of the good old days.

"Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz

Giphy

The song that your parents made a face at when you started playing it out loud. The song that confused your grandparents. The song that made you next-level cool if you could rap it. That's what it meant to go to the thrift shop with twenty dollars in your pocket.

"As Long As You Love Me" - Justin Beiber feat. Big Sean

Giphy

Just like with Taylor Swift, it was a rite of passage for a middle-schooler to either like or dislike the Beibs. But regardless of what opinion you expressed out loud, there was no doubt that the newest Beibs' song was on your playlist. At the very least, you had to listen so you could have an opinion of whether or not the "Baby" singer sounded like a baby (of course, I don't think like that anymore, but middle school opinions can be scathing).

"Gangnam Style" - PSY

Giphy

All I can say is... LOL. What a great way to end the playlist. I can still remember being on a class field trip, someone blasting this song, and all of us breaking out in a flash mob. So, so embarrassing, and yet, this song got added to my playlist shortly after and we kept on dancing to it.

From Your Site Articles

None ›

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Health and Wellness

The Pros And Cons Of Having Too Much Free Time

It's not as easy as it sounds.

North Carolina State University

4152

Alarm Clock

While the idea of free time without a stressful job or an abundance of schoolwork looming over your head may sound like a dream, it can be a nightmare at times. Having a couple of days to decompress is needed for a healthy mind and body. But when too many days go by, it can cause a downward spiral of thoughts and feelings.

As a recent jobless graduate, I was ecstatic to be free from responsibility and take a break from my normal life. That was until I realized just how responsible I had been and needed to be to continue being self-sustained. I learned a few things in this month of unemployment that encouraged me to find a job as soon as possible.

Keep Reading...Show less

Featured

74 Reasons Why I Love My Best Friend

You can be yourself without having to explain yourself, because she accepts you and loves you just the way you are.

Delta State University

167572

Two women's hands with their small fingers interlocking

Photo by Walter Randlehoff on Unsplash

Have you ever found that one person in your life who you literally could not live without? You can talk to her about anything. She's the only person who will look you straight in the eyes and say, "You're stupid." You two can ride around or sit at your house for hours and always have something to talk about. You can be yourself without having to explain yourself because she accepts you and loves you just the way you are.

Keep Reading...Show less

Featured

8 Spotify Playlists To Get You In The Autumn Mood

The temperature may not be very Autumn-like, but these playlists sure are.

South Alabama

14249

King of Wallpapers

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. The leaves change, pumpkin spice everything hits the shelves (thank you, world!), the 13 Nights of Halloween on Freeform (formerly abcfamily) and the temperature drops. Well, the temperature is supposed to drop. Being in south Alabama, however, means that the temperature may be relatively low early in the mornings, but you're still going to suffer in the afternoon. So if the weather outside isn't getting you in the Autumn mood, maybe these Spotify playlists will help you slip into that wonderful, Autumn state of mind.

Keep Reading...Show less

autumn

Student Life

50 Things We Can All Relate To That Annoy Us

... Because life happens

State University of New York at Old Westbury

31824

Black and white adult cat staring at the camera

Photo by Carlos Quintero on Unsplash

As human beings, there are just some things that seem to bring us all together with the same sense of irritation. Here are a few of those annoying things that make my list. I'm sure at least some, if not most, of them make yours as well. If you can think of any more relatable annoyances that I've missed, feel free to comment on this article and let me know!

Keep Reading...Show less

Featured

First Snow

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

National Storytellers Society

10975

Sorina Bindea

I have never understood why grown-ups complain when the leaves are all off the trees, and the temperatures take a decided turn towards the zero on the thermometer. I hear complaints about the impending winter weather, and the driving in the snow and ice. We live in Pennsylvania, so I bite my tongue instead of stating the obvious: Maybe you should move to a warmer climate?

Keep Reading...Show less

A Playlist From The iPod Of A Middle Schooler During The Good Old Days

The good old days consisted of One Direction and J. Beibs, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

"Firework" - Katy Perry

"The Edge of Glory" - Lady Gaga

"Someone Like You" - Adele

"Good Feeling" - Flo Rida

"Who Says" - Selena Gomez

"What Makes You Beautiful" - One Direction

"Put Your Hearts Up" - Ariana Grande

"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" - Kelly Clarkson

"Dynamite" - Taio Cruz

"Just The Way You Are" - Bruno Mars

"Call Me Maybe" - Carly Rae Jepsen

"Radioactive" - Imagine Dragons

"Thrift Shop" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz

"As Long As You Love Me" - Justin Beiber feat. Big Sean

"Gangnam Style" - PSY

Subscribe to our Newsletter

It's not as easy as it sounds.

PRO: More time for self care.

CON: More time to overthink.

PRO: More time to spend with family and friends.

CON: More time to get into trouble.

You can be yourself without having to explain yourself, because she accepts you and loves you just the way you are.

The temperature may not be very Autumn-like, but these playlists sure are.

1. Southern Gothic

2. Autumn Acoustics

3. Autumn Leaves

4. Deep Dark Indie

5. Dreamy Fall

6. Halloween Hipster

7. Wanderlust

8. Your Favorite Coffeehouse

... Because life happens

1. Realizing there's no more toilet paper when it's already too late.

2. Making a cup of coffee in the morning and forgetting it in the car.

3. Pushing doors that say pull.

4. When you hear people chew.

5. When it's really quiet in a room and you hear that one person breathing like they just ran a marathon.

6. Grabbing a chocolate chip cookie, only to realize it's actually oatmeal raisin.

7. Getting comfortable in bed and then realizing you forgot to pee/turn off the light.

8. That one aunt/uncle that just always gives you that creepy vibe.

9. When your teacher makes you buy a textbook that you never even crack open.

10. Continuing to open and reopen the fridge until the food that you want magically makes its way in there.

11. Walking into a room and then automatically forgetting why you went in there.

12. People that drive without using their blinker.

13. When you have really slow wi-fi.

14. People who feel the need to scream into their phones as if the other person can't hear them.

15. The world's obsession with the Kardashian/Jenner families.

16. Advertisements before Youtube videos.

17. When people read over your shoulder.

18. A-holes that park in the handicapped spots when they, in fact, not handicapped.

19. People who cut in line.

20. The LIRR/MTA

21. Being stuck behind someone who is walking painfully slow.

22. When people smoke cigarettes right in front of the entrance to the building you have to walk into.

23. When boys think it's cool to treat girls like crap.

24. Guys that still go to high school parties even though they've been out of high school for years.

25. Celebrities that are obviously lip-syncing.

26. How you need a scissor to get the scissor out of its package.

27. When people text using that stupid "voice text" function.

28. Telling someone you can't hear them, so they use the same exact volume and just repeat what they said.

29. When someone gets in the shower right as you were about to get in the shower.

30. Saying "What?" for some reason, even though you heard what the person said.

31. When you're in a rush but the light is red.

32. Cashiers putting your change down on the counter instead of in your hand.

33. The people that go up to order food to the cashier but are still continuing their phone conversation.

34. That awkward time in the fall when it's freezing in the morning but stifling in the afternoon.

35. Emailing your professor a long winded paragraph about a problem you are having and they email back, "Sure."

36. Guys who put their car as their profile picture on Facebook.

37. Girls who have "X Years Young." in their Instagram bios.

38. Trying to find the beginning to a roll of tape.

39. When people drive your car and adjust your mirrors/seat.

40. People that talk during the movie.

41. People that decide to engage in conversation right in the middle of the hallway/sidewalk.

42. When someone says, "no offense," and then continues to say something offensive.

43. People that pop their significant others pimples.

44. Teacher's pets.

45. Going to the bathroom and someone goes into the stall right next to you.

46. When someone leaves your room and doesn't shut the door.

Subscribe to our
Newsletter