As I am turning 21 in a couple days, I have decided to look back at the good and ugly parts of my childhood. After all, our childhoods make us who we are today. What better way to reminisce about our childhoods than to listen to songs from that time? Personally, when I listen to a specific song, I can remember what I was doing when I first heard it. It's also a very good way to keep you grounded and remind you of where you came from. Here are 12 songs that made me remember my childhood. I hope you enjoy them! Hey, maybe these songs make you remember your past, too. Let's get the party started.
12. "I Will Remember You," Sarah McLachlan.
First heard this in my dad's 1980's Sentra. I loved the melody, but did not appreciate the depth and meaning to this song till much later.
11. "Cupid's Chokehold," Gym Class Heroes.
Middle school jam... lost somewhere in time before a friend pointed it out to me recently. The old people were so hip in the video though.
10. "It Ends Tonight," by The All- American Rejects.
I still remember this song was the thing in middle school. It has a really cool melody to it and it was my ringtone for my first ever cellphone.
9. "Hurt," by Christina Aguilera.
I still remember when this song was released. I was in middle school and I attended one of her concerts. The PussyCat Dolls were the opening act.
8. "Glamorous," by Fergie (ft. Ludacris).
Middle school gem here! I always enjoyed its catchy tune. I came to appreciate her spelling G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S later when I needed to write it in my papers for school (or just for fun).
7. "What I've Done," by Linkin Park.
I remember going to the movies to watch the first Transformers movie franchise. I fell in love with this song and transformers. Seriously, how cool would it be if we could transform our cars into machines!?!?!
6. "Down," by Jay Sean (ft. Lil Wayne).
I was a freshman in high school when I first heard this song. I fell in love with it and looked it up on Youtube to play it over and over. I even tried to memorize the lyrics and sing it loudly in the shower.
5. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies," by Panic! at The Disco.
I first heard this song in my bedroom on an old portable radio I used to have. I did not know the title or the band who sang this song until recently. Still a classic!
4. "Gives You Hell," by The All- American Rejects.
Summer school -- biology class, summer 2009. That is all.
3. "1985," by Bowling for Soup.
Love this song. First heard it in my dad's 1995 white Avalon XL. This was circa 2004 -- oh, the turbulent years.
2. "All Star," by Smash Mouth.
Come on, no 2000s playlist would be complete without this! Like it or not -- you have to have heard it some time. More likely than not, you knew (and still know) all the lyrics. Don't be ashamed.
1. "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," by Green Day.
Played at my eighth grade graduation party. This song still rings true, today. Yes, it is hard to see people who have made an impact on your life leave. As people in your life come and go, just remember it is the memories with them that count. Keep the memories alive and use what they have taught you in your life. Just remember to be happy -- that's probably what they would have wanted. As Dr. Seuss once said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
