Middle school was the worst time of my life. Despite this, it was a time of really cringy and bubblegum pop music. School dances were always poppin', and "lit" as the kids say all because of the music. I remember my school used a DJ that would drive an ambulance car around and called himself "The Jambulance." If that doesn't scream "middle school," then I don't know what does. Here is a list of 11 middle school jams you probably forgot existed, but used to love.
Miss Independent by Ne-Yo
This song was one of my favorites. Ne-Yo used to get me right in the feels with his music. We were never sure if this was a slow song at school dances though.
Check yes, Juliet by We The Kings
My friends and I definitely had a dance choreographed to this song. I'm pretty sure We The Kings were a one-hit-wonder with this song. I still jam to it from time to time.
Just Dance by Lady Gaga
This was one of the first songs that usually played at our school dances because of the title. Lady Gaga was at her prime when I was in middle school. This song was and and still is iconic.
Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus
Party in the USA- a true classic. I remember 12 year old me watching Miley perform this song for the first time. I never watched Hannah Montana the same way ever again. Still, this song is one of my favorite Miley jams.
Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne
Whenever a boy in middle school that I had a crush on got a new "girlfriend" this was my anthem. To be honest, it probably still is in that situation.
So What by P!nk
I felt like a total badass when I sang this with my friends. School dances were nothing without P!nk, especially this song. Dancing to this song consisted of mostly jumping and playing the air guitar. But I feel like it was that way at most school dances with any song they played.
TiK Tok by Ke$ha
Ke$ha appeared from who knows where when I was in middle school. Tik Tok ws her first single, and everyone thought that they were so cool when they sang the lyric "Brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack," even though we had no idea what "Jack" even was. Still, Ke$ha was iconic then, and still is now.
Love Story by Taylor Swift
This was one of the most requested songs at our middle school dances. I remember my friends and I would always dance like princesses and they get proposed to when she says "he knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring" None of the boys ever liked this song, and usually stood to the side when any Taylor Swift song played.
Thriller by Michael Jackson
Okay, I know this song didn't come out during the time we were in middle school, but this song and dance was ICONIC at the school I went to. We would all be doing the dance together in the front of the room. Literally everyone, even some of the teachers, would join in on the dancing.
Baby by Justin Bieber
The Biebs had emerged and all the girls were crazy about his swoopy hair and pubescent voice. I remember learning to perfectly rap the "Ludacris" part and some of my teachers thinking I was super weird. This was one of my favorite songs as a middle schooler.
With You by Chris Brown
The ultimate slow song. This was one of my favorites. I danced with many awkward boys to this song that I wish I hadn't. However, this song did and continues to give me all of the feels.
Middle school dances and the music that played at them were all cringe worthy, but listening to these songs now makes me so nostalgic and brings back some good and some awkward memories.