Ah, 2008, a year, like all years, containing so many memorable moments. Mother of The Last Reign of Bush, the Summer Olympics in Beijing, the 50th Grammy Awards, and the epic saga of Obama vs. McCain. A touch less memorable, however, were these Billboard hits—18 songs from 2008 you probably haven't listened to since, well, 2008.
"Viva La Vida" by Coldplay
I mean … it didn't win 2008 Grammy Song of the Year for nothing, right?
"Come on Get Higher" by Matt Nathanson
Matt Nathanson has moved onto bigger and better things since 2008, but do not tell me this is not still one of the most beautiful songs you have ever heard.
"The Man Who Can't Be Moved" by The Script
Three things about this song: 1) the lyrics were on point, 2) the melody was on point, 3) the instruments were on point. Basically this entire song was on point.
"Leavin'" by Jesse McCartney
What happened to Jesse McCartney and what do I have to do to get him to make music like this again? Yes, I will do whatever it takes.
"Fall for You" by Secondhand Serenade
Any song that starts out with a single piano note and the lyrics, "The best thing about tonight's that we're not fighting" in a voice that sounds like it hasn’t yet been through puberty belongs in the late 2000s, definitely.
"Gotta Be Somebody" by Nickelback
Listen guys, I know Chad Kroeger does kinda look like a dried cube of Ramen Noodles but I can't be the only one that doesn’t completely despise Nickelback, right? Right?!
"Disturbia" by Rihanna
Be honest: did anybody really know any lyrics beyond "BUM-BUM BE-DUM BUM BUM BE-DUM-BUM"???
" Tattoo" by Jordin Sparks
It's refreshing to hear breakup songs that aren't all Adele crooning like it's 1950 or Taylor Swift slamming another Hollywood heartthrob, even if said breakup songs happen to be seven years old. But ah, doesn’t heartbreak transcend the ages?
"Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Beddingfield
I GOT A POCKET GOT A POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE I GOT A LOVE AND I KNOW THAT IT'S ALL MINE OOOOH, OH WHOOOOOOOA
"Live Your Life" by T.I. ft. Rihanna
Why did 2008 have so many songs with catchy strings of exclamations in the openings? The beginning of "Disturbia" and this song's "Ma ya hee, ma ya haa, my la hoo, ma la ha-ha!" are so fun to sing. Do we still have songs like that in 2015 and I'm just missing them entirely? Point me in the right direction.
"Burnin' Up" by the Jonas Brothers
Does anybody else remember that crazy journey of a music video? In it, Joe thinks some girl at the pool keeps looking at him, Big Rob comes out with some kind of script, the bros go save a damsel using karate, Rob starts rapping, and Selena Gomez shows up. Then, it ends with Joe saying, "I can't grow a mustache." The video is 3 minutes and 20 seconds long. How.
"Crush" by David Archuleta
David Archuleta's career is singularly the best thing to have ever come from American Idol. Not Kelly Clarkson, not that "Home" song by the guy with the redundant name, but David Archuleta. And the kid didn’t even win.
"Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie
Big girls may not cry, but as a little girl, my 2008 self put on this song and bawled her eyes out many more times than I’m willing to admit.
"No One" by Alecia Keys
In light of "Girl on Fire," this 2008 gem has been tossed along the wayside. Which is sad, because no one, no one, no ooooooone can get in the way of what I feel for this song. *insert music note emojis*
"Sorry" by Buckcherry
I have so many memories of this song from 6th grade, playing it through my speakers as I flat-ironed my hair until it adopted the same texture as straw, applied copious amounts of black eyeliner, and fashionably hated the world around me.
"Say" by John Mayer
How many times in 2008 do you think people seriously said, "Just say what you need to say!" and everyone around them compulsively burst into song?
"In Love with a Girl" by Gavin DeGraw
Oh, for the days when Gavin DeGraw was a little-known hat enthusiast instead of a well-known hat enthusiast. This song ended those days.
"Feels Like Tonight" by Daughtry
2008 was a simpler time. According to the music video for this song, the transition from day to night takes approximately 2 seconds, if you walk through the right door you can walk from the desert immediately onto a rooftop, and it doesn't matter what you’re wearing as long as it's all black.
Okay, so it's still a safe bet to wear all black. Some things never change, I guess. Whatever people are wearing, the music industry is changing all the time. Jesse McCartney's newer songs don't sound like "Leavin'" because he has moved beyond that song. I can accept that.
I think listening to music and producing it are two different things. To progress forward, we've got to keep changing up the sound. We have to keep listening to the newest sounds, but that doesn't mean we can't pop into the past every once in a awhile and check up on our old favorites. In case you couldn't tell, I do quite frequently.
