Yello's Music Tastes

If you want the most Y2K sounding song of its time, it's this. I have absolutely no idea where I first heard this song. Maybe it was on the radio? Maybe my sister played it for me? Who knows. But this is one of those songs that have always stuck out to me over the years, because it represents the fun, upbeat dance music of the early 2000's. Back then, lyrics didn't need have deeper meaning, with each line analyzed and dissected. The words makes just enough sense to convey bliss and happiness.

In hindsight, this is the "I'm 4 and this is deep" song. Again, I have NO idea where I first heard this song, but I assume it was from the radio, since it was a big hit back then. I even hear it sometimes during one of those throwback playlists and radio stations. But this song is what I imagine early 2000's angsty ballads sounded like. Despite the extremely simplistic lyrics and melodies, even a child like me to feel this sense of deep anguish and longing for someone. That's the true power of music, conveying such powerful emotions to someone who hasn't even experienced it.

Now if you wanna know a slightly edgy song that child me would feel guilty for enjoying, it's this 2000's rock-coated song. I find it funny how all of these 80's references flew over my head, including Madonna. But this song is proof that nostalgia will always be prevelant, no matter the decade. I'm surprised that this rock jam has a slightly deeper meaning of being stuck in the past, something I'm extremely guilty of. Cuz now I'm feeling nostalgic over this song about feeling nostalgic...woah.

This is arguably one of the best songs of my generation. But since this was under the Disney umbrella, I don't think this song got the recognition it deserved. Of course, now that the 2000's Disney channel nostalgia has officially established itself at this point, this track is finally getting its flowers. Unlike the overly-glittery trap that most Disney songs fall into, this is straight-up a perfect song; the melodies, the instrumentals, even the slightly cheesy lyrics all blend together so well. If this wasn't deeply tied to Disney, I think this would've been a gigantic radio hit.

THIS is the ballad that meant the most to me as a kid. Everything around this song was emblematic of my tastes at the time. I was so unashamed to be enjoying "girly" and "cheesy" Disney songs. Looking back, I was lucky to grow up experiencing the peak of Disney Channel music, including songs by the literal certified legend, Miley Cyrus. I swear she sounds so good in every type of genre, including power ballads. While this song is nothing more than pure motivation, I think the message is universal, even for now grown-ups like me. In an age where instant success is so prevalant nowadays, this song is a great reminder for me to accept the journey as the best part, both triumphs and failures.

I feel like there's two camps in terms of musicals, the theater geeks that live and breathe the classics, or those that think musicals are incredibly cheesy and predictable. I fall into neither category. I respect musicals but I don't feel the same emotions that hardcore fans do. The only exception is High School Musical. There's something about how each song tying into the plot that made it so magical for me. And this song is a perfect representation. It's a uplifting moment both as a song and in the movie. Yes, the lyrics and melodies are cheesy. But hearing this song always puts a smile on my face because of the feel-good message. It doesn't come across as partonizing, it's just a reminder to appreciate what we have now because it won't be forever, much like this moment in time for me.

While this is not my all-time favorite song from this group, this is what helped kick open the door to Kpop at the time. The sheer amount of bubblegum pop in this track might be obnoxious to some, but it was infectious to me, as if it was scientifically designed to be the catchiest tune you can imagine. Apparently this was a somewhat international hit before Kpop hits were truly international hits, so my sister and I got in a generation early. This was the catalyst for my completion adoration for everything Girls' Generation related. I idolized them before I knew the term "idol" was a legitimate Kpop term. I was genuinely obsessed with them. Thank God I didn't have a social media account back then...

I was mostly attracted to the girl Kpop since Girls' Generation was my first exposure, if I had a male counterpart to that, it would be SHINee. At the time, most male Kpop was either too electronic or ballad-y for me. SHINee was different, they felt more epic and cinematic, and this song was emblematic of that. When Kpop fans refer to comebacks, this is what they mean. A full-on explosive song to kick off a new era. Because of that, this is actually my favorite song from this group. The melodies, the beat, the scope, it was all immaculate. I was boy bands in general returned to this type of style, instead of just relying on some weird instrumental to carry the chorus.

I remember this being one of the earlier Kpop songs that my sister had on her iPod, but this was one of many that faded from my memory after I fell out of Kpop back in 2016. But in 2024, this one track randomly popped up in my memory while reminiscing older Kpop. I gave it a relisten on Spotify and I was instantly transported back to that innocent time, absorbing whatever Kpop my sister threw at me and cementing those into my memory. BIGBANG was actually known for heavy electronic music back then, but this was the one exception and for some reason it really clicked with me back then and even now. Before Kpop songs had extremely high budgets and hype, simpler songs like this fleshed out my appreciation for the genre as more than flashy and highly choreographed songs.

THIS. This right here is my all-time favorite song. Like ever. The Swifties made this a fan favorite for a reason. Not to brag, but this song was my favorite before TikTok. When I finally listened to Taylor's deep cuts, I instantly fell in love with this song upon first listen. Despite this being a nearly 6 minute track, I've NEVER grown tired of it. The slow buildup of instrumentals and melodies was so ethereal that I felt the title encapsulating that feeling perfectly. This is literally a perfect power ballad in my eyes and what I call a truly EPIC song. I truly believe everyone needs to hear this song once, if they haven't already.

This song showed me that Taylor Swift is an extremely versitle artist, even back in 2012. At the time of Red's release, I only knew the popular singles like "I Knew You Were Trouble" and "22", which definitely don't represent the entire album. So I was pleasantly surprised that Taylor could pull off a straight up rock song. Prior to this, I was strictly into pop sounds, but this song helped ever-so-slighty broaden my horizons to other genres. If I wanted to convince someone that Taylor was more than her singles, this is my first choice.

This song represents my peak fan era. Reputation released when I was 17, in which I was fully immersed in Taylor's discography. Although this album divided critics and fans at the time, I ate it all up. This was my first album that I actively listened on repeat when it first released. Some of that might've been the fanatic in me, but it was mostly because I genuinely loved that album front to back. And this song is my favorite from the album because it's deeply sentimental in a period of retaliation and seclusion. Whenever I listen to this track, I feel this sense of comfort in a world of judgment and chaos, which I'm sure Taylor could relate at the time.

I must've been REALLY going through it if I put this song here. It's about the depressing side of reminiscing for the past. Instead of it being a fond memory, it's a reminder that the past will never happen again and that change is sometimes too painful to confront. I specifically chose the live version because I don't think the tone in the remastered version hits as hard. I had this on repeat in 2018 because I was having a really rough first semester of college. I really WAS yearning for the past because I felt like I was failing at life, in terms of my agency and social life. Although this song further cemented my feelings of isolation, it also helped me realize that I needed to stop waiting around for life to get better. I needed to do something about it. So this track really helped me cope in a very low point in my life.

I discovered this song in 2022, 4 years after the Sweetener album came out and...I didn't know what I was missing. This song is so precious and sentimental. Apparently this is a remix of Imogen Heap's song and honestly, I wouldn't have been able to tell since Ariana's spin made the song sound unique to her. I can't fully describe just how touching this song is to me. But if I had to guess, it's that infectiously tender production that feels like a close connection so precious that you'd do anything to have that person stay. Sounds basic, but there's a reason why it's such a timeless notion. It's the most innocent and slightly codependent feeling converted to a song.

I liked some Beyoncé hits growing up, but I never paid close attention to her discography. I was skeptical when people claimed that "Lemonade" was her best albums and a must-listen. But eventually, I caved and listened to her album front to back and...wow. I guess I need to trust people's recommendations more. This is what made me fall in love with concept albums and how the overarching story transports me into that world, feeling everything the artist was feeling at the time. I'm highlighting this song from the album because A. it's such an amazing atmospheric song and B. it adds so much nuance to the story of infidelity. Before, all I heard that this was Beyoncé's girlboss album, which is true for the first few songs, but like all things, there are multiple layers in this narrative that make it feel like a complete story, not just something to put on a Spotify playlist.

I'd argue that this was the pinnacle of poptimism of the early 2010's. Remember when the singer/rapper duo was EVERYWHERE in pop? The carefree nature with a side of spice was the classic formula for any good party hit. Even though I was a literal child that didn't understand the scope of adult parties, I still felt like I was part of the celebration. Back then, party songs were meant to include everyone, even if the artist was still indirectly flexing their lifestyle. This is such a feel-good song that everytime I listen to it, my mood instantly improves.

I gotta admit that this song is my guilty pleasure. Some critics may count this as meaningless and basic fodder. But for me, I kinda miss when songs were just about having a good time and nothing else. Happy songs today sound different because they contain randomly explicit lyrics, cringy slang, or dark undertones in an attempt to get with the times. Safe songs can be formulaic, but they don't have to be boring. The simple melodies and instrumentation hit just right for me. And it holds an extra special place in my heart because it's such a good song to dance to in Just Dance.

You know the "I'm 12 and this is deep" meme? This song was it for me. The undertone of this song is kinda dark because it recounts a time of innocence before life events took over. Yes, there's still room for nostalgia in an EDM track. In fact, it felt like a lot of EDM tracks during this time were more contemplative than your typical party anthem. And that what I love about this track; it's a deep bop that makes you appreciate the time you have now. I never thought that an EDM track would make me think about life so deeply, but this one does it for me.

Speaking of party anthems...I would count this as a classic 2010's party anthem that has stood the test of time. It's not as iconic as tracks like "Party Rock Anthem" and "Uptown Funk", but the spirit of 2010's celebration culture is in full force. The theme is in the lyrics; celebrating the outcasts and underdogs for once. Like I said, party hits were about lifting everyone up. I'd like party tracks to be more inclusive and less about flaunting again. Everyone deserves to enjoy the party.

Definitely another guilty pleasure of mine. I'd like to call this one of those "chivalry songs", where the artist usually confesses their love and promises to satisfy the other party in whatever way they see fit. While these statements can lean too heavily into mindless fluff, I think it's the fantasy that can truly help sell the song. A lot of tracks nowadays can feel like takedown anthems, and although they can help bring people together, it's always at someone's expense. Plus it promotes and "us vs. them" mob mentality that is all too prevalent. This is undoutably a fluffy fantasy song, but I think it can be held in the same regard as *NSYNC or Backstreet Boys classics. We need more feel-good songs.

I'm calling this the most basic song ever because it's literally about having a good time and nothing else. I wouldn't blame you if you can't stand this song for how mindnumbingly basic it is. But for me, this represents a really innocent time of music in my life. I was happily listening to the radio and whatever my sister played on Pandora. I didn't care about the deeper meaning of songs or the discourse behing it. A good song was a good song, aand that was it. 1000% a guiltly pleasure but can you really get too annoyed at such a blissful song? I hope not.