Growing up in a household where the musical climate mainly called for either Hip-Hop or Gospel, I saw Pop music as a means of escape. This was the genre that made me truly fall in love with music and resonated with me the most.

And during this period of growing up, (mainly this 2008-2009 era) I started to mature into an avid music listener. I began falling in love with the creativity and artistry behind what I was listening to on television and the radio.

Therefore, each of these songs and the honorable mentions on this list were staple Pop tracks in my developing love for music. These are the songs the 11/12 year-old me fiend over, committed lyrics to memory, and listened to on repeat.

They’re the type of songs that are timeless and still go hard on my playlist whenever the shuffle gods decide it’s their time. These were all songs right before the 2010’s, before I knew what an Ariana Grande was.

Before I fell deeply in love with a psychopathic, sweetheart named Lorde, before Taylor Swift became a legit, bona fide pop star, and before Sia made me wanna swing from the CHANDELIEOOOOOOOUUUR!!!!

So yeah, I really hope you guys fancy this list and can identify with some of these amazing works of art. Without further ado, let’s get this get this nostalgia-trip started!

(If you’re new to the blog, it’s really awesome to have you here. And if you’re no stranger, welcome back! By all means, do enjoy the content and come back anytime. You’re always welcomed here in my little space to be creative.)

#5. Kanye West – Heartless (2008)

Cue the autotune, the groovy piano keys, and the bars! This is old Kanye I fucks with 10,000%. And Heartless is undoubtedly one of his best selling singles to date. It’s dark, personal, and Electropop done extremely well.

Amidst his sonically modified voice are his lazy, slurry backing vocals that just so happen to fit the song perfectly. And the flow on this thing is catchy, crafty, continuous, and conscious. (Hell, I haven’t listened to the song in years, but as soon as I played it, I began spitting verses word-for-word from start to finish with ease – I felt like such a badass.)

“How could you be so Dr. Evil?/ You’re bringin’ out a side of me that I don’t know/ I decided we wasn’t gon’ speak so/ Why we up 3 a.m. on the phone?”  Growing up, these were lyrics that made me more aware of the fragility of human emotions and how a relationship going south can take a serious toll on the psyche of someone – even a grown man at that.

(Although to be fair 11 year-old me didn’t really know squat about heartbreak, but dammit I felt these lyrics.) And the chorus, oof! Its mystifying and invasive nature comes over you like a blanket of empathy. It’s coerces you into feeling what’s being conveyed by West.

Overall, it’s an amazing track and one of my all-time favorites from Kanye.

#4. Fireflies – Owl City (2009)

Adam Young a.k.a Owl City, was battling insomnia one faithful night and decided to put his restlessness to good use. He proceeded to his basement, sat around the keyboard and inadvertently wrote a massive Pop banger.

And what really drew me in was this song’s originality and quirkiness. It had a distinct flare about it and sounded like something out of a video game or some dreamworld. It’s pretty unique: from the very glittery, atmospheric twinkles to the cosmic synths, lightweight bass, down to the dreamy, ongoing beeps that keep the track thriving.

Additionally, my 11 year-old self found his description of this late night experience so alluring. The words eventually become extremely relatable for me as I got older and started embracing my night owl tendencies. “I’d like to make myself believe/ That planet Earth turns slowly/ It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay awake when I’m asleep/ ‘Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep).” 

His insatiable interest in what’s taking place around him while sleeping is so self-identifying, especially in the odd hours – I find there’s always something to be amazed by. Whether it’s the night offering you delicious silence or in this case, 10 million fireflies lighting up the world.

All in all, this song truly me makes me feel understood and entices me both sonically and personally to this day.

#3. Jason Mraz – I’m Yours (2008)

There’s a piano, a keyboard, bass guitars, and backing vocals working beautifully in tandem to produce this mellow, mood-changing warmth of Pop-rock and Adult Contemporary. This is HANDS DOWN my favorite Jason Mraz song.  

It just pulls you in with its sunny simplicity, slight reggae undertones, and gentle vocals. In fact, when I was listening to it yesterday evening, (trying to put this list together) I wondered why this didn’t win him a Grammy. So I proceeded to Google to do my research.

Turns out, the song was nominated at the 2009 51st Annual Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Song of The Year. And I was taken aback that this didn’t win in either category, that is… until I saw who Mraz was up against – the likes of John Meyer, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Adele, Sara Bereillies and Leona Lewis respectively. (I know right, stiff competition.)

Nonetheless, it was stellar enough to get the nominations and it still holds a special place in my cockroach-like heart. It was arguably the first Pop song whose lyrics I made special effort to commit to memory.

Such lyrics speak of love, life, and taking control of the two during our fleeting time here on Earth, “Listen to the music of the moment people dance and sing/ We’re just one big family/ And it’s our God-forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved.”

I dare you to not mellow out to this song – it’s simply impossible. And don’t even get me started on those ad-libs.

#2. Train – Hey, Soul Sister (2009)

Another warming Pop-rock entry on my list, Hey, Soul Sister is a soulful, ukulele-infused piece of art. This is the track that single-handedly relaunched Train’s career and earned them their first ever Grammy win at the 53rd Annual Awards Show for Best Duo/Group Pop Performance.

This song offers a festive feel with charming vocals and simply moving melodies. Hints of tasteful maracas, keys,  and chords pool their resources in the background for the greater good of this tune. 

I remember 12 year-old me actually performing this song in front of others in 7th grade. (It was in that moment I realized singing wasn’t one of my gifts; luckily one of the teachers sang beside me to balance my scratchy, pre-pubescent vocals. Thank you Miss Bodine Johnson, I am forever grateful.)

But for somebody as introverted as myself to get up on stage and sing in front of a crowd of impertinent insubordination, it must truly attest to how much I adore this song. It’s endearing lyrics, infectious, feel-good vibe, and the “Heyy/ Heeey/ Heey”[s] make it all worth wild.

And while we’re on the topic, has anyone else seen this Tweet about the true meaning of the song? 

I don’t know how true it is, but just the idea of it is MIND-BLOWING! And really makes you reevaluate life itself.

**Honorable Mentions**

• P!nk – So What

• OneRepublic – All The Right Moves

• Katy Perry – Hot n’ Cold

• Rob Thomas – Her Diamonds

• Taylor Swift – Love Story

#1. Lady Gaga – Bad Romance (2009)

This was the song that solidified Pop music as my favorite genre. I did not know music could sound like this, could be so artistically daring, and yet so disturbingly desirable.

During this late 2000’s era, hearing songs about love was the normal fare, but not like this. Instead of talking about all of the positive aspects of someone’s love, Gaga saw it fit to exploit her lust for all of the dysfunctional, toxic, and wretched elements of her partner.

“I want your ugly, I want your disease I want your everything as long as it’s free/ I want your love..” , Gaga sings coldly while making you raise your eyebrows in befuddlement. Nobody was really singing about the sick, twisted, dark themes embedded in love, or at least not owning them in this capacity.

This is one of the songs I got ragged on a lot for outwardly loving. But I didn’t care. Not then, and surely not now. I make no apologies for what I become whenever I hear this song. It’s debauchery speaks and my ears wholeheartedly listen  as the smoky synths, powerful vocals, and hypnotic production take me away.

I personally resonated with the abnormality of the song. And it’s arguably my favorite song – ever. There will never be another Bad Romance, not by Gaga or by anyone. This song was decade-defining, monstrously acclaimed, well-awarded, and added another layer of artistry to the musical spectrum.

I mean come on!  “Ra-ra-ah-ah-ah/ Roma-roma-ma/ Gaga, “Oh la-la”/ Want your bad romance.” That’s legendary! Who else can come up such things? All in all, this song definitely ignited my love for music and continues to serve as a source of creative inspiration. My childhood thanks you Mother Monster.

Did you feel the nostalgia from today’s list? What are some of your favorite Pop songs from your childhood? Let me know in the comment section below.

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Thank you so much for reading and I’ll see you next time on Introverted-Insight!

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