Callie is back with what will be the last playlist in this weekly segment. These 10 songs should be heard (not to mention greeted with cheers, approval, and passionate sing-alongs) during any self-respecting social event. Prepare to become extremely nostalgic. Listen to the songs here. 

  1. “Toxic” – Britney Spears. Britney is the reigning Princess of Pop — as she will remain forevermore — for a number of reasons (and a number of irresistible hit singles). But the thing about “Toxic” is that it embodies all of those reasons simultaneously. It feels like IV fluid and intoxication at the same time.
  2. “Fergalicious” – Fergie. This song makes absolutely no sense and, unlike many successful pop songs of its era, has zero comprehensible structure. There’s no identifiable chorus, no “drop,” no cookie-cutter rhyme pattern. But, nevertheless, if you were at least young-ish when this song was released, you were pouring an unreasonable amount of time into learning every single lyric. At some point, we all sacrificed ourselves at the altar of “Fergalicious.” I speak from experience.
  3. “Rock Your Body” – Justin Timberlake. “Cry Me a River” may have made Justin Timberlake a solo star, but “Rock Your Body” gave him his first real scandal (justice for Janet Jackson, tbh). For pop stars, surviving a scandal — and thriving beyond it, as Justin somehow managed to do — is the mark of a true pop culture icon. And that’s not to mention how this song is an absolute bop that has stood the test of time. If you’re listening to “Rock Your Body” as you read this, like I am as I type this, then you’re bopping your head involuntarily. I don’t care who you are; I don’t make the rules.
  4. “Hollaback Girl” – Gwen Stefani. I was eight years old when this song was released and had no idea what a “hollaback girl” was, but you better believe I was screaming, “I ain’t no hollaback girl” at the top of my lungs. Plus, Gwen taught my entire generation how to spell “bananas,” and that’s a debt we can never repay.
  5. “Paper Planes” – M.I.A. With “Paper Planes,” M.I.A. struck a very rare balance. It is both an exceptionally quality song — one of the best ever, if you ask me — and an extraordinarily likable, radio-friendly, digestible pop anthem. It boasts both provocative content and broad appeal. I doubt we’ll see a day when it goes out of style.
  6. “Mr. Brightside” – The Killers. It’s hard to remember a time when the words “Mr. Brightside” didn’t claim a natural place in our society’s shared vocabulary. If you’re in a crowd of people who don’t meet the phrase “it was only a kiss” by passionately yelling “IT WAS ONLY A KISS,” you need to find better friends.
  7. “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” – Kylie Minogue. This song may feel a tad out of place amongst a catalogue of universally popular hits, but you may be surprised at the reaction it can draw. “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” is a timeless, feel-good earworm — the kind that you know you’ve heard before, and though you’re not sure when or where, you somehow know all the words.
  8. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift. Say what you want about Taylor Swift (and, god knows, people do), but the girl can write a song. And, more than that, she can write a song that tunnels its way into your very essence of being and never, ever leaves (see what I did there?).
  9. “Burnin’ Up” – Jonas Brothers. Are you surprised that you still know all the words to this song? I’m not.
  10. “Misery Business” – Paramore. As far as I’m concerned, if there is one universally-accepted truth amongst all music fans, it’s that Paramore is for the people. “Misery Business” truly has something for everyone, and it weirdly fits on pretty much any playlist.