RE-E-WIND

RE-E-WIND RE-E-WIND RE-E-WIND RE-E-WIND

Words by Cerys Hubbard

All of these songs are celebrating big birthdays this year, and to celebrate the occasion (and to make you, dear reader, feel absolutely ancient) we’ve grabbed a handful of bops from 10 to 30 years ago that will make you go “Aah life before Covid, wasn’t it fab?”

10 YEARS (2012)

Gangnam Style by PSY

Every decade has its dance craze. The 80s had us ‘Agadoo-ing’, the 90s ‘Macarena-ing’, and the 00s ‘Cha Cha Slide-ing’ our way across primary school disco dance floors. The 2010s were no different. ‘Gangnam Style’ was the track that had us all popping, bopping and opp-opp-opping back in 2012 and brought Kpop into mainstream attention.

Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye

Yes that’s right, it really has been 10 years since Gotye became the ultimate one hit wonder and then dipped. He literally became ‘Somebody That We Used To Know’. He’s still out there making music though, for anyone convinced he just disappeared off the face of the earth, he is releasing a live album in 2020 and a 4th studio album is currently in the works. at the cinema, the first instalment in Dystopian teen drama franchise ‘The Hunger Games’ was released, going on to become one of the year’s highest grossing films, behind The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers.

20 YEARS (2002):

Sound Of The Underground by Girls Aloud

If there was one girl group that could sum up the 2000s in a nutshell, it would be Girls Aloud. The group were put together on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 alongside boyband One True Voice and subsequently went on to dominate the UK charts for the next 10 years. Their first single ‘Sound Of The Underground’ was the Christmas No.1 back in 2002 and set them off on a path of genre bending, edgy and exciting pop tunes.

Complicated by Avril Lavigne

We Are Never Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift

Recently refurbished as part of Red (Taylor’s Version), this pop rock bop peaked at no.4 in the UK Charts back in Summer 2012 and went on to become an anthem for people with toxic exes everywhere.

Also happening this year…

The Union Jack was inescapable as London hosted the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games and the Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee with a massive gig outside Buckingham Palace. Meanwhile Pop punk Princess, Avril Lavigne, also made her debut with her first album ‘Let Go’. A genre-defining album, she led the way for other female-fronted pop punk acts to come. The album’s first single ‘Complicated’ had girls all over the world donning their school ties outside of the classroom. Girl Power was well and truly back in full swing on Planet Pop.

Lose Yourself by Eminem

Eminem was already well established in the music industry by 2002, but his popularity grew with the release of his film ‘8 Mile’ and its soundtrack

featuring the track ‘Lose Yourself’. Arguably one of his greatest works (no one had ever rhymed “sweaty” with “Mom’s spaghetti” before). It won several awards including an Academy Award for Best Original Song and was ranked 166th in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time list in 2004.

Also happening this year:

2002 was, once again, a jubilee year as the Queen celebrated 50 years on the throne and Brian May played ‘God Save The Queen’ on the roof of Buckingham Palace. Despite this, it wasn’t exactly the best year for the Royal Family as both The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret bit the dust within weeks of each other. Meanwhile, on the telly box - Channel 4 were met with controversy as they aired a public autopsy, prompting hundreds of complaints from squeamish viewers.

30 YEARS (1992) :

I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

This big power ballad was first written in 1973 by none other than the queen of country, Dolly Parton (who also happened to write ‘Jolene’ on the same day). Nearly 20 years later, Whitney Houston lent her powerhouse vocals to the soundtrack for The Bodyguard - and the rest is history. It dominated the top spot of the UK charts for 10 weeks and went on to be the best selling single of 1992.

Ebeneezer Goode by The Shamen

Perhaps the most controversial song on this list, Ebeneezer Goode caused a bit of a stir when it was released back in 1992. With references to hard drug use (Eezer-goode…e’s are good…), this 90s rave hit by The Shamen was banned by the BBC - but that didn’t stop it hitting the no.1 spot back in September ‘92.

Friday I’m In Love by The Cure

Described as a “throw your hands in the air, let’s get happy kind of record” by frontman Robert Smith, the goth trailblazers go all soppy and poppy with this lovey dovey track from 1992’s ‘Wish’.

Also happening this year…

The old Wembley Stadium played host to The Freddie Mercury Tribute concert, featuring guest performances from George Michael, Elton John and David Bowie amongst others, with all proceeds going to AIDS research. Across the pond (or the English Channel to be exact), Mickey and Co landed in Europe as Disneyland Paris opened its doors for the first time and the 1992 Olympic Games were held in Barcelona.