At the ripe old age of 19 I occasionally go down memory lane, looking for those old playlists on my middle school iPod to remember what those days were like. On these days, I am continually shocked and appalled by the music we often jammed to at school parties or just around in the hallways. I still don’t understand how any adult thought it was chill for us to be listening and singing “Whatcha gonna do with all that junk/All that junk inside your trunk? I’ma get get get get you drunk/Get you love drunk off my hump” (My Humps by the Black Eyed Peas circa 2005). Seriously, who let this happen.
1. Low ft. T-Pain by Flo Rida – 2008
Okay, this one was a little late in the game for me, but it was certainly a banger played at EVERY party or middle school gathering.
Noteworthy lyrics:
“work the pole, I got the bankroll”
“I’m into that, I love women exposed.”
I’m pretty sure if we actually new what we were singing we would have been embarrassed.
2. Buttons by the Pussycat Dolls – 2009
Fun fact: The Pussycat Dolls was created with the intention that they would be a burlesque group. With that being said, I knew as a middle schooler that I wasn’t really supposed to say their name around my mom, which is always a clue.
Noteworthy lyrics:
“I’m telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (uh-huh)”
“Saying what you gon’ do to me (uh-huh!)/ But I ain’t seen nothing”
3. If U Seek Amy by Britney Spears – 2009
So I don’t know what kind of middle schooler you were, but I did not know for the longest time what this meant until I begged a friend to tell me at lunch. In typical fashion, this song title was said in hushed tones and slowly drawn out. We then erupted in gasps and giggles.
Noteworthy lyrics:
The title says enough.
4. Thong Song by Sisqo – 1999
The premise of this music video is that Sisqo Is in his house and his daughter finds a thong and asks what it is. Sisqo then proceeds to sing about thongs too…. teach his daughter a lesson? I’m not really sure but the music video adds a creep factor I was not prepared for.
Noteworthy Lyrics:
“You wanna palm it right, cause it’s so soft and tight”
“Cause it look and it feel like Charmin’ right”
5. Barbie Girl by Aqua – 1997
This one is a little old for me because sadly, I am not a true 90s kid. Still, this song was popular when I was in middle school and early because Barbies were a thing. Overall, this song repulses me yet it’s Just. So. Catchy.
Noteworthy lyrics:
“you can brush my hair, undress me everywhere”
“Dress me up, make it tight, I’m your dolly”
“kiss me here, touch me there, hanky panky”
Just imagine seeing a 10-year-old girl singing this in public. Would you freak out? Because someone definitely should have when my friends and I did that.
6. Lady Marmalade by Christina Aguilera ft. Lil Kim, P!nk & Missy Elliot – 2001
Wow. This song just gets me every time with the sheer girl power involved. Still, it’s no excuse for us belting French words that we had no idea were so suggestive.
Noteworthy lyrics:
“Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir” (Would you like to sleep with me tonight?)
7. Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…) by Lou Bega – 1999
This song was my JAM. Despite the lyrics, the sound and vibe of this song is really cool. In my middle school mind, I just liked the sound and the lyrics reminded me of the other dance songs that give you instructions to follow. Little did I know that this song lists 8 hypothetical women Lou Bega would like to sleep with all in a row.
Noteworthy lyrics:
“A little bit of Monica”
“A little bit of Erica”
“A little bit of Rita”
“A little bit of Tina”
“A little bit of Sandra”
“A little bit of Jessica”
“A little bit of you”
8. Fergalicious by Fergie – 2006
I really do believe that music videos are indicative of the message of a song, and this video depicts Fergie play fighting in a kiddie pool full of cake. So, make of that what you will.
Noteworthy lyrics:
“I blow kisses that puts them boys on rock, rock”
“I’ll be tasty, tasty”
“So delicious (They want a taste of what I got)”
9. Get Low by Lil John & The East Side Boyz – 2002
I distinctly remember this song going through a brief spurt of popularity during my 6th grade year. Every time someone would bend over to tie their shoes someone would yell “Bend over to the front, touch your toes!”
Noteworthy lyrics:
“taking the clothes off – buckeye naked”
Also the phrase “buckeye naked” is hilarious in this context and possibly the least gangster thing the Ying Yang Twins could have said.
10. Drop It Like It’s Hot by Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell – 2004
Last but not least, another classic party song. A lot of songs on this list are mentioned for sexual innuendo, which this song has plenty of, but what is special about this track is that it includes violence and drug references too!
Noteworthy lyrics:
“pop it like it’s hot” (meaning, shoot someone)
“I keep a blue flag hangin’ out my backside/ but only on the left side, yeah that’s the Crip side” (because every middle school kid should sing about gang allegiance)
“cement shoes, now I’m on the move” - I had to give this a special explanation because this is a commonly forgotten lyric. “cement shoes” refers to when a person would have their feet set in cement and then they would get thrown into a lake or a river to drown. We’ve all said it, and now we know.
