By Ingrid Avancena
Screenshot from “The Way” MV.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I know I can’t be the only one who prefers radio hits from the 2010s over some of the TikTok-trending music we have now (no hate to artists who make TikTok music, by the way). My reasoning is simple: the unexplainably addicting phenomenon of nostalgia. There’s always going to be that song (or two) that automatically takes you back to a warm, perfect day in 2013, when all you had to worry about was which set of trucks you should use for your Tech Deck skateboard, or which One Direction member was your favorite. In better terms, the music “back then” carries fond, bittersweet memories that make us wish we were just a child who didn’t know any better, which is arguably a much better position to be in than studying for midterms or waking up for a 2-hour lecture.
With that being said, let’s take a trip down memory lane. Here are 6 songs, from different genres, that were released almost 10 years ago.
“Holy Grail” - JAY-Z ft. Justin Timberlake. Released July 4, 2013.
A monumental rap song, to say the least. At the time, I didn’t know how a pop singer like Justin Timberlake could collaborate with JAY-Z. However, Timberlake’s smooth, higher vocal range proved to be supplementary to the song’s dramatic piano notes, hints of background a cappella, booming bass, and, of course, JAY-Z’s fervent and intricate rhyme scheme. It’s also fitting that two of these world-renowned artists expose the true price of fame in the lyrics “One day you’re singing you love me loud / The next day you’re so cold”, which is in reference to the prestige social status and lack of privacy they acquire. Okay, this song was definitely deeper than what we understood of it… I thought it was about an actual person! Anyway, from what I remember, “Holy Grail” used to get my classmates so energetic whenever my after-school instructor would play the censored version of it, especially during intense games of kickball or running matches on the field.
“The Way” - Ariana Grande ft. Mac Miller. Released March 25, 2013.
One of the best songs ever made, argue with the wall if you disagree. Like many kids, I was familiar with Ariana Grande because of her character as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon show Victorious, so I was very excited to see more of her off screen. I still remember my surprise when I heard her effortless powerhouse runs and whistle notes in “The Way”, as well as Mac Miller’s raspy, yet soulful, conviction in his rap. The song is a delightful spin on pop and R&B music, blending the two with snappy beats and playful elevations of piano notes, too. I feel like the song doesn’t need much of an explanation, as the lyrics “I love the way (You make me feel)” are pretty straightforward in their embodiment of butterflies-in-your-stomach adoration. It was a song that was worthy of dedicating to your crush in Social Studies class, you know, the one who would make you laugh until the teacher gave both of you guys a yellow card for disruptive behavior. “The Way” was also a token song for elementary talent show duets where everyone knew that the two people singing/rapping definitely had a thing for each other.
“Hold On, We’re Going Home” - Drake ft. Majid Jordan. Released August 7, 2013.
This has been on at least five of my playlists by now. I strictly took Drake as a rapper, as I previously heard his songs “The Motto” and “Headlines”, but it was refreshing to hear him sing melodiously on this track. His vocals flow superbly with the song’s gentle ticking-time beats and drawn-out synths, as well as Majid Al Maskati’s breathy, supporting chants in the bridge. “Hold On, We’re Going Home” is nothing but a dreamy addition to the “Chill” genre, entailing bouts of devotion and entranced passion for a romantic interest in the lyrics “I can’t get over you / You left your mark on me / I want your hot love and emotion endlessly”. Personally, I don’t have any cute love stories tied to this song, but it’s a song that would softly blare in my mom’s car speakers on nights where she’d cruise through the aesthetic city lights, putting my heavy-lidded, peaceful self into a 10-minute nap until my mom would carry me out of the car.
“Clarity” - Zedd ft. Foxes. Released (as a single) November 14, 2012.
To be fair, this song was released towards the beginning of 2013, which is also the year when it was most popular. I wasn’t much of an avid listener of EDM or house music; the only song I knew of the sort was “Don’t You Worry Child” by Swedish House Mafia, but “Clarity” made me delightfully open-minded to the genre(s). The song is a build-up of robotic, yet uncannily earthy, oscillator chords and Foxes’ symphonic and clearly projected chest voice, simultaneously transitioning into a fast, rejuvenating tempo with tapped beats and choir echoes. The song discusses the relentless push-and-pull of a toxic relationship that one can’t seem to escape, illuminated in the lyrics “If our love is tragedy / Why are you my remedy?”. As an upbeat song with a tragic meaning, this can go two ways. One, you probably listened to this during birthday parties your class would throw, dancing and jumping your heart out on the classroom’s large rectangle rainbow rug (please tell me someone knows what I’m talking about) while pretending you were at a club. Two, you forced yourself to cry to this when your partner of one week decided to break up with you and, not even a day later, get with the popular kid in the grade above.
“Treasure” - Bruno Mars. Released (as a single) May 10, 2013.
This is an absolute CLASSIC. Nobody back then could give Bruno Mars a run for his money, especially as he released songs that practically everyone knew word-for-word, such as “Grenade” and “The Lazy Song”. “Treasure” was yet another anthem, one that brought the funk genre back to the 21st century. Mars’ sweet tenor stands confidently against groovy electronic guitar strums and snare kick drums, the occasional key chimes coming in with flair. The song essentially tells us how we should make our significant others feel, the correct answer being treasured; the lyrics “Treasure / That is what you are / Honey, you're my golden star” emphasize the sheer luck and gratitude for having someone so special. My scenario for this has nothing to do with the song. Whenever I would finish my cursive homework early on Fridays, to which I obviously used as leverage for my mom to let me sleep over at my best friend’s house, I would always play “Treasure” to heighten my already good mood, as well as to put my mom in enough of a high spirit to finally grant me permission since I knew that she loved 70s/80s music, so the song sounded like something that she’d probably love, too.
“Young and Beautiful” - Lana Del Rey. Released April 23, 2013.
What better way to conclude this than to talk about such a timeless alt-pop song? This song was in the only scene of The Great Gatsby that I remember, when Daisy roams around Gatsby’s estate, in awe of his luxury while Gatsby is in awe of her; it was a pretty heart-melting moment. In the song, Lana Del Rey’s chilling, rich tone is used almost as an instrument, contrasting with the melancholic violin strings and the deep, rumbling bassline. “Young and Beautiful” presents the uncertainty of a relationship (one that has witnessed its fair share of peaks) lasting forever, raised in the questioning lyrics of “Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful? / Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul?”. Maybe this song hits home for those who were in their “indie phase” back then, listening to it through black Skullcandy earphones while leaning your head against a rain-pattered window, trying to encompass the song’s angst and feel mature for your age.
These songs, although not curated for anyone in particular, are solid contenders for being part of the soundtrack to one’s life. Who knows if we’ll end up reminiscing about 2023 songs, but if the opportunity ever arises… I hope that even better memories will be attached to them.
Have any questions about this article? Reach out to the writer! avanceni@uci.edu
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