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There's nothing like listening to a song you haven't heard in a while and being surprised that you remember every word by heart. Whether you grew up singing these songs into your hairbrush when no one was watching or are listening to them for the first time, we hope these eight timeless throwback songs take you to your happy place—past or present. Also, be sure to check out our playlist of nostalgic jams on Spotify!

1. "Perfect" (One Direction) 

If you're also heartbroken that an 18-month hiatus turned into six years (where is the reunion? WHERE is the reunion?), our best remedy is a cozy 1D music video marathon to relive the perfect midnight memories from when the band was still together. No shame at all—almost all of the top comments on the "Perfect" video are from the past month despite being released six years ago. The impact.

2. "Call Me Maybe" (Carly Rae Jepsen) 

The 355K people who hit the dislike button can argue with the wall because we bet that they can belt out every lyric word for word. Another video whose top comments are mostly from this past month, "Call Me Maybe" is the musical equivalent of carefree summer nights. Dig out your old Aeropostale tees and skinny jeans from pop music's most iconic era before jamming out to the 15th best-selling digital single of all time. Go ahead, time travel back to the 2012 memories we know you miss "so, so bad." 

3. "She's So Gone" (Lemonade Mouth)

Tbh, the entire Lemonade Mouth soundtrack should be on this list. Relevant in 2011 and relevant today, "She's So Gone" sits between Olivia Rodrigo's "good 4 u" and Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" in the throne room of best female empowerment breakup songs. Oh, and have we mentioned that it has over 72 million streams on Spotify? Deserve.

4. "Love Yourself" (Justin Bieber)

No epic beat drops, sky-high notes or an energetic chorus, and yet this chill, acoustic hit is Justin Bieber's most-played song on Spotify. People can interpret "Love Yourself" in different ways, but we like to think that it's a victory song for people who have had the strength to let go of a toxic relationship. And that's a message we're still fans of today. 

5. "Love You Like a Love Song" (Selena Gomez)

If you jammed to this song on Disney Channel before it became a TikTok trend, you qualify for a veteran discount. When Selena's not running her multimillion-dollar beauty company or starring in Hulu's most-watched comedy ever ("Only Murders in the Building" marathon, anybody?), it's a confirmed fact that her music never misses—we're warning you though, once you hear LYLALS once, it'll be stuck in your head on repeat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat.

6. "Potential Breakup Song" (Aly & AJ)

Tell 'em, Aly & AJ—everyone deserves an S.O. who treats them like royalty. Any song that is featured in up to 2 million TikToks and gets a remake 14 years after its original release is proof that it slaps. Press play for Y2K vibes and sassy lyrics that pack a punch, and you'll see why this song rightfully exploded on social media last year.

7. "Sk8er Boi" (Avril Lavigne)

Avril's music video is full of early 2000s fashion, beauty and technology, but the lyrics about recognizing everyone's worth still make a great anthem for today's world. Also, this power pop song is great for those days when you need an extra boost of confidence or a quick pick-me-up.

8. Literally every Taylor Swift song

Forget the MBTI—which Taylor Swift song captures your personality? From the relatable lyrics to the catchy melodies, every Taylor Swift song is a masterpiece. Red might be turning 10 next year, but we're just as in love with Taylor's Version as you are. You might be a loyal "Love Story" fan (and teared up during the movie "Letters to Juliet" when Taylor's voice became the soundtrack to the wedding—if you know, you know), or you might vibe most with evermore, but one thing we can all agree on is that Taylor Swift's music will never go out of style.

Are there any throwback songs that still just hit different for you? Let us know on our social media @girlslifemag!

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by Elizabeth Huang | 11/9/2021