Anyone else here an early 2000s kid who would be rocking out to music just to have their parents slam it off saying it was WAY too aggressive, sexual, or glorifying of drugs and alcohol?

At this point, obviously we all thought our parents were being over protective and insane. We just assumed that music had always been on a constant pushing-the-enevelope trajectory, always creating music that was a-bit-too-much for the generation past.

However, our parents may have had a point.

via GIPHY

As time has gone on, music has definitley mellowed out again. While there are still songs about love and dancing, they don't aggressively scream "DRUGS! SEX! PARTIES!" Furthemore, there are more songs that actually centralize on topics about self empowerment, discovery, and optimism. Can that be credited to the current state of the world we are in today and the resulting decline of rave culture? Yes, but that's a different article.

When I find myself listening back to the songs we used to blast in grade school, I'm shocked any of it was on the radio. It literally would not make the radio today. I'm not saying these songs aren't bops (I'd be lying if I were to say my early 2000s Spotify playlist is not one of my most listened to), but there is a hilarious amount of, "wait, what did they say?" in these songs.

Here are some songs you may have forgotten about that you will be SHOCKED to hear again! (And then you'll put them on repeat because, I mean...they're quite catchy!)

1. If You Seek Amy


 Today is the 13th anniversary of the time Britney Spears pranked the world. In her 2009 song If You Seek Amy, listeners around the world were tricked into singing a profane question to those around them. Even the news took notice! I think it should be noted, also, that this song happened, and, yes, it was news...but we kepts singing it. AND it got MORE popular after this. Wild.

2. DONTTRUSTME


Just one year before the Pop Princess's prank, 3OH!3 came out with a generation definining punk-pop hit in 2008. Giving this song a 2022 listen? VERY ODD. Such lyrics to the song include, "T-tell your boyfriend if he says he's got beef/That I'm a vegetarian and I ain't fucking scared of him," and, "Shush girl shut your lips/Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips." And this played on the radio. In the morning.

3. Hot in Herre


This 2002 song cuts right to the point. The early 2000s were really a time for rappers, singers, and songwriters to announce exactly what they were thinking and exaclty what they wanted. Lyrics like those in the Nelly hit Hot in Herre, "It's getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes," were not covered by any artistic spins or poetic license. Direct and to the point. Honestly, a vibe. I still don't think it's a song that would be made today.

4. Take it Off


Take it Off by Ke$ha (who, at the time had the dollar-sign-for-an-s protected solidly in the center of her name) was similarly on the nose. We would be driving to school with our parents when all of a sudden the catchy and robotic voice of Ke$ha would come on singing, "It's a dirty free-for-all/ And they (turn me on)/ When they (take it off)/ When they (take it off)/Everybody take it off." Anyone else have memories of listening to this song while talking about the math test you were about to take with your parents? Anyone?

5. S&M


THIS SONG IS BANNED IN ELEVEN COUNTRIES! THAT IS SO MANY COUNTRIES! S&M, which is a non-negotiable bop by Rihanna, came out in 2010. It is LITERALLY all about BDSM. She performed this song on the Today show. That is a morning show. She sang, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me," as people woke up and we as a society were collectively like, "sure." And it was one of the MOST POPULAR songs. What popular songs have you heard about BDSM in the last ten years? Anyone? Going once?

6. Low


This 2007 Flo Rida rap was one that everyone found themselves dancing and singing to at their elementary school dances. I am starting to see my parent's point when they expressed they were somewhat uncomfortable to see a bunch of children jamming out to the words, "Work the pole, I got the bankroll/ I'ma say that I prefer the no clothes/I'm into that, I love women exposed." GREAT song though!

7. Sexy Back


 This 2006 classic Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake honestly needs no explination. Just listen to it. Beginning to end. What was happening here?

8. Too Close


Okay, so the song Too Close by Next ACTUALLY came out in 1997, but with these lyrics, it could not be excluded from this list. "Step back you're dancing kinda close / I feel a little poke coming through." Too Close is not even too close. It's right there. Nothing is hidden.

There are at least FIVE THOUSAND other songs where these came from. With the general high standards of what is allowed to play on radio to the public, it's honestly shocking that any music was allowed to play in the early 2000s.

BRB, gonna go listen to all of these songs on repeat back to back!

Tags: Britney Spears Rihanna 3OH!3 Nelly Ke$ha kesha Flo Rida Justin Timberlake next