14 Pop Culture-y Things That Turn 10 This Year

source: breatheheavy.com

... just to make you feel old (or just very confused), let's make a list of 14 pop culture-related things that will turn 10 years old in 2014. And ... go!

1. Facebook
And are we any better for it?

2. "Mean Girls"
Which also means that it's been 10 years since Lindsay Lohan was considered an ingenue, a good actress, attractive, and reliable by most. Tell me the truth -- do you still quote this movie?

3. "The College Dropout"

Kanye West releases his debut album and becomes a megastar instantly. Things haven't changed too much.

4. Britney Spears gets married ... twice

Within a span of 12, nay, 10 months, Britney Spears gets married in Vegas, has her marriage annulled, then inexplicably gets married to Kevin Federline.

5. Ashlee Simpson gets caught lip synching on "Saturday Night Live"

... and then does a weird jig. I can't believe that was 10 years ago. I remember watching that live, crammed into an uncomfortable corner of an eerie corner kitchen of my basement dorm hall. I didn't think she deserved all the hate then, and I still don't now.

6. "The Notebook"

And yet, I can't seem to imagine Ryan Gosling or Rachel McAdams a day older than they looked in "The Notebook." And I don't think they do look a day older now. If you're a bird, I'm a bird, right?

7. Paris Hilton's popularity

Ugh, I do not miss the era of celebrity gossip when all that mattered was what stupid thing Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, and Mischa Barton had done that week. But do you remember the phrase "That's hot"? And how Paris successfully trademarked it? The rockbottom of pop culture.

8. Massachusetts and same-sex marriage

The state of Massachusetts, then under the watchful eye of future presidential candidate Mitt Romney, became the very first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriages.

9. "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County"

The reality show that spawned a new style of "reality" shows made its debut on September 28, 2004 and became arguably bigger than the show from which it drew inspiration: "The O.C."

10. "Nipplegate"

Justin Timberlake "accidentally" exposed 80% of Janet Jackson's star-covered breast at the Super Bowl. The pair consequently begin backpedaling with the lamest PR excuses I've ever heard in my life. I didn't think it was that controversial ten years ago, but now I just think it's plain stupid. Why would you end a song by ripping off a pocket of a woman's shirt to expose a sparkly star-covered boob? Like, what's the point? If it was purely shock they were after, I guess they succeeded. Also: ten years on, and people are still treating Justin Timberlake like he's some sort of demi-legend. Still don't get it.

11. "Napoleon Dynamite"

Now this is something that feels more like it happened 20 years ago, maybe even 30. And that probably makes "Napoleon Dynamite" a classic. Or incredibly dated when it was released.

12. "Friends" ends

Good riddance.

13. The Curse of the Bambino is lifted

The Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees to win their first World Series in 86 years. Yeah, I'm New Yorker born and raised, but I still know all about the Bambino. I happened to be living in Boston at the time, and it was madness. Pure madness.

14. The Olsen Twins turned 18

There was a countdown and everything. Sick. Especially since they still look underage, ten years later.

Music Video: "Show 'Em (What You're Made Of)", Backstreet Boys

Have all you Backstreet Boys superfans seen the new music video for "Show 'Em (What You're Made Of)"? It kind of slipped in there quietly, like many of the group's music videos between 2006 and 2009. First posted on the Backstreet Boys' Facebook page, the music video was posted this morning to the all-encompassing Vevo. (By the way, am I the only one who finds all these parenthetical song titles slightly ridiculous? What is so parenthetical about "what you're made of?" Isn't the practice of "showing 'em" inherently showing them what you're made of? See also: "Remix (I Like The)" by New Kids on the Block.) 

Anyway, I remember all those times as a teenager when a big music video would have its premiere on "TRL" and there'd be a big buzz from the fanbase leading up to it. And sometimes, if we were lucky enough, we'd get a behind-the-scenes look on "Making The Video." Back in those days, I thought music videos of the Boys against a green screen ("More Than That") were boring. Concert videos ("The One") were almost equally boring. Sci-fi-ish music videos ("Larger Than Life") were totally not my thing and were mostly avoided. Even music videos with a legitimate storyline ("The Call," "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)") did little for me.

Or maybe it's because they were overplayed on "TRL." 

I'm not really sure what constituted a good music video for the Boys to me back then. I liked "Show Me The Meaning (Of Being Lonely)," "Just So You Know," "Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart)," "All I Have To Give," etc. well enough. But my favorite BSB music video is probably the original European version of "I'll Never Break Your Heart," probably only because Nick Carter was just so gosh darn cute in his knit sweater in it. Maybe I just wanted to see glamour shots of my favorite Backstreet Boy looking good (a.k.a. not greasy, see: "Larger Than Life").

So fast forward about 18 years, and we have the music video for "Show 'Em (What You're Made Of)". The song is classic Backstreet Boys-meets-Adult Contemporary ... meaning: classic Backstreet Boys. It's inspirational, it's uplifting, it admits youthful mistakes, and it believes in you. Aww.

The music video, too, is the best of classic Backstreet, but without the frills (unless you count A.J. and Brian's bare chests frills -- Us Magazine seemed to). Set against a black screen, there are no effects. Just lighting, angles, bare chests, Howie's corniness and the occasional boy band hand gesture, mostly courtesy of Nick Carter (who I guess picked up the habit too young and now can't shake it). Nothing has changed except for the elasticity of their skin. All the best of Backstreet condensed into a very simple, very focused 4 minute video. 

And the shocker is -- I don't find it boring at all. I even have to look away when Brian's flashing me. Does this mean I'm getting old?

Top Five: "The Hills" moments

"The Hills," sadly, started out as a continuation of the wildly popular "Laguna Beach: The Real O.C." but overstayed its welcome and went down in history books as a huge joke, a joke that its producers were happy to share the punchline to. In the past few weeks, I did two "Laguna Beach: The Real O.C." posts, a top five moments entry for each of the first two seasons of the show (season one, season two). For "The Hills," though, I'm going to do just one because as the seasons wore on, each episode seemed to revolve around the same recycled drama, just with prettier clothes and more plastic noses.

Unfortunately, none of the full episodes of "The Hills" currently work on MTV.com, but I managed to find a pretty good compilation via PopSugar's YouTube page.

5. Elodie vs. Heidi
(Season 3, Episode 7)
Oh, the satisfaction I felt when Elodie showed Heidi what's up after Heidi went behind Elodie's back to get a promotion. On Elodie's last day, Heidi asked her to take over her late night nightclub shift so she could spend time with Spencer ... and Elodie agreed to it, all the while not telling Heidi she'd already quit. I almost forgot Elodie existed, but she made for some great, great television that night.

4. Jason vs. Paris
(Season 1, Episode 10; 0:16 in the video above)
When the final episode of the first season of "The Hills" aired, I was well into my college years, a world backpacker, and a seasoned intern. And I knew that you should never, ever pass up an opportunity to go to Europe ... especially not for a boyfriend. Especially not if your boyfriend is Jason Wahler. Need I say more?

3. Audrina vs. Lo
(Season 4, Episode 1)
Let me just start by saying that I never liked Lo. I especially did not like Lo when she was "Laguna Beach's resident Paris Hilton," and though she seemed to become less shallow during and after her college years, she was no more engaging as a character. That said, I thought the season-long riff between Lo and Audrina was mildly entertaining, with the "drama" playing out in the very best representation of a passive aggressive confrontation between two girls ever captured on film, maybe. "I know, but ..." "I hear you, but ..." You hear nothing, Lo. You hear nothing.

2. Lauren vs. Audrina
(Season 4, Episode 5; 0:57 in the video above)
The penultimate moment of "The Hills." Cheeks streaked with mascara-stained tears, Lauren -- with her croaky day-after-Les-Deux voice -- confronts Audrina about the tension that's built up between the three roommates. The other most memorable dramatic moment has got to be the "I want to forgive you, and I want to forget you" speech Lauren gives to Heidi.

1. Whitney Port vs. Overly Dramatic Reality Television
On "The Hills," Whitney Port played a minor, supporting role to the show's main girl, Lauren. Because we got to see so little of Whitney on "The Hills," she was always entertaining, always wise, always a little mysterious. Unfortunately, those illusions vanished into thin air when Whitney signed on to do two seasons of "The City," but while she was on "The Hills," I have to say, she was the greatest entertainment of all -- a voice of reason and humor. Let these GIFs demonstrate my point.

"A date!?"
source: gabeswebsite.com

source: heresgifsforyou.tumblr.com

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source: giphy.com

Yes.

Top Five: "Laguna Beach" Season Two moments

source: MTV.com

I'm back with the second installment of "Laguna Beach" moments. In my first post, I ruminated on my favorite moments of the first season of "Laguna Beach: The Real O.C.," which, in retrospect, seemed an altogether more wholesome and earnest endeavor. All this went down the drain in the show's second season, when MTV realized it had found its sweet spot in what teenagers really wanted to see -- and that was drama, drama, drama.

Bad Girl Kristin Cavallari took over as protagonist and main narrator in the reality show's second season, and in my opinion, that was probably among the smartest moves MTV made between 2004 and now. Aside from riding on the not-so-well-intentioned coattails of "Teen Mom"'s success. Team Kristin or not, I honestly don't think "The Hills" and all its successors would have come to be if Kristin hadn't taken over Lauren Conrad's role in the second season.

That said, my top five favorite moments of the second season of "Laguna Beach" won't be as heartfelt or sappy as my top five from the first season. They'll be more ridiculous, over-the-top, and maybe even ironic. The second season brought along the likes of the paradoxically dull Bad Boy Jason Wahler, tough girl Alex Murrel, doll-faced Taylor Cole, the insufferable Casey Reinhardt, and more screen time for Talan Torriero and Kristin's BFFs, Alex Hooser and the ever-lovable Jessica Smith.

Without further ado, here are my top five favorite moments ...

5. Episode 10 - 10:00
Casey decides she wants to talk with Alex M. about the alleged rumors she's spread about Alex's "hygiene problem." Things escalate when Casey calls Alex "an evil person" and Alex shuts down all talks.

Bonus moment from the same episode, at 1:02, when Kristin advises Alex H. that the way to get all the guys is to be a bitch.

4. Episode 7 - 7:30
Jason takes Alex M. out on their first on-screen date, and Alex whispers sweet nothings like "I like your face" to him over a romantic surf 'n turf dinner. Plus, it's fun to see both the awkwardness and sweetness of the early stages of a relationship. Even if that relationship only lasts two episodes.

3. Episode 14 - 12:45
Okay, so I had to stuff a little mush into this list, because otherwise, I'd be admitting that "Laguna Beach" is completely void of substance. Is it just me or does the LBHS valedictorian have a Jersey accent? Anyway, I actually teared up when I watched the little Laguna Beach High School seniors graduate. The Chantal Kreviazuk song didn't help.

2. Episode 4 - 9:15
JP, recurring background character, makes his second appearance on "Laguna Beach" here. He is undoubtedly the hottest member of the Laguna Beach community we've been introduced to -- I don't care how good-looking you think Jason or Stephen are. JP has got that skater boy laidback-ness to him, and in a minute's time scales the distance between Men from Mars and Women from Venus. It's always fun to hear a man's (or boy, in this case) perspective on why women do what they do.

Bonus moment from earlier in this episode, at 7:40: we see Kristin and Talan at dinner, alone together. It's clear that Kristin has some feelings for him, though it's unclear just how deep those feelings are. It's just nice to see Kristin kind of disarmed, and "giddy" in her detached, Kristin Cavallari way.

1. Episode 11 - 6:30
There are two reasons I love this clip so, so much. One, Jessica is happy for once in her freaking life. Two, Kristin is finally drunk enough to have let go of her inhibitions, and it's really refreshing. Not that I'm condoning underage drinking or anything, but it's rare that we see Kristin without some sort of front. I love the bonding being achieved here by Jessica and Kristin. Too bad it lasts for only about, oh, half a scene. Followed by unmatchable humor, courtesy of Alex H. Fiiiiiiestaaaaaaa!

source: MTV.com

2000-2001 Playlist

source: MTV.com / Carlo Dalla Chiesa

I'm back to share my playlist from the 2000-2001 period, which, looking back, was probably one of the best "years" of music I can remember -- it had the perfect mix of the teenybopper music that had been so popular in the years prior, along with some alternative music of the 1990s and some hip-hop that would come to dominate pop music in the following years. The 2000-2001 period was probably one of the first years I really started to take an active interest in contemporary music outside of what was being fed to me through pop radio and MTV/VH1, so there are some songs here that may not necessarily be from the 2000-2001 time period, or songs that may not have been played on radio at all.

I started creating a Spotify playlist for this as I usually do, but so many songs were missing that I eschewed that idea and went straight for YouTube. One song from my personal iPod 2000-2001 playlist is missing from YouTube, a song that I really played the crap out of during this time period, and that song is "I Wish Me You" by Amanda Latona. She was mostly known back then for being the girlfriend of the Backstreet Boys' A.J. McLean, but she was also a former member of a girl group managed by Justin Timberlake's mother called Innosense (which I believe Britney Spears was also part of before she decided to take the solo route). Ah, who doesn't love an incestuous pop music world?

- "The Space Between," Dave Matthews Band

- "Get Over Yourself," Eden's Crush

I actually never liked this song, but a year or so after the song came out, I realized that this song had been the soundtrack to so much of that year of my life, I couldn't leave it out. I much prefer the Eden's Crush (the girl group formed by the WB show "Popstars" ... the group which Nicole Scherzinger initially started out in) song "Love This Way," which makes an appearance later on in this playlist.

- "Crazy," K-Ci and JoJo

- "So In Love With Two," Mikaila

The only reason this song is on my list is because it brings me right back every time I hear it. Even back then, I thought the song was a little too teenyboppery for me, though it had a nice R&B tone to it. I liked the girl's voice, though. Another song from this era that's similar is the song "Broken Promises" by Tonya Mitchell. Neither song fully broke pop radio, though they were played in the wee hours of the night, I guess as a trial. Wonder what ever happened to both of them.

- "Ride Wit Me," Nelly

- "If I Was The One," Ruff Endz

The grammatical errors of this song still bug me (go figure), but the melody and beat are so entrancing, I can't help but love it.

- "Natural," S Club 7

"Never Had A Dream Come True" is the S Club 7 song that most Americans are familiar with, but I was guilty of watching their kids' TV show on ABC Family back then, so I was familiar with most of their songs and kept up with their career. "Natural" was the song that really stuck out to me, because it was a teeny bit less pop and slightly more R&B, which was a style I was really fond of (and still am).

- "All For You," Janet Jackson

One of my all-time favorite songs from my teenage years. This song makes me happy to this day, and I will chair dance if I hear it. "Doesn't Really Matter" was also released as a single in 2000, and it was equally good.

source: Lenny Kravitz's Facebook page

- "I Like It," Sammie

- "Butterfly," Crazy Town

Along with "All For You," one of my all-time favorite songs of this era.

- "Smooth Criminal," Alien Ant Farm

- "I Need You," LeAnn Rimes

- "Crazy For This Girl," Evan and Jaron

- "It Wasn't Me," Shaggy

- "Love This Way," Eden's Crush

- "Lady Marmalade," Moulin Rouge soundtrack

- "Again," Lenny Kravitz

I surprised even myself when I found myself falling in love with this song. I'd already been a minor fan of Lenny Kravitz's, but this song was so simplistic in comparison to the songs I preferred. I think this is just such a simple and beautiful love song.

- "Breathe," Faith Hill

- "I'm Like A Bird," Nelly Furtado

- "More Than That," Backstreet Boys

- "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)," 3LW

- "Drive," Incubus

Another song that defines this time in my life for me. This is such a great song, and part of what drove me towards more acoustic music.

- "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely," Ricky Martin ft. Christina Aguilera

- "Fill Me In," Craig David

I'm shocked and downright disappointed that Craig David hasn't had greater success in the United States. His music was so fresh at the time, and a fantastic fusion of pop and R&B that wasn't a filled niche at the time (and still really isn't). Plus, he's got such a pretty face.

- "All Or Nothing," O-Town

I wasn't a huge fan of O-Town, but something about this song -- or maybe the music video -- was so sad to me at the time that it made an impact and has stuck with me since. There was some controversy at the time among boy band fans over the intro of this song, as it was more or less identical to that of "Drowning" by the Backstreet Boys, a song that wasn't released until fall of 2001. Who copied who? Will we ever know?

- "How Long," Dream

Straight-up bubblegum pop, but such a princessy, girly song.

- "Here's To The Night," Eve 6

I don't think I'll ever not like this song. This song made me jealous that I wasn't a high school senior in 2001. I know it's supposed to be about a one-night stand, but that doesn't make me love the song any less. The lyrics are so true, so good for all time. The line "don't let me let you go" still haunts me to this day.

source: Eve 6's Facebook page

Top Five: "Laguna Beach" Season One moments

I heard that MTV's been replaying its reality show franchise (if you wanna call it that) "Laguna Beach" recently, and it's being referred to as "Retro MTV" or the like. To me, it wasn't that long ago. Maybe because I'm about the same age as the "Laguna Beach/The Hills" cast members, and developmentally, I was already fully grown when the show began to air on MTV in the fall of 2004. Or maybe because "Laguna Beach" became "The Hills," became "The City" and "Audrina," and the whole "Laguna Beach" wheel only stopped turning about 2 years ago.

I remember being skeptical about the show, because MTV had dubbed it "The Real O.C.," and I thought MTV was just trying to ride on the real "O.C."'s coattails. I was also skeptical because I had also recently graduated high school and wasn't sure I wanted to watch oh-so-dramatic high schoolers duking it out. Especially rich, pretty blonde ones.

Well, as with every show that MTV likes to play marathon-style on weekends, I eventually became victim to "Laguna Beach: The Real O.C." ... but I never fell victim to Lauren! Most won't agree, but I don't think she and Stephen were ever that compatible -- they didn't really seem to be on the same level, intellectually. I can proudly state that I was always, always Team Kristin. Even when the going got bad on the last season of "The Hills."

Here is a list of my top five favorite "Laguna Beach: The Real O.C." moments from season one:

(Episode 11 - 8:45) Kristin and Stephen have a romantic talk on the beach, when they discuss the status of their relationship.

(Episode 11 - 18:31) Lauren heads off to San Francisco, and who's there to meet her but the love of her life. I didn't believe a second of this, but it was a nice season ending, and much more subtle than what was to come.

(Episode 2 - 10:45) Kristin and Jessica cook for Stephen and Dieter ... and it's not good.

(Episode 2 - 14:00) Kristin and Stephen have a civilized argument at their favorite eatery, Pomodoro.

(Episode 11 - 16:05) While Lauren is packing to head off to college in San Francisco, Lo can't bear to leave ... and asks if she can have Lauren's "Goachi" bag to remember her by.

So ... what were your favorite moments of season one? Do you prefer season one or season two? Looking back, season one was quite drama-free in comparison to season two and "The Hills."

The Hills: An alternate ending

The original cast of "The Hills," with their original faces and bodies (for the most part) in 2006.
source: MTV.com

Last week, MTV released an alternate ending to reality series "The Hills," which ended its run in 2010. For all the talk and mocking of "The Hills," it seems kind of lost on the general population that it started out as a somewhat humble little "reality" show in fall 2004 that, in itself, was a response to the popularity of the television show "The O.C."

I loyally watched pretty much every episode of "The Hills" because I'd loved "Laguna Beach" so much, and not because I always enjoyed it. When Kristin Cavallari joined the cast, I cheered because I'd always been "Team Kristin," never "Team Lauren." Sure, she was more dramatic and perhaps arrogant, but she also stood up for herself and didn't take crap from anyone.

Anyway, the "Hills" ending that aired in 2010 showed Kristin seemingly on her way to the airport, headed for Europe. An acoustic version of the show's theme song, "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield, plays somberly in the background. Kristin looks out the window of her cab towards her proverbial future as Lauren had once done in her flashy convertible, driving up the 101 from Laguna Beach, California to Los Angeles. And as Kristin had herself done in 2005, when she drove up the same route a year after Lauren, to begin college in Los Angeles.

We are then shown each of the cast members looking contemplative, juxtaposed against old footage of themselves. As the scene returns to Brody Jenner, the Hollywood sign behind him begins to move and is removed from the frame, and the camera pans out to reveal a soundstage, lights, production crew.

The alternate ending has an appendix to the original ending: that of Brody returning to his apartment to find Lauren Conrad nonchalantly waiting for him on his couch. We are meant to believe that they are together, and that Brody is still hiding something from Lauren when he refers to Kristin as "a friend." After a short, stilted exchange and dramatic glances into nothingness (a "Laguna Beach/Hills" trademark), Brody smiles at Lauren and she breaks into a wicked grin.

Lauren wins. She's always been a step ahead of Kristin, paving the path for her as far as MTV reality shows are concerned. But this time, she finally gets the guy, too. It's not Stephen Colletti, but Brody Jenner's not a bad alternative.

I don't know, guys. What do you think of the alternate ending? Which do you like better? Do you think Lauren should've taken the "high road" and stayed out of the finale altogether, or do you think it was cheeky of her to return for the last scene and, effectively, "win" the Lauren vs. Kristin battle?

What I will say, though, is that I really loved the flashbacks to the earlier seasons, and particularly to the first two seasons of "Laguna Beach." We've all come a long way, and for some of the cast members, it was apparent through all the facial and bodily augmentations. There was a time when they were young, brash and somewhat innocent, and there was a time when there was probably some truth to the words that came out of their mouths.

"The Hills" as it ended, with two original cast members, in 2010.
source: MTV.com

1999-2000 Playlist

source: Macy Gray's Facebook page

Like the early through late '90s, the 1999-2000 span was a good, good year for music, with plenty of diversity and range in musical styles. Alternative music still had a strong grip on pop radio, while pop princesses were taking over MTV's "TRL."

Below is a playlist of the most memorable of the songs I listened to while tackling my Math and World History homework, worrying about boys and growing out of my awkward phase (as if!) ... some of these songs I hated at the time, and others I knew would have a place in my heart forever. Here they all are in their glory 14 years later.

"I Try," Macy Gray

"Smooth," Santana ft. Rob Thomas

"Doesn't Really Matter," Janet Jackson

"Take A Picture," Filter

"What A Girl Wants," Christina Aguilera

"Someday," Sugar Ray

"Blue (Da Ba Dee)," Eiffel 65

"There She Goes," Sixpence None The Richer

"All The Small Things," Blink-182

source: Blink-182's Facebook page

"Everything You Want," Vertical Horizon

"Livin' La Vida Loca," Ricky Martin

"Absolutely (Story Of A Girl)," Nine Days

"Oops! ... I Did It Again," Britney Spears

"The Real Slim Shady," Eminem

"American Woman," Lenny Kravitz

"Then The Morning Comes," Smash Mouth

"Better Off Alone," Alice Deejay

"I Knew I Loved You," Savage Garden

"Bug A Boo," Destiny's Child

"Out Of My Head," Fastball

"It's My Life," Bon Jovi

"Get It On Tonite," Montell Jordan

"Wonderful," Everclear

"Girl On TV," LFO

"Try Again," Aaliyah

"Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me)," Blessid Union of Souls

"I Think I'm In Love With You," Jessica Simpson

"Bailamos," Enrique Iglesias

"Back Here," BBMak

"She's So High," Tal Bachman

"Thong Song," Sisqo