A Playlist from Middle School | Music of the 2000s

This afternoon, one of my co-workers laughed at me when she looked over at me and saw me singing to myself. I was rocking out and enjoying what Amazon Music brought to me today. Amazon brought me back to middle school, which was much needed today. Music has power and music has always made me happy.

As I was working on my projects, I was transformed back to my art and writing classes, where I often listened to these CDs on my walkman. I would like to share some of the songs with you this evening:

Linkin Park played a lot this afternoon. Linkin Park, Twiztid, ICP, and a lot of heavy metal bands helped me through middle and high schools. In fact, Linkin Park and Twiztid helped me get through six years ago and helped me feel less alone. Chester Bennington had that power, like he was feeling exactly how I felt. I miss him.

This was the song that got me into Twiztid. It was catchy and it made me download more. I had a crush on a kid in 8th grade who had an older brother who LOVED Twiztid and ICP. I actually asked the guy to ask his brother if I could borrow the CDs to copy and sure enough, his brother let me borrow them. The guy turned out to be a jerk, but before I bought all the CDs seven years ago, I was listening to the CDs I burned for a good 10 years. Like Linkin Park, Twiztid had the power to make me feel less alone and like they understood everything I was going through. My 14 year old dream was the meet and hug both Jamie and Mono, which I had the opportunity to do at 25 and 29! Dreams do come true!

Good Charlotte is one of my guilty pleasures. When I used to travel with mom on business, she has an office in Brandywine, which is right next to Waldorf, where Good Charlotte is from. I remember going to the Walmart there and mom driving us around, I got to see where Good Charlotte came from.

Juggalette and Maggot. I pick the good bands to follow, don’t I? LOL. Slipknot and Mushroomhead, I liked them both.

In 4th grade, I denied liking Korn and in 6th grade, I dropped the pretenses and admitted that I loved Korn. Korn and Limp Bizkit were cool in my book. This song is on the first CD I ever bought unedited, Follow the Leader. I was allowed to buy my first unedited CD at a few months before I turned 14. Mom thought I was mature enough then.

19 years ago this month, my parents gifted me this CD after earning straight A’s for my first semester of 5th grade. I played Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water non-stop for six months. Back then I had to listen to edited music.

Liz and I used to make fun of this song, but it was super catchy. We made fun of Puddle of Mudd a lot, but I really liked their style and they reminded me of Nirvana a little bit.

This was the song that got me into Insane Clown Posse. I LOVED the Riddle Box and later that summer, I fell in love with the Wraith, and so history began.

I LOVED Eminem and had the hugest crush on him. Mom didn’t like him at first, but at 12, I was able to buy the Marshall Mather’s LP. Nan took me to the mall in August 2001 and I marched into FYE and purchased this album, edited. I listened to this non-stop too. Marshall Mather’s LP is still my favourite Eminem album.

I hope that you enjoyed walking down memory lane with me. Hearing these songs and singing along this afternoon continued to put me into a joyful mood.