Whether you’re a graduating “super senior” or just finished your first year at UC Berkeley, we can all agree that the golden age of boy bands has long since subsided. But that doesn’t mean you can’t listen to some throwback tunes! Boy bands not only bring back some nostalgia, but also inarguably 100% made the music scene what it is today.
Jonas Brothers
A throwback playlist wouldn’t be complete without the Jonas Brothers making some sort of appearance. Marking a prominent part of every Golden Bear’s childhood, the Jonas Brothers brought new meaning to the name “boy band” with songs like “Burnin’ Up” and “Year 3000.” Transcending the music industry for movies like Disney’s “Camp Rock,” the Jonas Brothers became synonymous with the 2000s. Other hits like “S.O.S” and “Lovebug” bring back memories of those simpler times in which all we cared about was whether you liked Kevin, Joe or Nick.
*NSYNC
We’re bringing it back a little more with *NSYNC. This boy band changed pop culture forever, and we’re sure to be bopping along to their songs well into our 70s. Their classic hits like “Pop” and their melodramatic jams like “I Want You Back” and “It’s Gonna Be Me” left a lasting impact on every Golden Bear. We still remember all the words to “Bye Bye Bye.” How could we forget the words to songs from Justin Timberlake’s prime? We’d even like to bet that Chancellor Christ gets lit to some of these *NSYNC bops, too.
Backstreet Boys
While the Backstreet Boys tried hard not to follow the boy band stereotype, their iconic pop ballads had to make it onto this throwback playlist. We can’t see Oski’s Spotify account, but we’re fairly certain that the Backstreet Boys would appear on his “recently played” list. And it’s easy to see why! Our romantic Oski and every Golden Bear can’t resist a good TBT to songs like “I Want It That Way” and “As Long As You Love Me.” Other hits like “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” and “Shape of My Heart” meshed R&B-esque rhythms with sappy lyrics for a cool and transformative effect on the music industry.
While we’re stuck with UC Berkeley’s grade deflation and tedious finals, these hits are sure to bring back those carefree 2000s vibes. So Bears, break out your earbuds, sit back and jam out to these throwback tunes.
