Music has this incredible power to transport you. One minute you’re stressed about deadlines, the next you’re bopping your head to a tune that takes you right back to a different time. That’s exactly what happened to me recently in the most unexpected of places – the university bookstore. Amidst the textbooks and frantic students, a familiar melody cut through the noise, instantly shifting my mood.
Every little step I take,
You will be there.
Every little step I make,
We’ll be together.
It was Bobby Brown’s “Every Little Step,” a track from 1988, an era my parents lovingly refer to as “real music.” In a sea of students likely more familiar with current hits, I was that one person caught in a wave of nostalgia, nodding my head and mouthing every lyric. The bookstore, for a moment, transformed into a 90s throwback party as Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” followed. Leaving that unexpected oasis of old-school vibes, I couldn’t help but reflect on how deeply ingrained these musical memories are, especially those classic mixes from back in the day.
Growing up, my household was filled with the smooth sounds of jazz and soulful R&B. My parents, true children of what I believe was music’s golden age, ensured our home was always soundtracked by legends. These sounds weren’t just background noise; they were the very fabric of our daily life.
While I might not have actually been cruisin’ down the street in my ’64 like Easy-E, every car journey of my childhood was a musical event. From short trips around the block to epic cross-country road trips, the playlist was always on point: Motown classics, the soaring vocals of Whitney Houston, the smooth ballads of Anita Baker and Luther Vandross, the genius of Stevie Wonder, the sophisticated sounds of Sade, and the romantic melodies of Babyface. These weren’t just songs; they were anthems to our family adventures. I vividly remember surprising everyone at a family reunion by knowing every single word to Montell Jordan’s “This is How We Do It.” I was, without a doubt, a child of the 90s, musically speaking.
The late 90s then paved the way for another wave of incredible artists in the early 2000s. From the pop power of Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys to the genre-bending Outcast and the boyband craze of NSYNC, elementary school hallways echoed with a new soundscape. While classics from Boys II Men and Notorious B.I.G. still held their place, teen pop and boybands dominated the airwaves. I even had a Hit Clip – remember those? – with snippets of Destiny’s Child, Jesse McCartney, and Aaron Carter. Kindergarten show-and-tell saw me proudly presenting my bright pink CD player, eager to play my Britney Spears CD, with “Oops… I Did It Again” as the undeniable highlight for my young self.
Jumping to the present day, you’ll likely find me still jamming to Usher and Justin Timberlake in my car. Whether it’s just picking up groceries or a longer drive, my car often resonates with Mariah Carey’s stratospheric notes in “Emotions” or Ne-Yo’s smooth confidence in “Miss Independent.” Maybe I’m stuck in the good old days, but tracks from Akon, Mario, or T-Pain are always in rotation. And let’s be honest, who didn’t love “Buy You A Drank”? This isn’t to say I ignore the contemporary sounds of Future, Drake, and the current Billboard hits, but my musical heart will always beat a little faster for the 90s and 2000s.
Even now, when I’m back in the car with my parents, music remains central. My dad and I might belt out Charlie Wilson or Rihanna and Jay-Z’s “Umbrella,” while my mom and I transform into Janet Jackson’s backup dancers to “Rhythm Nation.” Perhaps we’re just old school at heart, or maybe we simply appreciate the timeless quality of truly great music. Either way, car rides with my family are definitely designed for these “old school jams.”
As time marches on, and songs that were once chart-toppers become nostalgic Throwback Thursday posts, I’m constantly reminded of the simple, pure joy that music brings. Whether I’m actually cruisin’ down the street (though maybe not in a ’64!), letting Gladys Knight’s flawless vocals fill my ears, or just escaping into headphones in a busy coffee shop, music has been and will always be one of life’s greatest pleasures.
