The rules are simple, and the game is best played with a group. What you do is: Round up a list of the years in which people were born, and then you go on Youtube and type in your birth year, combined with the words “Top hits of…” Choose the first proper playlist you see, and have yourselves a dance party!
Also, be sure to add “Billboard” to the search. You know, to make it more legitimate.
But why would we want to do this, you may ask? Another frequently overheard statement is “obviously I wouldn’t know the songs of my birth year because I was barely conscious then!” Simply put, the point of this game is to travel back in time and listen, firsthand, what the world sounded like when you were born.
Other rules include the following: You’re listening to the BILLBOARD hits, whether you like it or not. This may bring some disappointment, because as a result, you might learn that the general public’s musical tastes don’t match your own. Spoiler alert: Nirvana doesn’t even touch the Billboard till at least 1994. Sorry, fellow 80s babies.
Perks of the game? The 20th century was extremely fun, musically speaking! You get to rock out to some great hits from yesteryear, and you’ll feel pleasantly surprised when you learn what songs came out the year you were born. Also, watching the videos can show you what the world looked like that year as well.
We’ve been obsessing over this game all week, and thought we’d share some of our results with you!
For those in their mid-twenties, don’t be surprised if the ’89 playlist kickstarts with Bobbi Brown’s “My Prerogative.” While we’re aware that there’s an entire generation (we’re looking at you ’95 babies and younger) that believe it’s a Britney Spears original from the early Naughts, we’re happy to report that you’re mistaken – she covered it. Here’s the original:
Whereas 1990 is lucky to have this golden oldie:
1984 proved to be the best playlist year of the 80s, where a good chunk of unforgettable hits were released:
The 1986 happened. And it sucked:
You could travel back in time to the quaint years of your parents’ birth years, imagining what was playing on the jukebox while they were first entering this world:
Harass your boss to find out his/her birth year, and their soundtrack might end up being surprisingly groovy! Here’s the one we loved:
And if you have any interns around, delve into the best musical decade of all – the mid to late 90s, where many of us were old enough to remember the music from this time (and be forever traumatized by the experience) – such as this hit from 1996:
Do let us know through social media what your favorite birth year playlist is or what your birth year playlist is like!
Happy time wasting bazaarites! Enjoy Prince dancing away in this gif – just look at him go – mesmerizing:
Disclaimer! bazaar is not held responsible for ANY of the following: Disputes this game may cause, work this game may keep you from getting done, and if your birth year’s music isn’t great. Remember, some of us are born in 1986 and were still able to move on with our lives.
Also note that some of these songs were released the year before they made the Billboards, but it still counts though!
