10 Pop Culture Events We Wish We Could Relive

10 Pop Culture Events We Wish We Could Relive

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at for the most exciting moments from the century so far that we’d love to experience again.

The “Avengers: Infinity War” Cliffhanger (2018)

There are 23 movies in Marvel’s Infinity War Saga in total, with “Infinity War” and “Endgame” being the two major concluding films. There was debate about whether or not “Endgame” lived up to expectations, but everyone agreed that the end of “Infinity War” was pulled off amazingly. No one expected them to be brave enough to kill off half of the characters we’d grown to love. Then we had to wait an entire year to see them saved. In that time, the film’s ending was on everyone’s mind, with basically every single line becoming an internet meme.

“Game of Thrones” Season 8 Hype (2019)

In the years since, many fans haven’t stopped criticizing the series’ conclusion, constantly joking about the terrible dialogue and questionable writing decisions. After the showrunners cut out major book plotlines, such as Young Griff and Euron’s apocalypse, wrapping it up satisfyingly became a challenge. Still, before season 8’s release, all fans were desperate to see it end. No shows from the 2010s rivalled its hype, and millions of viewers were invested in it. Its quality had been waning for years, in fairness, but fans hoped it could be brought back for one last hurrah. One reason given for its failure is that the entire cast and crew were fed up, and their lack of passion is easy to see.

“Twilight” Frenzy (2008-12)

Few franchises have the same energy surrounding them as “Twilight” did during its prime. The first film was released in 2008, and then we got one every year until 2012. At the time, there was a major debate over their quality. Now, people largely agree they were seriously flawed, but also that they were an absolute blast to live through. All fans were on Team Edward or Team Jacob, except for the Team Bella crowd, who believed neither of the supernatural hunks was right for her. Surprisingly, there haven’t been any spin-offs in the years since, except for a couple of novels released by Stephenie Meyer.

Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress (2010)

It’s not often a pop star will come out of nowhere and then dominate global charts within 2 years of releasing their debut single. A major reason Lady Gaga became so popular was her eccentricity. The epitome of this was her beef dress at the 2010 VMAs. It was one of the most significant fashion statements of the century so far. It was in protest of the American military policy, “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” which barred openly gay individuals from serving. It was incredibly controversial, prompting a global discussion on the ethics of using animal flesh to make a statement. The dress was shown at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as other venues.

The Introduction of the iPhone (2007)

Gen alphas probably have no memory of what phones were like before Apple revolutionized them. Until then, pretty much all they were good for was texting, calling, and maybe playing Snake. The first iPhone was unveiled in 2007, and it transformed the industry. In hindsight, the early iPhones were quite clunky, but at the time, they were mindblowing. Virtually everyone wanted to get their hands on one, and for a few years, they were a luxury item. By the early 2010s, tons of alternatives had flooded the market, and by 2014, smartphones were basically ubiquitous and have remained that way since.

Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera Kiss at the VMAs (2003)

The 2003 VMAs come from a period many of us are nostalgic for. Britney, Madonna, and Aguilera were three of pop’s biggest names. The trio performed both “Like a Virgin” and “Hollywood” together, and it was a show for the ages. The primary reason it’s still remembered is that Madonna kissed the other two pop stars toward “Hollywood”’s conclusion. Hilariously, they cut to a shot of Britney’s ex Justin Timberlake looking upset straight after the kiss. It was a scandalous moment, as many were outraged at seeing a same-sex kiss on TV. It feels tame to us, but scandals like this still happen. For instance, Lil Nas X caused a stir after kissing a man at the BET Awards in 2021.

The Rise of MySpace (2003-07)

Nowadays, popular social media platforms feel set in stone. Well, before Facebook, TikTok, and even YouTube, there was MySpace. It was the original global social network and was the world’s most popular from 2005 until 2009. It influenced music, friendships, and online culture as a whole. It still exists, but it’s almost entirely forgotten about, and barely resembles its older self. It was exciting how customizable profiles could be, something modern social media has done away with. It was all the rage among young people, and undoubtedly influenced a ton of websites that followed, although none of them feature everyone’s friend Tom.

Britney Spears’ 2000 VMAs Performance (2000)

After starting her career as a Disney kid, Britney began making solo music in the late 90s. In 2000, she was on top of the pop scene. If you ask a VMAs fan what the show’s greatest performance was, Britney’s 2000 “Oops!... I Did It Again” will likely be up there. Before the show, she was seen as America’s sweetheart. When she appeared here in a skin coloured outfit, all that was ripped away. This marked a turning point in her career, when she began to distance herself from the Disney star image. It was massively criticised for how revealing it was, as people were worried children would see it, but thankfully, now it’s largely considered empowering.

Early YouTube Viral Videos (2007)

YouTube first launched in 2005, and by the end of the decade, it became known globally. Those early years were a wonderful era, and will likely never be replicated. Now, viral videos are pretty common, facilitated through platforms like TikTok. Well, back when YouTube was new, so too were viral videos, and they felt so exciting. It’s now considered “The Golden Age” of YouTube, before it was so heavily monetized and felt more like the wild west. Production value was, on average, substantially lower, with most posts home videos and random animations. It was a product of video hosting websites being entirely new, and those days are gone forever.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Beyoncé’s Super Bowl Halftime Show (2013)

This Performance Redefined Super Bowl Performance Standards

“26th MTV Video Music Awards” (2009)

This Was Hands Down One of the Most Iconic VMAs

The “Friends” Finale (2004)

It Was an Emotional Send-off to One of the ’90s’ Most Important Shows

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”’s Release (2003)

Over 20 Years Later, and This Film Hasn’t Aged a Day

The Premiere of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (2001)

It Would’ve Been Amazing to Witness the Beginning of this Franchise

“Pokémon Go”’s Launch (2016)

There are still tons of Pokémon Go players years after its release. In 2016, it felt like more people played it than didn’t. For a few weeks after it dropped, millions were wandering around outside, hunting Pokémon in the real world. It was super exciting being able to catch them all, making us all feel like real-life trainers. This may be a cliche, but it was one of those moments you literally just had to be there to understand. No other video game has encouraged people to go outside like this one, and we miss it badly. Tons of other games have mimicked its design, but none have been as culturally significant as Pokémon Go.

What pop culture moment would you like to go back to most? Let us know in the comments below!