10 Songs That Scream Total Request Live

May. 18, 2012

By Samantha Matt info

Samantha is a Boston based 20-something who owns way too many clothes and and is openly addicted to teen dramas ...

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6. “Bye, Bye, Bye” — *NSYNC

Keeping in theme with the title of their second studio album No Strings Attached, *NSYNC’s videos often portrayed the band as puppets. “Bye, Bye, Bye” featured a hot chick who kept the boys on marionette strings. The boys escaped by climbing on top of a train, where the girl proceeded to chase them. Eventually, they all found really nice convertibles (how convenient) and chased each other on a deserted highway until the girl was left next to a cliff. Luckily, no one died. Oh yeah, and there was an epic “Bye, Bye, Bye” dance that I and everyone else knew and practiced on the daily. In fact, I still know it.

7. “Larger Than Life” — Backstreet Boys

Talk about Y2K. This video was all about how awesome the future was going to be. But 13 years later (ugh), it’s not all that cool. At all. There are no robots. Girls and guys do not wear weird space gear when going to space. Actually, normal people do not go to space, ever. This whole space theme was apparent in Britney’s “Oops I Did It Again,” too. Why? I don’t get it. This video spent the longest time at number 1 on TRL out of ALL the videos, so space must have been pretty chic back then.

8. “Unpretty” — TLC

Holy breast implants. This video brought me out of the sheltered shell I lived in and taught me about plastic surgery. Oh, you feel ugly? Just go to a doctor and have him make your boobs bigger. Oh, you feel fat? Start throwing up. I know you were trying to make a point, TLC, but thanks for the ideas!

9. “Bawitdaba” — Kid Rock

This video featured Kid Rock strolling around in some trailer park dressed like a pimp — colored top hats and velvet suits and all. I still have absolutely no idea what the meaning of this video and song actually was… but there were kids, pimps, guidos before guidos existed, and what I think were prostitutes. In other words, it was awesome. I think? I guess? Either way, this video sticks out in my mind as a TRL fan favorite.

10. “I Want It That Way” — Backstreet Boys

No countdown of ’90s and early 2000s music videos is complete without the mention of “I Want It That Way.” This video was set inside and outside an airport. Inside, the boys had on white suits and outside the suits were dark. I have no idea what the point of this video was except to relay the message that the boys wanted lots of fans around at all time with signs and they wanted to be able to leave said fans without being attacked by getting on their own private jet. Wouldn’t we all? TC mark

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A slightly different version of this article was originally published by FOREVER TWENTY SOMETHINGS.

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  • Jess

    You had me at Darren’s Dance Grooves

  • MP90909

    Just read your bio, and realized what your name sounds so familiar. #ICReppin’

  • http://twitter.com/brichardlong B. Richard Long

    This is perfect.

  • Anonymous

    blink182 – What’s My Age Again? 

    banana suit. naked “punk” dudes. parody of those ridiculous early-2000s Gap commercials. COME ON! 

  • Anonymous

    Oh god, I’m glad Tom Green has faded into irrelevance. And Korn too.

    • @marthabuca

      I loved Korn!

  • ADV87

    The only thing I think this list is lacking is some Limp Bizkit. SCREAMS late ’90s TRL!

    • http://twitter.com/FailboatSailor Justine G.

      SO YOU CAN TAKE THAT COOKIE
      AND STICK IT UP YOUR YEAH

  • Andrew Rowland

    My God, how I needed to watch that Kid Rock video. Was this cool? I wish things were cool like this still if that’s the case. Seems more fun than what we got now.

  • @Marthabuca

    So true!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=727725625 Tanya Eunice

    The backstreet boys have some codependency issues. I never realized how awesome Eminem was, I miss watching TRL though.

  • http://www.twitter.com/kkasie19 kasie

    Oh Samantha, you shouldn’t have.

  • http://twitter.com/Commander_Co0l Tony Fernandez

    fuck yeah my childhood!

  • Jessica

    this is the best thing ever

  • Brandon h

    All the cool kids watched TRL but Jesus H Christ on a whole wheat cracker it was awful. Screaming girls, Carson Daily’s nasal voice and odd butternut squash shaped head, and videos cut down to nothing with MORE SCREAMING GIRLS OVERLAYED ON TOP OF THEM. Plus advertising.

    *sigh* And that says nothing about the actual songs and videos themselves.

  • http://twitter.com/LeePinkOC Lee K.

    Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta.  BOOM.

  • http://twitter.com/msaia27 Maria Saia

    This is perfect. Makes me miss my Childhood!

  • NICOLE

    Oh. My. God. Darren’s Dance Grooves. I completely forgot about that. 

  • http://twitter.com/rebelgypsy Karen

    This list is perfect.

  • http://twitter.com/jen_with_love Jen

    My dad actually took me to TRL on my birthday years ago, the same day the “Bum Bum Song” went to #1 on the countdown

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