Are we in 2008 again? An investigation
Vampire Weekend, iPods and Motorola Razrs are back… and so is the recession!
Vampire Weekend, iPods and Motorola Razrs are back… and so is the recession!
What were you doing in 2008? Cast your mind back: Obama was the ultimate pin-up, a real regulation hottie ringing in an era of political hope; you saw Mamma Mia or The Dark Knight in the cinema, probably for a tenner; Elbow’s ‘One Day Like This’ was inescapable; Gavin and Stacey episodes were rolling in weekly.
I was actually in year eight, having sleepovers for the Disney Channel’s Camp Rock premiere and making an ‘H’-shaped keyring in design and technology lessons to honour the passing of hunk-of-my-life Heath Ledger. It’d be another year before I was listening to Vampire Weekend on my iPod and going to Bombay Bicycle Club gigs, but I’m told that 2008 was the year for this for the slightly older, definitely cooler, kids. I’m also told that there was a pretty big financial crash, or something?
So when news came of a new Vampire Weekend album and the UK falling officially into a recession again just a week apart, in February 2024, I couldn’t help but feel like this was very big 2008 energy. And as the weeks drew on, the more I noticed – from actual Motorola Razrs being used in the street, to iPods all over fashion week.
Without further ado, let me break down all the reasons it feels like we’re living in 2008. (Halfway through writing this, I saw a meme suggesting we’re living in 2004, but I’m sure you’ll agree, my case is far more compelling…)
As previously mentioned, Vampire Weekend are back with their first studio LP in half a decade, which they teased mysteriously on Instagram back in February. We now know the album is called Only God Was Above Us, out 5 April, and they’ve said it “might be our best yet” – hard to imagine if you had your first snog to ‘A-Punk’, two blue WKDs down, but we’ll try to keep an open mind.
Back in ’08, you listened to music on your iPod – not your phone, because that could only handle about one bluetoothed track at a time – and the colour and model meant a lot. Now, thanks to some big fashion moments, they’ve officially transitioned from archaic to ~retro~. One model carried an iPod nano down the runway at Conner Ives’ AW24 show, wearing a dress made from old Apple headphone wires. Then designer Sinead Gorey used iPod Shuffles as hair clips, chokers and earrings for her London Fashion Week show – even her invite was an ode to the revolutionary music device. Happy rooting through your family attic for your old one, you lil’ clout chaser!
We all remember where we were when we first saw that pink Razr, the phone that launched a thousand arguments with your parents as you made your case for ownership. Now Motorola have a new model out, and I’ve even seen the OG aforementioned icon used by arty hipster types who are eschewing constant social media usage for a simpler life.
Much like 2008, when she went from traumatic breakdown and losing custody of her kids to releasing Circus, Britney is a hot news topic once again, grabbing our attention with her impossible-to-look-away-from IG posts.
In year eight, I got my own pierced during a very thrilling trip to emo-haven Manchester’s Affleck’s Palace, much to my mother’s dismay. Then, obviously, they almost immediately went out of fashion. Sixteen years later and it seems like it’s finally happening, thanks to the likes of Ice Spice and Charli XCX.
In 2008, Taylor burst onto the mainstream with Fearless and made country music a vibe. Four months later, Miley’s ‘Hoedown Throwdown’ ripped the genre a new one, and in 2024, both Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey are releasing country albums – who’d have thought it?
They were cool, then they weren’t cool. Then came the vapes. Now the people who’ve finally managed to give up their vapes are back on the ciggies (me, FML), and all the celebs are at it, too. Let’s just blame Kylie like we do with everything else, shall we?
Back then, Two Door released their first-ever EP featuring iconic hits such as ‘Cigarettes in the Theatre’ and Bombay released their first single ‘Evening/Morning’ – both of which were the soundtrack to my teen freedom of first nights out and meeting boys. Now they’re both on tour and performing at Glasto, and I’m probably going to pass out from a nostalgia rush.
This recent fashion week lewk really does look like me and my pals going to the Trafford Centre circa 2008, clad in our Abercrombie and/or Primark vest layering and Paul’s Boutique bags – excessively orange fake tan encouraged.
Yep, somehow he’s back politics-ing, but at least he’s not gearing up to lead the country, 2008-stylee… right?
They might not have released ‘Standing in Control’ in 2008, but they were on the Pyramid stage at Glasto and are back again in 2024, so it still counts.
The Australian DJ duo were active in ’08, releasing their first EP, and their song ‘Shooting Stars’ went on to be a classic meme in 2017 – the one with people falling through spacey backgrounds. New York Magazine even heralded it as “the first big post-Vine meme” and there was even a tribute to Harambe the gorilla at one point. Anyway, Troye Sivan sampled them on ‘Got Me Started’ last year, and now they’ve just remixed his track.
In 2008, season two came out and solidified the British series into cult status. In 2024, the 00s inspo is inescapable with boys wearing cardigans again (I know, don’t) like Chris, rah rah skirts like Effy, colourful eyeshadow à la Michelle, and long pleated skirts like Cassie. Maybe next, wearing a watch on your ankle like Cass will finally take off, too? Don’t tell me you didn’t try that at home, too.
It’s true! I’ve seen it! And now even Vogue is saying we’re in a full-on skinny jean revival. Stop the world I want to get off, etc.
As previously mentioned, Vampire Weekend are back with their first studio LP in half a decade, which they teased mysteriously on Instagram back in February. We now know the album is called Only God Was Above Us, out 5 April, and they’ve said it “might be our best yet” – hard to imagine if you had your first snog to ‘A-Punk’, two blue WKDs down, but we’ll try to keep an open mind.
Back in ’08, you listened to music on your iPod – not your phone, because that could only handle about one bluetoothed track at a time – and the colour and model meant a lot. Now, thanks to some big fashion moments, they’ve officially transitioned from archaic to ~retro~. One model carried an iPod nano down the runway at Conner Ives’ AW24 show, wearing a dress made from old Apple headphone wires. Then designer Sinead Gorey used iPod Shuffles as hair clips, chokers and earrings for her London Fashion Week show – even her invite was an ode to the revolutionary music device. Happy rooting through your family attic for your old one, you lil’ clout chaser!
We all remember where we were when we first saw that pink Razr, the phone that launched a thousand arguments with your parents as you made your case for ownership. Now Motorola have a new model out, and I’ve even seen the OG aforementioned icon used by arty hipster types who are eschewing constant social media usage for a simpler life.
Much like 2008, when she went from traumatic breakdown and losing custody of her kids to releasing Circus, Britney is a hot news topic once again, grabbing our attention with her impossible-to-look-away-from IG posts.
In year eight, I got my own pierced during a very thrilling trip to emo-haven Manchester’s Affleck’s Palace, much to my mother’s dismay. Then, obviously, they almost immediately went out of fashion. Sixteen years later and it seems like it’s finally happening, thanks to the likes of Ice Spice and Charli XCX.
In 2008, Taylor burst onto the mainstream with Fearless and made country music a vibe. Four months later, Miley’s ‘Hoedown Throwdown’ ripped the genre a new one, and in 2024, both Beyoncé and Lana Del Rey are releasing country albums – who’d have thought it?
They were cool, then they weren’t cool. Then came the vapes. Now the people who’ve finally managed to give up their vapes are back on the ciggies (me, FML), and all the celebs are at it, too. Let’s just blame Kylie like we do with everything else, shall we?
Back then, Two Door released their first-ever EP featuring iconic hits such as ‘Cigarettes in the Theatre’ and Bombay released their first single ‘Evening/Morning’ – both of which were the soundtrack to my teen freedom of first nights out and meeting boys. Now they’re both on tour and performing at Glasto, and I’m probably going to pass out from a nostalgia rush.
This recent fashion week lewk really does look like me and my pals going to the Trafford Centre circa 2008, clad in our Abercrombie and/or Primark vest layering and Paul’s Boutique bags – excessively orange fake tan encouraged.
Yep, somehow he’s back politics-ing, but at least he’s not gearing up to lead the country, 2008-stylee… right?
They might not have released ‘Standing in Control’ in 2008, but they were on the Pyramid stage at Glasto and are back again in 2024, so it still counts.
The Australian DJ duo were active in ’08, releasing their first EP, and their song ‘Shooting Stars’ went on to be a classic meme in 2017 – the one with people falling through spacey backgrounds. New York Magazine even heralded it as “the first big post-Vine meme” and there was even a tribute to Harambe the gorilla at one point. Anyway, Troye Sivan sampled them on ‘Got Me Started’ last year, and now they’ve just remixed his track.
In 2008, season two came out and solidified the British series into cult status. In 2024, the 00s inspo is inescapable with boys wearing cardigans again (I know, don’t) like Chris, rah rah skirts like Effy, colourful eyeshadow à la Michelle, and long pleated skirts like Cassie. Maybe next, wearing a watch on your ankle like Cass will finally take off, too? Don’t tell me you didn’t try that at home, too.
It’s true! I’ve seen it! And now even Vogue is saying we’re in a full-on skinny jean revival. Stop the world I want to get off, etc.
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