Back To The Future Day
On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, KRCX hosted a Back To The Future Day event where we played a playlist filled with songs from the 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, and 2010’s, starting with 1980’s “Call Me” by Blondie and ending with 2019’s “Blinding Lights”. Time-travel through the years with the Stu’ Crew, and see how each song represents the year it came out, through expressions, sounds, and eras.
1980’s
Call Me - Blondie, 1980:
Driven by Giorgio Moroder’s production and Debbie Harry’s vocals, they make an unforgettable song for the 80’s that perfectly blended new age rock and disco. Made for the theme of the hit film American Gigolo
Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes, 1981:
The raspy vocal performance by Kim Carnes and the haunting synth-pop by Bill Cuomo led to a moody track that would define the early 80’s. Also winning two Grammys that year for Best Record and Best Song of the year.
Little Red Corvette - Prince, 1982:
Became a massive hit this year and went on to be Prince’s first top 10 single, due to its innovation by blending synth-pop and rock to a degree that audiences at the time never heard, making it accessible to both Pop and R&B audiences.
Johnny Estrada: My favorite decade of music before listening to the playlist was the 2010s, but after listening to the Back To The Future Day playlist, I was able to reminisce in nostalgia more and listen to the bangers that were released in the 2000s. And found that this era encapsulates a feeling that I wish could be reproduced in today's world, and then became my favorite decade of music. Sadly, the music is in the past, but it will live on forever. My favorite song from the event was “Little Red Corvette” by Prince because it captures the sound I love, which is synth-pop blended with early hip-hop in an innovative style, which I can now see inspired most of my favorite artists. My favorite moment was being able to dance with other students to the music we were playing, breaking that nervous barrier, and just learning to have fun with an audience that is constantly walking around, but also participating. And with this event, I saw a great future for KRCX and Regis itself, as the Stu’ Crew can ensure we will bring the vibe wherever we go. Music has the power to connect everyone; it’s what I believe to be the universal language.
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson, 1983:
The revolutionary music video broke racial barriers and became the #1 song of the year due to its minimalistic funk-pop sound and iconic baseline. Also, the moonwalk dance became popular during this year due to Michael Jackson using it during stage performances and in other music videos.
When Doves Cry - Prince, 1984:
Had a groundbreaking minimalist sound that audiences were eating up at the time. Also, accompanied by a provocative music video, and ultimately released along with the iconic “Purple Rain” album and film.
Everybody Wants to Rule The World - Tears for Fears, 1985:
Labeled as a breezy-cool melodic performance from Tears for Fears, capturing relatable themes of power and control that, at the time, and still, holds itself as infectious due to its enticing synth-pop.
Walk This Way - Run-DMC, 1986:
Became a massive hit due to its breaking of racial and genre barriers, ultimately merging hip-hop with rock fans, bringing rap into the mainstream.
Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N’ Roses, 1987:
Contrasted the eras ‘safe’ pop songs with a raw, gritty, dangerous performance captured by the Guns N’ Roses group, becoming an anthem for hard rock fans.
Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley, 1988:
Rick Astley’s unexpected, deep soulful voice, when paired with Stock Aitken’s irresistible dance pop production, led to an unforgettable moment in time that serves now as the Rick Roll meme.
Fight The Power - Public Enemy, 1989:
Served as an urgent defining protest anthem for racial justice that directly addressed the systematic inequality, white supremacy, and police brutality. Also served as the theme for Spike Lee’s iconic film Do the Right Thing, which also encapsulates the same themes.
1990’s
U Can’t Touch This - MC Hammer, 1990:
Sampled “Super Freak” by Rick James and shaped it into an infectious dance song. In the music video, MC Hammer debuts the ‘Hammer Dance’ in an iconic outfit featuring parachute pants that gained him massive mainstream publicity.
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana, 1991:
Brought raw, grunge, punk energy, and angsty themes into the mainstream, bringing an end to the lived metal era, also serving as an anthem for Gen X.
Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang - Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, 1992:
Defined the “G-Funk” era, blending gangsta rap lyrics with a melodic rap performance to create a laid-back lifestyle feeling.
Whoomp! There It Is - Tag Team, 1993:
Became a massive hit due to its party-driven sound, thumping bass, and infectious chants that made it the anthem it is today, and defined the sound of the 1993 summer.
I’ll Make Love to You - Boyz II Men, 1994:
Its soulful romantic blend showcased the group's signature harmonies and gained them massive popularity. Also defined the R&B & Soul era of the early 90’s.
Gangsta’s Paradise (feat. L.V.) - Coolio, 1995:
Blended gritty hip-hop with a haunting Stevie Wonder sample and helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream even more. Also, its success was propelled by the film Dangerous Minds, which was released the same year.
Macarena - Los del Rio, 1996:
Led to an international dance craze that brought multiple cultures around the world together to perform the “Macarena” dance that still holds its infectious power today.
Wannabe - Spice Girls, 1997:
It’s irresistible, high-energy pop sound became a massive hit and led to a cross-generational appeal, also dawning the marketing phenomenon of “Girl Power” that would see itself growing over the next couple of years.
Are You That Somebody - Aaliyah, 1998:
Timbaland, with his innovative production, was able to redefine the R&B and Pop genres and capture the era’s changes with Aaliyah’s smooth vocals. Also was released along with the Dr. Do Little film and soundtrack.
...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears, 1999:
Redefined the late 90’s and was instantly recognized for its synth-pop sound. Its music video became iconic as it also adopted the “girl power” era with a schoolgirl-themed video that led it to be the cultural sensation we know it to be today.
2000’s
Alma Blanco: My favorite decade of music has always been the 2000s. Those songs give me so much nostalgia and remind me of being little and slowly falling in love with music. Listening to the playlist didn’t really change that, but if anything, it just confirmed it. The 2000s will always be my vibe, no matter what. My favorite moment from the event was seeing people vibing and dancing even if they weren’t fully part of the event. People were just feeling the music, and it didn’t matter if they stopped for a minute or stayed. That moment really showed how music connects everyone without trying too hard. It’s just a universal language. Music is something we all connect to in different ways through culture, emotions, and personal experiences. Events like this prove that when music is playing, people naturally come together. It creates a sense of belonging without forcing it. That's why I think KRCX has the power to turn simple moments into shared experiences that can make campus feel alive again.
Bye Bye Bye - *NSYNC, 2000:
Became the defining hit of the year 2000 and defined the boy-band era with its pop sound and iconic marionette-themed music video.
Can’t Get You Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue, 2001:
Became the #1 song of this year due to its inescapable hypnotic dance-pop production, and led Kylie Minogue to be a global pop icon. Accompanied by a futuristic music video.
A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton, 2002:
Shifted the sound of pop music towards a more organic songwriter sound, with heartfelt lyrics and a memorable piano riff. Heavily recognized as the famous song from the 2004 film White Chicks.
Hey Ya! - Outkast, 2003:
This track fuses rock, funk, and soul to create an incredibly catchy hook that gives the song the high energy it has. Often being used as a way to show how audiences overlook the meaning of a song when just listening to the vibe of it, and not the content of the track, as it talks about the crumbling of relationships with a high-energy vibe to cover it. Also has an iconic high-energy music video.
Yeah! (feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris) - Usher, 2004:
Became the defining hit of 2004 with its innovative sound of “Crunk&B” produced by Lil Jon, which would see his influence grow throughout the years.
Gold Digger (feat. Jamie Foxx) - Kanye West, 2005:
Jamie Foxx’s iconic interpolation of Ray Charles “I’ve Got A Woman”, combined with the thump beat and relatable lyrics from Kanye West, led to them winning a Grammy for Best Solo Rap Performance.
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley, 2006:
Its psychedelic soul and catchy vibe distinguished it from the typical pop sound that was released in the early 2000’s.
Umbrella (feat. JAY-Z) - Rihanna, 2007:
Brought back synth-pop sounds and became universally acclaimed with its heartfelt lyrics and memorable catchy hook.
Viva La Vida - Coldplay, 2008:
The track features an orchestral and global-like sound that separates it from the 2000’s pop music.
Jessica Menendez: Before the listening, my favorite decade was the 2010’s and the 90’s and even after the event they’re still my favorite, the songs are iconic and are really relatable. My favorite song from the event was Coldplay and the Black Eyed Peas songs. Imo having events like this brings people together, it allows us to hype people up when they just vibe and dance to the music, it just shows that no matter what music unites basically anyone together.
I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas, 2009:
Was released during an economic downturn and brought a much-needed revival to people who needed to escape from personal situations in an inescapably upbeat track that served as a positive, anthemic, message to get people to live lively again. Perfectly captured the late 2000’s sound and shift to electro-pop and dance-oriented music.
2010’s
Jailine Manriquez: My favorite decade of music is the early 2010s, and I feel like it did not change because when I listened to those songs it brought me back nostalgia. Favorite moment during the event was when we were doing the interviews and we saw a group of people going to the student center and they were dancing and lip syncing to the song. KRCX is the energy we need all over campus.
Rolling In The Deep - Adele, 2010:
Adele’s iconic vocal performance got a universal, emotional appeal, and uniquely blended the mixed blues, soul, and pop to deliver a global anthem.
Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO, 2011:
Infectiously fused hip-hop and EDM with heavy baselines and catchy synth hooks for an anthem to be played in clubs, gyms, parties, basically anywhere you can find high-energy. Also popularized the “Melbourne Shuffle” dance.
Gangnam Style - PSY, 2012:
Released alongside its viral music video, it featured a highly inescapable dance beat and the “invisible horse” dance, becoming a viral internet trend and gaining 1 billion views the same year it was released. It was the first video to exceed YouTube’s view counter limits at the time, redefining what digital reality can do for music, as it also saw the breakthrough of the K-Pop genre
Get Lucky - Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, & Nile Rodgers, 2013:
Had a timeless, cross-generational appeal with its retro-funk production and catchy lyrics, and bridged the gap between disco and nostalgia. Offering a refreshing sound compared to the heavy electronic music that was being released at the time.
Magdalena Tapia: I think my favorite decade is between 80s and late 2000's-early 10's depending on the genre. I think the playlist just enhanced my feeling on that; the songs are just too great to change my opinion. My favorite song from the event is probably Get Lucky by Pharrell and Daft Punk. Though the message might be a bit outdated and, in some views, controversial, I think the overall production of the song, along with catchy melodies just makes it a great, danceable hit. Even without lyrics, the song is great. These kinds of events help put KRCX on the map; we used to be the top dog organization on campus, and I think by tapping into people's nostalgic emotions and mixing that with fun activities, we can get our spot back for sure.
Happy (From “Despicable Me 2”) - Pharrell Williams, 2014:
Was driven by the film Despicable Me 2’s soundtrack, and its universally uplifting message resonated globally in an infectious soul-inspired track.
Alright - Kendrick Lamar, 2015:
This track served as a defining modern protest anthem, with lyrics addressing systemic racism, police brutality, and survival. Also produced by Pharrell Williams, which at the time led him to have a #1 song for three years in a row, including this one.
Black Beatles (feat. Gucci Mane) - Rae Sremmurd, 2016:
Became a viral phenomenon with the #MannquinChallenge trend, and adopted itself as the official soundtrack to the trend.
Despacito - Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee, 2017:
The song’s irresistible melody, feel-good vibe, and dance-oriented culture allowed the track to transcend language barriers and be globally loved.
I Like It - Cardi B, Bad Bunny, & J Balvin, 2018:
Brought mainstream hip-hop/rap and Latino trap legends together for song of the summer, which eventually became song of the year with its awesome blend of both worlds, creating a multicultural hit that was received well globally.
Marcela Macias: Before the listening party, my favorite decade of music was and honestly still is the early 2000s because it’s super nostalgic for me and reminds me of growing up. That said, listening to the playlist definitely expanded my appreciation for how different eras and genres influence the sound we hear today. My favorite song from the playlist was “I Like It” by Cardi B, J Balvin, and Bad Bunny that song was peak Spanish trap, which is my go-to genre when I want to get up, move, and just feel energized. Events like this bring people together through shared and different music tastes, creating space for connection beyond just listening. KRCX really brings the vibes to campus by encouraging creativity, letting people express themselves, and giving everyone a chance to let their ideas shine.
Blinding Lights - The Weeknd, 2019:
The Weeknd was inspired by 1980’s synth-pop and used those elements on his new record, which would also find a place on his After Hours album. The track had a viral TikTok challenge and served as a pandemic-era anthem.
Hope you made it back safe from your trip! Check out the playlist featuring all 40 tracks below: