The Millennial Dance Canon

ISSUE #162

Millennial nostalgia has dogged us for a decade-and-a-half. If I could, I’d erase the 2000s for good—those were such grim years, reactionary and gauche, brutally hedonistic without style or fun.

Which is why, last Saturday, I couldn’t believe I was willingly walking into a 90s–00s dance night. It was a midnight Hail Mary, one last jerk of the wheel to keep the weekend out of the ditch. I may have been in for overplayed nostalgia, but I knew that dancing was never wrong. Plus, a DJ has the power to put songs in new contexts — once, at the witching hour, they dropped “Dog Days Are Over” and I saw all of dance music in a brand new light.

That Saturday, they struck the perfect balance—the playlist was split between half-forgotten gems and songs so evergreen they’ll never be tired. I’d done a full 180 by the time “Toxic” hit. I’d still like to throw the decade away (too many bad movies), but now I’m convinced to save some things. I’m building an ark of songs from the era that I hope will never get old. It’s the Millennial Dance Canon. Let’s hit the floor, losers.