{"id":4360,"date":"2026-02-04T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/?p=4360"},"modified":"2026-02-03T21:52:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T02:52:12","slug":"2016-with-imaginary-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/2026\/02\/04\/2016-with-imaginary-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"#2016 With Imaginary Gardens"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 6 of 9 in the series Playlists<\/a><\/div>\n
A Collaboration by IG Staff, Introduction by Draven Copeland, Managing Editor<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"#2016
#2016 with Imaginary Gardens | Em Powell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Who wants to live in 2026 when life peaked a decade ago? Back when Zootopia <\/em>and Captain America: Civil War<\/em> were killing the box office, a 12-pack of Coke was under $5, and the radio was always bumping something good. With major releases from artists from all genres, 2016 was a huge year for music, giving us tracks that we\u2019re still listening to to this day. Whether you\u2019re looking for a fun throwback or a peek into what makes the Imaginary Gardens <\/em>team feel nostalgic, we present this collection of modern classics for you to dig into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addison Chrivia, Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrouble\u201d by Cage the Elephant<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Now, was I listening to Cage the Elephant at the age of nine? No, I listened pretty much exclusively to Disney villain songs, unless I was feeling crazy and brought out the Kidz Bop CD. But I love Cage the Elephant now, and \u201cTrouble\u201d is a truly fantastic song. Like all of Cage the Elephants songs, it has a more alt-rock vibe, but unlike their other songs it’s a lot slower and the vocals are a lot softer. The overall tone is more melancholy, the lyrics reflecting on the struggles faced throughout life, eliciting a feeling of nostalgia for lost love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
Bean Gast, Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRibs\u201d by Lorde<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

All the songs I added are directly from my \u201cindie\u201d Spotify playlist I created in 6th grade, most of which are now purely nostalgic, except for one: \u201cRibs\u201d by Lorde. This song has traveled with me past middle and high school, and now into early adulthood where it continues to bring me just as much joy as the first time I heard it. \u201cRibs\u201d is the song that never gets old, and often reminds me of reminiscent memories of freeing moments experienced in the wind. The song is best played in the car on max volume, with the windows down and your head fully out the window. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
Draven Copeland, Managing Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRoses\u201d by The Chainsmokers featuring ROZES<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2016, I was 13-14 years old and I was homeschooled at the time. I rode everywhere with my mom \u2013 from homeschool co-ops an hour away to the grocery store, to the movie theater, and anywhere she needed to go while I wasn\u2019t very busy. We always had the radio playing whenever we didn\u2019t put in a Twenty One Pilots or Gwen Stefani CD, and this song came on the pop radio a TON when it came out in 2015. Although The Chainsmokers continued their success in 2016 with their song \u201cCloser,\u201d effectively catapulting both themselves and their featured artist, Halsey, to greater commercial success, \u201cRoses\u201d played whenever the station was burnt out on their newer stuff but still wanted to play them. For whatever reason, this song always brings me back to those early teenage years more than the song that actually came out in 2016, and I still listen to it whenever I\u2019m feeling nostalgic\u2026 it\u2019s still a banger 10 years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jackie Ayala, Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRiptide\u201d by Vance Joy<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2016, I was a very shy 10 year old kid who rarely put in much effort to make friends. Mostly I spent my time watching One Direction funny moments, drawing the same eye on my paper over and over again, and with my nose stuck in my book. Admittedly, I was a chronically online kid who was heavily into and influenced by the Percy Jackson and the Olympians<\/em> book series. And if there was one song that resonated with that series, it was \u201cRiptide.\u201d If I was given a ukulele at that age I am positive I would\u2019ve been one of those kids who only knew how to play this one song. \u201cRiptide\u201d brings me back to a time where the only thing I was worrying about was when Percy and Annabeth would admit they liked each other and when One Direction would be coming back from their \u201cbreak.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
Emma G. Harrison, Editor-in-Chief<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHot N Cold\u201d by Katy Perry<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Ten-year-old Emma was certainly jamming out to this \u201808 classic in 2016. I think it sparked a rebellious side in me, having a whopping total of one curse word. Alas, I kept coming back to it, keeping it on repeat for a solid portion of my young childhood. My older sister and I would often ask my dad to play it in our 2013 Jeep Wrangler while cruising through the Smoky Mountains. I knew every word and sang them until my little brother begged <\/em>to play something more his speed, like \u201cHarlem Shake\u201d by Baauer. Safe to say I still hit play on \u201cHot n Cold\u201d when driving my little brother to school for the good vibes\u2026and maybe to annoy my little brother too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
James Cochran, Photo Editor<\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBang Bang\u201d by Green Day<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

2016 was a really important year for my music taste. It was the first full year I spent collecting CDs, got sick of listening to Journey’s Greatest Hits <\/em>all the time, and started to expand my music taste from 70s and 80s power pop and classic rock with more contemporary music. Although I always knew of Green Day thanks to my mom, I didn’t really get into them until that same year. With its raging guitars and a dark theme about public gun violence, \u201cBang Bang\u201d was one of the songs that I repeatedly blasted through my headphones in 2016. I admittedly still don’t listen to much music post 2001, but this song and the Revolution Radio<\/em> album did pave the way for me to realize that there are some good tunes that have come out the past 25 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n