Monday Music Challenge: Nostalgia

Ahhh! Nostalgia. It's the best. Those songs that remind you of good times long past... That's what today's challenge is about. You'll have to find 4 pieces of music that make you nostalgic. I'm not going to have categories this time, so the challenge is more open. Just try to keep your music varied...

My first pick is the Hamster Dance. When my brothers and I were little, our parents had a lot of old songs stored on their computer, and this was one of the songs they would play on Saturday morning while we ate pancakes with our hands. I vividly remember making my beanie babies dance to the tune. XD I had never seen the music video until now, and I must say: it is weird. But in a good, funny way.

Next is Hero, by All Insane Kids (who I know nothing about). I first heard it in a 2005 music video promoting LEGO's Bionicle toys... which, even though I never owned any, were an influential part of my childhood. I have Bionicle to thank for my robot-drawing skills. The song is actually pretty good.

 Unity! Duty! Destiny! Ahem, er... excuse me.

My next pick is the soundtrack from Medal of Honor: European Assault. My goodness, my friends and I had the most fun time ever playing this game back in the day... 4-player splitscreen was just the best, especially for the "Nemesis" game mode (where one guy runs around with the rocket launcher while everyone else tries to kill him and get the launcher for themselves). We invented so many hilarious catch-phrases and inside jokes from that.

Finally, we have DC Talk's Jesus is Still Alright. This was another one of those songs my parents had on their computer, but we rarely listened to it. I had never seen the music video until now, but seeing it now... well, I can't help but feel that it's a corny attempt to make Christianity seem "cool" and "hip." However, it's sill got  good beat, and it's kind of funny, and reminds me of my childhood, so that's why I still like it. :)

And now for a bonus song... um, I'll do two bonus videos, just because. AWWW, WHO AM I KIDDING. THIS WHOLE 'CHALLENGE' IS JUST AN EXCUSE TO POST ALL MY FAVORITE NOSTALGIA-INDUCING SONGS. But hey, it'll make a good excuse for you, too!

The first is the level one music from the game Commando 2. I used to spend hours on that game, which was a total waste of my time, and which I regret doing. I haven't played it in years, but I heard the music again recently, and really liked it. It has a cool 70s/80s action movie/show vibe to it, like Airwolf or A-Team or Rambo.

Last and certainly least, is that ridiculous Taylor Swift song that everyone likes except me. There is nothing I like about the song itself, HOWEVER, the time period it reminds me of was awesome. My parents were gone, me and my bros were cleaning the house and getting ready to leave for PA. While we cleaned, we made up parodies of this song (or at least, I did). After that, we went on the trip and had an awesome time with our friends, despite listening to this song several times over the duration of the trip... including at the end, when we had to leave, and my older bro sang is song with my best friend Blake. It. Was. Hilarious. Sadly, I do not have the video of them singing (I shall obtain it!), but here's the original:

Enjoy! What are your favorite nostalgia-inducing songs?