2001, what was I doing in 2001? I was eleven years old. Sixth grade was a strange time for me. I don’t remember much besides sitting in math class with my two best friends and talking smack about whatever. What I do remember vividly from my first middle school year is the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards.
Maybe it was Britney Spears dancing with that giant snake that seared the moment into my memory. Maybe it was Macy Gray shamelessly promoting her new album by advertising its release date on her dress. Maybe it was because “Lady Marmalade” was my favorite song at the time and seeing Missy Elliot hang from a chandelier like the bad ass she is gave me hope that women could do cool shit.
In retrospect I’d like to think it was the horrifyingly two-thousand-and-one fashion. It was post y2K weird, bohemian, cowgirl, mall chic. Either way there were a lot of unnecessary accessories. A lot of exposed hip bones. A lot of bad hair.
Ah, 2001, we hardly knew ye.
