Uggs and Usher’s Halftime Show: The Return of 2004
By Swingers
From coveting a Motorola Razr phone to placing Ugg boots in your online cart, here are the trends taking over music, fashion, film & tech as we start 2024.
From lusting after a Motorola Razr phone to adding Ugg boots to your online basket, here are the 2004 trends that are dominating music, fashion, film and tech as we kick off 2024.
Mean Girls is in the cinema, the OG Sugababes are performing live and winning awards, Natasha Bedingfield is trending on TikTok and Saltburn has Gen Z looking for the Kate Moss Topshop range on Depop. We’re in the grip of an unstoppable noughties revival.
Playing into the 20-year trend cycle, 2024 is seeing specific callbacks to 2004 across pop culture. From lusting after a Motorola Razr phone to adding UGG boots to your online basket, here are the 2004 trends that are dominating music, fashion, film and tech as we kick off 2024.
Usher is bringing back the sounds of 2004
The Big Game halftime show is a pretty big deal. Historically the most watched musical performance of the year, previous performers include some of the world’s biggest stars, from Rihanna and Beyoncé to Coldplay, Prince and the Rolling Stones. This year, the honour went to global R’n’B star and prolific musical collaborator Usher.
Usher has sold over 80 million records in career but his biggest hit is still banger Yeah! featuring Lil John and Ludacris, which was the longest running No.1 single in 2004.
That wasn’t the only hit Usher had that year; My Boo, featuring Alicia Keys, also reached No.1 on the Billboard charts. Keys became a superstar in 2004 after the release of her album The Diary of Alicia Keys, which included the single If I Ain’t Got You.
Usher isn’t alone in driving the sounds of the noughties into 2024. R’n’B and hip-hop star Akon, whose debut album Trouble was released in 2004, is bringing ‘The Superfan’ tour to the UK and Europe this year, while Natasha Bedingfield’s 2004 smash hit, Unwritten, has won over a whole new host of fans twenty years after it was first released. The song started trending on TikTok after it was featured in the new romantic comedy Anyone But You, starring Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell.
From classic shoulder bags to rhinestones, noughties fashion staples are popping up across runways and high streets. Women’s fashion — especially among Gen Z — is dominated by 2004 staples. Think tees with glittery logos paired with low-slung jeans (not for the faint of heart), bucket hats jazzed up with sparkles or patches, cardigans that tie at the top (perfect for showing off your belly button jewellery) and form-fitting corset tops.
But the biggest 2004 comeback award goes to UGGs. Once inescapable and loved by the likes of Paris Hilton and Kate Moss, we collectively vowed never to wear these comfortable-but-oh-so-impractical shoes again sometime around 2010. In the last few months, the likes of Bella and Gigi Hadid and Emily Ratajkowsi have been spotted out and about in UGGs, going viral on TikTok and sparking a new-old fashion movement. Just pray the Hadid sisters don’t adopt footless tights next.
The Mean Girls revival
When Mean Girls arrived in cinemas in 2004, it quickly joined the ranks of the best high school films of all time. Twenty years later, the film is a cult classic, particularly amongst (now adult) millennial women who inhaled the film as tweens and can often be found shouting “You go, Glen Coco!” at random intervals. The film helped launch the careers of the likes of Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfriend, cemented Tina Fey’s success off the back of 30 Rock and marked Lindsay Lohan’s transition from child star to teen icon.
Now, Mean Girls has been rebooted: the 2024 release is a filmed version of the stage musical, sticking closely to the original script but with added song and dance numbers. The film has become a box office hit, packing out cinemas worldwide and proving affection for the original film hasn’t lessened over time.
Meanwhile, star Lindsay Lohan is experiencing her own career renaissance, signing a three-picture deal with Netflix that includes Christmas rom-com Falling for Christmas and the upcoming comedy Irish Wish.
Mean Girls isn’t the only 2004 hit set to make a comeback — The Incredibles, Shrek and Dodgeball are all slated to get sequels over the coming months. When it comes to early noughties entertainment, we just can’t get enough.
Flip phones are back
It’s not just entertainment and fashion that’s feeling the noughties effect. Even technology isn’t immune to the retro throwback. Last year, online searches for flip phones rose by a whopping 15,000% among Gen Z and younger millennials. But it’s not any old flip phone that’s caught the eye of a nostalgic younger generation; Google searches for “Motorola Razr flip” rose by over 240% in the past year, in part driven by the company’s decision to release an updated Razr for the new era. The original Razr model was released in — when else — 2004, making the new Razr neck-and-neck with UGGs for best throwback accessory.
Pride month is almost upon us, so we’ve put together some of the best activities across the capital to celebrate this June. Pride month is almost upon us, and celebrations are hotting up in the UK’s capital. As you might expect, there’s plenty to get involved with to celebrate and support the LGBTIQA+ community. But […]
How to start running – and five alternatives if it’s not for you
For many of us the idea of even going for a run can feel like an impossible hurdle, let alone entering a marathon. But while it might feel intimidating, it’s never too late to start building up a running routine. Here’s how to get started.
Best Indoor Activities for Adults on a Rainy Day in London
London and rain sort of go hand-in-hand. As wonderful as it is to explore this city on a bright, sunny day, chances are that if you’re here, it’s probably raining. The good news is that London is fully equipped for rainy days. From cosy coffee shops to world-class museums, there is plenty to enjoy when […]
We believe that life is more fun when there is an element of competition, and that competition is best enjoyed with friends.
Swingers, the crazy golf club takes the holy trinity that is crazy golf, street food and amazing cocktails and combines them all into one incredible social experience
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.