15 Songs Our Moms Still Think Are Cool

My mom still doesn't get how iTunes works. She has like 60 songs and three playlists. And every playlist has "My Humps" on it. Whether it's for working out, driving in the car, or just doing around-the-house mom stuff, "My Humps" is apparently STILL the go-to song for my mother. And when it comes on she gets all excited and sings/dances along. It's too funny to even be embarrassing. - Confusion

Admittedly, this song isn't that old, but it came out on Beyoncé's album in 2011 as the lead single, so it's been permeating the airwaves for about two years now. That doesn't stop my mom (and my dad for goodness sake) from blaring it through their home set up that has the TV involved with some subwoofers, on mix CDs in the car, and turning it up to 10 whenever it does happen to come on the radio. Now, this song was co-written by The-Dream and is a gorgeous love song, but the fact that my parents have taken it on as "their song" makes it just a little weird for me. Whatever romance the song once contained is erased by the thought of my parents both singing along with Beyoncé and staring adoringly at each other. I'm happy they're still in love, but hey, everyone has their breaking point right? Sadly, this has become mine. What's going to happen when Bey's new album comes out? Hopefully there are no love songs.... - Caitlin

When Titanic came out, Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On," captured everyone's hearts. (Well, at least in Canada. I really can't say the same for those in the U.S.) My mum fell in love with the tune - that passion, that drama, that voice - and she asked my cousin to record it on a cassette for her back in '96. A couple of months ago, I caught her singing along to it while folding laundry in her walk-in closet, rewinding to listen again, and again, belting her little heart out to Ms. Dion's song. Obviously I had to stand and watch, then clear my throat to completely catch her off-guard and embarrass her. Strangely enough, she wasn't the least bit phased. Moral of the story: cassette tapes still work. - Joyce

Apparently, that Bon Iver version wasn't good enough, but when that little Birdy girl showed up on Ellen, Mom was suddenly a "Skinny Love" fan. GTFO, Mom. - Confusion

Mom still fucks with Nelly's debut album heavy. I'll give it to her, I fucked with that album pretty heavy when it dropped, but it got corny pretty quickly. I forgot I ever owned it and then one day many years later I realized that she had it in her car and was playing it all the time. And she knew all the words. And I'm like, "Mom, why are you listening to so much Nelly?" and she's like, "I'm cool!" Ugh, Mom. - Confusion

In the summer of 2002, Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" dominated the airwaves. It was that summer that I had my first job. I was a teacher's aid at an international summer camp, where attendees were from all over the world, and I'd help them work on their spoken English. As the camp was located an hour away from my home - two hours, there and back - my mum would make a detour on her way to work and drive me to the camp. During the two hours of driving, we would hear "Complicated" on the radio at least four times, and within her first five listens of the song, my mum was hooked.

One day, she asked me to burn the song - just that one song, no others - onto a CD. Our drives together thereafter would consist of that one godforsaken song, on repeat. That's two fucking hours of Avril Lavigne on the daily. Were there repercussions to that? Probably. It might even explain some behaviors I have now. My mum, however, was immune to and never hit that inevitable "I've-listened-to-this-song-a-billion-times-and-now-I'm-sick-of-it" peak. While she still throws it on from time to time, it's created some deep-rooted issues for me. - Joyce

Listening to Oasis does not make you down with the kids, Mum. Those relics of 90s Britpop are pretty much just a laughing stock nowadays, but as long as my mother knows the choruses to some of their songs, and remembers that What's the Story (Morning Glory) was number one for a while, she'll clasp tightly to the idea that Oasis are still relevant, and any argument otherwise is being a "music snob." Just listen to some Blur, Mum? Please. - CG

Although you wouldn't guess it at first glance, my mom has fairly good taste in hip-hop. I'd like to think it was my influence on her, but Amy's got an ear for the classics, what can I say. She even bought the explicit version of The Eminem Show ON HER OWN. However, even the best judges are prone to slip up once in a while. While Snoop's "Drop It Like It's Hot" was the jam when it came out, now it's more of a fun throwback to throw on during a party. But to Amy? You ask her what her favorite rap song is and she'll instantly respond "Snooooooooop" like it's 2004 up in this piece. - Katie

Even though everyone on earth has decided they hate Mumford & Sons and that the folk-trio is washed up, my mom has simply not gotten the memo. Not only that, I'm pretty sure if she found out, she wouldn't even care. Not only is she still bumping Mumford, she's not even listening to cuts off their most recent album. Nope, my mom is still singing along to their 2010 single "The Cave." Complete with allegorical references to Plato's The Cave and plenty of their signature bluegrass, every time I get into the car it seems like she has this song on repeat. Hey, it was nominated for four Grammys so at least I know she's on par with the Grammy committee, even if literally everyone who hears the song coming out of our van's speakers shoots quizzical looks at us. - Caitlin

Sure, Alicia Keys' "Girl On Fire" topped the pop charts, but if we're being honest with ourselves, it kind of has more of an adult contemporary feel to it. I mean, it was in a Citi Card commercial so it's not exactly a go-to song to kick the party up a notch. My mom, however, would beg to differ because to her, this is one of those songs that REALLY brings it home for her. I don't know, maybe it's because Alicia Keys performed it like every other week on Ellen, or because it has one of those catchy choruses that seem made for Moms to hum along to, but this was easily a top 10 song of 2012 for Amy. Hey, she's gotta have something to put on to balance out all that Slim Shady right? - Katie

If your mother is of a certain generation, this could well be the go to song if you want to see cringeworthy (or endearing?!) singalongs and excitable giggling. That rich, deep baritone, those "naughty" lyrics, Tom's hairy chest peeping out from his low buttoned shirt... How could your heart not be all of a flutter?!  - CG

My friend's mother (I know, I know, not my mother, but she's essentially like my mother anyway) has a thing for "Right Thurr." One time, I was over at their place to help with Christmas baking, and she broke out into a little song and dance, rapping, "I love it when you put it right beurre, right beurre." Beurre is French for butter. So that was adorable. Shout-out to Paige's momma! - Joyce

No matter how many times I tell my mom that DMB isn't cool, she doesn't get it. "Mom, DMB is for aging frat bros and accountant ex-bros who smoke weed on weekends. It's for girls who still wear hemp necklaces and toe rings. Stop it. People are going to think you're a loser." She's finally starting to understand, but she can't get over "Crash Into Me." I'll let it slide, but if I ever go to visit and that lady has a tribal tattoo or a puka shell bracelet, I'm blaming Davebro. - Confusion

I thought my parents were super-cool when they took me, all innocent and impressionable at age 11, to see Chumbawumba. All those people! The loud music! The lights! We stuck it to the man that day, shouting "I get knocked down, but I get up again / you're never going to keep me down!" Ahh, the memories.

Fortunately, my youthful lack of taste soon faded, and I realised that "Tubthumping" was one of the most annoying songs of all time. My Mom, however, has never had such an epiphany, and loves to relive those halcyon days at full volume, with the car windows down, while I search frantically for something to hide my face. - CG

"Oh, what's that song where the guy is too sexy for his shirt?"

"Right Said Fred, 'I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt?'"

"Yea that's it. That's a classic Kate." - Katie