An era marked by greatness, the 2010s stand the test of time. From Katy Perry to Team 10, 2010 defines itself as the best decade ever to grace our planet Earth.

Now you may be thinking, Genna, aren’t you just gassing up the 2010s because that’s when you grew up? . . . And you’d be totally right. I am definitely biased, and you should be too. I hope to influence and make you love this decade as much as I do.

Some of the best albums of the 2010s (the best albums of all time) are Electra Heart by Marina (formerly Marina and the Diamonds), 1989 by Taylor Swift (DUH), Badlands by Halsey, Teenage Dream by Katy Perry, Midnight Memories by One Direction, V by Maroon 5, and all of Lana Del Rey’s 2010s albums.

You can’t talk about the 2010s without talking about the king of the 2010s—Justin Bieber. Although rising to fame in the 2000s, this Canadian-born king saw the height of his fame in the 2010s with hits like “Baby” with Ludacris, “Beauty And A Beat” with Nicki Minaj, “Confident” with Chance the Rapper, and “Let Me Love You.” Bieber, like the ever-famous One Direction (RIP Liam Payne), attracted many teen girls with his maple syrup voice—like the Beatles in the 60s.

The Beatles of the 2010s—One Direction—proved the icon status of the decade. One Direction cultivated their icon status through their British charm and swoopy hair. I myself was enamored with the best-looking member, Zayn, in preschool. Even history teacher Mr. Dane Schlenke admitted that his favorite 1D member was “Harry Styles because of his individual projects and his appearance in [the movie] Dunkirk.” (He also added that “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” was his favorite Styles song.)

In the outstanding music video for the hit song “Night Changes,” the boys go on a date with the camera, you, and as the night progresses, the date faces conflicts that the couple must overcome, like a speeding ticket and a failed attempt at figure skating. This music video was truly unique, depicting the 2010 teenage girl's dream. Ringo and Lennon could never . . .

Standout 2010s songs cultivated the magic of the 2010s and made the decade one of a kind. Such breakout songs include “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepson, “Closer” by The Chainsmokers and Halsey, “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry, “Honeymoon Avenue” by Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars’s entire 2010s discography, “Cool for the Summer” by Demi Lovato, “Boom Clap” by Charli XCX, “Take Me To Church” by Hozier, and “Ribs” by Lorde (a personal favorite).

We can’t talk about the music of the 2010s without talking about the many dance crazes. The famous music video “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” by Silentó took the world by storm after its posting to YouTube in 2015. Along with the Whip and Nae Nae, other dance crazes like Gagnum Style, Juju on that Beat, the Mannequin Challenge, and Flossing graced many school playgrounds—including our Dutch Ridge Fun Day. These crazy dances made the 2010s what it was: a decade of wacky merriment.

To highlight the decade’s wackiness, YouTube rose to new heights in the 2010s. YouTube, created in 2005, started as a way to publish home videos for others to laugh at or comment on. In the 2010s, the format of this epic platform and the videos posted on it changed to better cater to the audience. From Anastasia Beverly Hills dip brow gel tutorial videos to the ice bucket challenge, YouTube attracted a wide array of viewers. As a child of the 2010s, I and my peers grew up watching Jake Paul and Jenna Marbles, YouTubers who fostered the eclectic and wacky personalities of many Gen-Z.

To offset this wackiness came a rise in dystopian fiction. The Hunger Games (2012) by Suzanne Collins revolutionized dystopian fiction by taking on a totalitarian world in which real-world issues are tackled by realistic and relatable characters, all while challenging young readers to question the world around them.

Pitch Perfect (2012) also came out in this grand decade. This humorous movie revolutionized comedy. From its themes of friendship and women's empowerment to amazing songs like “Let It Whip” by the Treblemakers and a top ten “Cups” by Anna Kendrick, this tale showcases the greatness of the 2010s.

Another (less adult) movie, Frozen (2013), was as iconic as Lady Gaga’s meat dress. Frozen revolutionized animated movies. Featuring advanced animation techniques, a strong female lead, and a soundtrack that never left our minds, this movie touched many hearts.

Hot on the heals of Frozen, same-sex marriage was legalized in the US in 2015, plus Obama was reelected in 2012. Coincidence?

The 2010s was the decade of globalization. Just ask any millennial: changes like the shift from AOL to Twitter had huge impacts on global politics, communication, and advancements.

A truly revolutionary and one-of-a-kind decade, the 2010s was an amalgamation of the wonders of technology and advancements in media and is the apple of my eye!