By Nick Archacki, news editor
When this year’s seniors were born, our world was an undoubtedly different place from what it is today. The year 2000 was the beginning of a new millennium and 2001 saw the September 11th terrorist attacks. Due to events like 9/11, technology innovation, smartphones and music, our world has changed dramatically over the span of almost two decades. Here’s the list.
2000- Best song: “Breathe” by Faith Hill, the first country song to be ranked number one on the Billboard charts.
2000- Best artists: Eminem, Nelly, Destiny’s Child, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, 3 Doors Down, Bon Jovi, P!nk, U2, Shakira, Santana, Britney Spears, Madonna, and Christina Aguilera.
2000- President: Bill Clinton
2000- Best-selling vehicles: Ford F-series
2000- Best-selling car: Toyota Camry
2000- Best-selling SUV: Ford Explorer
2000- Minimum wage in the United States: $5.15
2000- Median household income: $43,162
2000- Best movie of 2000: Gladiator. Honorable mentions are Cast Away, X-Men, O Brother, Where Art Thou, and Requiem for a Dream
2000- Best animated movie: Chicken Run. Honorable mentions being Dinosaur and Rugrats In Paris: The Movie
2001- Best song: “Hanging by a Moment” by Lifehouse
2001- Best artists: Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Staind, Usher, Train, 3 Doors Down, Nelly, P!nk, Smash Mouth, Outkast, Shaggy, and Shakira.
2001- President: George W. Bush
2001- Best-selling vehicles: Ford F-series
2001- Best-selling car: Honda Accord
2001- Best-selling SUV: Ford Explorer
2001- Minimum wage in the United States: $5.15
2001- Median household income: $42,228
2001- Best movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Honorable mentions being Mulholland Drive, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Donnie Darko, Ocean’s Eleven, and A Beautiful Mind.
2001- Best animated movie: Monsters, Inc. Honorable mentions are Shrek and Spirited Away.
2018- Best song: “In My Feelings” by Drake
2018- Best artists: Drake, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Cardi B, XXXTentacion, Imagine Dragons, Travis Scott, Maroon 5, Juice WRLD, Khalid, Halsey, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, BTS, Marshmello, Kane Brown, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, Eminem, Camila Cabello, The Weeknd, and Migos.
2018- President: Donald Trump
2018- Best-selling vehicles: Ford F-series.
2018- Best-selling car: Toyota Camry
2018- Best-selling SUV- Toyota RAV4
2018- Minimum wage in the United States: $7.25
2018- Median household income: $63,517
2018- Best movie: Black Panther. Honorable mentions are Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Avengers: Infinity War, Blackkklansman, A Star is Born, A Quiet Place, and Eighth Grade
2018- Best animated movie: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Honorable mentions are Paddington 2 and Incredibles 2
2019- Best artists: Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Panic! At The Disco, Imagine Dragons, The Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Khalid, Taylor Swift, BTS, Billie Eilish, P!nk, Sammy Hagar, Logic, Lady Gaga, Dan+Shay, Luke Combs, and Florida Georgia Line.
2019- Best songs: “7 Rings”, “Thank U, Next”, and “Break Up with Your Girlfriend” by Ariana Grande, “I Don’t Care” by Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran, “Better” by Khalid, “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Sunflower” by Swae Lee ft. Post Malone,“Me!” by Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie, and “Sucker” by The Jonas Brothers.
2019- President: Donald Trump
2019- Best-selling vehicles: Ford F-series
2019- Best-selling car: Toyota Camry
2019- Best-selling SUV: Nissan Rogue and Rogue Sport
2019- Minimum wage in the United States: $7.25
2019- Median household income: $63,688
2019- Best movie (so far): Avengers: Endgame. Honorable mentions are Captain Marvel, Shazam!, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Dark Phoenix.
2019- Best animated movie (so far): The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. Honorable mentions are How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Dumbo, and Aladdin. (Spoiler: Toy Story 4, Lion King, and Frozen II are expected to be the best films of 2019; they haven’t hit theaters yet.)