“Back to the ’00s” Theme Party

Welcome back to the days when everyone had a ringtone, MSN statuses were taken dead seriously, and a flip phone was pretty much the pinnacle of technology. At the ’00s Theme Party, you’ll travel back together to the days of baggy jeans, MP3 players, Hyves, cringeworthy hairstyles, and music that literally no one can stand still to. Perfect for a staff party, company outing, or anniversary celebration where nostalgia and dancing are more important than dignity.

The DJ plays the biggest hits from the 2000s, and in no time at all, exactly what you’d expect happens. Suddenly, someone knows the entire lyrics to “Dragostea Din Tei,” a coworker tries their hand at Jumpstyle, and somewhere in the room, people are dancing way too enthusiastically to the “Ketchup Song.” The soundtrack? Think Britney Spears, Usher, Christina Aguilera, Gigi D’Agostino, and many more artists who seem to have come straight out of an old MP3 folder. As soon as songs like “Freestyler,” “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” or “Hey Baby” start playing, it becomes clear just how many song lyrics have apparently been stored unused somewhere in your head for the past twenty years.

Want to take the party to the next level? Then add some hilarious characters and entertainment. Before you know it, Ali G will be at the bar, Lara Croft will be walking through the room, or a particularly convincing Guus Meeuwis will suddenly appear among the guests. It all makes perfect sense, of course. The great thing about a ’00s-themed party is that almost everyone will recognize something. The music, the clothes, the dance moves, or just that awkward feeling when you realize you used to willingly pay money to put a polyphonic ringtone on your phone.

By the end of the evening, three things are usually certain: someone has lost their voice, someone has proven that Jumpstyle is physically more demanding than expected, and at least one coworker is wondering why this kind of music ever went out of style—or, conversely, why it ever went in style in the first place.