To be fifteen in America in 2008 was to have “Low” by Flo Rida ft. T-Pain everywhere, The Dark Knight on every screen, and American Idol on after school. That year, gas cost $3.27 and the Apple App Store was the new thing. Born in 1993? You turned 15 in 2008 — a teenager from 2006 to 2012, right in the window a soundtrack bonds to you for life.
Compiled by the Original Lore archive from period charts, box-office and price records. How we build these · sources noted throughout.
The dance-floor detonator that opened 2008 — 10 weeks at #1 and the best-selling digital single of the year. 'Apple Bottom Jeans, boots with the fur' was the universal chant at every school dance and 'Step Up 2' screening. This isn't an adult steady-seller; it IS the 15-year-old's 2008.
the year-end #1 was Low — Flo Rida ft. T-Pain.
the movies you are watching in 2008
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Twilight
WALL-E
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
the tv shows you are binging in 2008
American Idol
Grey's Anatomy
House
The Office
Dancing with the Stars
the games you are playing in 2008
Mario Kart Wii
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wii Play
Wii Fit
Pokemon Platinum
Grand Theft Auto IV
what things cost in 2008
What things cost in 2008
a gallon of gas
$3.27
a movie ticket
$7.18
the federal minimum wage
$6.55/hr
a first-class stamp
$0.42
the average income
$50,303
trending this year
Wikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_App_Store_icon.jpg · Public domainApple App StorePhoto by Luis Alberto Arjona Chin (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HTC_Android_T-Mobile_G1.jpg · CC BY 2.0Android (T-Mobile G1 / HTC Dream)Saffron Blaze, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Iron Man (MCU debut)David McConeghy, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0The Dark KnightDwight Burdette, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0Obama "HOPE" Poster
the gadgets you just got
Photo by Feureau (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Back_of_an_iPhone_3G_White_from_Apple.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0Apple iPhone 3GReza Almanda, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)Nintendo WiiEvan-Amos, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Nintendo DS LiteTomasz Sienicki (User:Tsca), via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0Apple iPod Nano (4th gen)Baum332, via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Flip Video camcorder
what everyone is snacking on
chee.hong (Flickr), via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0Doritos (Nacho Cheese)Evan-Amos, via Wikimedia Commons (released into the public domain)Lay's Potato Chipsannulla, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsCheetosAngel caboodle / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 · CC BY 3.0 (also GFDL)Oreo CookiesQuant, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pringles_Chip.jpg) · CC BY-SA 3.0Pringles
what everyone is drinking
Oto Zapletal, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Bull_energy_drinks.jpg) · CC BY-SA 4.0Red Bull Energy DrinkBxxiaolin, edited by Pittigrilli, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Can_of_Monster_Energy_drink_sold_in_China_(0.33_l),_on_white_background.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Monster EnergyCoca-Cola Enterprises Sverige AB, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glac%C3%A9au_vitaminwater.jpg · CC BY 3.0VitaminwaterChristian Gidlöf, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coca-cola_50cl_white-bg.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0Coca-ColaVikiçizer, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starbucks_frappuccino.JPG) · CC BY-SA 4.0Starbucks Frappuccino
what made the news in 2008
Barack Obama wins the US presidential election, becoming the first Black president-elect
Lehman Brothers collapses, igniting a global financial meltdown and recession
Michael Phelps seizes a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics
A catastrophic earthquake strikes Sichuan, China, killing roughly 70,000 people
Pete Souza, The Obama-Biden Transition Project, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsBarack Obama elected first Black US presidentArnoldius, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsLehman Brothers collapses, triggering financial crisisU.S. Army Family and MWR Programs (Image Archive for the US Army's Family and MWR Programs), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsBeijing hosts the Summer Olympic GamesU.S. Department of Justice (public domain, U.S. federal government work) · Public Domain (PD-USGov-DOJ)Bernie Madoff arrested in massive Ponzi schemePhoto by Nicholas (Nichalp) (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008_Mumbai_terror_attacks_Taj_full_view_after_attacks.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0Mumbai terror attacks kill over 160 people
what everyone is saying
"Yes We Can"Barack Obama's presidential campaign slogan and chant
"Rickroll"Bait-and-switch meme linking to Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up
"Maverick"John McCain's self-description repeated throughout the 2008 race
"I Can Has Cheezburger?"LOLcat meme caption that defined early internet humor
"Drill, baby, drill"Republican energy-policy chant from the 2008 convention
