Homecoming & Reunion Weekend is all about retelling favorite memories and making new ones—so what better way to celebrate than by taking a stroll down memory lane? This year, we’re especially excited to welcome back reunion classes ending in ’0 and ’5 to reconnect, reminisce, and make new memories together.
From 1945 to 2020, each of these milestone years has its own soundtrack and snapshot of pop culture that defined the times. We’ve flipped through the history books—and playlists—to revisit the movies, music, and cultural moments that shaped these class years.
Class of 1945
World War II ends with the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. Months later, the iconic photograph, “V-J Day in Times Square,” was snapped by Alfred Eisenstaedt, capturing the spontaneous jubilation of sailor George Mendonsa kissing dental assistant Greta Zimmer Friedman in Times Square as America celebrated.
Song of the Year: “Rum and Coca-Cola” by the Andrews Sisters
Class of 1950
Cinderella (1950) is released by Disney, ushering in a stellar era for the production company.
Song of the Year: “Goodnight Irene” by the Weavers
Class of 1955
McDonald's expands east of the Mississippi River, quickly becoming a household name for their speedy and creative service.
Song of the Year: “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins
Class of 1960
John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon face off in the nation’s first televised presidential debate, forever changing American politics.
Song of the Year: “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
Class of 1965
The Sound of Music was released to theaters, the first step before becoming a classic.
Song of the Year: “Help!” by the Beatles
Class of 1970
The Beatles formally broke up.
Song of the Year: “Cecilia” by Simon & Garfunkel
Class of 1975
Jaws (1975) debuts in theaters, and beaches have never been the same since.
Song of the Year: “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
Class of 1980
MTV and the music video revolution changed how music is consumed.
Song of the Year: “Call Me” by Blondie
Class of 1985
Nickelodeon introduces Nick at Nite, transforming its after-hours programming into a home for beloved television classics.
Song of the Year: “Material Girl” by Madonna
Class of 1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premieres.
Song of the Year: “Vogue” by Madonna
Class of 1995
Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher, the style icon in Clueless, but Batman Forever was the highest-grossing film of the year.
Song of the Year: “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls
Class of 2000
Jennifer Lopez stuns in an iconic green Versace gown at the Grammy Awards.
Song of the Year: “Oops! I Did It Again” by Britney Spears
Class of 2005
YouTube is founded by Chad Hurley, Jawed Karim, and Steve Chen—quickly becoming the world’s second-most-visited site after Google.
Song of the Year: “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani
Class of 2010
Instagram hits phones and catapults social media to the forefront of the conversation.
Song of the Year: “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” by Usher ft. Pitbull
Class of 2015
Taylor Swift released the highly anticipated music video for her hit “Bad Blood,” featuring a star-studded lineup of 18 celebrities, while Adele made her long-awaited return with her first album in four years.
Song of the Year: “Closer” by The Chainsmokers
Class of 2020
COVID-19 sweeps the globe, triggering unprecedented lockdowns, travel bans, and a public health emergency of historic scale.
Song of the Year: “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd