1

"Hound Dog" , Elvis Presley

Elvis made this song his signature, and it's hard to imagine it belonging to anyone else. But "Hound Dog" was written in 1952 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and was first recorded by Big Mama Thornton, a blues singer from Alabama. Her version was a raw, powerful blues track, and it was a genuine hit.

Elvis recorded his version in 1956 and turned it into something faster, rockabilly, electrifying . For anyone who grew up in the '50s or '60s, it probably takes you right back to a specific moment: a sock hop, a drive-in, a transistor radio on a summer night. It carries a kind of pure rock-and-roll energy: rebellious, playful, unstoppable.

2

"Livin' on a Prayer" , Bon Jovi

Pumping fists, packed arenas, everyone screaming "Whooooa, we're halfway there!", it's the kind of energy that doesn't age. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora wrote it together in 1986, along with songwriter Desmond Child , pulling inspiration from the working-class New Jersey world around them.

The song hit number one in the U.S. and became an anthem for anyone who's ever had to scrape by and stay hopeful. It brings out something almost joyful in people: this defiant, communal "we're going to make it" spirit.

3

"I Will Always Love You" , Whitney Houston

Most people under 50 think this is a Whitney Houston song, but Dolly Parton wrote it back in 1973, sitting in Nashville. She was leaving her mentor and business partner, Porter Wagoner, to go solo, and the song was her way of saying goodbye: with love, but firmly.

Then Whitney came along in 1992 for The Bodyguard soundtrack and turned it into a stadium-sized emotional explosion. Where Dolly's version was warm and heartfelt, Whitney's was pure power. It connects to just about everyone, but especially to people who've ever had to let someone go. Which version do you like best?

4

"Respect" , Aretha Franklin

This is one of those cases where the cover so thoroughly eclipses the original that most people don't even know an original exists. Otis Redding wrote and recorded "Respect" in 1965, and it was a decent soul hit for him; a man asking his woman for a little respect when he comes home.

Then Aretha Franklin got hold of it in 1967, rewrote parts of it, added that now-iconic spelling-out of the word, and completely flipped the meaning . Suddenly, it was a woman demanding respect from men, from society, from everyone. It became an anthem of the civil rights movement, the women's movement, and basically every movement that involved people standing up and saying enough.

5

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" , Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper made this song her own so completely that it's almost shocking to learn she didn't write it. Robert Hazard, a Philadelphia-based musician, wrote it around 1979 as a kind of tongue-in-cheek song from a man's point of view, about his own desire to just have fun without commitment.

When Cyndi recorded it in 1983, she completely reframed it: it became a declaration of independence for young women who just wanted to live their lives on their own terms . If you had a daughter, a niece, or any teenage girl in your life in the '80s, you heard this song approximately ten thousand times.

6

"Nothing Compares 2 U" , Sinead O'Connor

Few music videos have hit people as hard as Sinead O'Connor, alone on screen, tears streaming down her face, singing this song in 1990. It felt impossibly raw and personal. But the song was written by Prince back in 1984, and was first recorded by a side project of his called The Family.

Sinead stripped it down and made it devastating. It became one of the most emotionally powerful recordings of the decade . You probably heard it on adult contemporary radio, or remember exactly where you were the first time you really listened to it. It's a song about grief and absence and not being able to fill a void someone left behind.

7

"I Love Rock 'n' Roll", Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

Few songs scream pure, unapologetic rock and roll like this one. But Joan Jett didn't write it: a British glam rock band called The Arrows did, back in 1975, in London. Lead singer Alan Merrill said he wrote it as a direct response to the Rolling Stones' "It's Only Rock 'n Roll," which he felt was a little too apologetic about loving the music.

Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform it on British TV in 1976 while touring the UK with The Runaways, and the song stuck with her . She recorded it in 1981, and it rocketed to number one, sitting there for seven weeks. You've heard it blasting from jukeboxes, at sports events, in movie montages, at pretty much every party where someone wanted to get the energy up fast.

8

"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" , Aerosmith

Tyler belting it out, that unmistakable raspy voice: it feels so Aerosmith. But the song was actually written by Diane Warren, one of the most prolific and successful songwriters in pop history , who penned it in 1998 specifically for the movie Armageddon. Warren has said she wrote it while watching her boyfriend sleep, thinking about not wanting to miss a single moment with someone you love.

Aerosmith recorded it, and it became their first number-one pop hit. It hits hard for anyone who's ever been deeply in love, or who's lost someone and wishes they'd paid more attention while they had the chance.

9

"Bette Davis Eyes", Kim Carnes

This was the biggest song in America in 1981, and it spent nine weeks straight at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . Kim Carnes' raspy, smoky delivery made it feel completely hers. But the song was written in 1974 by Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss, both inspired by a classic old Hollywood film . DeShannon recorded her own version, but it barely registered.

Seven years later, Carnes took it into a Los Angeles studio, added a driving synth arrangement that was pure early MTV, and transformed it into the sound of an era. The real-life Bette Davis, then 73 years old, wrote personal letters to the songwriters and to Carnes to thank them for making her "a part of modern times." The song connected with anyone who'd ever been dazzled by someone they couldn't quite figure out, which is pretty much everyone.

10

"Blame It on the Rain" , Milli Vanilli

You probably remember the Milli Vanilli scandal: in 1990, it came out that Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, the two beautiful, dreadlocked faces of the duo, hadn't actually sung a single note on their records . The real vocals were by studio singers. Their Grammy was revoked. It was a whole thing.

But before all that exploded, "Blame It on the Rain" was a legit #1 pop hit in 1989. It was written by Diane Warren (yes, the same woman who wrote "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"), and it's a smooth, sweet ballad about blaming the weather for a relationship going wrong. You probably heard it on pop radio, maybe slow-danced to it without knowing what you were slow-dancing to.

1

Competitive eating

Image: Gigi

Nathan’s Famous claims to have hosted its first Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest in 1916 at Coney Island. According to legend, four immigrants took part to prove who was the most patriotic . The winner, an Irishman, downed 13 hot dogs to claim the title.

Though this origin story was likely an invention for publicity, this quirky event has grown into the beginnings of what would become a long-standing American tradition.

2

Turkey pardoning

Image: Tyler Donaghy

The tradition of pardoning a turkey dates back to 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln reportedly spared a bird after his son Tad begged for its life . Originally meant for Christmas dinner, the turkey was saved thanks to Tad’s compassion.

While a few later presidents, including Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy, also chose to spare turkeys, it wasn’t until 1989 that President George H.W. Bush made the turkey pardon an official White House tradition.

3

Groundhog Day

Image: Camerauthor Photos

Groundhog Day centers around a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil , who is said to predict the weather each February 2nd . If Phil sees his shadow, it signals six more weeks of winter; if not, spring is supposedly on its way.

The tradition began when newspaper editor Clymer Freas pitched the idea to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club in the late 1800s. Despite its popularity, Phil’s weather predictions have only been accurate about 39% of the time, according to the National Climatic Data Center.

4

Pickle-shaped ornaments on Christmas trees

Image: Drew Geraets

The Christmas pickle tradition is believed to have started as a clever marketing move by Woolworths. After receiving a large stock of pickle-shaped ornaments , the store invented a festive game to help sell them.

They encouraged families to hide the pickle in their Christmas tree, with a small prize going to whoever found it first. What began as a sales tactic eventually became a quirky holiday tradition in many American homes.

5

Alaska's Nenana Ice Classic

Image: Ariane Frei

The tradition began in 1917, when a group of railroad engineers placed bets on when the ice on Alaska’s Nenana River would break . They wagered a total of $800, trying to predict the exact date, hour, and minute of the thaw.

What started as a friendly bet turned into an annual event known as the Nenana Ice Classic. Today, it’s a major Alaskan tradition that draws thousands of participants each year—and offers a jackpot that can exceed $300,000.

6

Cherry pit spitting

Image: Quaritsch Photography

During cherry season, cherry pit spitting contests pop up across the U.S., inviting participants to launch pits as far as they can —or even try to hit specific targets. These contests are famously held at events like the International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship in Eau Claire, Michigan, which began in 1974.

It’s a lighthearted test of skill that draws crowds in search of classic summer fun.

7

Tailgate parties

Image: Zachary Keimig

For many American sports fans—especially at football games—just attending isn’t enough. Hours before kickoff, parking lots fill with fans decked out in team colors , grilling food , and enjoying drinks as part of the pregame ritual known as tailgating.

Some tailgaters go all out, bringing TVs, sound systems, and even satellite dishes to create the ultimate game-day setup.

8

Black Friday shopping spree

Image: Erik Mclean

Just hours after Thanksgiving feasts wrap up, millions of Americans shift into shopping mode for Black Friday. This massive retail event kicks off a weekend spree that also includes Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday—newer traditions that have quickly gained traction.

9

Holiday family cards

Image: Community Archives of Belleville and Hastings County

One beloved holiday tradition in the U.S. is sending and receiving festive family photo cards . These often feature coordinated outfits and include a short update on the family’s highlights from the past year—even from people you may barely remember.

10

Ostrich racing

Image: Dominic Yegon

Ostriches were introduced to the U.S. in the 1880s, and it didn’t take long for people to start racing them. These unusual competitions sprang up in several states and quickly gained attention for their novelty.

Today, the most well-known event is the Chandler Ostrich Festival in Arizona , which has been running for decades. As of 2024, it marked its 36th year, continuing the quirky tradition with a modern twist.

11

Roadkill cook-off

Image: Christoph Wick

With abundant wildlife and countless vehicles on American roads, animal collisions are an unfortunate reality. But in Marlinton, West Virginia, locals have found a unique way to turn that misfortune into a celebration.

Every September, the town hosts the Roadkill Cook-off, where adventurous eaters can sample dishes like squirrel gravy on biscuits, teriyaki bear, or deer sausage —all made from animals legally collected after road accidents.

12

Pumpkin chucking

Image: Marius Ciocirlan

In America, pumpkins aren’t just for pies and lattes—they’re also launched through the air in a tradition known as pumpkin chucking.

The largest and original event, Punkin Chunkin, originated in Delaware, where teams use contraptions like trebuchets, catapults, and air cannons to hurl pumpkins as far as possible .

1

Watching TV together at a fixed time

Back when the only screen in the house was the TV in the living room, families gathered every night to watch their favorite shows at a specific time.

Long before streaming services let us pause, rewind, skip commercials, binge, or watch on demand, families built their evenings around the TV schedule. Shows like I Love Lucy , The Ed Sullivan Show , and later M A S H and The Cosby Show gave millions of Americans something to laugh and talk about together the next day. By the 2000s, though, that shared experience began to fade. With endless entertainment available anytime on phones, tablets, and computers, families no longer had to gather around one screen at one set hour.

2

Drive-in movies

A night at the drive-in was about much more than just watching a movie. Families piled into the car with blankets and snacks, kids often already wearing their pajamas, while teenagers saw it as the perfect date night. It was a kind of movie experience that today’s theaters can’t quite recreate.

But beginning in the 1970s, many drive-ins started disappearing. Growing suburban property values made those huge lots that provided low-cost entertainment harder to maintain, while cable TV and VHS gave families an easier and cheaper option: staying home to watch movies instead. Despite all this, drive-ins didn’t disappear completely. Around 300 are still operating across the country today, including famous spots like Bengies Drive-In Theatre in Middle River, Maryland, home to one of the largest movie screens in America, at 52 feet high by 120 feet wide.

3

Browsing the Sears catalog before Christmas

Long before Amazon, we had another way to shop remotely: the famous Sears catalog. For many families, the arrival of the Sears Christmas "Wish Book" was one of the signs that the holiday season had begun.

Kids spent hours flipping through its pages, circling toys they dreamed of, while parents browsed everything from clothes and appliances to tools and furniture. You filled out an order form, mailed in a check, and waited for your package to arrive. First introduced in 1933, the beloved Wish Book remained a holiday tradition for generations, but as online shopping grew and Sears struggled to keep up with changing times, the iconic catalog slowly disappeared before being discontinued in 2011.

4

Larger celebrations

Years ago, holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving often meant one thing: the whole family gathering in one house. The turkey had to be big enough for everyone, and folding tables appeared out of nowhere for cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

Holiday gatherings are still an important American tradition, but they are often smaller than they used to be. Today, many families celebrate with only close relatives or a few friends instead of the massive family reunions. And there’s something that explains part of this phenomenon: in earlier generations, these holidays were one of the few chances extended families had to truly reconnect. Long-distance calls were expensive, travel was harder, and there were no video calls to keep everyone in touch year-round. Ironically, even though we were far apart, we actually saw each other in person more often.

5

Waiting for photos to be developed

For much of the 20th century, capturing memories meant waiting days, sometimes weeks, for vacation and holiday photos to be developed. And that wait was part of the fun. There was always a little excitement in wondering how the pictures had turned out, along with the surprise of discovering funny or beautiful moments you didn’t even remember capturing.

Those photos didn’t stay buried in a phone gallery; they filled family albums, sat in frames around the house, and became something families pulled out to relive old memories. But beginning in the 1980s, instant cameras like Polaroid and later digital photography slowly changed all that. Today, we can instantly take and keep thousands of pictures, but nothing compares to the analog experience.

6

Popping over to a friend’s house unannounced

Young people today often wonder how we made plans, checked if friends were home, or stayed connected before cell phones. The answer is as simple as life was back then: people just showed up.

Before texting and instant messaging, it was completely normal to stop by a friend’s or neighbor’s house unannounced, ring the doorbell, and see if they were around. Today, with constant digital communication, that kind of spontaneity has largely faded. Sometimes, showing up without warning is now seen as rude rather than friendly. But in many ways, that shift makes sense: busier schedules and a greater need for privacy have naturally led to a more planned way of life.

7

Sending Christmas cards and holiday postcards

Long before emails, group chats, and social media, sending Christmas cards and postcards was one of the most common ways we stayed connected during the holidays.

Although the tradition began in Britain, it truly took off in the US in the 1870s, thanks in large part to German immigrant Louis Prang, whose beautifully printed Christmas cards became wildly popular across the country. By the early 20th century, mailing holiday cards had become a cherished American tradition, with families eagerly checking the mailbox throughout December. The custom is still alive today, but it is no longer as central to the holiday season as it once was. Even so, we still send an estimated 1.3 to 1.6 billion Christmas and holiday cards every year.

8

Using paper road maps

For decades, almost every car had one thing tucked inside the glove compartment: a folded paper road map. Long before GPS and smartphones, knowing how to read a map was a requirement for any traveler.

Gas stations often gave them away for free, and on family road trips, one person usually drove while another tried to follow the route and give directions, sometimes correctly, sometimes not. Getting lost, arguing over the map, and struggling to fold it back up were all part of the experience.

9

Midnight Black Friday shopping

Do you remember when people spent a night outside stores, waiting for the doors to open on Black Friday? As the shopping frenzy grew in the late 2000s, major retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Macy’s pushed their opening hours earlier and earlier, until many stores were opening right at midnight.

Shoppers bundled up in coats, stood in long lines, and rushed through the doors to grab the year’s hottest TVs, toys, and holiday gifts before they sold out. It was chaotic, exhausting, and for many, surprisingly fun. But once online shopping and home delivery became faster and easier, those midnight shopping crowds slowly began to disappear. By the 2010s, the tradition was already fading away.

10

Door-to-door caroling

A few decades ago, opening the door during Christmastime often meant being greeted by neighbors or local groups singing carols. From the late 19th into the early 20th century, caroling was a community tradition, with churches, schools, and neighborhoods organizing routes.

Over time, the tradition began to fade. As cities grew and daily life became more fast-paced, privacy and safety concerns changed how people interacted with their neighbors. Today, door-to-door caroling is much less common, though it still survives in some communities. But America still loves the music: According to the market research company "YouGov," about 75% say they listen to holiday songs or carols at home during the season.