Anyone that was on the internet during the 2000s (which for Neocities users, I will assume a large portion of you) will already know what I'm talking about. During the early days of YouTube, there was a tool for video-creation called Audioswap. Audioswap allowed you to quickly and easily add music over a video, or in cases of copyrighted songs, replace the music, using a list of songs approved for YouTube. This system is what allowed some of the songs featured on the aformentioned list to become iconic on the website. The system had a wide array of genres and featured artists popular during the time such as Drowning Pool, Evanescence, and Finger Eleven. But it's one artist - 009 Sound System - which I think perfectly encapsulates and represents the period of late 2000s - early 2010s YouTube.
If you were indeed around during that era of the internet, it's likely you remember 009 Sound System and also a decent chance you hated it as well. Although I wasn't at the time, I am now proud to admit I've always enjoyed 009 Sound System, even going out of my way back in the day to listen to Trance or With A Spirit on occasion. I assume it was the majority-held opinion that 009 Sound System sucked. I never understood why, but I think it boiled down to his songs being overplayed. Looking at the comments now however, it seems the public opinion has finally shifted in favor of 009 Sound System. In the comments section of any given song you can find people reminiscing and sharing memories about the old days of YouTube and the 2000s.
Why does 009 Sound System remind so many people of this era? Well of course music in general has a nostalgic power to it. But 009 Sound System doesn't just remind people of that era, it's synonymous with it.