I know it gets clowned on a lot because of the totally basic bubblegum sound and same-y beats of that era because everyone used the same five producers (BrAvE sOuNd) and it was all basically either early 00s rnb ballads or bright party music, the shaggy asymmetrical and just wtf hairstyles, the somehow both ridiculously glittery and emo make up choices, literally everything about the outfit choices, how you could tell most stages were sung live because of the really out of breath vocals and voice cracks everywhere, how easy the dances were compared to today..........

but man that shit still puts a smile on my face even a whole decade after the tail end of 2nd gen and like, god it must be like fifteen years at least since it 'started'?

it was completely cheesy but there was also this sheer enthusiasm and energy that permeated it that really worked with the incredibly camp aesthetics and elevated it. if you could bottle that feeling it'd keep me going forever.