14 Most Memorable Music Moments Of 2008

Nostalgia is an important tool used to help us through the pain of aging. So it is we reflect back on 2008 — 10 years ago! — and all the musical offerings that year gave us. From Bey and JAY officially tying the knot to the deliverance of Justin Bieber to Britney Spears’ merciful 180 turn, read on to check out 14 major memorable music moments of 2008.

1. Britney Spears’ meltdown leads to hospitalization

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While the very public downfall of pop princess Britney Spears took place in plain view months earlier (she famously shaved her head in 2007, becoming the unwitting poster child for the perils of fame), it wasn’t until January 3, 2008, that Britney was removed from her Los Angeles home on a gurney and hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

2. Miley releases the album Breakout

Miley Cyrus released Breakout, the first album not affiliated with her squeaky clean Disney persona Hannah Montana. 

3. The Ting Tings skyrocket to success after the release of “Shut Up And Let Me Go”

Photo: Getty Images

UK duo the Ting Tings saw seemingly overnight success in the U.S. when their single “Shut Up And Let Me Go” was featured in an iPod commercial.

4. Kanye West & Daft Punk unite for an unforgettable Grammys performance

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Kanye West solidified his title as burgeoning rap legend when he was joined on the 2008 Grammys stage by DJ duo Daft Punk. Kanye’s hit track “Stronger” famously samples the pair’s own “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” making their collaboration a moment not to be missed.

5. Miley Cyrus’ racy Vanity Fair shoot sparks controversy

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April 2008 saw the unveiling of Miley Cyrus’ raciest magazine spread – at the time. Her Vanity Fair feature (shot by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, showing Miley naked from the waist up, save for a well-placed sheet) became a marker in Miley’s increasingly raunchy career, officially terminating her Disney darling days and ushering in a more provocative era.

6. High School Musical 3 debuts – in theaters, no less!

High School Musical 3: Senior Year debuted in theaters (making it the sole film of the franchise to get a theatrical release), offering fans a finale farewell to one of DIsney’s most successful trilogies.

7. Beyonce weds JAY-Z in a private ceremony

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After six years of dating, JAY-Z officially put a ring on it and wed Beyonce on April 3, 2008 — cementing their status as one of music’s most powerful couples.

8. Katy Perry releases her first mega-hit “I Kissed A Girl”

After breaking into the Warped Tour scene with her controversial single “Ur So Gay,” Katy Perry amped up her star power with the release of 2008’s “I Kissed A Girl,” which proved to be the breakthrough hit of her career. 

9. Britney Spears closes out 2008 at the top of her game

The overworked singer managed a total 180 from the top of 2008, closing out the year with a comeback. Her December release Circus debuted at No. 1 and was one of 2008’s fastest-selling albums. 

10.  Beyonce releases “Single Ladies”

Photo: YouTube

Beyonce had a major moment in 2008 with the release of her hit “Single Ladies,” which quickly became the biggest boy bye anthem for the fiance-less everywhere.

11. Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III sells 1 million copies in its first week

The Carter III was not only one of the most anticipated releases of 2008, but also one of the year’s most successful: The album sold more than 1 million copies in its first week alone and ultimately moved 2.88 million sales by the end of the year.

12. Camp Rock incited mass mania among JoBro and Demi Lovato fans

Demi Lovato joined forces with the Jonas Brothers to appear in the Disney Original Channel movie “Camp Rock,” which propelled both parties to success and ultimately spawned a sequel.

13. Amy Winehouse cleans up at the Grammys

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Amy Winehouse solidified her legacy as one of pop’s most powerful forces when she cleaned up at the 2008 Grammy Awards, taking home 5 statues (Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album), following the release of her stellar sophomore album Back to Black. 

14. Justin Bieber was discovered on YouTube

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Legend has it, a particularly bored Usher was perusing the “covers” section of YouTube one day, when he came across Canadian hopeful, Justin Bieber, and plucked him from obscurity only to throw him into the throngs of fame shortly after. The real story’s a little less complicated (and far less glamorous). Justin’s soon-to-be manager, Scooter Braun, stumbled across some of Justin’s 2007 videos and was impressed enough to track him down and convince his mother he had a future in music. Justin signed a contract with Island Records in 2008, and thus a pop prince was born.