The year was 2002. High School was coming to a wrap and I was welcoming what would eventually become the best *five years of my life. But before I’d make that six hour drive down to the middle of sun-shiny North Carolina for the first time, Senior Summer needed to be embraced.

The faux pop-punk, borderline emo craze was in full swing; I couldn’t help but get swept up in it. It would be the soundtrack to those brief three months. Bands like Yellowcard [who could rock a mean violin btw] and Something Corporate were wearing out my red Sony Discman and I was fine with it.

“Punk Rock Princess,” off the latter’s major label debut was an immediate standout. That soft inviting intro is still instantly recognizable a decade later and when Andrew McMahon’s vocals come alive during the chorus I’m all set for a nostalgic trip down memory lane: