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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Lifestyle
Diane Burke

From fashion to music - 10 things we all remember from 2003 in Northern Ireland

As we begin a new year, we decided to take a trip down memory lane and look at what was trending back in 2003. It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since these were relevant in our lives.

The noughties was a decade that witnessed numerous memorable trends from velour tracksuits to what hits were playing on our iPods.

Have a read of the selection of memorable moments and trends we looked back on that are now 20 years old, from what we watched on the big screen to sporting events and everything in between.

Read more: Throwback pics show NI nights out at Kelly's, Paradise Lost & more

What we listened to

Rapper '50 Cent' at the MTV Studios in New York, February 2003 (Getty Images)

Nothing hits us right in the nostalgia feels quite like music can. The Billboard top single of 2003 was 50 Cent's 'In da Club', other popular hits that year included Beyoncé's 'Crazy in Love' and Sean Paul's 'Get Busy'.

What we bought

You know the years are catching on if you're old enough to remember this blast from the past - video tapes. Now a retired entertainment source, there's no doubt that every household from Belfast to Enniskillen has a collection of them in their attics.

What we searched for

Singer Britney Spears in 2003 (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage via Getty Images)

What we browsed for can tell us a lot about what was trending that year. The top Google searches in 2003 included pop princess Britney Spears, Harry Potter, Matrix, and David Beckham.

What was released

Girlfriends and wives scorn the day this game hit the shelves and put their partners under its addictive spell. This October, it will be 20 years since the first game of 'Call of Duty' was released.

What we named our babies

This picture taken on September 13, 2022, shows a nurse feeding newborn baby in the maternity ward in the Gabrovo hospital (Photo by NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP via Getty Images)

The most popular baby boy name recorded in Northern Ireland for 2003 was Jack while the majority of girls born in the same year were called Emma.

What was on the big screen

Actor Matthew McConaughey arrives at the premiere of "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" at the Cinerama Dome on January 27, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Rom-coms were at their peak popularity throughout the noughties. It's safe to say that one of the most iconic chic flicks made its debut on our screens back in 2003 - 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days'.

What we won

2003 was certainly a memorable year for sport in Northern Ireland. Two Ulster teams came face-to-face in the All-Ireland Football Final with Tyrone beating Armagh to lift the Sam Maguire for the first time.

What we wore

Socialite Paris Hilton wearing a dark grey velour tracksuit in 2004 (Photo by M. Caulfield/WireImage for Nancy Davis via Getty Images)

Nothing screams early noughties fashion more than Paris Hilton in a velour tracksuit. Other wardrobe staples from that decade would have included low-rise jeans and scarf belts - here's hoping they stay firmly in the history books!

What we consumed

If you were brought up during the early 00s, it's safe to assume that your diet consisted of Sunny Delight, Fruit Winders, and BN biscuits.

What we communicated on

The MySpace logo seen displayed on a smartphone in 2015 (© 2021 SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Hands up if the first thing you did after getting home from school was to turn on the family computer, wait for the dial-up Internet to kick in, and sign in to MySpace? Communication has certainly come a long way since the social networking service first launched 20 years ago.

Read more:

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