Well, well, well, it’s been FIVE years since 2020 and a certain p*ndemic began.
Because the pandemic dramatically altered everyone’s perception of time and place, let’s look back at some genuinely surprising events that occurred right before our lives quite literally changed forever…
1.Five years ago, just weeks before the pandemic began, Charlotte Awbery went viral on the subway for singing “Shallow.”
Charlotte Awbery in the subway before she went viral
Little did we know we’d all be hunkered down doing dalgona coffee challenges weeks later.
Charlotte Awbery singing
2.Five years ago, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez were the joint headliners at the Super Bowl.
Two performers in glittering stage outfits stand confidently on stage. The background is filled with lights, creating a dynamic atmosphere
3.The Chiefs won the game.
A football player jubilantly holds the Super Bowl trophy amidst flying confetti, celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory
4.And Travis Kelce was with Kayla Nicole.
Two people sitting courtside at a basketball game. One wears a knit cardigan and sunglasses; the other wears a sleeveless top and carries a handbag
5.Tiger King had just premiered.
Person in a royal cape and crown holds a scepter while being filmed outside. Three others stand in the background, two in casual outfits, one in uniform
6.The first season of Love Is Blind was everywhere.
A contestant falling down a hill while wearing a wedding dress and veil
7.And the biggest movies in theaters were The Invisible Man, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Bad Boys for Life.
Sonic the Hedgehog character giving a high five in a scene from Sonic Movie
8.Five years ago, at the beginning of 2020, “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I, “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi, and “Good as Hell” by Lizzo were the biggest songs.
A person poses on a patterned background, wearing an off-shoulder, one-sleeve dress with a floral design and layered necklaces
9.Lil Nas X won big for “Old Town Road” at the Grammys.
Person in a studded, pink cowboy outfit holds two Grammy awards, standing in front of a backdrop with Grammy logos
10.Billie Eilish was the most awarded artist of the night.
Person smiling, holding multiple Grammy awards, wearing an oversized patterned outfit with bold accessories
11.And Lana Del Rey wore a dress from Dillards and brought her cop boyfriend as her date.
Couple kissing on the red carpet; man in a black suit, woman in a glittering, beaded dress
12.Five years ago, at the beginning of 2020, Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green were still together.
Two people pose for a photo at an event. One person wears a flowing dress with a lace bodice; the other wears a suit with a blue shirt
13.Jennifer Lopez was still with A-Rod.
A couple poses at an event; the woman wears a sleek, deep-V dress with a sparkling choker, while the man is in a dark velvet jacket over a turtleneck
14.Bill Hader and Rachel Bilson had just made their red carpet debut.
Two people pose on a red carpet. One is in a black velvet suit, the other wears a black lace gown with gold embroidery. Golden Globe Awards backdrop
15.Channing Tatum and Jessie J had also made their red carpet debut.
Two individuals pose together; one wears a pinstripe suit with a glittery top, and the other has a cap and shirt with a world map design
16.And Elon Musk was still with Grimes.
Two individuals on a red carpet; one in a white suit, the other in a gothic-inspired dress. Photographers are in the background
17.Back then, Elon Musk only had six kids. Now he has 14.
Person wearing a “Tech Support” shirt and cap in a meeting room, jacket open to show the text, speaking to seated attendees
18.Speaking of people with a ton of kids. At the beginning of 2020, Nick Cannon only had three kids. Now he has 12.
A person wears an elf hat and red apron with “Los Angeles Mission.” They are smiling at a festive charity event
19.Five years ago, just before lockdown, Parasite won big at the Academy Awards.
Film director holding two Oscars, wearing a black suit and bow tie, smiling at an awards event
20.People were still making Cats jokes.
Two people in cat costumes stand on a red carpet; one holds an envelope labeled “Visual Effects.”
21.People were freaking going bananas over Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston reuniting.
Man in a suit holding an award smiles at a woman in a white dress on a red carpet event. They appear to be engaged in a friendly conversation
22.Ellen was still on TV.
Person on stage holding a microphone, wearing a stylish patterned jacket and turtleneck, with a red and black geometric background
23.Modern Family was also still on TV.
The cast of a TV sitcom is seated on stage during a press event, dressed in a mix of casual and formal attire, engaging with the audience
It ended in April 2020.
24.Schitt’s Creek, too.
Group of four people posing at a media event; three wear formal attire and one is in a casual sweater
That also ended in April 2020.
25.And in sad celeb breakup news, Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler had just broken up.
Two people on a red carpet. One wears a sheer black dress, the other a black suit. Retro-themed backdrop in the background
I’m sure he still had his pre-Elvis voice.
26.Five years ago, we were all talking about Jennifer Lopez being snubbed for a Hustlers Oscar nomination.
Person on stage in stylish yellow suit, holding a microphone and smiling at the crowd, with a gray chair in the background
27.These SEVEN people were running for the Democratic nomination.
Politicians on stage at a 2020 debate, waving and smiling under bright lights with CBS News logos displayed prominently
That’s Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, and Tom Steyer.
28.In February, Pete Buttigieg had just won the state of Iowa in the primaries.
I don’t know who the person is, but the image shows a man in a suit and tie shaking hands with people in a social event setting
29.And then Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire and Nevada.
A politician speaks at a rally with supporters holding signs and flags, standing in the background
30.And in the State of the Union, Nancy Pelosi tore up a copy of Trump’s speech.
A woman in a white suit tears a document behind a seated man in front of a large flag backdrop
31.Five years ago, at the end of January 2020, Brexit official happened.
Union Jack flag waving on a flagpole against a plain sky background
32.In other exits, Megxit was announced around that time, too.
A man in a suit and a woman in a sleek dress share an umbrella, walking through rain at a formal event
33.And Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate on both articles of impeachment.
A person at a podium holds a newspaper with the headline “Trump acquitted” visible
34.Five years ago, “social distancing,” “superspreader,” “flattening the curve,” “N95s,” “PPE,” “variants,” and “quarantines” weren’t in any of our vocabularies.
Person in a wheelchair, guided by an airport staff, both wearing masks near a “Do Not Enter” sign
35.There was zero talk about Moderna or Pfizer.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine vial with label
36.Lastly, that smurf rally was still held in France.
A crowd dressed as Smurfs rallies in a tweet about an event defended by a French mayor during early coronavirus spread
