5 Songs by Cody Simpson that Marked our Teenage Years

Discovered on YouTube with covers and surfer-boy charm, Cody Simpson became a hit of early 2010s playlists and teenage bedroom posters. Then he hit pause. Cody stepped away from music to pursue competitive swimming, a choice that took him all the way to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where he competed in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay for the Australian national team.

Now, years later, he’s teasing a return to music on social media, closing a full-circle chapter where artistry and athleticism coexist. To honor that era that shaped our teen years, here are five songs that made us fall in love with him when we were 15.

• iYiYi (feat. Flo Rida): the breakout moment. Released in 2010, “iYiYi” launched Cody into global teen fandoms.

• Wish You Were Here (feat. Becky G): it was on everyone’s playlist back in the day, and we still remember the words.

• On My Mind: do you recognise anyone in this video? Perhaps our girl Hailey Bieber?

• Pretty Brown Eyes: international anthem to all the pretty brown-eyed girls over there.

• La Da Dee: bright, infectious, and pure early 2010s pop thrill, a perfect closer to that era.