upworthy

pop culture

Joy

History teacher brilliantly explains how 'Yankee Doodle' is America's first 'diss track remix'

Even if you know the story, this is worth a watch.

@laurencella/Instagram

Lauren Cella does a an incredibly fun deep dive into 'Yankee Doodle.'

Some teachers really know how to resonate with their students, and Lauren Cella is certainly one of them. Her Gen Z-ified history lessons—with all the lingo, fashion nods, and pop culture references the kids seem to be into these days—connect present audiences to the past in a way that feels fun, fresh, and surprisingly relatable.

Case in point? One of her latest videos discussing the lesser known history behind a tune we all know: “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”

“Lock in for a deep dive, bestie,” Cella wrote in her caption, clearly aware of her audience from the get-go. In the clip, she does indeed go on a delightful deep dive into why this well known song is, as she puts it, “literally a diss track remix.”

If you have no idea why Cella might say this, get ready to be educated and entertained. And even if you are familiar with this moment from American history, we can guarantee you’ve never heard it told quite this way.

 american history, gen z, history teacher, cool history, gen z slang, history And the award for best teacher goes to…@laurencella/Instagram

"Yankee," Cella explains, is derived from the Dutch world “Janke,” which translates to John, Johnny, Johnathan, etc.—all common Dutch names. During this time (1664), the Dutch occupied New England, or New Amsterdam, as it was called then. The term eventually became derogatory slang for Dutch settlers (aka Americans) who lived there by the other European countries trying to take over the land.

Flash forward about a hundred years to 1754, and “France wants to get in on this colonization game, cause they were always kinda like Britney versus Christina,” Cella says. By this time, France has teamed up with the Indigenous tribes looking to fight against England—hence it being called the French and Indian War—while England has teamed up with the Americans, aka the Yankees.

Xtina Christina GIFfrom Xtina GIFs
 

However, the English consider themselves superior and more refined than their American colleagues, and they write an “entire diss track about them,” titled, “Yankee Doodle.” If you’re wondering about “Doodle,” that came from the German word “dödel,” meaning “idiot.”

“It literally means ‘American Idiot!’ Shout-out to all my elder emo Green Day fans” Cella exclaims. She adds that the English ridiculed the Americans for being “country bumpkins,” joking that they couldn’t even ride actual horses into battle, but had to opt for ponies instead. Sick burn.

 american history, gen z, history teacher, cool history, gen z slang, history No matter the era, you don't wanna be an American idiot.  media2.giphy.com  

So what about the “stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni” bit? Cella admits that this part can be confusing, until you understand the shift that was happening with the young people of the time through fashion, and the adults (aka the aristocracy) who just didn’t get it. Yep, this dynamic is present in every era, it seems.

During this period, young Englishmen would have their “euro summer,” as Cella put it, where they'd go about exploring the cultures of surrounding countries—eating macaroni in Italy one day, trying on giant wigs in France the next day, and so on. To be in the “macaroni fashion club” was to be cool and edgy, sort of like a “hipster,” Cella notes.


 american history, gen z, history teacher, cool history, gen z slang, history Gender fluid fashion has been a form of rebellion in many era, it seems. Wikimedia 

Of course, the closest thing these low-class American Yankees could get to this status would be to stick a lame feather in their hat and simply call it "macaroni," the English thought. With friends like these, who needs enemies?

By the end of the (very expensive) French and Indian war, England and the Yankees went from frenemies to actual enemies, after England tried to impose taxes on America for “defending” them from France. The American Revolution was America's way of saying “We are never ever ever getting back together,” says Cella.

We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together GIFfrom Never GIFs
 

Cut to America’s victory during the Revolutionary War, when England surrenders at the battle of Yorktown, and George Washington has a band play this very song as the defeated English troops are being escorted out.

“It’s kind of like we Uno-reversed the narrative, and turned ‘Yankee Doodle’ into a flex,” Cella concludes. Class dismissed.

There's just so much to love here. One, it’s cool to see how reclaiming words to take back power is so deeply ingrained in the human psyche. We see this even today, with words like “queer,” “nerd,” “Black,” and even “b*tch” and “sl*t,” (though of course those last two still carry a heavy connotation for some). And two, you gotta hand it to Cella’s delivery, which actually brought this history lesson to life. All great history teachers have the ability to do this in their own way, and Cella has undoubtedly found hers.

No wonder the video got wonderful comments, even from fellow educators:

“I can’t get enough of your videos! I teach American Revolution and 13 Colonies and while I knew the gist of Yankee Doodle being an original diss on colonists, I didn’t know the whole scope of it until now. Amazing explanation that I’ll share with my students!”

“You are amazing !!!!! Teaching this language arts teacher some history in an incredibly fun way !!!!!”

“Great job! I taught American History and Constitution to 8th graders for many years and even I learned a new things!👏👏👏”

Of course, Cella doesn’t just Gen Z-ify American history. She’s also covered the Russian Revolution (Tzar Nicholas’ “flop era”), the beginnings of World War I (when Germany tried to prove it wasn’t just a “mid” empire) and more. Her videos might be geared towards a specific generation, but honestly, they’re a delight for all age groups.

Follow Cella on Instagram to uncover even more gems.

From Your Site Articles
history
Family

Psychologist says baby boomer 'three-quarter crisis' has left millennial parents 'abandoned'

Young parents need support and they aren't getting it.

via Canva/Photos and Gustavo Fring/Pexels

A mom struggles while his father is on vacation.

Canadian psychologist Elliott Jacques coined the term "mid-life crisis" in 1965 to describe a time in people’s lives when they begin to grapple with meaning, purpose, and mortality. This developmental state can inspire people to become more spiritual and improve their health. It can also cause people to seek extramarital affairs and buy a flashy car.

As baby boomers came of age, they were among the first generations to openly struggle with the mid-life crisis. You saw this often in '80s and '90s pop culture when men would buy sports cars and get their ears pierced to appear young and virile. Now that they’re at retirement age, boomers are embracing the three-quarter life crisis, where they're facing their mortality by travelling, taking risks, and living it up while they can. The problem is that this has taken them away from their roles as grandparents, and their millennial children feel abandoned.

What’s wrong with boomer grandparents?

baby boomers, grandparents, older couples, man and woman, couple in 60sA married man and woman in their late 60s.via Canva/Photos

Recent generational trends show a big rift between millennials and their boomer parents. The older generation isn’t keen on spending time with their grandchildren or helping their kids raise their families. At a time when the cost of living is through the roof, especially childcare, young families need more support than ever, and it feels like the baby boomers have dropped the ball by prioritizing their well-being over the children and grandchildren.

"It is a really common struggle," Leslie Dobson, a psychologist in Los Angeles, told Business Insider. "You have children, and it feels even more like an abandonment that they've chosen their life over meeting their grandchildren and building these relationships. There's almost like this three-fourth life crisis that [boomers are] in. And they're really looking at this as, 'Oh, my God, my life's almost over. When is my last day, and how am I going to live my best life?'"

stressed mom, milennial mom, baby, mom and baby, empty roomA mom an dher baby.via Canva/Photos

The crux of the generational rift is whether boomers should have to sacrifice their remaining years putting family first or whether they deserve to have fun while they can. Many in the younger generation see the decision to put good times and personal development before family as a hallmark of a group deemed the “Me Generation” in the ‘70s.

Do millennials and boomers parent differently?

To make things worse, when boomers are around to care for their grandchildren, their old-school, authoritarian approach to parenting often clashes with the more gentle, nurturing style adopted by the millennials. "What I've seen in my clients is there's a huge differentiation in parenting," Dobson said. "If you ask a millennial, the boomers are overly harsh and not good at parenting the younger children. And millennials are very aware of what could potentially be traumatizing, what is not gentle parenting."

Popular millennial parenting influencer Paige Connell went viral on TikTok recently for pointing out a big problem with boomer grandparents: they insist on doing it their way and won’t listen to their children. “It's so strange being a millennial parent with boomers who are now grandparents to your children. Because we all want them to have this, like, really close, loving relationship, but struggle for so many reasons,” she opens her video. “I think one of the biggest reasons is just the blatant disregard for any parenting decisions we make, and so this can look so many different ways, I think it starts when they're born, right.”

@sheisapaigeturner

This is a PSA for Boomer grandparents. If you value time and closeness with your kids and grandkids, I highly recommend that you learn what their boundaries are around parenting, and respect them respecting your children as they become parents goes a very long way for your relationship. ##boomergrandparents##boomerparents##boomervsmillennial##millennialmoms##boundarysetting##grandparentsoftiktok##momof4kids ##parentingstyle

Ultimately, the millennial-boomer generational divide isn’t just about parenting styles; it’s about expectations, values, and priorities. As millennials struggle with young children, boomers are off chasing joy and fulfillment in the final quarter of their lives. Hopefully, they can both understand each other and meet in the middle.

From Your Site Articles
baby boomers
Humor

5 core values Gen X-ers had in the '90s that could save the world

Let's kill fast fashion and bring back vintage thrifting.

via Unsplash
A mix tape from 1992.

A few weeks ago I came across an article about a kid who watches television at 1.5x speed so he can cram as much viewing in as he can. It seemed that his unquenchable desire to get through shows in the Golden Age of television meant he’d sacrifice the entertainment value of the show just to get to the end.

“Man, this guy would have been crucified in 1993,” I thought.

As a 45-year-old card-carrying member of Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1979), I remembered a time when nobody bragged about the amount of TV they watched. In fact, they bragged about not owning a TV. “I don't watch TV, man,” people would say. “It only exists to sell you stuff.”

This complete reversal on the social acceptance of gluttonous TV viewing made me wonder what happened to the values we were raised on as Gen Xers?


1990s, gen x, '90s values, 90s, 80s, gen z, millennial, generations, nostalgiaBring back technology that was the perfect blend of digital and analog.Sean Eyre/Flickr

We were taught that sincerity was for simpletons, everything corporate is evil, old school is always better than the latest and greatest, authenticity is king, conformity is death and there is nothing worse than being a sell-out or a poser.

Nobody would have ever referred to themselves as an “influencer” in 1991—that’s the definition of a sell-out.

“After writing this book, I’m back in the mindset of ’90s thinking, which is that nothing is worse than selling out,” Chuck Klosterman, author of “The Nineties: A Book,” told Esquire. “Nothing was more embarrassing in the ’90s than trying to convince people to like the thing you made."

Deep inside the heart of almost every Gen Xer is a deep-seated feeling of nihilism. We didn’t trust the corporations that laid off our parents or gutted their pensions in the ’80s. In fact, everything corporate was predatory. We didn’t have a lot of faith in family values because we were the first generation raised by single parents or in daycare. We didn’t care much about politics either. Back in the ’90s, Gen X’s aversion to politics was historic.

Of course, these are all generalities about a generation of nearly about 65 million people, but studies show that there are some definite hallmarks of being a Gen Xer.

1990s, gen x, '90s values, 90s, 80s, gen z, millennial, generations, nostalgiaBring back not being a sellout.Giphy

According to a generational differences document circulated through the business community, Gen X’s core values are “skepticism,” “fun” and “informality.” They’re described as “self-reliant,” “independent,” “unimpressed with authority” and motivated by “freedom.”

In the young Gen Xer, the culture of the era “instilled a wariness and skepticism, and a kind of ‘figure it out for yourself’ mindset,” Paul Taylor, author of “The Next America: Boomers, Millennials, and the Looming Generational Showdown” told The Washington Post. And with that came a sense “that you don’t have to shine a light on yourself. You’re not the center of the universe.”

But things have changed since the ’90s when Gen X was coming of age. We live in an American culture that is fractured by political partisanship, fueled by a constant culture of outrage, crippled by a preoccupation with technology, plundered by greedy boomers and annoyed by overly sensitive millennials. All of this is happening while we face the greatest challenge of our times, climate change.

The answer to all of these problems is simple: admit that Gen X at one point had it right and if we followed its lead, we could reverse these terrible trends. OK, it might not fix all of our woes, but the way things are going now surely aren’t working. Plus, weren’t the ’90s great?

Also, with hat in hand, I must admit that this message is for Gen Xers as well. Many of us have lost our way by forgetting our disdain for authority and skepticism toward institutions. This is a call for us to remember what we once stood for and to fight back by doing what we do best—staying above the fray.

1990s, gen x, '90s values, 90s, 80s, gen z, millennial, generations, nostalgiaBring back everything that made the 80s and 90s great!Giphy

Gen X, it’s time to strap on your Dr. Martens boots and get back to fighting the “Battle of Who Could Care Less.” It’s time we collectively got our “whatever” back and showed the other generations how powerful dismissiveness can be.

Here are the top five Gen X values that we need to embrace again.

5. Buying vintage items

Nothing was less hip in the early ’90s than wearing mall clothes.

1990s, gen x, '90s values, 90s, 80s, gen z, millennial, generations, nostalgiaBring back Goodwill style. Photo by Sean Benesh on Unsplash

If you had any style you shopped at a thrift store and bought used duds from the ’70s and early ’80s and remixed them into something awesome. If you were into hip-hop or skating you shopped at the surplus store and rocked some super-durable Dickies or Carhartt gear. The mood of the times was totally anti-fashion. These days, we live in a world where fast fashion is killing the environment. By embracing the Gen X value of old-school cool, we can help the planet while looking much more fashionable in the process.

4. Corporate skepticism

In the early 2000s, people fell head-over-heels in love with smartphone technology and social media so quickly that nobody stopped and said, “Hey, wait a minute!” Now, we have a world where kids are depressed, the culture has become divided and nobody talks to each other in public anymore, they just stare at their phones. I can totally understand why young millennials and Luddite boomers would fall for the big-tech ruse, but sadly, Gen X was asleep at the wheel and fell victim, too. The generation that embraced the notion that TV rotted your brain needs to remind everyone to go outside and play in the sunshine or read a book. And if you read a book it should be by Bret Easton Ellis.

1990s, gen x, '90s values, 90s, 80s, gen z, millennial, generations, nostalgiaBring back not trusting big corporations.Giphy

3. Just say “whatever”

Two of the most popular Gen X phrases were “whatever” and “talk to the hand (because the face don’t give a damn).” These may seem to be flippant responses but they are the correct way to deal with other people’s nonsense and in 2025, we have to deal with a constant barrage of it.

Somewhere along the way, people forgot that it’s even more powerful to ignore someone than to admit they got under your skin. In the world of social media, we unintentionally amplify the most wretched voices by subtweeting, commenting and liking the posts from the army of grifters fighting for our attention.

We also live in an era where many seem to be addicted to outrage. The quickest way to stop fanning the flames of outrage is with a simple, “whatever.” Like dogs distracted by squirrels, we’ve got our heads on outrage swivels these days. Throwing around the occasional “whatever” gives us the time and energy to focus on the problems that really matter and take action.

These days “whatever” matters more than ever.

1990s, gen x, '90s values, 90s, 80s, gen z, millennial, generations, nostalgiaBring back ignoring annoying people.Giphy

2. Bring back snobbery

Good taste used to matter. In the 2000s, millennials decided that people have the right to like what they like and that it’s worse to judge someone’s personal taste than to have bad taste. Gen Xers based their entire personalities on taste and demanded integrity from artists and were rewarded by living in a time of superior films and music. These days, no one listens to new music and we’re stuck in a world dominated by comic book movies because no one stood up and shamed people for liking low-effort culture.

1990s, gen x, '90s values, 90s, 80s, gen z, millennial, generations, nostalgiaBring back high-quality films and booksGiphy

1. Political apathy

America’s political divide has calcified over the past decade because more and more people are basing their personal identities on their politics. This has created a culture where the dialog between liberals and conservatives has become a shouting match that only makes people dig their heels in further. It’s also created a culture in Washington, D.C. that has attracted a more debased form of politician and led to the gridlock that has halted any sense of progress. Sadly, Gen X has also been sucked into this vortex.

Things were a lot different in the ’90s. Back in 1999, Ted Halstead at The Atlantic noted that Xers “appear to have enshrined political apathy as a way of life.” He added that Gen Xers “exhibit less social trust or confidence in government, have a weaker allegiance to their country or to either political party.”

Compared to what’s going on in America in 2025, this type of apathy seems welcome. Back in the ’90s, taking a “chill pill” could solve everything. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone took one, and then we could open our ears and hearts and have some constructive discussions?

1990s, gen x, '90s values, 90s, 80s, gen z, millennial, generations, nostalgiaBring back not making politics your entire identity.Giphy

There was a common lament in the 1980s that the boomer hippies had sold out and became boomer yuppies. They went from being concerned with peace, love and the planet to stocks, bonds and conspicuous consumption. Gen X is now in its 40s and 50s and it’s fair to say that we've moved from being the outsiders to creating technological and political machines that are generating the type of conformity that we once railed against.

Now that Xers are at the age where we get to run the world for a few decades, it’s time to recommit to the core values that make us well … us. The great news is that as Gen Xers, it’ll be easy to get back to our roots because we were raised to ironically love the past.

This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated.

From Your Site Articles
generation x
Art

Watch this insanely accurate recreation of legendary 'Dirty Dancing' routine

Best birthday ever? We think so.

Photo credit: Canva | Flickr

Woman recreates famous dance from 'Dirty Dancing' for birthday.

You'd likely be hard pressed to find a woman born in the early 80s that hasn't memorized nearly every line from the iconic movie Dirty Dancing. Many spent hours in front of a mirror practicing every dance Baby had to learn so they could don their flowy dress to give their spins the perfect amount of realism. An entire generation is transported when those famous words, "now, I've had the time of my life...," croon over a speaker no matter where they are.

A woman from Portugal decided she was going to become Baby for her 40th birthday party and she was not messing around. The woman, Raquel, uploaded the video to her social media page Miolo Mole e Bitoca.

Raquel stands in what appears to be a dance hall decorated to look like the infamous last dance that closes out "Dirty Dancing." She's in a pink dress that looks nearly identical to Baby's and that familiar tune starts to play. The camera pans to her partner dressed like Johnny Castle in all black, and yes, they did the dance step by step.

 
 @miolomoleebitoca Meus 40 anos tema Dirty Dancing #dirtydancing #dirtydancingchallenge #patrickswayze ♬ Dirty Dancing: (I've Had) The Time Of My Life - Dynamite 
 
 

A large screen was set up right behind them playing the dance scene behind the pair as the nailed the dance. Now, they didn't disclose if they practiced the lift in a lake to stay completely true to the movie, but they nailed it nonetheless. Commenters on the internet are absolutely delighted with the recreation of the famous dance.

"Now y'all did that. Man y'all put a smile on my face. Dirty Dancing is my all time favorite movie," someone says.

"I've never smiled like a Cheshire cat as much as I just did watching that! Proper cheese but I loved it," one person writes.

dirty dancing, dirty dancing choreography, dirty dancing scene, dance, best movie dance, dance competitionWho wouldn't want to recreate this?media2.giphy.com

"Not me bawling my eyes out and smiling so big, this is everything! One of my all time favorite movies and you can tell you's had so much fun and share so much love for one another," another commenter cries.

There was also a lot of praise for Raquel's dance partner.

"If my next husband doesn't perform dirty dancing lie this with me thenI don't want him. This was amazing," one person gushed.

Another said, "the fact that your man would do that for you is amazing. He seemed so happy making you happy."

Such a lovely sentiment. find yourself a partner who makes life a dance, and doesn't let anybody put you in a corner!

And by the way, if you're looking to do your own recreation of this iconic dance, here's a fun tutorial:

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

This article originally appeared last year. It has since been updated.

From Your Site Articles
pop culture
Trending Stories