January 4 is a day for all of us who snub our noses at the pop charts, scorning everything from Brittany Spears to Nickelback and claiming that anything that makes a #1 since 1995 is a piece of crap, to bite our tongues and enjoy the guilty pleasure tunes that we normally disdain. Look, we’ve all got that hidden CD, that folder of songs on our desktop or iPod that we wouldn’t even show our own mothers; why not stop judging one another (as well as ourselves) and allow ourselves to enjoy our Vanilla Ice, M.C. Hammer, New Kids on the Block, Milli Vanilli, Leo Sayer, and whoever else you’d never be caught dead jamming out to—at least for the day?

Celebrate Pop Music Charts Day by…

• Sharing awesomely bad music. Have a party where everyone brings songs they like that they know most people condemn with a passion. The rules are that no one can diss other people for bringing the music and that everyone has to listen to the songs played. Odds are that you’ll groan and laugh and remember Prom and rolled up jeans and Hammer pants grudgingly, if not fondly.
• Celebrate the biggies. Michael Jackson, Brittany Spears, Madonna… pick your favorite (or least favorite?) pop icon you love to hate and play nothing but his or her music for the entire day. You’ll either spend the rest of the year grateful that you won’t have to listen to that ever again, or you’ll have a good time.
• Introduce your kids to the music you listened to when you grew up. This could be a lot of fun, especially with teenagers who think it’s the lamest thing ever. Even little kids will get a kick out of the songs you used to listen to—particularly the ones that included weird oh-oh-ah-oh-oh refrains (you got the right stuff, baby).
• Actually listen to a pop music station. This can be excruciating; it’s something I never do myself, if not for the music than for the incessant host blabber. However, it may surprise you; the few times I’ve listened to it in the car with my husband I’ve discovered a few new songs that I actually enjoyed. If nothing else, set up a station on Pandora and give it a go.
• Dress like your favorite pop icon. While this may require breaking the law, it could still be fun if you keep it at home.