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Here's What Britain Was Like Last Time There Was A General Election

The past is a foreign country. They call old ladies bigots there.

Five years ago, you were probably dancing to one of a number of really quite banging pop songs.

This was the year of "Tik Tok" and "Bad Romance", people!

And the chances are you had The xx's album on your iPod.

Along with Florence + the Machine and Dizzee Rascal, who did this – actually really good – performance.

View this video on YouTube

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People also grew to like this random boy band on The X Factor.

This lady won The Apprentice.

We were completely rubbish in the World Cup so we won't dwell on that. Spain won it. They beat Holland in the final. Who were filthy.

AKA The One Where Everyone Got Annoyed With The Vuvuzelas.

The chances are you went to the cinema and watched Inception.

As a result this video deservedly went viral.

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

But there was also Black Swan.

Not to mention The Social Network.

And, of course, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

Are we out of the woods yet are we out of the woods yet are we out of the woods yet no and we won't be for at least another hour or so.

You had ~feelings~ over the fact that Cheryl and Ashley got divorced. :(

You were probably quite excited about this hot new iPad thing.

And jiggling around like an idiot in front of your screen while playing video games.

The XBox Kinect and PlayStation Move were launched in 2010 and it's very touching to see how excited people got at the time.

Here are some 2010 magazine covers...

In meme news, this was the year of Sad Keanu and The Most Interesting Man in the World.

Now then. What about the 2010 election itself? Well, for many people it boiled down to one moment on 28 April.

buzzfeed-video1.s3.amazonaws.com / Via ITN Source

In this six-minute video from ITN Source, you can see the moment then prime minister Gordon Brown meets lifelong Labour voter Gillian Duffy, talks to her about immigration, and then, back in his car and not realising his microphone is still on, describes her as a "bigoted woman".

It remains one of the most painfully cringe-inducing moments in British political history.

Cue apologetic visit to Duffy's house.

We also saw the historic arrival of TV debates for the leaders.

Election day came round and there were plenty of new faces. Like Louise Mensch, hitherto best known as a chick-lit novelist, who won the seat of Corby with a majority of 1,951.

We said hello to Zac Goldsmith, and goodbye to asteroid watcher Lembit Opik.

buzzfeed-video1.s3.amazonaws.com / Via ITN Source

"Lembit's great in bed but I couldn't quit the Cheeky Girls for him," said former lover Gabriela Irimla.

Elsewhere, the election was overshadowed by the expenses scandal, with a number of MPs either ordered not to stand or losing their seats after being criticised for their expenses claims.

In the end, the results looked like this.

And the whole thing ended with a heartwarming press conference in the rose garden.

buzzfeed-video1.s3.amazonaws.com / Via ITN Source

Feel the burn at five minutes.

Fair to say everyone's slightly less excited this time round.