Feeling Nostalgic For The 90's
Lately, with all the negativity in the world and the effect social media is taking on me, I find myself thinking about the past quite a bit. I don’t mean in a negative way. I’m not thinking about things I could have changed and I’m not dwelling on the way I wish things could have been. I think about the past in the nostalgic sense.
I admit I am very nostalgic for the past, and for my childhood in particular. I grew up in the ‘90s. I genuinely believe that there was no better decade to have grown up.
I miss what pop culture was like back then. Let’s break it down.
Television
Family-oriented shows: Boy Meets World, Full House, Step by Step, Fresh Prince of Bel Air etc. These shows centered on family dynamics and dealt with real-life situations that I think many young children my age learned morals from. Plus, it was done in a non-cheesy sort of way.
Teenage/High School shows — Saved by the Bell, Boy Meets World (again), California Dreams, etc. Let me describe today’s shows with one word: sex. Shows in the ‘90s (and early 2000s) did not involve teenagers having sex or even drinking, for that matter. And if it did, it was to teach the consequences that came along with those actions. Again, it was very informative. Plus, let’s be honest, the central relationships in shows like these (Cory & Topanga, Zack & Kelly) still ring romantic to us today. Every girl wanted a relationship like theirs. And why not? These were great relationship role models to have.
Music
Boy Bands. You can’t talk about ‘90s music without mentioning boy bands — Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, 98 Degrees, New Kids on the Block, etc. I mean, come on, what girl didn’t love hearing these adorable boys singing love songs and dancing around? Let’s face it, we all still love that music.
Solo Female Artists — Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Mandy Moore, etc. The ‘90s were full of young females singing their hearts out. What girl didn’t yearn for the types of relationships these girls were singing about? Even if they weren’t about relationships, they were fun, feel-good songs.
Rap/Hip-Hop — The ‘90s was a time when rap/hip-hop songs didn’t only consist of drugs, gang bangs, and jail time. These songs were actually great dance songs — fun and tame. It didn’t matter which one was more hardcore than the other. It wasn’t a competition against morals. This was genuine.
Movies
The ‘90s was the highlight of the teen movie, originated in the ‘80s. I’m sure you can name at least 5 teen movies from the ‘90s without a second of hesitation. Each storyline was basically the same as the next and usually centered on a love triangle. Nonetheless, every girl was mesmerized by these stories. Although these movies involved sex more than the television shows, the scenes were tastefully done. Today, sex scenes are very racy. For me, movies from the ‘90s were much more romantic in that sense. Sure, not every sexual encounter is romantic, but it’s the simple idea and fantasy of it all that is so enticing. Who cares if it wasn’t true to reality?
Technology
The ‘90s was the beginning of the technological age. We mostly used the computer for games. (Hello, the Sims!? My absolute favorite!) I remember not getting my first email address until I was in 7th grade. And I hid it from my parents because I thought they would be angry. Then, we had MSN and AIM to communicate with our friends. Or, brace yourselves, we used an actual landline to communicate with friends. We would talk on the phone for hours. And if you had three-way calling? That was just the cherry on top.
As I reflect on my childhood and growing up during this time, I just can’t help yearning to “visit” for a little while. I mean, come on, this is 2018. Why can’t we time travel yet?
But in all honesty, during this time period, I was so naive and creative that I genuinely just want to tap into the mind of my younger self. At that time, I was starting to become the writer I wanted to be. That girl had so many ideas and feelings. I try to remember them sometimes, but it’s difficult. I wish now that I had written a diary or something so I could recall those moments in time.
I think we all wish that we could take a vacation from our responsibilities and remember what it was like to live like a kid. It was the most care-free time in our lives. We all grow nostalgic every now and then. As for me, I find listening to music the best way to reconnect with the past. I listen to ‘90s music almost every day. Thanks to Hulu, I can also watch some of my old favorite ‘90s shows. Immersing myself in the culture of the past reminds me of a simpler time and I feel calm.
