The 90s

[Claire903]

Anyone else feel like the 90s were just peak life? Honestly, what a laugh that decade was. You could crack a joke and no one was instantly offended, people weren’t on edge or “at work” 24/7-even though I’m posting this from my phone, which is a bit ironic, considering how we actually spoke to each other back then!

Remember when the Spice Girls ruled everything? Union Jack dresses, platform trainers, “girl power” on every magazine cover, and all of us desperately trying to decide if we were more Sporty or Baby Spice. I still remember choreographing dance routines in my mate’s living room, belting out “Wannabe” and thinking we were destined for Wembley. And the fashion! Butterfly clips, chokers, slip dresses, and those chunky shoes that could do some serious damage if you tripped over them on a night out

The weather honestly seemed better-proper summers, ice pops from the corner shop, and not a mobile phone in sight unless you count the odd Nokia 3210 (which was basically indestructible and only used for Snake anyway). No one was glued to screens; we were out knocking for each other, hanging out in the park or at the precinct, and if you missed an episode of “Byker Grove” or “Live & Kicking,” you were genuinely out of the loop until Monday at school.

TV was golden: “The Crystal Maze,” “TFI Friday,” “The Big Breakfast” with Chris Evans and Gaby Roslin, and of course, the absolute chaos of “Noel’s House Party.” And who else had a Tamagotchi that died a tragic death because you forgot to feed it for a day? Or a window full of Beanie Babies you were convinced would pay your mortgage one day (still waiting on that one)

Music was unreal-Oasis, Blur, All Saints, 5ive, and the whole “Cool Britannia” vibe. Even the football was iconic: Euro ’96, Three Lions on the radio, and everyone thinking Gazza’s dentist chair celebration was the height of comedy.

Maybe I’m just getting old, but it really felt like life was simpler, funnier, and just a bit more carefree. Anyone else wish we could go back, even just for one more night out in a dodgy club, dancing to “Spice Up Your Life” in our best crop tops and cargo pants?

Would love to hear what you all miss most!

Well yes, you lived in London. Bit different if you lived in Belfast or even Manchester or Warrington.

Living in Belfast during the Troubles was a completely different experience hence why I said that. I had family there...

The 1990s were when I went from the age of 15 to 25. If they weren't halcyon days then I would have been doing my youth wrong.

You said you disagreed that the troubles cast a shadow over the decade and I have to admit that annoyed me a bit. I wouldn’t actually have minded you saying you weren’t really aware of them because you lived in London - fair enough, but to claim that they were no big thing because you personally were oblivious is more than a bit absurd.

80s we’re much better.

This

could you imagine having had no phones during lockdown tho

I echo everything you said, OP, but i mainly miss the excellent boyfriend i had back then.

There’s a slight possibility that i still carry a torch for that man.

You missed the rave scene. But I agree the 90s was brilliant. Fantastic decade. I also had no money yet didn’t worry about heating or eating or getting housed. Life seemed way better in comparison to now and felt very hopeful and much more relaxed. Things have become difficult and over monitored and over controlled. and I think people feel generally seem unhappy and stressed now.

@countingthestar you are inferring things I didn't actually say. though...

Why would I not be aware of them or oblivious? Was London immune? My dad worked near Bishopgate. Does it matter that as someone with Irish Catholic immigrant parents & family in Dublin & Belfast which we visited frequently I could see other experiences & my cousins in Belfast had a very different time to me?

I simply disagreed that for most young people in the rest of the UK they overshadowed the decade. For one lots of people don't even understand what the Troubles were actually about even now & the 90s always come up as the golden period/halcyon days so I'm not sure how that demonstrates overshadowing?

Like any decade they are only fun if you are not being horrendously bullied by your peers.
Having the freedom to meet friends would be brilliant if you had any.
The fashion must have been amazing if you had access to it rather than having to wear a male family members hand me downs.
The music played in our house was from the 70's.
Clubbing wasn't an option until I left home (early 2000's).
I always feel like these threads are written by the 'popular' girls at school.

But @elladella what you’re saying is that you disagree it overshadowed the decade when what you mean is that ‘it didn’t overshadow the decade for me (and in fairness probably most London youths.’)

I am probably being needlessly grumpy but there is a tendency for things to be put forward as if it it didn’t happen in London or the south east it’s unimportant and that can be annoying.

@countingthestar no, I gave my reasons why I don't think it overshadowed the decade for most. If it did, why are the 90s generally voted one of the best decades by many people?

Before it all went woke.

Can you explain why Londoners many who were 2nd gen Irish would think the Troubles didn't happen?

I thought it was obvious I was referring to a general attitude (most often seen in the media) and not specifically London, but you’re making a lot of this second gen Irish thing while in the same breath casually stating the troubles didn’t overshadow the decade.

Both can’t be true.

No one expects you or anyone to be aware of everything. There was a war in Bosnia in the 90s which I was only aware of in the vaguest sort of way (admittedly I was only 11 or so at the time.) It is reasonable to say ‘I lived in England so I wasn’t really aware of the Bosnian war.’ It is less reasonable IMO to say something like ‘I disagree the Bosnian war was an important part of the decade.’ It was if you happened to be living in Bosnia!

It’s starting early today.

How did a Sunday morning thread about 90s nostalgia tumble into political debate.

I’m from London, and I can say (from my own experience), that i was aware of the troubles, of course, but only in the news.
Although it was only across the Irish Channel, it felt like a hundred miles away.

I’m sure that poster meant no disrespect.

Yes, people’s voting is always absolutely spot on! <eyes recent events>

In all seriousness, I’m not suggesting there was nothing good about the 90s! What I’m saying is that it wasn’t a land of milk and honey. Like all periods of history there were winners and there were losers. It is interesting that both the Edwardian era and the 90s are seen in similar ways: a beautiful, golden time, a time where even the weather was better and we were carefree and happy and life was sweet.

Of course, that wasn’t true for many edwardians and it wasn’t true for many people living in the 90s either. The problem with that sort of blind nostalgia is that we then don’t acknowledge the bad as well as the good and that to be blunt about it isn’t healthy. There has never been a period in history where all has been well: possibly the garden of Eden if you believe the bible literally but other than that there have always been conflicts, violence and incorrigible youths.

I can't tell if you are being deliberately obtuse or stupid? I mentioned my background because I spent lots of time in Ireland & NI so it gave my perspective vs growing up in London. I will ask again why do you think it overshadowed the decade for the majority?

No one expects you or anyone to be aware of everything.

Again what am I not aware of?

How can it not, @ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews ?

That isn’t intended to sound combative. But the 90s started with Thatcher’s resignation, and no matter what your personal feelings about her might be, I don’t think any of us could deny the absolutely huge impact she had on the country.

Blair is the same and he was elected in 1997, which also ended some eighteen years (I think, will have to check) of Tory rule.

Music and culture all form part of an era but politics shape and mould it. To me, you can’t talk about a decade without talking about politics, unless it really is at surface level of ‘ooh Robbie Williams was fit!’ (I used to think he was 🤢)

In the Garden of Eden, it still went to shite, cos (in Jewish mythology) Adam had a ‘wife’ before Eve, called Lilith.
Who was banished because was disobedient.

So, even this paradise was beset by a hoo hah.

That was a general you, not specific Ella.

I’m not aware of everything. I’m just not claiming it’s unimportant because I’m unaware of it!

There you go, then @ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews! (Added exclamation mark as it was meant jovially and came across sarkily- sorry!)

Yeah, i’m tapping out, @countingthestar

It’s too early for a discussion about Margaret Thatcher.
I just wanted to chip in on a frivolous discussion about Oasis v Blur!

We’re still friends! We’re cool. 😎

I’m not suggesting there was nothing good about the 90s! What I’m saying is that it wasn’t a land of milk and honey.

But no one has said otherwise?

You mentioned knife crime in the 90s for example. I grew up near Brixton & DH is from Hackney. Now I'm not sure how much awareness you have around these areas but they were very, very different in the 80s & 90s. I learned from a very early age to spot a drug deal, prostitutes, general dodgy behaviour & where to avoid at night. I still think in some ways I had a very innocent childhood & so much more freedom than my dc. This doesn't mean I grew up in utopia!