Remember the '90s

Although it seems like ages ago when you used to feed your Tamagotchi and collect pogs and slammers, the ‘90s encompassed a decade full of pop culture phenomena, covering every aspect of life from talking Chihuahuas advertising Mexican fast food to presidential scandals.  From 1990 through 1999, we were introduced to ground-breaking ideas that are still used today (Internet?), brought face to face with some tragic national news and even witnessed some fads and trends that should have stayed in the past. So let’s take a walk down memory lane and reflect on the years that helped shape our identities today.

The Fashion: During the early 1990s, the biggest fashion for youth was the grunge look, set in place by Seattle’s heavy metal rock bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. As for the adults, “casual Fridays” became commonplace, allowing workers to dress more relaxed at the end of the work week. Young girls everywhere slowly graduated from the side pony tail to the more sophisticated Rachel haircut, while still donning fluorescent colored shirts complete with fanny packs and crazy shoelaces.  Junior Molly O’Neil recalls her fashion accessories of the ‘90s–the snap bracelet. “I remember when they were banned from school,” O’Neil recalls. “I think I had a leopard print one, it was all the rage.”

The Fads: The fads of the ‘90s are too numerous to count, however, I’m sure at one point during our youth we all took part in one. Some of the most popular fads included WWJD bracelets, Furbies, Trolls, Koosh Balls and the ever popular Beanie Babies.

By 1996, over 100 million of the small stuffed animals were sold across America, but the frenzy continued on through 1997 when McDonald’s started incorporating the animals into their happy meals. Within fourteen days McDonald’s sold more than 100 million Beanie Babies.

“I remember this one lady my mom knew who used to go to McDonald’s six times a day to collect all the Beanie Babies,” remembers junior Ahleah Balawender. “It was a bit much at the time, but she’s made a lot of money selling them online.”

The Phrases: Another big aspect of the ‘90s that worked its way into our lives was the infamous catchphrases. Almost everyone can admit to uttering some of the most famous ‘90s catchphrases such as, “Talk to the Hand.” Austin Powers sparked “Yeah, Baby!” while empowered women remarked, “You Go Girl!” “Whasssup?!” became the comic salutation of men everywhere while the sparkling expression “Bling-Bling” was a word used to describe diamond encrusted jewelry. Thankfully, just like the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls, catchphrases die with the times.

The Shows: Perhaps the best part of the ‘90s was the television shows we grew up watching and the characters we admired. While shows like “Boy Meets World” and “Kenan and Kel” are memorable, sophomore Craig Willert has a slightly different taste. “I used to watch ‘Saved By the Bell’ a lot,” Willert recollects. “Screech was awesome, and they always managed to get themselves in some pickle and find ridiculous ways to get out of it.” Other common favorites include “Dawson’s Creek,” “Home Improvement,” “Step By Step,” “Full House” and “Clarissa Explains It All.”  So the next time you hear someone “dissin” the ‘90s, be sure to tell them “How rude!” and that they aren’t “All that and a bag of chips” because as far as this article is concerned, the ‘90s were “Da Bomb.” 

As much of the world was obsessed with crazy fashion and outrageous TV shows, the U.S. had bigger concerns.

1990: The United States sent half a million soldiers to defend Saudi Arabia in the Gulf War.  Iraq invaded Kuwait after Saddam Hussien accused Kuwait of stealing oil.

  Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid activist, served 27 years as a political prisoner before being freed in 1990.

1991: Fifteen independent republics were created as the result of  a dissolved Soviet Union.

  Magic Johnson retired from the NBA after being diagnosed HIV positive.

1992: Four white police officers were caught beating Rodney King who was accused of speeding.  The officers were acquitted.  Riots broke out killing 55, injuring 2,300 and destroying 1,100 buildings.

1993: Michael Jordan surprised and saddened many fans when he announced his retirement from the NBA to play minor league baseball. ( He returned to the NBA 17 months later.)

1994: South Africa allowed black people to vote for the first time. Nelson Mandela was named president.

1995: O.J. Simpson, former NFL star, is accused of murdering ex-wife and her friend.

  Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nicholas, anti-government American terrorists, were convicted of bombing a federal building in Oklahoma City and killing 168 people.

1996: Theodore Kaczanski is arrested as “The Unabomber.”  Three people were killed and several more injured with mail bombs.

1997: Roslin Institute in Scotland produced Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal from an adult cell.

  “Titanic” was released and became the highest grossing movie of all time.

1998: The Price is Right has it’s 5,000th episode.

1999: Two Colorado Columbine High School students kill 15 people including themselves.