The 1990's

musicismylife78

Lately I have been hit by a wave of nostalgia about the 1990's. I know those who came of age during that time, Generation X, dont think of themselves as a generation so to speak, but reguardless the tags of being labeled apathetic and angry were actually pretty accurate, if we are all honest

How do you explain the 1990's? That Generation that came of age? How do you explain what occured? The grunge, teen angst, rise of the reluctant heros like Ed and Kurt, the drugs, the flannel, the abundance of quality shows on MTV and Nickelodeon, etc...

I feel like if I have some list of shows and books about and influential to that period in time, it could somehow explain what we all went through. But maybe it couldnt.

It was a wild time, I was young too. If I had been a teen during the heydey of grunge, I could see myself running away. I get that feeling, that during the grunge days alot of kids felt misunderstood and took off and left home.

How does one gain an understanding of this time period? Why did it happen?

gobrowns19

I've always seen it being closely related and tied to the 80's. I've always kinda thought the 90's 'group' was made of kids that were considered dorks and nerds and made fun of by older siblings/neighborkids that grew up in the 80's. I mean, comon, it makes sense, long unwashed hair, holes in jeans?

But i get nostalgic over the 90's occasionally. I wasn't old enough to be into Pearl Jam or any music really, but as a kid the 90's was great. Nickelodeon had great television shows, every child of the 90's shares a common bond because of all the many fads we all shared-Pokemon, Pokemon cards, Bop-It, Pogs, Yo-Yos, I could go on forever. Can you say that about kids today?

FinsburyParkCarrots

The best thing about the 1990s for me was that I can remember, in 1990, how a pint of Guinness was £1.30 in some pubs.

OffHeGoes29

I think its a time when reality hit and the effects of baby boomers as parents. I'm by no means a histroy major, but I think the social changes of the 60's/70's reached their low point with the kids of the 90's. I think the rise of divorce rates, drugs, more aggressive music (rap, metal, rock), and the shitty parenting of the baby boomer generation. (thats a whole agrument in it self). I also think the 80s where a little more positive, so it was naturally going to swing the other way eventually. Just as a whole I feel kids that grew up in the 90s got short changed as far as parenting, and it continues today. But todays parents just throw money, cell phones, cars, and what ever their kids want to make up for not being a big part of their life.

The Babyboomer generation is the first generation to have both parents work (not counting the 40's). So there is no one home to watch their kids. The "Latch Key" generation was born, and they had no full time parent to give them attention.

Thats my take, feel free to rebut with a constructive disagreement.

gobrowns19

OffHeGoes29 wrote:

I think its a time when reality hit and the effects of baby boomers as parents. I'm by no means a histroy major, but I think the social changes of the 60's/70's reached their low point with the kids of the 90's. I think the rise of divorce rates, drugs, more aggressive music (rap, metal, rock), and the shitty parenting of the baby boomer generation. (thats a whole agrument in it self). I also think the 80s where a little more positive, so it was naturally going to swing the other way eventually. Just as a whole I feel kids that grew up in the 90s got short changed as far as parenting, and it continues today. But todays parents just throw money, cell phones, cars, and what ever their kids want to make up for not being a big part of their life.

The Babyboomer generation is the first generation to have both parents work (not counting the 40's). So there is no one home to watch their kids. The "Latch Key" generation was born, and they had no full time parent to give them attention.

Thats my take, feel free to rebut with a constructive disagreement.

I think you make a very good point that holds its own.

yellowled24

One word....


Gumby

Allie

as far as the music goes,
I think we were just fortunate to live in a time period when so many great artists were just fortunate to all come out at the same time and release great music.
I've said it before here, even the 'bad' music was good. Or if you didn't like a band, you still couldn't say it wasn't good. Like I never cared for REM or, well, sorry, OP, no offense-but I don't like Radiohead. But you can't say their music isn't good, it's just not my thing.

And there was the rise of all the female artists-Sarah Mclachlan and the whole Lillith Fair. Jewel. Tracy Chapman. .. etc... all I can think of at this moment..

Well but then there was Creed. I don't know who is to blame for that :eek:

Now I feel like the 'alternative' is bands trying to sound like Billie Joe Armstrong with a fake british accent
and trying to act like Fall Out Boy or Panic at the Disco. Blech.

he still stands

this generation sucks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n34eeXWjUQ

sponger

Understanding the 90's requires understanding the 60's.

Sure there were many factors that went into the phenomenon known as the 1960's. The Vietnam War is one example.

But, above all, the 60's was in response to decades if not centuries of living under the umbrella of a repressive culture, which was conservative America.

The 80's weren't exactly representative of repressed individuality.

But, the 80's were the most decadent, superficial, materialistic, and exploitative years in US History since the roaring 20's.

The bustling economy fueled consumer spending which happened just for the sake of consumer spending. Technology had reached a landmark point as well. VCR's, affordable TV's, microwaves, and personal computers literally changed the way people lived by a margin not seen since, say, the industrial revolution.

On the downside there emerged unprecedented divides between the social classes. More than ever before, it was evident that some Americans were living better than others in a big, big way.

To top it off, the conservative Reagan administration and its Just Say No campaign bordered on the nazi-esque.

And that's why the grunge movement was able to pick up the momentum that it did. People needed a break from all that fakeness. They needed to feel real again.

Further, the predominant synth sound of the 1980's gave Rock N Roll time to regroup and reinvent itself, incorporating sounds that not yet hit the mainstream, such as Punk of course.

And, I think we have to be honest with ourselves and admit that even Rap music was "Real" back then. During the early to mid 90's gangster rap was not just the skin-deep, marketing-driven fad that it is today. It was a gritty representation of street life that, like grunge, was a refreshing alternative to the "Tubbs & Crockett" fairy-tale style of underworld life that the public had been fed over the years.

Then a man named Kurt Cobain came along and he claimed to be the son of John Lennon. He said that John Lennon had sent him here to save people from their fakeness.

Kurt started performing miracles. He soon had a following, which hailed him as the messiah.

Then he was betrayed by Dave Grohl. After that betrayal, he was left to the mercy of Courtney Love, who had him summarily executed.


So, in summation:

1980's = Roman Empire

Kurt Cobain = Jesus

Dave Grohl = Judas

Courtney Love = Roman Executioners

Grunge music = Holy Grail

Lolapalooza = Crusades

Punk Rock = Judaism

Alternative Music = Christianity

Hitch-Hiker

California Dreams was a microcosm for the whole thing

OffHeGoes29

sponger wrote:

Understanding the 90's requires understanding the 60's.

Sure there were many factors that went into the phenomenon known as the 1960's. The Vietnam War is one example.

But, above all, the 60's was in response to decades if not centuries of living under the umbrella of a repressive culture, which was conservative America.

The 80's weren't exactly representative of repressed individuality.

But, the 80's were the most decadent, superficial, materialistic, and exploitative years in US History since the roaring 20's.

The bustling economy fueled consumer spending which happened just for the sake of consumer spending. Technology had reached a landmark point as well. VCR's, affordable TV's, microwaves, and personal computers literally changed the way people lived by a margin not seen since, say, the industrial revolution.

On the downside there emerged unprecedented divides between the social classes. More than ever before, it was evident that some Americans were living better than others in a big, big way.

To top it off, the conservative Reagan administration and its Just Say No campaign bordered on the nazi-esque.

And that's why the grunge movement was able to pick up the momentum that it did. People needed a break from all that fakeness. They needed to feel real again.

Further, the predominant synth sound of the 1980's gave Rock N Roll time to regroup and reinvent itself, incorporating sounds that not yet hit the mainstream, such as Punk of course.

And, I think we have to be honest with ourselves and admit that even Rap music was "Real" back then. During the early to mid 90's gangster rap was not just the skin-deep, marketing-driven fad that it is today. It was a gritty representation of street life that, like grunge, was a refreshing alternative to the "Tubbs & Crockett" fairy-tale style of underworld life that the public had been fed over the years.

Then a man named Kurt Cobain came along and he claimed to be the son of John Lennon. He said that John Lennon had sent him here to save people from their fakeness.

Kurt started performing miracles. He soon had a following, which hailed him as the messiah.

Then he was betrayed by Dave Grohl. After that betrayal, he was left to the mercy of Courtney Love, who had him summarily executed.


So, in summation:

1980's = Roman Empire

Kurt Cobain = Jesus

Dave Grohl = Judas

Courtney Love = Roman Executioners

Grunge music = Holy Grail

Lolapalooza = Crusades

Punk Rock = Judaism

Alternative Music = Christianity

Who's Ponchus Pilot?

elmer

radiohead33 wrote:

If I had been a teen during the heydey of grunge, I could see myself running away. I get that feeling, that during the grunge days alot of kids felt misunderstood and took off and left home.

hehehe....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psP1bKKEtHg

Jeremy1012

radiohead33 wrote:

Lately I have been hit by a wave of nostalgia about the 1990's. I know those who came of age during that time, Generation X, dont think of themselves as a generation so to speak, but reguardless the tags of being labeled apathetic and angry were actually pretty accurate, if we are all honest

How do you explain the 1990's? That Generation that came of age? How do you explain what occured? The grunge, teen angst, rise of the reluctant heros like Ed and Kurt, the drugs, the flannel, the abundance of quality shows on MTV and Nickelodeon, etc...

I feel like if I have some list of shows and books about and influential to that period in time, it could somehow explain what we all went through. But maybe it couldnt.

It was a wild time, I was young too. If I had been a teen during the heydey of grunge, I could see myself running away. I get that feeling, that during the grunge days alot of kids felt misunderstood and took off and left home.

How does one gain an understanding of this time period? Why did it happen?

Do you think you maybe overthink things a bit?

Also, can you really be apathetic and angry at the same time?

kh65

Here's a book I just read it is pretty good, quick to read and sounded just like me. "X Saves the World: How Generation X Got the Shaft but Can Still Keep Everything from Sucking" by Jeff Gordinier

http://www.amazon.com/Saves-World-Generation-Everything-Sucking/dp/0670018589/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210775410&sr=1-1

PJPixie

The 90's...........
I was in the hospital for a suicide attempt when Kurt Cobain succeeded in taking his own life. That really messed with me. The early 90's were strange and hard for me. I'm happy to say that I made good. I'm happy and I'm a good parent. It was hard then but looking back now, I'm glad I lived my 20's thru the 90's and I'm glad I made it thru. I've really come a long way and that makes me happy!



Funny thinking about it.......my mom is pretty much a nut job now and I always tend to place the blame on the 60's.........I wonder what will be said about us that kinda grew thru the 90's???

eyedclaar

Judging from my birth certificate and the fact that I'm still alive, I obviously lived through the 90's, so why don't I remember them? Good times were had by all, I assume...

InHiding19

sponger wrote:

On the downside there emerged unprecedented divides between the social classes. More than ever before, it was evident that some Americans were living better than others in a big, big way.

To top it off, the conservative Reagan administration and its Just Say No campaign bordered on the nazi-esque.

This was the result of REgan and Thatcher's neo-liberal privatizing industry policies in order to restore upper class power, which might have paved the way for "grunge" to speak out against it.

kh65

Oxxys wrote:

This was the result of REgan and Thatcher's neo-liberal privatizing industry policies in order to restore upper class power, which might have paved the way for "grunge" to speak out against it.

It has nothing to do with the politics. But with the babyboomers sucking all of the jobs and being only out for themselves rather than trying to build a better economy. Now their braindead offspring are doing the same thing. Look at what we have for "entertainers" today. Do you really see any talent out their from the new crop of shit.