For those of us who grew up in the 90’s, it was a decade we’ll never forget, and it was a decade that featured many things that changed the world forever. Here’s a look at 9 things that changed the world in the 90’s:
1. Grunge Rock
In the early 90’s, hair bands that had dominated the airwaves and MTV were dealt a crippling blow when grunge rock bands hit the scene. Almost overnight, Poison and Warrant’s songs and videos disappeared and were replaced with bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and perhaps the most notable grunge rock band of all time, Nirvana.
2. AOL
In the early to mid 90’s, it was all about AOL and hearing that awesome phrase, “You’ve Got Mail!” Kids today have no idea how cool it was to hear that phrase back then before the proliferation of email spam. When you heard that phrase, you couldn’t wait to see who sent you an email… but, before you could hear the infamous “You’ve Got Mail”, you had to endure what became the most gut-wrenching sound of all time, the AOL sign on dial-up tone! How many of us either yelled this or heard someone yell it at us, “Hey, get off the phone, I need to get online!!!”
3. Titanic
I can still remember watching Titanic in the theatre for the first time in 1997. The movie was one of the biggest hits of all time, and countless movies, TV shows and comedy skits have referenced both the movie and it’s characters in the years since. Not to mention all the couples who have tried to recreate the “I’m flying!” scene featuring Jack and Rose aka Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet! And, for better or worse depending on your taste in music, the soundtrack made Celine Dion a megastar!
4. Boy Bands
In the late 80’s, the New Kids on the Block and New Edition paved the way for boy bands like N’ Sync, the Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, Take That and Westlife to experience incredible success in the 90’s! You couldn’t turn on MTV in the 90’s without seeing a music video from one of the many boy bands. Love ’em or hate ’em, there’s no denying the influence 90’s boy bands had on the world in the 90’s!
5. Beavis and Butt-Head
Beavis and Butt-Head aired on MTV from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997. (14 years later, the series was revived for season eight with aired from October 27 to December 29, 2011).
Few “cartoons” have had the impact on society like Beavis and Butt-Head. From Beavis’ infatuation with “Fire! Fire!” to both of them chuckling when they hear words or phrases that could vaguely be interpreted as sexual. It was crude, rude, strange and above all pretty darn funny to most 90’s teens!
6. Beanie Babies
If you grew were a kid in the 90’s, then there’s a really good chance you had a Beanie Baby, or two or three or a whole gaggle of them! (Like many of us who either gave them away or sold them at garage sales years ago, I’m sure you’re wishing you had held on to a few of them. Today, certain Beanie Babies are worth a ton of money! Check out the screenshot below of a rare Princess Diana Beanie Baby from 1997 on sale on ebay for $25,000! (But at least shipping is free!)
7. John Madden Football
Few video games have had the impact on popular culture like John Madden Football, and in the 90’s, the game had few rivals. In 1993, Madden NFL ’94 was released, and it was the first game in the series to feature an official NFL team license. And, the next year, the NFL Players Association licensed the game, and that’s when the game really became fun. Now, you could not only choose your favorite team, but you could also choose your favorite player by name!
8. The Macarena
In 1995, Los Del Rio released Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) as a single, and it quickly became an international hit topping the charts in almost every country in the world. It finished at #2 on Billboards decade-end charts for the 90’s, and #8 on Billboards Hot 100 all-time charts. It was also ranked the #1 greatest one-hit wonder of all time by VH1 in 2002.
But, more than the song, the Macarena dance move has become a staple at dance parties and wedding receptions worldwide ever since. This 90’s song and dance truly changed the world forever!
9. Chris Farley
When we think of 90’s, we think of Chris Farley and all the hilarious characters he played. Two of our all time favorite characters were Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker and of course the lovable idiot Tommy Boy! I’ve watched Farley’s ‘Van Down By The River’ SNL skit a million times, and it still makes me laugh every time. And, I still quote lines from Tommy Boy all the time! Tragically, Farley was found dead in his apartment by his brother John on December 18, 1997. RIP Chris…
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