I'm saying the early part of the decades, which I think is easier to define and thus remember. The early 90s are much easier to date and distinguish as a seperate and unique period, as opposed to the late 90s which seemed a mix between the mid 90s/beginning of the Digital Era and the 21st century. Early 90s had stronger fashion, slang - even if alot of it was 80s throwback. A certain kitschiness which people either adore or detest. Your opinions?

I agree. The early '90s does have a bigger charm than the late '90s. How about the mid '90s?

I agree. The early '90s does have a bigger charm than the late '90s. How about the mid '90s?

Nah,mid is well..early '90s is better!

I agree. The early '90s does have a bigger charm than the late '90s. How about the mid '90s?


1995 is its own animal - it stood out musically, pop culturally (with O.J. Simpson.etc), by veers slightly towards the earlier side of the decade (definitely early 00s). Some mid-90s music is distinctly late 90s in sensibility (Britpop), but it was when the late 90s I.T. bubble really broke.

1995 is its own animal - it stood out musically, pop culturally (with O.J. Simpson.etc), by veers slightly towards the earlier side of the decade (definitely early 00s). Some mid-90s music is distinctly late 90s in sensibility (Britpop), but it was when the late 90s I.T. bubble really broke.

IMO, the mid '90s had some what of a more early '90s feel than a late '90s feel. That's only for 1994 and 1995.

IMO, the mid '90s had some what of a more early '90s feel than a late '90s feel. That's only for 1994 and 1995.


Yes. According to me...

1990-1992: Psuedo-80s/Video Arcade, very early 90s, early Grunge era
1992-1994: Peak Grunge era, Classic early 90s
1994-1995: Britpop/Baywatch/Melrose Place era
1996-1998: Very classic late 90s - 1996 is definitely more late 90s. A/C, Teen pop, Goth rock.etc
1999-2000: Millenial cusp

I think the late '90s.  The early '90s are confused between Grunge and 1989; the late '90s are a very distinct era.

I think the late '90s.  The early '90s are confused between Grunge and 1989; the late '90s are a very distinct era.


1994 was definitely a distinct era of its own - I think it was a more 'dateable' year than 1997.

Yes. According to me...

1990-1992: Psuedo-80s/Video Arcade, very early 90s, early Grunge era
1992-1994: Peak Grunge era, Classic early 90s
1994-1995: Britpop/Baywatch/Melrose Place era
1996-1998: Very classic late 90s - 1996 is definitely more late 90s. A/C, Teen pop, Goth rock.etc
1999-2000: Millenial cusp


I've always had the theory you could do separate timelines for "urban", dance, and rock music in the '90s. Like alot of urban music was still sort of 1989ish in late 1991, whereas dance music and rock music were quite '90s by late 1991. Thanks for agreeing that the late '90s began sometime in mid-1996, in a "classic way", with all the prosperity suddenly popping up. Also, I see alot of things as having gotten a slightly new "look" and feel to them around then, whereas my memories of 1993-early 1996 look comparatively antiquated and almost a little '80s (things were still pre-tech, cluttered, and the way people dressed looked older.)

When I think of the "classic early '90s", I think of 1992 or 1993-house music, The Simpsons, grunge, Seinfeld, Roseanne, En Vogue, Salt N'Pepa, "Baby Got Back", Reality Bites, Lollapalooza, Jurassic Park, Sleepless in Seattle, The Nightmare Before Christmas. The "classic late '90s" definitely had a very strong zeitgeist, though, and it was arguably more complete and unique than the early '90s zeitgeist. The mid-'90s were caught in between...they had more of an early-'90s cultural feel and look, but shared in a more "evolved" way alot of stuff with the early '90s.

I've always had the theory you could do separate timelines for "urban", dance, and rock music in the '90s. Like alot of urban music was still sort of 1989ish in late 1991, whereas dance music and rock music were quite '90s by late 1991. Thanks for agreeing that the late '90s began sometime in mid-1996, in a "classic way", with all the prosperity suddenly popping up. Also, I see alot of things as having gotten a slightly new "look" and feel to them around then, whereas my memories of 1993-early 1996 look comparatively antiquated and almost a little '80s (things were still pre-tech, cluttered, and the way people dressed looked older.)

When I think of the "classic early '90s", I think of 1992 or 1993-house music, The Simpsons, grunge, Seinfeld, Roseanne, En Vogue, Salt N'Pepa, "Baby Got Back", Reality Bites, Lollapalooza, Jurassic Park, Sleepless in Seattle, The Nightmare Before Christmas. The "classic late '90s" definitely had a very strong zeitgeist, though, and it was arguably more complete and unique than the early '90s zeitgeist. The mid-'90s were caught in between...they had more of an early-'90s cultural feel and look, but shared in a more "evolved" way alot of stuff with the early '90s.


Yeah, I guess it re-proves the adage that the sculpture can look like a monument or a monstrosity depending on the angle you view it from. It your 'scene' was more Sitcoms, then you'll probably have a different perception of an era than another who preferred cartoons. I agree the late 90s zeitgeist was strong - but I feel since it wasn't as outright 'cheesy', it's less easier to really straightjacket or pigeonhole. Don't you notice this as well?

Yeah, I guess it re-proves the adage that the sculpture can look like a monument or a monstrosity depending on the angle you view it from. It your 'scene' was more Sitcoms, then you'll probably have a different perception of an era than another who preferred cartoons. I agree the late 90s zeitgeist was strong - but I feel since it wasn't as outright 'cheesy', it's less easier to really straightjacket or pigeonhole. Don't you notice this as well?


Yeah, you had to have been alive around 1997 or 1998 to get that "late '90s" feel...it would be alot harder to explain to somebody born in 1995 than the early '90s.

I've always had the theory you could do separate timelines for "urban", dance, and rock music in the '90s. Like alot of urban music was still sort of 1989ish in late 1991, whereas dance music and rock music were quite '90s by late 1991. Thanks for agreeing that the late '90s began sometime in mid-1996, in a "classic way", with all the prosperity suddenly popping up. Also, I see alot of things as having gotten a slightly new "look" and feel to them around then, whereas my memories of 1993-early 1996 look comparatively antiquated and almost a little '80s (things were still pre-tech, cluttered, and the way people dressed looked older.)

When I think of the "classic early '90s", I think of 1992 or 1993-house music, The Simpsons, grunge, Seinfeld, Roseanne, En Vogue, Salt N'Pepa, "Baby Got Back", Reality Bites, Lollapalooza, Jurassic Park, Sleepless in Seattle, The Nightmare Before Christmas. The "classic late '90s" definitely had a very strong zeitgeist, though, and it was arguably more complete and unique than the early '90s zeitgeist. The mid-'90s were caught in between...they had more of an early-'90s cultural feel and look, but shared in a more "evolved" way alot of stuff with the early '90s.


I thought Seinfield began in 1994...but ah well. Yeah, those are the same things I think of. As well as shows like 'Fresh Prince,' 'Clarissa'.etc. 'Sleepless in Seattle' is typical of the unique period that was 1994. And yes, the mid 90s were more like the early 90s.

Yeah, you had to have been alive around 1997 or 1998 to get that "late '90s" feel...it would be alot harder to explain to somebody born in 1995 than the early '90s.


The whole atittude in the late 90s was actually quite light and breezy - everything from fashion to easy-listening AC was pretty understated. There was a real cynicism about them (literature, politics.etc), in contrast to the early 90s. Stylistically, the late 90s probably resemble the 00s more than the early to mid 90s.

I thought Seinfield began in 1994...but ah well. Yeah, those are the same things I think of. As well as shows like 'Fresh Prince,' 'Clarissa'.etc. 'Sleepless in Seattle' is typical of the unique period that was 1994. And yes, the mid 90s were more like the early 90s.


Seinfeld began in 1989 was cancelled and put back on the air once, and peaked in quality/ratings in 1993-1995.

I think 1996 and 1997 were more stylistically similar to the early-mid '90s, but in a more "evolved way"-like flannel shirt tied around the waist, bowl cut, scrunchies, were still in. It was like a breezy version of the sloppy early-mid '90s.

Seinfeld began in 1989 was cancelled and put back on the air once, and peaked in quality/ratings in 1993-1995.

I think 1996 and 1997 were more stylistically similar to the early-mid '90s, but in a more "evolved way"-like flannel shirt tied around the waist, bowl cut, scrunchies, were still in. It was like a breezy version of the sloppy early-mid '90s.


1997 was undeniably 90s in style in some areas, like cars design.etc, but the overall mood was far more 00s, from someone who was 'coming of age' in that year.

1997 was undeniably 90s in style in some areas, like cars design.etc, but the overall mood was far more 00s, from someone who was 'coming of age' in that year.


I think the '90s is pigeonholed too much into just being the "grunge" era, the same way the '80s is pigeonholed into being John Hughes and the Thompson Twins. How was the overall mood far more '00s? I thought you said you thought 1999 was the first '00s year, or something.

I think the '90s is pigeonholed too much into just being the "grunge" era, the same way the '80s is pigeonholed into being John Hughes and the Thompson Twins. How was the overall mood far more '00s? I thought you said you thought 1999 was the first '00s year, or something.


What I'm saying is that the collective 'mood' of people and culture in the year 1997 was more like 2000 than 1994. It was the quintissential transition year, imo.

What I'm saying is that the collective 'mood' of people and culture in the year 1997 was more like 2000 than 1994. It was the quintissential transition year, imo.


Yeah, you're right about that, even if 2000 was quite different than 2003, etc. Or even 2001.