I don't know how to put this--but it seems like some years be grouped in ''eras''--regardless of what decade they fall in. For example, 1998-2001 can be grouped into the era of Nu Metal, boy/girl bands, rap becoming popular and a lot of disaster films etc. I notice that the time period between 1987 and 1993 is it's own era--
Between 1987 and 1993 you can group a similar set of trends, popular movie stars, popular music, popular clothes. You have between 1987 and 1993 bright, neon colored clothes, denim, jogging outfits, acid washed jeans, be very popular; You see the big poofy hair of the '80s hit it's biggest and craziest between '87 and '93; Around 1994, you begin to see hair become 'normal' again. You see the mainstream popularity of the mullet hairstyle (though it had existed before 1987), whereas after 1994 is when it begins to get a bad reputation.

You see bands such as Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Van Halen, Slayer, Pantera, Skid Row, Poison, Warrant and other bands experience probably their biggest popularity (whereas by 1994, those bands were considered considerably less popular and were superceded by grunge/alternative bands). You see Rap really begin to hit the mainstream and be accepted. You see action stars such as Arnold Scharzenneger, Sylvester Stallone, Jean Claude Van Dam, Steven Seagal, and Bruce Willis experience their peaks or growth in popularity. You see Adventure Games (such as King's Quest, Monkey Island, Myst, Leisure Suit Larry) experience their peak in popularity; After 1993, they would be superceded by First Person Shooters such as Doom and Quake. You have a lot of racial tension from 1987 to 1993, especially from 1990-1992, whereas by the mid 90s it's greatly receded; You have the last gasp of the WWII generation in power; this ends in 1993 with the election of Bill Clinton.

I LOVE this era! There's a niche about it that I really like. It is my second favorite era after 1996-1998 era.

I was a great time to be a kid during that era.  I sang along with MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice.  Watched Super Mario Bros, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Transformers, Nintendo N, etc...  Started elementary school in 90' and played outside most of time since I lived near a park.  I don't think the fashion down here, Tampa, didn't have too much big hair and neon clothes though, but I do remember a time when that was popular.  Also, Soviet Union disbanded in 1991, and I still remember when maps still had the USSR in them lol.

I was going to answer "-6" , coz the thread looks like 1987-1993. Anyways. It's the Math in me!

Looking back, I liked the music in 1987-1989. Some nice songs, nice dance songs when I went to clubs back then. George Michael, Madonna, Steve Winwood, INXS had some good hits during the time period.

  I absolutely loathe that whole tiresome, cliché, insipid, uninspired, synthetic, acid washed, formula metalled, big haired, MC Hammered, Milly Vanillied, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtelled, Exxon Valdezed, period...

  Quite nearly the rock bottom of civilization, art and culture...       

   I absolutely loathe that whole tiresome, cliché, insipid, uninspired, synthetic, acid washed, formula metalled, big haired, MC Hammered, Milly Vanillied, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtelled, Exxon Valdezed, period...

   Quite nearly the rock bottom of civilization, art and culture...         


Even if you are being serious, that was a funny as heck!  ;D

I don't know, I'd always thought it went more like 1989-1992 in terms of all that stuff. This would of course be refering to the "Saved By the Bell, George H.W. Bush, Operation Desert Storm, Paula Abdul, Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, Bright Colors, Full House" time period, after the height of 80s culture but before what defined the 90s. I kind of like this period too. However, I would say that 1993 was NOT a part of this time period, or at least not the majority of it.

Just to be annoying, I always thought that it went like this:

1983-1988
1989-1992
1993-1997
1998-2001
2002-2004
2005-2009/Present.

Maybe in terms of movie stars and TV shows the "1987-1993 Period" was similar, but I always felt that in terms of music and fashion it went my way.

Here's my rankings:

1979-1982
1983-1987
1988-1992
1993-1997
1998-2002

ehhhh

i'm tired of all that :-X

What about the 1995 - early 1997 era? Plaid outfits, deadbeat dull fashion, r&b explosion, britpop and eurodance? That's the best era of the 90's IMO. After the grunge explosion, but before the teeny bubblegum explosion. Those were the days...

1993 WAS A VERY DANGEROUS YEAR ON THE EAST COAST

I don't know, I'd always thought it went more like 1989-1992 in terms of all that stuff. This would of course be refering to the "Saved By the Bell, George H.W. Bush, Operation Desert Storm, Paula Abdul, Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, Bright Colors, Full House" time period, after the height of 80s culture but before what defined the 90s. I kind of like this period too. However, I would say that 1993 was NOT a part of this time period, or at least not the majority of it.

Just to be annoying, I always thought that it went like this:

1983-1988
1989-1992
1993-1997
1998-2001
2002-2004
2005-2009/Present.

Maybe in terms of movie stars and TV shows the "1987-1993 Period" was similar, but I always felt that in terms of music and fashion it went my way.


I agree. I think that 1993 went along more with 1994-1996, mainly due to the inauguration of Bill Clinton, thus making it different from the Bush Sr. years which were 1989-1992. I also agree with the TV shows and music you mentioned that were popular around that time, and also to add Fresh Prince, In Living Colour, Arsenio Hall Show, Simpsons, and Married With Children. Remember TGIF? (Not the restaraunt, but the ABC line-up that included Family Matters and similar sitcoms). I also really liked that area, but lately I've been more nostalgic for the mid-90's, especially 1993/94. Also in 1993, Beavis and Butthead premiered which helped shape the 90's culture, especially among the late Gen-X/early Gen Y-ers. That cartoon was an inspiration to Trey Parker and Matt Stone creating South Park. 1993 also had a lot for the younger Gen Y-ers, with the Power Rangers and family movies like Free Willy and Sandlot.

Come to think of it, each president's term seems to define an era, even if it's the same president's second term. Since 1989-1992 (Bush Sr.'s term) has already mentioned, here are the ones after that:

1993-1996 (Bill Clinton's 1st term): Alternative rock and college radio cult bands, gangsta rap (West vs. East Coast rivalry), mega blockbuster movies (Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, Independence Day, Braveheart), conflicts in Bosnia and Somalia, Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan, OJ Simpson Trial, Beavis and Butthead, Friends, rising popularity of Internet and Microsoft, flannel shirts

1997-2000 (Bill Clinton's 2nd term): Internet revolution/economic boom, Y2K, Europop, Teen pop, and glam rap, Spice Girls, South Park, J-Lo

2001-2004 (Bush's 1st term): 9/11, fear and paranoia, more teen pop and glam rap, peak of reality shows, American Idol

2005-2008 (Bush's 2nd term): Hurricane Katrina, Bush's declining disapproval, first signs of economic trouble/housing crisis, Web 2.0 (MySpace, Facebook, YouTube), emo and dance pop, return of good TV (The Office, Lost), autotone music

2009-2012 (Obama's 1st and hopefully not his only term): Continuing recession and lifestyle changes for many Americans (less materialism compared to the Bush years), H1N1 flu, health care reform, electro dance pop (Lady GaGa, 3oh!3, Owl City) and unfortunately more autotone, going green   

Come to think of it, each president's term seems to define an era, even if it's the same president's second term. Since 1989-1992 (Bush Sr.'s term) has already mentioned, here are the ones after that:

1993-1996 (Bill Clinton's 1st term): Alternative rock and college radio cult bands, gangsta rap (West vs. East Coast rivalry), mega blockbuster movies (Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, Independence Day, Braveheart), conflicts in Bosnia and Somalia, Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan, OJ Simpson Trial, Beavis and Butthead, Friends, rising popularity of Internet and Microsoft, flannel shirts

1997-2000 (Bill Clinton's 2nd term): Internet revolution/economic boom, Y2K, Europop, Teen pop, and glam rap, Spice Girls, South Park, J-Lo

2001-2004 (Bush's 1st term): 9/11, fear and paranoia, more teen pop and glam rap, peak of reality shows, American Idol

2005-2008 (Bush's 2nd term): Hurricane Katrina, Bush's declining disapproval, first signs of economic trouble/housing crisis, Web 2.0 (MySpace, Facebook, YouTube), emo and dance pop, return of good TV (The Office, Lost), autotone music

2009-2012 (Obama's 1st and hopefully not his only term): Continuing recession and lifestyle changes for many Americans (less materialism compared to the Bush years), H1N1 flu, health care reform, electro dance pop (Lady GaGa, 3oh!3, Owl City) and unfortunately more autotone, going green     
No, teen-pop was not big from maybe March 2002-2004. Teen-pop was still kinda popular in 2001/early 2002 but not as popular as it was 1999-2000 or even 1998. Teen-pop in 2001-early 2002 was kinda like Grunge in 1996 it was still popular but not as popular as it was a year or even 3 years prior. I remember N'Syncs CD selling well in 2001/early 2002.

Autone in 2005 was not really not that popular I think but I think it hit big when T-Pain hit #1 on the Billboard with "Buy A Drank" in March of 2007 I think. Don;t forget about Ringtone rap being big 2 different times also in late 2005/early 2006 with DL 4 and "Dem Franchise Boyz" and in 2007-mid 2008 with Mims, Hurricane Chris, Soulja Boy, and Flo Rida.

I don't know, I'd always thought it went more like 1989-1992 in terms of all that stuff. This would of course be refering to the "Saved By the Bell, George H.W. Bush, Operation Desert Storm, Paula Abdul, Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, Bright Colors, Full House" time period, after the height of 80s culture but before what defined the 90s. I kind of like this period too. However, I would say that 1993 was NOT a part of this time period, or at least not the majority of it.

Just to be annoying, I always thought that it went like this:

1983-1988
1989-1992
1993-1997
1998-2001
2002-2004
2005-2009/Present.

Maybe in terms of movie stars and TV shows the "1987-1993 Period" was similar, but I always felt that in terms of music and fashion it went my way.
There's a split between down the middle somewhere between the 1st and second halves of 2007.

Also 1997-1998 should be its own little period I think.

I believe Eiffel 65(?) was one the of the first to use autotone and they were big in the late 90's.

1987-1993...
3 words
New Jack Swing!

I was just turning double digits at that time..and yes I still have my NES and yes it still works ;D

Come to think of it, each president's term seems to define an era, even if it's the same president's second term. Since 1989-1992 (Bush Sr.'s term) has already mentioned, here are the ones after that:

1993-1996 (Bill Clinton's 1st term): Alternative rock and college radio cult bands, gangsta rap (West vs. East Coast rivalry), mega blockbuster movies (Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, Independence Day, Braveheart), conflicts in Bosnia and Somalia, Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan, OJ Simpson Trial, Beavis and Butthead, Friends, rising popularity of Internet and Microsoft, flannel shirts

1997-2000 (Bill Clinton's 2nd term): Internet revolution/economic boom, Y2K, Europop, Teen pop, and glam rap, Spice Girls, South Park, J-Lo

2001-2004 (Bush's 1st term): 9/11, fear and paranoia, more teen pop and glam rap, peak of reality shows, American Idol

2005-2008 (Bush's 2nd term): Hurricane Katrina, Bush's declining disapproval, first signs of economic trouble/housing crisis, Web 2.0 (MySpace, Facebook, YouTube), emo and dance pop, return of good TV (The Office, Lost), autotone music

2009-2012 (Obama's 1st and hopefully not his only term): Continuing recession and lifestyle changes for many Americans (less materialism compared to the Bush years), H1N1 flu, health care reform, electro dance pop (Lady GaGa, 3oh!3, Owl City) and unfortunately more autotone, going green     
I definetly agree with most of this but I think 1993-1997 should be it's own period, then 1998-2000 with the beginning of the teeny pop and ending with the 90's hangover in 2000.

Poop

No, teen-pop was not big from maybe March 2002-2004. Teen-pop was still kinda popular in 2001/early 2002 but not as popular as it was 1999-2000 or even 1998. Teen-pop in 2001-early 2002 was kinda like Grunge in 1996 it was still popular but not as popular as it was a year or even 3 years prior. I remember N'Syncs CD selling well in 2001/early 2002.

Autone in 2005 was not really not that popular I think but I think it hit big when T-Pain hit #1 on the Billboard with "Buy A Drank" in March of 2007 I think. Don;t forget about Ringtone rap being big 2 different times also in late 2005/early 2006 with DL 4 and "Dem Franchise Boyz" and in 2007-mid 2008 with Mims, Hurricane Chris, Soulja Boy, and Flo Rida.


Well some trends have their own timelines outside of the aforementioned time periods. I agree about teen pop peaking during about 1998-2001/2. If you count Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson as teen pop, then you can say it was up to 2004. Grunge years I would say would be from 1991 (when Nirvana released "Nevermind") until about 1995-ish. Also the crunk years I would say 2003 and 2004, and maybe early 2005. With ringtone rap, even though there was a short break in 2006, I would say the two periods run together when looking back from further in the future. As for the autotune, it wasn't as popular in 2005 as it is now, but T-Pain released his "I'm Sprung" song which was the first popular R&B style song to use the autotune. The very first artist or group that I can think of to use the autotune is Zapp and Roger back in the 80's.

1987-1993 was the years of the new jack swing!!!!!!  I was 10 in 1987 and I was 16 in 1993.  1987-1993 were my coming up years.  I went through pubery during these years.  These were my favorite years because I started middle school in 1988.  I went to my first concert in 1989.  I hit my teens in 1990.  I started high school in 1991.  I entered womanhood(if you know what I mean) in 1989.  Awesome music came out around this time!!!!  Al B Sure, Janet Jackson, New Edition, Bobby Brown, Guy, Tevin Campbell, Chuckii Booker, The Good Girls, El Debarge, Troop, Vanessa Williams, The Boys, Perfect Generation, Another Bad Creation, Shanice, Tracie Spencer, Mint Condition, Tony Toni Tone, Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Mary J Blige, TLC, SWV, Xscape, Portrait, Ralph Tresvant, Bell Biv Devoe, Salt N Pepa, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, L'Trimm, Yo-Yo, NWA, De LA Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Boogie Down Productions, LL Cool J, MC Hammer, etc etc etc!!!!!!  Fashion was the sheesh in these years!!!! THOSE WERE THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE!!!!

No, teen-pop was not big from maybe March 2002-2004. Teen-pop was still kinda popular in 2001/early 2002 but not as popular as it was 1999-2000 or even 1998. Teen-pop in 2001-early 2002 was kinda like Grunge in 1996 it was still popular but not as popular as it was a year or even 3 years prior. I remember N'Syncs CD selling well in 2001/early 2002.


Teen pop was hanging by a thread in spring 2002 and faded by mid-2002, I agree 100%!

Come to think of it, each president's term seems to define an era, even if it's the same president's second term. Since 1989-1992 (Bush Sr.'s term) has already mentioned, here are the ones after that:

1993-1996 (Bill Clinton's 1st term): Alternative rock and college radio cult bands, gangsta rap (West vs. East Coast rivalry), mega blockbuster movies (Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, Independence Day, Braveheart), conflicts in Bosnia and Somalia, Tonya Harding vs. Nancy Kerrigan, OJ Simpson Trial, Beavis and Butthead, Friends, rising popularity of Internet and Microsoft, flannel shirts

1997-2000 (Bill Clinton's 2nd term): Internet revolution/economic boom, Y2K, Europop, Teen pop, and glam rap, Spice Girls, South Park, J-Lo

2001-2004 (Bush's 1st term): 9/11, fear and paranoia, more teen pop and glam rap, peak of reality shows, American Idol

2005-2008 (Bush's 2nd term): Hurricane Katrina, Bush's declining disapproval, first signs of economic trouble/housing crisis, Web 2.0 (MySpace, Facebook, YouTube), emo and dance pop, return of good TV (The Office, Lost), autotone music

2009-2012 (Obama's 1st and hopefully not his only term): Continuing recession and lifestyle changes for many Americans (less materialism compared to the Bush years), H1N1 flu, health care reform, electro dance pop (Lady GaGa, 3oh!3, Owl City) and unfortunately more autotone, going green     


This is exactly how I would've pictured it but I think 1993/1994 should be it's own little era. Although 2 years isn't exactly long enough.

I really liked this time too. It's funny because while there was alot of cheesy forgettable stuff like Vanilla Ice, it was also really diverse in musical options. I tend to pay more attention to stuff I like anyway. ;) Some of the best tv shows and movies came out of this time too (sitcoms probably were the best they ever were) and fashion was nice and casual.

I think you could say this era lasted up to 1996 indirectly, although I don't wanna argue years 'cause it p*sses some people off and nothing's totally definite. I know what people are saying about how it the basic feeling of the 80s (the way streets, malls or alot of technology looked) but people acted like it was the 90s, so in some ways it was the best of both worlds. That's exactly what I like about it when I think back too.

Bumpppp

That was the era of my first contact with the world.
I know how cheesy my first memories are.

I was going to answer "-6" , coz the thread looks like 1987-1993. Anyways. It's the Math in me!



1987-1993 = -6
;D You're a funny guy.

Bumpppp


Are you sure you want to go there? Please read.


1987-1993 = -6
;D You're a funny guy.


Hey, you stole my quote! :D

I believe Eiffel 65(?) was one the of the first to use autotone and they were big in the late 90's.


Difference between them and autotuners today...Eiffel 65 were actually decent.

My mom used to dress my sister and I in tacky bright clothes as children. We also hated those horrible stirrup pants which she forced us to wear. ;\

Yeah inclusion of 1993 might be questionable, I'm not really old enough to remember but my guess would be early 1993 would fit kinda while late 1993 probably felt more mid 90s.

1993 still fits in my opinion, especially in terms of fashion. The home videos we have speak for themselves on that subject. XD

Yeah inclusion of 1993 might be questionable, I'm not really old enough to remember but my guess would be early 1993 would fit kinda while late 1993 probably felt more mid 90s.


For what it's worth January-April 1993 are still in the first mathematical 1/3 of the 90s...

For what it's worth January-April 1993 are still in the first mathematical 1/3 of the 90s...


That's true. I think of early 90's as being mid 91 to early 93, mid is mid 93 through 96 and late as 1997 thru early 2001.

1993 seems to be the most obvious "transition year" in that you had the new 90s flannel/grunge style but there were also a considerable amount of people still wearing things that were popular in the 80s (for example acid wash jeans were on their last legs this year, no pun intended!). I think'd still group it in with the core-90s era, but it still kind of fits with the late 80s/early 90s era as well.

People have said mid-late 1991 was the real transition year/beginning of the 90s, which I agree with, but the rest of 91 through some of 93 aren't completely removed from the late 80s.

That's true. I think of early 90's as being mid 91 to early 93, mid is mid 93 through 96 and late as 1997 thru early 2001.


I think 1990- mid 91 is early 90's  ;)

Commercials are a good way to gauge cultural trends.

IMO the commercials from 1993 aren't too recognizably different at all from 1987, 1993 feels much closer to 1987 than to 1999 and 1987 feels closer to 1993 than to 1981.

1987

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15jePL9B0tQ


1993

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PP7DtlRqOs

I think 1990- mid 91 is early 90's  ;)


Technically yes. But it still seems 80's to me and many people who can actually remember agree with me. The way I see it - 1990 had more in common with 1985 than with 1995. I think as time goes on the early 90's seems more and more connected to the 80's, especially since 1995-2009 had a lot of common trends to the point one could almost say it was a distinct era.

Technically yes. But it still seems 80's to me and many people who can actually remember agree with me. The way I see it - 1990 had more in common with 1985 than with 1995. I think as time goes on the early 90's seems more and more connected to the 80's, especially since 1995-2009 had a lot of common trends to the point one could almost say it was a distinct era.


1995 definitely can't be grouped with the early 90's though. I think 1990 can be grouped with 1991, 1992, and 1993 as the "early 90's" and it's not really a problem. 1995 is mid 90's all the way and the styles of the earlier years of the decade were quickly being phased out by then.

Actually, it's 1987-1992, which was the years that Jake and the Fatman was on the air.

1987 is quintessential 80s. I don't think it belongs grouped with 1993.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxpewVP3ZJw

1987 is quintessential 80s. I don't think it belongs grouped with 1993.


That's true.

1987 is quintessential 80s. I don't think it belongs grouped with 1993.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxpewVP3ZJw


1987 was a good year for music.

Why is this in the 90's subforum anyway? That's multiple decades.

Now that its 2013, looking back at 2009-2012 can be seen as the era of Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Black Eyed Peas, LMFAO, PSY, Adele, Carly Rae Jepsen, dubstep, hipsters, Northern Africa conflicts, OWS.