While not commonly discussed or acknowledged, I think there were a number of factors making July/August to December 1994. A sort of shift.

Internet had a substantial and proper range of websites by then, unlike prior, and wide media coverage even though it wasn’t like 1995-97.

Mp2s and downloading music gets coverage, geocities is launched etc

Fashion is slowly starting to lean more towards the more subdued, basic/minimalist style associated with the latter 90s. With more 70s and hip hop influences.

Hairstyles slowly start leaning towards shorter and simpler.

Grunge while still very visible and popular is slowly dying after the death of Cobain.

Mainstream pop punk, nu metal, post grunge and the new style of electronica are established and noticeably new and different setting the sound for another full decade.

Skateboarding gets popular again with XGames.

Goth enters the mainstream.

Arcades, 3DO and PC games have a significant amount of 3D games.

PlayStation, Sega Saturn are released in late 1994 in Japan and people are anticipating 3d games/ possibly importing/ pre ordering their US releases  for 1995 along while Ultra 64 ( Nintendo 64) is being worked on and covered in magazines at the time.

Genesis is past its golden age

A lot of things associated with the earlier 90s feel dated.

Friends starts also party of five and ER debut

Much less 80s holdovers than 1993-1994

Official start of the mid 1990s

The first period to have more in common and connections with later 90s/Y2K era than before.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSKAZZDZGMKlluTVEj56amM9K3jMDqo8gOxquLXVpCphARWLErH

The late 90s were upon us in those days, but late 1994 was not the official start of the mid 90s.

The mid 90s were the time of big blockbusters like Jurassic Park in theaters, new age cartoons like Beavis and Butthead, Bill Clinton signing NAFTA, and Boyz II Men on the charts. I hate the mid 90s. Too blah. Too take it or leave it.

The 90s were full of “80s holdovers” because the late 80s were recent to us in those days.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSKAZZDZGMKlluTVEj56amM9K3jMDqo8gOxquLXVpCphARWLErH

The late 90s were upon us in those days, but late 1994 was not the official start of the mid 90s.

The mid 90s were the time of big blockbusters like Jurassic Park in theaters, new age cartoons like Beavis and Butthead, Bill Clinton signing NAFTA, and Boyz II Men on the charts. I hate the mid 90s. Too blah. Too take it or leave it.

The 90s were full of “80s holdovers” because the late 80s were recent to us in those days.


1993-1994 was too culturally connected to the early 90s even an extension to be official.

I conisider late 1992 to early to mid 1994 to be an era of its own

1993 didn’t have enough of a shift.

1993-1994 was too culturally connected to the early 90s even an extension to be official.

Well, that’s because 1993 to 1994 followed the early 90s. Culturally, the early 90s were from 1990 to 1992. Anyone who says otherwise wasn’t paying attention to what was happening in the early 90s. Producers were building on what happened in the late 80s in the early 90s. That stopped in late 1992.

I conisider late 1992 to early to mid 1994 to be an era of its own

You would be surprised how many websites I have come across that listed 1992 as a mid 90s year.

1993 didn’t have enough of a shift.


Clinton starting his first term, the T-Rex leaping from the pages of the early 90s book Jurassic Park to the big screen, the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl, and Steven Spielberg having his first major cartoon on his hands (Animaniacs) was not enough of a shift to you?  :o

Well, that’s because 1993 to 1994 followed the early 90s. Culturally, the early 90s were from 1990 to 1992. Anyone who says otherwise wasn’t paying attention to what was happening in the early 90s. Producers were building on what happened in the late 80s in the early 90s. That stopped in late 1992.

You would be surprised how many websites I have come across that listed 1992 as a mid 90s year.

Clinton starting his first term, the T-Rex leaping from the pages of the early 90s book Jurassic Park to the big screen, the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl, and Steven Spielberg having his first major cartoon on his hands (Animaniacs) was not enough of a shift to you?  :o


There was a shift in latter 1993 but not significant enough.

Jurassic Park and animniacs could have been released in mid to late 1992. Not aren’t distinct enough.

Cowboys is not enough of a benchmark.

Clinton was still President in 1999-2001 does it make that much of a difference.

The post modern and progressive and PC/liberal culture of the 90s was established a bit before Clinton.

Late 1989 was 90s. It’s just that some areas or people were still stuck in 1986-early 1988.

Summer/Fall of 1989 to Summer of 1992 were the early 1990s.

August 1992 to June 1994 was the early but a transition

July 1994 to July 1996 were the mid 1990s

August 1996 to March 1997 was the mid but a transition

^ Those are your views and your views sound highly subjective. Sorry, Slashpop. I provided evidence for my claim.

^ Those are your views and your views sound highly subjective. Sorry, Slashpop. I provided evidence for my claim.


I just provided evidence as to why the benchmarks aren’t really strong enough imo.

Explain how so. I acknowledge there was a mini shift at some point in 1993, heck almost every year of the 90s but it’s just not big enough compared to other years.

Yes late 1990-mid 1991 was definitely more solidly 90s.

By late 89-90 was already the start.

What 80s holdovers? 1989 was an 80s year, not a 90s year. There are no similarities between 1989 and 1992.

The 80s: 1980 to 1989
The 90s: 1990 to 1999

There were no 80s holdovers in the 90s. I know this I was there. Maybe in 1990...but after that it was over. Grunge did not die out in 1994. More like late 95.

What 80s holdovers? 1989 was an 80s year, not a 90s year. There are no similarities between 1989 and 1992.

The 80s: 1980 to 1989
The 90s: 1990 to 1999

There were no 80s holdovers in the 90s. I know this I was there. Maybe in 1990...but after that it was over. Grunge did not die out in 1994. More like late 95.


Not really. Late 1989- mid 1992 is one pop cultural era. 1999 isn’t 90s

If you don’t agree than explain why you don’t.

I was there. Just being there isn’t enough though. You would need to have enough exposure and knowledge of the various factors and turning points.

1999 wasn’t the 90s culturally. Many agree. Early to mid 1999 had some late 90s holdovers.

Everyone has their own take. late 1989 felt like the start of the 90s.

The most 80s holdovers were from August 1989-mid 1990.

Then a bit less from late 1990 to 1992
lesser from 1993/94

Just bits and pieces and little from 1994 to early 1997

It’s more about the sum and impact of turning points within pop culture and weight of various factors. It also depends where you lived etc

Punk revival, early nu metal, post grunge and other styles were exploding in the latter half of 1994. Never said grunge died out but it was not new and people were starting to latch on to these different styles.

Goth already had a niche popularity in the 80s, represented by rock bands like Siouxsie and The Banshees and industrial music.

I don't remember 1994 being a particularly noteworthy year for goth.

Goth already had a niche popularity in the 80s, represented by rock bands like Siouxsie and The Banshees and industrial music.

I don't remember 1994 being a particularly noteworthy year for goth.


Right goth or proto goth  was a bit mainstream in the mid 80s.

In 1994 you had The Crow, Interview with the vampire, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails and few other industrial and alt bands using gothic imagery within the mainstream causing a lot of kids to get into goth, dress up in public goth and visiting websites, etc

This was more drastic and mainstream, sort of marking a new wave.

Also opening up popularity for more underground goth-industrial bands of the mid 90s and goth to be more public within the mainstream

You could say this wave started in 1994 and carried into the early 2000s.

You can lump modern pseudo goth and mall goth in with it as well.

I just provided evidence as to why the benchmarks aren’t really strong enough imo.

Explain how so. I acknowledge there was a mini shift at some point in 1993, heck almost every year of the 90s but it’s just not big enough compared to other years.

Yes late 1990-mid 1991 was definitely more solidly 90s.

By late 89-90 was already the start.


Big or small, it was still there. You’re going around it to call late 1994 the true start of the mid 1990s.


Not really. Late 1989- mid 1992 is one pop cultural era. 1999 isn’t 90s

If you don’t agree than explain why you don’t.

I was there. Just being there isn’t enough though. You would need to have enough exposure and knowledge of the various factors and turning points.

1999 wasn’t the 90s culturally. Many agree. Early to mid 1999 had some late 90s holdovers.

Everyone has their own take. late 1989 felt like the start of the 90s.

The most 80s holdovers were from August 1989-mid 1990.

Then a bit less from late 1990 to 1992
lesser from 1993/94

Just bits and pieces and little from 1994 to early 1997

It’s more about the sum and impact of turning points within pop culture and weight of various factors. It also depends where you lived etc

Punk revival, early nu metal, post grunge and other styles were exploding in the latter half of 1994. Never said grunge died out but it was not new and people were starting to latch on to these different styles.








Finally, it’s good to see someone call out the decadologists on 1999 being a “90s year”. 1999 was not culturally 90s. I agree with you on that point.

Big or small, it was still there. You’re going around it to call late 1994 the true start of the mid 1990s.

Finally, it’s good to see someone call out the decadologists on 1999 being a “90s year”. 1999 was not culturally 90s. I agree with you on that point.


The way I see it is :

Late 1992 was already the break from the pure early nineties.

Mid to late 1994 is then a bigger break that encompasses a lot of what was lumped with 1993 but not in full effect during 1993.

Example :

1993 still had significant 80s holdovers
1993 didn’t have korn or greenday  leading new movements
1993 didn’t have enough websites to browse nor geocities or enough mp2s and band download sites nor internet mass use or early profile sites etc
1993 didn’t have techno/electronica that would still be played in 1999 ads and sound like Y2K music ex prodigy (vodoo people) and faithless etc
1993 didn’t have enough 3d arcade games or or the release of the PlayStation etc

The period between late 1992 to mid 1994 were the transitional early 90s, there is continuity vibe and culture wise.

Fall of 92 to Spring-Summer of 93 was leaning to early but developing mid

Fall of 93 to Spring-Summer of 94 was leaning to mid but still early.

That’s just my take.

The way I see it is :

Late 1992 was already the break from the pure early nineties.

Mid to late 1994 is then a bigger break that encompasses a lot of what was lumped with 1993 but not in full effect during 1993.

Example :

1993 still had significant 80s holdovers
1993 didn’t have korn or greenday  leading new movements
1993 didn’t have enough websites to browse nor geocities or enough mp2s and band download sites nor internet mass use or early profile sites etc
1993 didn’t have techno/electronica that would still be played in 1999 ads and sound like Y2K music ex prodigy (vodoo people) and faithless etc
1993 didn’t have enough 3d arcade games or or the release of the PlayStation etc

The period between late 1992 to mid 1994 were the transitional early 90s, there is continuity vibe and culture wise.

Fall of 92 to Spring-Summer of 93 was leaning to early but developing mid

Fall of 93 to Spring-Summer of 94 was leaning to mid but still early.

That’s just my take.


Things That Make 1993 The First Year of The Mid 90s

- Bill Clinton as President

- The early 90s starting to die off (Quantum Leap, Doogie Howser MD, The Wonder Years, and A Different World all went off the air shortly after George HW Bush left office)

- New early 90s books were being adapted to feature films like Jurassic Park.

- People were reflecting on what had happened in the early 90s.

- 1990 was slightly dated.

- New sitcoms from 1989 were being repeated in the fall.

- Grunge, hardcore rap, and gangsta music all took over. Pop rap and pop music were done. Positive music, period.

- Sitcoms and dramas that started in the early 90s like Martin, Mad About You, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, and Picket Fences were popular.

I’ll try to think of some more reasons later.

Nice explanations there! Could you also do one for Late 1996?  :)

Internet Underground Music Archive CNN report from 1994.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT5LIEUJefM

KIDS film ( Filmed in Summer 1994) - Very late 90s vibes all around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9a5tZSKDOU

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/07/23/fashion/23KIDS/23KIDS-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale

https://dreamnoirarts.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/kids-1995-03-g.jpg

https://assets.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/173288/1kids.jpg

https://static-1.ivoox.com/audios/1/0/0/4/141494234001_XXL.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7OYlmdhOZY

Virtua Fighter 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEFan85sWsQ

Tekken

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29D63COIB8w

Crusin USA

Prodigy - Poison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mej5wS7viw

Korn - Blind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGK00Q7xx-s

Green Day - Basket Case

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUTGr5t3MoY

Spice Girls Auditioning 1994

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_9N5ogUzZw

Nice explanations there! Could you also do one for Late 1996?  :)


Was late 1996 the official start of the late 90s to you?

https://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2019_20/1391704/friends-leaving-netflix-today-main-181203_4a0eb7693d7cafd92559cace5e8b02ec.fit-760w.jpg

https://i.ytimg.com/sh/pGVL1xIdALpVdjtPPfwfvA/market.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d0/Spider-Man_%281994_TV_series%29_title_screen.png

https://i.ytimg.com/sh/7ts0JenNjtTKYCO8GdAx1Q/market.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9d/db/5d/9ddb5df827eb0fd4db42334222ca80e5.jpg

https://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2019_20/1391704/friends-leaving-netflix-today-main-181203_4a0eb7693d7cafd92559cace5e8b02ec.fit-760w.jpg

https://i.ytimg.com/sh/pGVL1xIdALpVdjtPPfwfvA/market.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d0/Spider-Man_%281994_TV_series%29_title_screen.png

https://i.ytimg.com/sh/7ts0JenNjtTKYCO8GdAx1Q/market.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9d/db/5d/9ddb5df827eb0fd4db42334222ca80e5.jpg


Without the popularity of The Simpsons, Seinfeld, and X-Men The Animated Series in early 1993, half of those shows would not exist.

Was late 1996 the official start of the late 90s to you?


The way I see it, is that late 90s culture was already transitioning in mid 1996 but mid 1996 was still mid 90s.

Late 1996 definitely felt like something was different with noticeable shifts and slightly different vibes but not all the shifts were felt, even though they took place.

It took the winter of 1997 Jan-March for all of them to be noticed/felt or evolve into something on a grander scale.

By the Spring/Summer 1997 we were officially in the late 90s with some strong mid 90s holdovers

Fall 1997-Early 1998 a good portion of the earlier 90s and mid 90s was dated.

Without the popularity of The Simpsons, Seinfeld, and X-Men The Animated Series in early 1993, half of those shows would not exist.


True

True


Early 1993 was like the skeletal system of the mid 1990s if they were a human body.

Early 1993 was like the skeletal system of the mid 1990s if they were a human body.


I find it hard to dismiss late 1992 from this.

I find it hard to dismiss late 1992 from this.


Late 1992 to a certain extent, but mainly early 1993.

Late 1992 to a certain extent, but mainly early 1993.


I personally would have to include both. There are things that were so blatantly foreign to the earlier 90s by the second half of 1992 that were part of the same fabric and nature of stuff from early to the start of mid of 1993.

Not really. Late 1989- mid 1992 is one pop cultural era. 1999 isn’t 90s

If you don’t agree than explain why you don’t.

I was there. Just being there isn’t enough though. You would need to have enough exposure and knowledge of the various factors and turning points.

1999 wasn’t the 90s culturally. Many agree. Early to mid 1999 had some late 90s holdovers.

Everyone has their own take. late 1989 felt like the start of the 90s.



The most 80s holdovers were from August 1989-mid 1990.

Then a bit less from late 1990 to 1992
lesser from 1993/94

Just bits and pieces and little from 1994 to early 1997

It’s more about the sum and impact of turning points within pop culture and weight of various factors. It also depends where you lived etc

Punk revival, early nu metal, post grunge and other styles were exploding in the latter half of 1994. Never said grunge died out but it was not new and people were starting to latch on to these different styles.


LOL at slashpop disputing the gen xer who was actaully there to remember it

and just for the record she's was right 1992 is much similar to 1995 than 1989

LOL at slashpop disputing the gen xer who was actaully there to remember it


Jesica_ann is a Xennial, not an Xer. Howard is the only Xer on here.

and just for the record she's was right 1992 is much similar to 1995 than 1989


I was there, as mentioned. I'm probably a bit younger than her, but old enough during those periods to have remembered the teen/child trends from all years listed.

I wouldn't discredit your opinion for being born in 1992? I assume?. You can have your take, that's fine. I respect her opinion as well. I used to be firm on thinking 1992-early 1996 was one period actually. Sometimes opinions also change with other factors, new information, analysis etc.

I would say the latter 1992 definitely has a connection to mid90s/1995. The first half of 1992  mostly seemed like an extension of 1991 in terms of pop culture.

Late 1989 was very  90s to me at the time and looking back 90s elements were somewhat predominant then. Sure many of those 80s elements barely existed in 1991/1992 but the period connected as whole.

That's the way i see it.

I think what I'm trying to get at was there was no80s  holdovers in 1992 , those were 90s things , the 90s was creeping in from the late 80s. you've got to remember that so its not like the late 80s were super duper 80s anyway they weren't they had a 90s influence
subtly although more 80s then not still (well with the exception of '89 that year was arguably less 80s then not

Kylie Minogue - Confine in me - August 1994

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlpgfb1xXwM

Hackers Movie - Filmed across late 1994/1995:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pD3cGcpM2KGw9SP29YmojxZ33ryciUmoDqutFIZ-9iXGPTLTTgZA9oB2tgE0UCgDE_zkTQ

Hackers Movie - Filmed across late 1994/1995:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pD3cGcpM2KGw9SP29YmojxZ33ryciUmoDqutFIZ-9iXGPTLTTgZA9oB2tgE0UCgDE_zkTQ


There was one big shift in "Hackers", set in NYC, there was a big shift for the Cyberdelia nightclub scenes that were filmed London, England, at a (now) disused swimming baths. One big shift to the east.

There was one big shift in "Hackers", set in NYC, there was a big shift for the Cyberdelia nightclub scenes that were filmed London, England, at a (now) disused swimming baths. One big shift to the east.


Hey there I'm not abusing the use the word shift to be fair, LOL. Whats the one big shift to the east?

Movie was cutting edge within the time frame hence the mention ; some clearly prominent proto-Y2kish imagery/graphics, early internet references, and some early version of Wipeout for Playstation game before the game was finished and system released in the west, but of course it's a typical cheesy 90s flick outside of that.

Whats the one big shift to the east?
A big shift of distance of 3,459 miles from New York to London. I can be farther it a different route is taken.

A big shift of distance of 3,459 miles from New York to London. I can be farther it a different route is taken.


Yeah not buying into that one mate. Nice shot but not a hint of shiftology is to be found.

Just a perfectly reasonable movie reference! Sorry !  ;)

Yeah not buying into that one mate. Nice shot but not a hint of shiftology is to be found.

Just a perfectly reasonable movie reference! Sorry !  ;)
Can you please 'shift' in this context please?

Jesica_ann is a Xennial, not an Xer. Howard is the only Xer on here.


Is he?

Jesica_ann is a Xennial, not an Xer. Howard is the only Xer on here.
Does Howard know?

Can you please 'shift' in this context please?


Meaning ?

Meaning ?
Can you please define the 'shift' in this context of this topic please?

Can you please define the 'shift' in this context of this topic please?


Oh I was just teasing...

If you insist. Just what is generally referred to here when a shift is brought up. More specifically:

A set of notable turning points across popular culture; music, style, tech etc

Yes it can be seen as subjective to some degree.

Nine Inch Nails - Closer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTFwQP86BRs

Not really. Late 1989- mid 1992 is one pop cultural era. 1999 isn’t 90s

If you don’t agree than explain why you don’t.

I was there. Just being there isn’t enough though. You would need to have enough exposure and knowledge of the various factors and turning points.

1999 wasn’t the 90s culturally. Many agree. Early to mid 1999 had some late 90s holdovers.

Everyone has their own take. late 1989 felt like the start of the 90s.

The most 80s holdovers were from August 1989-mid 1990.

Then a bit less from late 1990 to 1992
lesser from 1993/94

Just bits and pieces and little from 1994 to early 1997

It’s more about the sum and impact of turning points within pop culture and weight of various factors. It also depends where you lived etc

Punk revival, early nu metal, post grunge and other styles were exploding in the latter half of 1994. Never said grunge died out but it was not new and people were starting to latch on to these different styles.


I agree with this. That was the era of new jack swing (even though that style was from as early as 1987), afro-centric style clothing, and bright neon colors as seen in the Fresh Prince of Bel-air. Late 1992/93 was transitional with the rise in gangsta rap, especially with Dr. Dre's the Chronic album. Grunge was its own sub era that started in 1991 with Nirvana'a Nevermind, and ended around 1995, so it overlapped the early and mid 90's eras.

I agree with this. That was the era of new jack swing (even though that style was from as early as 1987), afro-centric style clothing, and bright neon colors as seen in the Fresh Prince of Bel-air. Late 1992/93 was transitional with the rise in gangsta rap, especially with Dr. Dre's the Chronic album. Grunge was its own sub era that started in 1991 with Nirvana'a Nevermind, and ended around 1995, so it overlapped the early and mid 90's eras.


Thanks. If you go through a lot of points about mid to late 1994, I explain was a shift or culmination of changes  to some degree.

I consider late 1992 to early 1994 as the transitional era.

Mid to late 1994 is the official and sort of start of the purer mid 90s with lots of incoming late 90s and Y2K culture 

Thanks. If you go through a lot of points about mid to late 1994, I explain was a shift or culmination of changes  to some degree.

I consider late 1992 to early 1994 as the transitional era.

Mid to late 1994 is the official and sort of start of the purer mid 90s with lots of incoming late 90s and Y2K culture


Personally, I think the 90's culture was established in 1993, with movies like Jurassic Park, and with R&B like SWV and Xscape, gansta rap like 2Pac, alternative rock like Stone Temple Pilots, and dance like Haddaway's "What is Love". 1993, 1994, and 1995 sort of ran together and was harder to tell the difference.

Personally, I think the 90's culture was established in 1993, with movies like Jurassic Park, and with R&B like SWV and Xscape, gansta rap like 2Pac, alternative rock like Stone Temple Pilots, and dance like Haddaway's "What is Love". 1993, 1994, and 1995 sort of ran together and was harder to tell the difference.


A lot of those trends are inseparable aesthetically from music or fads released in mid to late 1992. Jurassic Park was even filmed in 1992.

The way I see it is that around September 1993 to around June 1994 a big load of new trends/things were very mid 90s or least leaning towards it but there were still enough earlier 90s vibes and trends mixed in.

I felt it was early 90s period based on memory also.

That period was almost there but it was more of a transitional early 90s period and still had enough 1990-1992 connections that hadn’t become completely outdated or expired yet.

Early 1994 was even probably more transitional.


1994 close to 95:

-The mid 90s styles/trends etc that first appear around 1993 are majority with much less very early 90s influence.

- Start of the slow move towards the subdued and more minimalist fashion style of the late 90s

-Numerous music genres are established and popularized that define the next decade slowly moving away from previous movements.

-First proper period of the early internet.

Etc all the points I listed earlier...

Madonna - Baby’s got a secret

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

Angelia Jolie in 1994 on the Internet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip34OUo3IS0

In 1994, Amazon, Yahoo! and Mosaic Communications (later Netscape) were in the beginning stages. Poynter reports Netscape Navigator was the first commercial web browser launched that year, two years before Microsoft Internet Explorer and 10 years before Mozilla Firefox.

Did a shift start on this date (April 20th) in 1994, when American Telephone & Telegraph changed its company name to AT&T Corporation.

Did a shift start on this date (April 20th) in 1994, when American Telephone & Telegraph changed its company name to AT&T Corporation.


Ahh. Hmm not sure what that signifies and it’s relation to changes in tech at the time if it’s only a name change. If there is more surrounding it, it possibly could be.

I mean more of a turning point or marking of when something like technology catches on, noticeable and  more impactful change occurs within pop cultural or trend starts that helps shape some aesthetic or aspect of a period of time. 

Ahh. Hmm not sure what that signifies and it’s relation to changes in tech at the time if it’s only a name change. If there is more surrounding it, it possibly could be.

I mean more of a turning point or marking of when something like technology catches on, noticeable and  more impactful change occurs within pop cultural or trend starts that helps shape some aesthetic or aspect of a period of time. 

Did the change of company name produce better products for the customer?

Did the change of company name produce better products for the customer?


No idea

Don’t know much about this company. It doesn’t seem, unless I’m wrong, that they offered a particular service that was groundbreaking or notable at this time

Phone services and the related from I recall and have read during the time was mostly the same as previous eras.

1998 and 1999 are notable for the rising popularity of cell phones.

“Twenty years ago, on June 27, 1994, Geffen Records made history when it released the first major label song for exclusive digital download. The song was Aerosmith's “Head First,” an unused cut from the Get a Grip sessions. Ten thousand CompuServe subscribers downloaded it in eight days.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.loudersound.com/amp/features/25-years-ago-today-aerosmith-made-history-and-changed-the-internet-as-we-know-it

Did a shift start on this date (April 20th) in 1994, when American Telephone & Telegraph changed its company name to AT&T Corporation.


The bigger shifts for AT&T were on New Year's Day in both 1984 and 2006, the former with the breakup of The Bell System into the regional "baby bell", with the second being the merge with GTE. The AT&T "Your True Voice" campaign started early in 1994 and continued through 1995. You also had the "You Will" ads forecasting the future that began in the spring of 1993 and continued until summer 1995. That said, I recently watched both the 1995 and 1996 NCAA Men's basketball championship games from original broadcasts including commercials, and noticed that not a single ad in the 1995 match referenced the Internet, whereas the following year, at least half a dozen ads included a website. The 1996 AT&T add was also noteable since it mentioned both the internet and the new 888 toll free area code, which has since expanded into a total of seven 800-series freephone codes since. There was a lot of technological progress as the mid-90s advanced, even if the cultural shifts were more focused around the edges of the core '90s. I'd still say the "big shift" year for the '90s was 1996 for that reason, due to the Internet's explosion of relevance, the establishment of later '90s fashion, as well as the boon in 3D video games that year. You really had to live through the era to have a full understanding since some trends pop up, build, settle, and fade faster/quicker than others. And of course, the shifts may vary by region, city, or country. I'd imagine the biggest shift of the '90s in the UK was in 1997 due to Tony Blair replacing John Major and the death of Princess Diana, in addition to the Internet perhaps making its biggest boom that year. Australia/Canada still felt quite '80s (especially Oz) well into the '90s, so their "shift" may have happened around mid-decade. Japan had its "Lost Decade", meaning that the cultural changes were quite irregular compared to the go-go '80s and '00s for them. The (former) Soviet Union of course had its late 1991/early 1992 shift, along with parts of Eastern Europe in a new democratic society.

Finally, according to the Jeff Havens book "Us vs. Them", one story mentions how just 20% of Internet users in 1995 went online on a daily basis, and mentioned that outside of e-mail, few users saw the resources as essential to them. Just a year later, ecommerce as well as more practical solutions made the Internet here to stay, even if the technology used for them was in their infancy (including eBay and Amazon). I hardly see a shift in late 1994 since that was basically the heart of the mid-90s (along with 1995 and the later part of 1993). Spring/summer/early fall of 1996 was the real shift from the mid-to late '90s.

The bigger shifts for AT&T were on New Year's Day in both 1984 and 2006, the former with the breakup of The Bell System into the regional "baby bell", with the second being the merge with GTE. The AT&T "Your True Voice" campaign started early in 1994 and continued through 1995. You also had the "You Will" ads forecasting the future that began in the spring of 1993 and continued until summer 1995. That said, I recently watched both the 1995 and 1996 NCAA Men's basketball championship games from original broadcasts including commercials, and noticed that not a single ad in the 1995 match referenced the Internet, whereas the following year, at least half a dozen ads included a website. The 1996 AT&T add was also noteable since it mentioned both the internet and the new 888 toll free area code, which has since expanded into a total of seven 800-series freephone codes since. There was a lot of technological progress as the mid-90s advanced, even if the cultural shifts were more focused around the edges of the core '90s. I'd still say the "big shift" year for the '90s was 1996 for that reason, due to the Internet's explosion of relevance, the establishment of later '90s fashion, as well as the boon in 3D video games that year. You really had to live through the era to have a full understanding since some trends pop up, build, settle, and fade faster/quicker than others. And of course, the shifts may vary by region, city, or country. I'd imagine the biggest shift of the '90s in the UK was in 1997 due to Tony Blair replacing John Major and the death of Princess Diana, in addition to the Internet perhaps making its biggest boom that year. Australia/Canada still felt quite '80s (especially Oz) well into the '90s, so their "shift" may have happened around mid-decade. Japan had its "Lost Decade", meaning that the cultural changes were quite irregular compared to the go-go '80s and '00s for them. The (former) Soviet Union of course had its late 1991/early 1992 shift, along with parts of Eastern Europe in a new democratic society.

Finally, according to the Jeff Havens book "Us vs. Them", one story mentions how just 20% of Internet users in 1995 went online on a daily basis, and mentioned that outside of e-mail, few users saw the resources as essential to them. Just a year later, ecommerce as well as more practical solutions made the Internet here to stay, even if the technology used for them was in their infancy (including eBay and Amazon). I hardly see a shift in late 1994 since that was basically the heart of the mid-90s (along with 1995 and the later part of 1993). Spring/summer/early fall of 1996 was the real shift from the mid-to late '90s.


Lots of good and informative points. I was using the Internet for most of 1995.

Yeah latter 1996 was shifting towards the later 90s. Spring and Summer 1996 really did have some transitional aspects but were still predominately overall mid 90s to me.

1993-1994 was transitional, most of the significant mid 90s elements were there by late 1993 for sure but it felt like a mix of both early 90s and mid 90s.

Mid to late 1994,  I can't say had that mixed early 90s element within popular culture that 1993 and early 1994 had.

I've noted the elements earlier on in music, fashion and whatnot. Having both remembered them and retrospectively see them as being the first to be solidly connected to parts latter 90s/beyond or being new/groundbreaking and foreign to the era they were in, yet significant enough to note, you could say there was of mini shift, for lack of better word, within this period.

It's not as drastic as 1996 or 1999 for sure, but there were notable turning points when grouped together.

I would say 1994 is first fully proper year for the early internet, almost like year 1, in the sense of :

wide mass media coverage and buzz, a sizable amount of websites, AOL becoming huge, huge companies launching this year, e-mail and internet starting to be talked about on a mass scale, good number of print ads including links, good amount of companies having their own sites, popular and big browsers launching, music sharing, personal/ fan websites and early profile sites launching and starting to catch on by latter 1994 going into 1995. 

1993 it was almost there but not yet and not as full year which I was I didn't just say 1993. 1992, 1991 the Internet was too primitive imo. But for sure I never debated what 1996 had to offer in general or how frequent usage became by then. 

Japanese Playstation Ad 1994:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQnWUnGR6mU

Nintendo 64 or project reality was being sampled and promoted at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in winter 1994. go to 24:46 to find the coverage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BLm_1ZpckE&list=PLC100203338BA95AE&index=40&t=0s

Ultra 64 model circa late 94:

https://i0.wp.com/www.oldschoolgamermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/nintendoultra64.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1

I have some magazines from 94 covering the ultra 64, playstation. Might snap some pics of them later.

The whole world shifted in 1994, for it was in March that Justin Bieber was born!

The whole world shifted in 1994, for it was in March that Justin Bieber was born!


lol true.

The only shift I remember is the internet started to be talked about, and some people started to get the internet.
But, most people were into AOL in 1995, and after, though.

I strongly agree with this, 1994 is really the first year to have a strong connection to the late 90s, especially considering the technology that year. 1993 on the other hand still feels a lot more connected to say, 1990. You could argue that 1994 is when the 90s start to look closer to the 2000s rather than the 1980s. I also always felt that 1994 was kind of like year 1 for the internet as well, it was the first year when the internet started getting mainstream attention (it was pretty much unknown in 1993), modern web surfing also started in 1994ish with NCSA Mosaic and Netscape Navigator. Bringing up 3D video games is a good point, the arcades were literally being taken over by 3D that year, compared to 1993 which was still a very 16-bit year in the arcades. In 1994, you had new arcade games such as Daytona USA, Tekken, Virtua Cop and much much more.

I strongly agree with this, 1994 is really the first year to have a strong connection to the late 90s, especially considering the technology that year. 1993 on the other hand still feels a lot more connected to say, 1990. You could argue that 1994 is when the 90s start to look closer to the 2000s rather than the 1980s. I also always felt that 1994 was kind of like year 1 for the internet as well, it was the first year when the internet started getting mainstream attention (it was pretty much unknown in 1993), modern web surfing also started in 1994ish with NCSA Mosaic and Netscape Navigator. Bringing up 3D video games is a good point, the arcades were literally being taken over by 3D that year, compared to 1993 which was still a very 16-bit year in the arcades. In 1994, you had new arcade games such as Daytona USA, Tekken, Virtua Cop and much much more.

When I look at old commercials/TV shows/movies, I feel like 1993-1994 is also where they start to have a more "blown-up", distinctly 90s look to them in terms of the way they're filmed. Whereas 1990-1992 still has the "flatter" camera look of the 80s.

Just compare these two commercial breaks, one from 1990 and other from 1994. You can see how the 1994 one looks a lot more "bubbly" and 90s:

0kYYiRmtMH4
mcliOkwKXds

When I look at old commercials/TV shows/movies, I feel like 1993-1994 is also where they start to have a more "blown-up", distinctly 90s look to them in terms of the way they're filmed. Whereas 1990-1992 still has the "flatter" camera look of the 80s.

Just compare these two commercial breaks, one from 1990 and other from 1994. You can see how the 1994 one looks a lot more "bubbly" and 90s:

0kYYiRmtMH4
mcliOkwKXds


The 1990 commercials look a lot more static and the 1994 commercials have a lot more computer animation too (which is actually the most distinctive difference).

Though, it also seems that the 1994 footage was a lot better preserved compared to the 1990 footage.

When I look at old commercials/TV shows/movies, I feel like 1993-1994 is also where they start to have a more "blown-up", distinctly 90s look to them in terms of the way they're filmed. Whereas 1990-1992 still has the "flatter" camera look of the 80s.

Just compare these two commercial breaks, one from 1990 and other from 1994. You can see how the 1994 one looks a lot more "bubbly" and 90s:

0kYYiRmtMH4
mcliOkwKXds


Some of the videos in the 1994 video feel like the they fit in with the 1995-1997 era like the gushers and cereal ones, others feel like they could be from the early 90s like the crayola. But to some extent CGI and the excessively zany video ad approach started to get more common in the mid to late 90s both in print and video advertising, although the  energetic style was present in the whole decade. I think that newer phase was starting 1994/1995 and peaked in 1997. To me 1993-1994 still had a lot of early 90s style.

The blown up look energetic 90s ad style  was already becoming a thing 1989, possibly a bit earlier, but more common by late 1990-1991. Here is a nintendo game genie commerical  from late 1990, early 1991. The same blown up look would be constantly used in things like toys and cereal up until 1997-1998 and lesser extent 1999 to 2002.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRbhtp9QKjU

I think the 1989-1990 was like the last period to have a good amount of some flater mid to late 80s style advertising but they already transitioning towards that funky loud and colorful style from the late 80s. Honestly I remember seeing some amount of the flat advertising style up until 1996 or so.

I strongly agree with this, 1994 is really the first year to have a strong connection to the late 90s, especially considering the technology that year. 1993 on the other hand still feels a lot more connected to say, 1990. You could argue that 1994 is when the 90s start to look closer to the 2000s rather than the 1980s. I also always felt that 1994 was kind of like year 1 for the internet as well, it was the first year when the internet started getting mainstream attention (it was pretty much unknown in 1993), modern web surfing also started in 1994ish with NCSA Mosaic and Netscape Navigator. Bringing up 3D video games is a good point, the arcades were literally being taken over by 3D that year, compared to 1993 which was still a very 16-bit year in the arcades. In 1994, you had new arcade games such as Daytona USA, Tekken, Virtua Cop and much much more.


For sure. People were really gravitating to trying out new and upcoming 3d arcade games especially racing games when there were more choices throughout late 1994 to 1996, whereas in 1992 to around summer 1994 street fighter and mortal kombat seemed more of the the focus point even though they were still popular throughout the mid 90s.

You also have to take into account  Pc dos, jaguar, 3do, did have a fair amount of 3d games by late 1994-1995 and the genesis was past its peak and just starting to be on its way out. People could preorder import systems from Japan as well. In November 1994 Sega Saturn was out and December PS1 was out. Gaming magazines, covering multiple consoles were focusing on 3d games, japanese games and starting to slowly starting to give less attention by late 1994 to exclusively 16 bit games.

Music was very different. Second half 1994 is the first period where you had a bunch of punk bands on MTV for the first time, and a new batch of music genres (nu metal, mainstream pop punk, trip hop and and a new style of electronica) that seem foreign to the world of 1988 to 1993/1994.

The internet was regularly being covered on the news and media, there is even a clip in my so called life, filmed in late 94/early 95 where claire dane is using the email. In 1993-4, there were not enough sites and it was mostly same people who were using dial for for bulletin board forums it before anyone knew about it.

I can't imagine that even existing in the 1993/early 1994, it feels worlds apart. 1994/1995 wasn't this massive divide, a number of things were still early 90s, but a lot of things were like a demo version or prequel of the 1995-1997 period and the late 90s connections were clearly established.

I remember a lot of hits of 1994-1995 were still on the radio or mtv in 1997 and 1998 while a huge amount music from 1990-1993/4 wasn't even replayed. 

Trip hop classics from 1994:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GunKc3AG21A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsv21Qq3hOc

Also check out Underworld - Born slippy, this is the iconic song from the trainspotting soundtrack. Released in late 94 or early 1995 and another track from their 94 album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf4uiRr78dU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phWYWpu5KUQ&list=PLyk1c4goKVXDYoCmZ0B2dBr4xC6ntITue&index=6

For sure. People were really gravitating to trying out new and upcoming 3d arcade games especially racing games when there were more choices throughout late 1994 to 1996, whereas in 1992 to around summer 1994 street fighter and mortal kombat seemed more of the the focus point even though they were still popular throughout the mid 90s.

You also have to take into account  Pc dos, jaguar, 3do, did have a fair amount of 3d games by late 1994-1995 and the genesis was past its peak and just starting to be on its way out. People could preorder import systems from Japan as well. In November 1994 Sega Saturn was out and December PS1 was out. Gaming magazines, covering multiple consoles were focusing on 3d games, japanese games and starting to slowly starting to give less attention by late 1994 to exclusively 16 bit games.

Music was very different. Second half 1994 is the first period where you had a bunch of punk bands on MTV for the first time, and a new batch of music genres (nu metal, mainstream pop punk, trip hop and and a new style of electronica) that seem foreign to the world of 1988 to 1993/1994.

The internet was regularly being covered on the news and media, there is even a clip in my so called life, filmed in late 94/early 95 where claire dane is using the email. In 1993-4, there were not enough sites and it was mostly same people who were using dial for for bulletin board forums it before anyone knew about it.

I can't imagine that even existing in the 1993/early 1994, it feels worlds apart. 1994/1995 wasn't this massive divide, a number of things were still early 90s, but a lot of things were like a demo version or prequel of the 1995-1997 period and the late 90s connections were clearly established.

I remember a lot of hits of 1994-1995 were still on the radio or mtv in 1997 and 1998 while a huge amount music from 1990-1993/4 wasn't even replayed. 

Seems like the 2000s were similar in that respect. Up until summer 2004 there were still early 2000s holdovers and vibes, but by 2005 things began to change very quick and early 2000s culture was left in the dust.

Seems like the 2000s were similar in that respect. Up until summer 2004 there were still early 2000s holdovers and vibes, but by 2005 things began to change very quick and early 2000s culture was left in the dust.


Pretty much really, early 2004 still felt a bit closer to the early 2000s meanwhile, late 2004 felt much closer to the mid/late 2000s.

The began whrn North Korea signed the pact to end their nuclear projects, but was soon to become unshifted.