Image description: Two people stand facing each other, smiling. The woman holds a Sony Walkman and is listening with over-ear headphones. The man looks down at her, smiling.
By Cameron Carr
It’s funny when you think about the fact that a lot of people – me included – were born in the nineties, but can’t really remember them. Many trends lived on until the early naughties, but eventually died out, or became obsolete. I have very fond memories of things from the nineties, and I frankly miss my Tamagotchi with a burning passion. If you were born in, or remember, the nineties and early naughties, then prepare for a trip down memory lane.
To start with, mobile gaming was just becoming a thing in the nineties. The Game Boy Colour – mine was mustard yellow – was taking the world by storm, and blowing tiny minds everywhere. I was, and still am, obsessed with Pokémon Yellow. The graphics were black and white, and the save space limited at best. But needless to say, the PSP and Nintendo DS were still a way off, and this is how I spent many of my nights.
Speaking of games, Tamagotchi were all the rage. These were essentially Nintendogs, but better – because they could die from neglect, there were real stakes involved with this digital delight.
Another iconic facet of the nineties included Disney films and Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs). We watched iconic movies like Mulan (1998), The Lion King (1994) and Toy Story (1995) all in the same decade. I know I had cassettes of all of them. I also remember DCOMs being a thing – Halloweentown (1998) and Smart House (1999) are favourites of mine.
Disney Channel also dominated the early naughties with classics including Kim Possible, The Proud Family and Even Stevens. Potentially the best part of these shows was the surprisingly memorable movie adaptations and catchphrases. If you never said “what’s the sitch” or “no problem sweet thang”, you probably didn’t own a TV at the time.
Lastly, we can’t talk about the nineties without acknowledging the bops and tunes released in this decade. While I wasn’t jamming to Nirvana at the time, I certainly appreciate their music now. I distinctly remember songs my parents listened to around the house, from Blackstreet, to R.E.M, to Counting Crows.
The Wiggles’ Yummy Yummy was also out and rocking the charts, with instant favourites like Hot Potato and Fruit Salad. While those finger guns have since been retired by the musical sensation that is The Wiggles, I fondly remember grooving to the original choreography.
The nineties were a crazy time, and the world was really changing before our eyes. Video cassettes shared the TV cabinet with DVDs, and iconic characters – like Lizzie McGuire and Dave the Barbarian – became household names.
And if you have no idea what I’m talking about with all these references, look them up! You’ll definitely find some shows worth binging.