Immortal 80s and 90s: A love letter to the greatest era of all time
Ah, the 80s and 90s - two decades that indelibly marked those of us lucky enough to have grown up in them.
Whether you're a member of Generation X, who wore flannel pants before it became ironic, or a millennial who still remembers the satisfaction of a high score on a Nokia 3310 (a game of Snake, right?), you know those years were something special.
But what exactly made them so magical? Why do we still remember them with such nostalgia, and what symbols from these decades remain to remind us of a simpler, crazier, and often neon-colored time?
Join me for a humorous yet heartfelt look back at what made the 80s and 90s unique, why we remember them, and how we can keep the spirit of those unforgettable years alive today...
The 80s: Rich Hair, Bigger Dreams
Let's start with the 80s - perhaps the most flamboyant decade in every sense of the word. It was the era of big hair, shoulder pads, and the birth of MTV when musicians were not just heard but seen.
Music
The music scene was iconic - Queen, Madonna, Prince, and Michael Jackson were not just artists but forces of nature. Who else could make you moonwalk in your living room or sing "Like a Prayer" while doing your algebra homework?
Example? Try going to any 40th birthday party today and see how long A-ha's "Take On Me " takes to come over the speakers. You can't help but sing along, even if you're not sure what a falsetto is.
Fashion
And the fashion... oh my God, the fashion. How did we ever convince ourselves that neon, animal print, and acid-wash jeans can be worn together? But whatever, it was a time of self-expression and nothing said "I'm ready to breakdance" like a pair of Reebok pumps and a pair of tall, pale shoes.
Real -ife example: Recently, a friend of mine went to an 80's themed party and had to stop at a store to buy clothes. Guess what? She found almost everything she needed at H&M - proof that what goes around comes around, even if it's denim jackets with a crib and oversized earrings.
The 90s: The decade that gave us everything
Now let's move on to the 90s. If the 80s was a gaudy, neon, synth dream, the 90s was where we all started to be "cool" in a way that was, well, less obvious.
The grunge era and the explosion of pop culture
Kurt Cobain told us it was okay to not give a shit, while Britney Spears made us dance in our bedrooms (maybe using a hairbrush as a microphone in the process). The 90s was a cultural smorgasbord and there was something for everyone: grunge, boy bands, rap, and ska (yes, ska!).
Example from life: Think back to your favorite movies from the 90s. You've probably quoted 'Clueless ' ('As If!') or 'The Matrix ' ('Wow...') within the last month without realizing it. We had movies that shaped our views on love (Titanic), technology (The Matrix), and politics in high school (10 Things I Hate About You). Also, let's be real: The Lion King made you cry. Admit it.
The tech boom
Ah, the technology of the '90s - if you can even call it that! You'll never forget the first time you heard a dial tone from your computer speakers when you were trying to connect to the internet. The joy of waiting for a web page to load at 56 kbps! The sound of a new message arriving on AOL Instant Messenger was like a modern-day carrier pigeon arriving with important messages.
And mobile phones? If you had one, it was probably as big as a brick, had an antenna, and cost a fortune to use - unless you were the proud owner of a Nokia 3310, a phone that survived the nuclear apocalypse. Millennials, you know what I'm talking about. We spent more time adjusting monophonic ringtones than actually making phone calls.
Relationships and Values: Love in the Age of Cassette Tapes
While technology and pop culture have evolved, so have our ideas about relationships and values. But one thing has remained the same: an emphasis on connection, respect, and kindness.
The romance of simplicity
Remember when you had to call someone's home and hope their father didn't answer before you nervously asked, "Hi, is Julie there?" Dating wasn't about swiping right or left; it was about mustering the courage to pass a note in class or plan a Friday night visit to Blockbuster. There was a charming simplicity in the way we connected. Relationships were built through personal conversations (shocking, right?) or writing love letters that would take too long to deliver by today's standards, but were always incredibly personal.
Real-life example: I once heard a story about a friend who made a mixtape for his love and timed the recording perfectly to get rid of the DJ's voice on his favorite song. The mixtape? It sealed the deal and they've been married for 20 years. In today's digital age, there's something so beautiful and intentional about making such a personal, tangible gift.
Female attractiveness: more than just looks
In the 80s and 90s, the media placed a lot of emphasis on female beauty - big hair, big lips, and Cindy Crawford's birthmark - but at the same time, we began to see a change. It was a time when beauty was still important, but individuality, self-confidence, and personality began to stand out more.
Think of the leading women of that time. Julia Roberts wasn't America's darling just for her looks; it was her smile, her laugh, and her down-to-earth charm. Characters like Clarissa from Clarissa Explains It All or Rachel Green from Friends weren't just fashion icons, they were likable, funny, and independent women who showed that attractiveness wasn't just about looks. It was about being who you are.
Gratitude and Humility: The Golden values
Growing up in the 80s and 90s, we were raised with a strong sense of gratitude and humility. We were taught to appreciate what we had - whether it was waiting patiently for our turn at the family computer or being grateful for a new toy, even if it was just a simple GI Joe or Polly Pocket figure. We knew that nothing was handed to us on a silver platter.
Our parents constantly reminded us to say "please" and "thank you" and to show respect to our elders. Gratitude was not just a nice thought, but a life skill. If you wanted a Nintendo, you had to save up for one. If you broke it, you got a hard lesson in personal responsibility (and maybe a little humility when you had to explain why your Super Mario cartridge mysteriously melted).
Case in point: I remember how excited I was when I got my first Discman (a portable CD player, for youngsters). But when it skipped every time I took a step, I learned to be grateful for my old cassette player, which could take a fall off the bike without missing a beat. Humility and gratitude were part of our experiences growing up, and we carried those lessons with us.
Why do we still love these decades?
Nostalgia on steroids: For many of us, these years represented our arrival into adulthood. Whether you were blasting Smells Like Teen Spirit, or trying to figure out what the Spice Girls were actually saying in Wannabe, these songs were the soundtrack to our awkward but formative years.
Simplicity: Life wasn't so complicated back then. You made your plans by calling your friends on the landline (remember them?) and your biggest worry was getting home before the streetlights came on. No endless scrolling, no Instagram FOMO - just you, your friends and maybe Tamagotchi to survive.
The Last Pre-Internet Era: Generation X and early millennials are the last generation to remember what life was like before the internet completely took over. We lived in a world where you actually went out to play, and the only way to find out movie times was to call the movie theater's info line or check the newspaper (yes, the newspaper). This gives us a unique perspective and a longing for simpler times when you could disappear for a few hours without a GPS tracker in your pocket.
Is it possible to keep the spirit of the 80s and 90s alive today?
1.Have an 80s or 90s-themed party: Wear neon leggings or a Nirvana t-shirt, put on a playlist with Depeche Mode, TLC, and the Spice Girls, and don't forget to gel your hair properly.
2. Adopt a meaningful habit: Try writing letters to friends, make a physical scrapbook, or create an actual photo album. Get back to a tangible, real connection.
3. Take a day without a connection: Pretend it's 1995 and put your phone away for a day. Take a trip, meet friends in person, and maybe - just maybe - dust off the old Game Boy in the closet.
Today's world may be moving faster than ever, but we can always slow down and remember the joy of a time when everything was a little more colorful, a little less complicated, and a lot more radical.
So here's to the 80s and 90s, decades that shaped us, challenged us, and gave us some of the best music, movies, and trends the world has ever seen...
Do you belong to this emblematic decade? What differences do you observe today compared to then? Do you yourself have a symbol?
Share your stories with me...
