Living in the 1990’s

While most of these blogs focus on all aspects of music, this one will focus on key lifestyle differences between the 90s and today's decade. When learning a piece of music that is from a different time period (whether it's 200 years ago, or just 25) it's important to hone in on that time's culture and zeitgeist ("spirit of the time"). This helps to connect with the music on a deeper level, not to mention you get a free history lesson out of it. The following list is in no particular order other than what comes to my nostalgic memory first!

1. The Internet (or lack thereof): For a brief period in time for anyone growing up in the early 90s there was no Internet. While it was evolving and being used by software developers, the Internet wasn't used en masse by the public until about the mid to late 90s. That means most of your teachers at Center Stage lived in a world without the Internet. Even when the Internet was available for the average consumer, it was considered draconian to what it is now - just ask anyone older about dial-up modems! Imagine a world with no text messaging [GASP]...you would sometimes even have to use a...

2. Payphone: While we still have these around I can't recall the last time I used one. In fact, I can't remember the last time I actually used a regular land-line phone! (Again, if any of these words sound like an ancient language, consult the elders.) Imagine having to call someone, set a time and date to meet up, and actually meet up. There were no last minute cancellations (unless there really was a true emergency) and flaking out on someone was considered a really rude thing to do.

3. Music: Local music stores could be a hangout for teens. There'd be listening stations to check out the latest tunes and you could obviously buy records, tapes and CDs. (Places like Looney Tunes in West Babylon, NY still do this.) Megastores such as Tower Records, The Wall, Sam Goody, Virgin Megastores and F.Y.E. were bastions of music retail. Sadly, all these places have gone bankrupt mostly thanks to the Internet and music piracy. Listening to music in general was a bit more personal than today; there were no iPods, streaming music or even mp3s! You could listen to records, or the more popular method was to use cassette tapes or CDs. If you weren't using a home or car stereo you'd have to carry around your Sony Walkman - google it. If you wanted to make a mix tape (a playlist in other words) you'd have to wait for the radio DJ to play your song and then hit record just at the right moment! After countless hours of waiting you could then enjoy your mix, or give it to your crush.

4. Cable TV: Cable has been around since the 80s but grew into a giant even more so in the 90s. What Netflix and YouTube is today, is what cable was back then. The two really popular cable stations for teens and the programming they had were:

MTV - This stood for "Music Television" - a title that they've now stripped because they literally have nothing to do with music anymore. Good shows: Real World, Daria, Celebrity Deathmatch, Headbangers Ball, Beavis and Butthead, and TRL: Total Request Live. Oh, and they played actual music videos, like, all. the. time!
Nickelodeon - While Nickelodeon still exists, anyone of the older generation will say the 90s had the best shows. (Perhaps we're a little biased, but watch some of the old shows and see if you disagree!) Good shows: Rugrats, All That, Clarissa Explains It All, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Pete and Pete, Ren and Stimpy, Hey Arnold!, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Doug and Legends of the Hidden Temple. I'll stop typing now because I could go on for another page easily.

5. Fashion: 90s fashion is easily recognizable. Today's fashion seems to envelop tastes of the previous decades, including the 90s, without retaining much of it's own character - the 90s were opposite of this minus a few leftovers from the 80s. Here's a list that can't possibly cover everything, but is a good start for your googling self: Flannel/plaid shirts (grunge fashion), Dr. Martens boots, neon everything, slap bracelets, leggings, tartan miniskirts (see: Clueless [film]), baby doll tees, slip dresses, track suits, starter jackets, jorts (jean shorts), bomber jackets (hip-hop fashion), flat-top hairstyles, curtained hairstyles (see: Jonathan Brandis), and acid wash jeans.

Viva the windbreaker and Gwen Stefani,