Designer: Eliana Myhal
90s are the best decade-ava
MTV, Nirvana, PlayStation, “Friends”, Pearl Jam. What do all of these things have in common? They all made growing up in the 1990s entertaining and eventful.
The age of music in the 90s was superior to any other decade in the 20th century. The grunge genre exploded in this decade with bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam dominating charts. Pop music reached a new height with the Spice Girls, Christina Aguilera and Brittany Spears being in their prime during this decade, making the music listening experience superb.
On top of the music listening experience in the decade, music videos were also at their zenith with MTV. Kids would wait all day to watch their favorite boy bands and music icons play their music videos. With MTV, came “Total Request Live” (TRL). Starting in 1998, TRL was an MTV television show that featured daily countdowns of the top 10 most-demanded music videos. Instead of kids turning on MTV and having to wait around all day waiting to see their favorite music videos, TRL gave scheduled times for when the most popular videos would play. In an era before the internet, this was a game changer for children.
Movies were also superior in the 90s. The Disney Renaissance brought movies like “Aladdin, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Toy Story” and “The Lion King”. Children across the globe got to experience a new era of Disney movies, bringing wonder and magic to their childhood.
Speaking of magic, the highest-grossing book series of all time belongs to the 90s. Scholastic Books estimates over 600 million copies have been sold worldwide of the Harry Potter books. The wizarding world captivated children of the decade, making reading interesting and enjoyable for kids of all ages.
Play time was upgraded with a boom in technology. For the first time, children could interact with their toys. Tamagotchis and Furbies allowed children to care for toys, giving them responsibility.
On the gaming side, video games got a massive upgrade. Gaming graphics in the 80s were basic and pixelated. Once PlayStation was introduced, detailed gaming graphics became the new norm. The PlayStation 1 had over three times the number of pixels compared to a game of Tetris, and 11 times the number of pixels compared to a Game Boy. With statistics from PlayStation, Sony sold 102.49 million units across the world, showing that the upgrade was apparent.
The 90s were revolutionary for technology and pop culture, captivating the attention of children at every turn, truly making the 90s the best decade for childhood.
80’s is the Best Decade-Keira
Bright neon lights, classic blockbuster movies and the adrenaline of going to the mall with friends are all iconic things to do with the colorful lifestyle of the 1980s.
When someone asks about the most fashionable and colorful decade, most people’s minds go to the 1980s.
The decade was the most exciting decade to grow up in because of its rise in community-driven pop culture, the bold fashion choices and its golden age for television.
The age of music was one of the highlights in the 80s. The start of iconic artists happened during this decade, such as Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album “Houston” in 1985, along with Michael Jackson’s hit album, “Thriller,” and The Smiths’ debut album in 1982. These are only a few of some of the most influential artists and bands that started in this memorable decade.
Along with music artists, other influential figures, such as Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey, emerged in the 1980s, both of whom made an immense impact on pop culture and television. Oprah Winfrey broke barriers as a black female broadcaster, and Steven Spielberg created films that shaped modern cinema, such as “E.T.” However, that’s just two popular names of the 80s.
Speaking of influential people, George Lucas’ “Star Wars” had its debut in the 80s as well. Along with the “Back to the Future” trilogy and “Ghostbusters.” This explosion of movie series ultimately transformed pop culture and modern Hollywood.
Fashion also became a huge cultural impact by impacting self-expression, especially for women. These fashion choices included shoulder pads, pencil skirts and pleated trousers. According to ResearchGate, widening the shoulder silhouette allowed women to visually reject stereotypes and demand equal treatment in corporate environments.
Fashion in the 80s also consisted of a lot of athleisure wear. The fitness craze popularized spandex and leotards worn as casual streetwear. Aerobics gear were usually vibrant neons and electric jewel tones, creating a spike in self-expression.
Many groups of people look back at the 80s fondly, as well. For example, according to a survey from The US Sun Newspaper, more than two-thirds of people said they thought life was happier in the 80s due to simpler times and a lack of social media. Obviously, there was some controversy due to social and political issues during this time, but excluding that, the 1980s felt better to some people.
The 1980s was a groundbreaking decade for bold individualism and iconic entertainment. It still captivates many people until this day with its vibrant music and colors, ultimately making it the best decade to grow up in.
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