Do you think this year(with all of the huge movies coming out, and big albums supposed to be coming out) has any potentiol to be one of those years to set the tone for the next few following years culturally(like 1999 has set the tone for the past few years)?

I hope it does, because honestly this chapter of pop culture has sucked for the most part.

It could be.  Sometimes it takes 5-6 years.  1993 was a watermark year as you say.  Then 1999 was.  Previously 1987 sort of was.  But so was 1984 just 3 years before that.  Sometimes it happens in a few years, but usually it takes 5 to 6 years.  If that's the case, 2005 would be the year.  But I still see no sign of that happening, but who knows...it's still just February.     

What is the obsession with the runoff of other decades onto new ones?  ???

^I have been wondering that as well.  Seems like we beat this topic to death.  But some posters keep asking about it.

2005 is not 1999!  How many times do I have to say it?  It's nothing like it.  In 1999 we had Clinton.  Now Bush is running his second term.  9/11/01 changed everything.  Numetal was "all the rage" in 1999-2002.  Now its just part of the rock world and this new keyboard-driven Britpop is the new wave of rock. "South Park" is most likely almost over.  In 1999 you could show anything on TV.  Now you have to blur out poo!  Eminem is in his decline, and Britney is just tabloids, even if she still sells, nobody with a tenth of a brain really enjoys her music.  Reality TV didn't hit big until 2000-01.

The only similarities are JaCrapimation, some numetal, a few TV shows, some pc issues, and DVD. 

Both times suck, but they are different.  Now 2000 and early 01 ARE very 1999.

I say this:

Tone Year: Period

1981: 1981-1983
1984: 1984-1986
1987: 1987-1990
1991: 1991-1993
1994: 1994-1996
1997: 1997-2001
2002: 2002-2005