What do you think of 1997 and 1998?  I didn't really like 1997, 1998 was fine though.  It's hard to believe it was 7-9 years ago.

I think 1997 was probably a slightly more interesting year than 1998. Late 1998 was pretty boring, and strikes me as the first really late '90s time. But 1998 had From the Choirgirl Hotel and Natalie Imbruglia, which 1997 didn't. Also, The Simpsons was still good in 1997. All of 1997 and early 1998 was still vaguely mid-'90s in atmosphere, even if mid-'90s pop culture was dying.

1997 to me was still pretty much the mid 90's. First half of 1998 as well. Second half was more like the late '90s though.

I think 1997 was probably a slightly more interesting year than 1998. Late 1998 was pretty boring, and strikes me as the first really late '90s time. But 1998 had From the Choirgirl Hotel and Natalie Imbruglia, which 1997 didn't. Also, The Simpsons was still good in 1997. All of 1997 and early 1998 was still vaguely mid-'90s in atmosphere, even if mid-'90s pop culture was dying.


Yeah, there was definitely an old school vibe to 1997 and the first half of 1998. I guess the main reason I see them as more new school is because of the Gen Y things that became popular during that time, but there was still plenty of xish stuff too.

Both seem OK by me.

I think 1997 was probably a slightly more interesting year than 1998. Late 1998 was pretty boring, and strikes me as the first really late '90s time. But 1998 had From the Choirgirl Hotel and Natalie Imbruglia, which 1997 didn't. Also, The Simpsons was still good in 1997. All of 1997 and early 1998 was still vaguely mid-'90s in atmosphere, even if mid-'90s pop culture was dying.


I agree with '98 being boring in most respects. I recall Natalie Imbruglia's first album was released sometime in 1997; I don't know when she left Neighbours (Aussie soap star) not watching it in those days. I can't remember all that much of music.etc since I never followed it. Kind of a pity now I think back.

1997, on a personal level, was nothing to write home about. Being 15, I still couldn't drive for the most part, so I was usually stuck at home. One thing though is I became increasingly interested in art and began to draw a lot more than I had ever before.

1998 was an excellent year for me. It was my sophmore year in HS, and although I wish I had dressed better and didn't have braces, I still find it one of those years where you really come out of your shell. I was much more interactive with friends. I went out a lot more and had more fun. There were some ups and downs that year as well, but overall, it was a good year.

On entertainment levels, both years had some interesting films  (Titanic, Austin Powers, There's Something About Mary, etc), at that. Obviously, the Monica Lewinsky thing couldn't be ignored. And the Olympics in Nagano were fun to watch.

1997, on a personal level, was nothing to write home about. Being 15, I still couldn't drive for the most part, so I was usually stuck at home. One thing though is I became increasingly interested in art and began to draw a lot more than I had ever before.

1998 was an excellent year for me. It was my sophmore year in HS, and although I wish I had dressed better and didn't have braces, I still find it one of those years where you really come out of your shell. I was much more interactive with friends. I went out a lot more and had more fun. There were some ups and downs that year as well, but overall, it was a good year.

On entertainment levels, both years had some interesting films  (Titanic, Austin Powers, There's Something About Mary, etc), at that. Obviously, the Monica Lewinsky thing couldn't be ignored. And the Olympics in Nagano were fun to watch.


The 1998 olympics are the first I remember.  I remember the whole Tara Lipinski thing, can't believe it's nearly a decade ago now.

The 1998 olympics are the first I remember.  I remember the whole Tara Lipinski thing, can't believe it's nearly a decade ago now.

Yeah, it was very cool to watch her and Michelle Kwan go at it. Tara Lipinski and I are barely a month a part in age, so it was cool to see someone my age in the Olympics.

Yeah, it was very cool to watch her and Michelle Kwan go at it. Tara Lipinski and I are barely a month a part in age, so it was cool to see someone my age in the Olympics.


Yeah.  Was there anyone in the 2006 olympics my age?

Yeah.  Was there anyone in the 2006 olympics my age?


Well, it appeared a lot of the snowboarders were very young. I think a few were close to your age. That Flying Tomato kid was born in 1986, I believe. The silver medalist I remember was my age (23/24) and some were in their mid-late teens. Check out the website. I'm sure they still have the listing of contestants.

Emily Hughes and Kimmie Meisner are both roughly our age, Donnie.

When I recall the late-'90s vibe really starting was late 1998, when I went into 3rd grade. Before that though there was late '90s stuff like South Park, Spice Girls, Hanson, etc. in 1997-1998 it was overall the "late mid-'90s", with lots of mid-'90s stuff still popular (Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, post-grunge, etc.) Even through 2002 alot of mid-'90s stuff was still popular, even if it wasn't being produced anymore.

for me, early 97 seems a little mid 90ish.
but late 97, with hip-hop soul dead, replaced by people like Usher or nl,and groups like Sugar Ray, Smashmouth, and Third Eye Blind getting hits, not to mention the "new" Mariah Carey, Puffy and Mase, Will Smith returning, really feels like the start of the last part of the 90s.

by that time we were also starting to go CGI crazy too, with the star wars re-releases and MiB and the Fifth Element.

98 was the first time we had more than 1 major CGI-Cartoon movie, with A Bugs Life and Antz. More teenagers getting in the pop/r&B scene, N sync, Britney, Destiny's Child, plus Monica and Brandy returned. Rap-Rock began to break out towards the end. Basically the whole year feels like part of the "last hurrah" just like 99 and early 00 to me.

Early-mid '98 always seemed more "mid-'90s feel" to me, if more tech, though with a good amount of late '90s stuff or mid-late '90s stuff (post-grunge pop rock, for example.) There was still a fair amount of old school aesthetic around and it was grungier than 98-99 or 99-00. And it was pre-Britney and Ricky Martin.

Both were decent years, But I'd give it to 1997 since that was my last year of elemetary school. Also I think '97 might have been slightly more exciting pop culturally than '98.

1997 was the year I graduated high school, and it had some ups and downs. As far as the pop-culture of '97, it seems like that year had a lot of estrogen, from the Spice Girls, to Titanic as the #1 movie, to Allie McBeal, '97 was very female oriented. I really thought 1998 sucked, from Jan. 1-to Dec. 31st. There wasn't many good movies, the music was also lame (especially "Make Em Say Ughhh" by Master P), and it was my first full year in the Navy so it was tough getting adjusted to the military life. Literally, Jan. 1, 1999 was when things changed for the better in my life. On that day, I was on a flight to visit my family for a week, and when I came back, I had a new boss that was cool, unlike the d***head boss I had before.

1997 was ok but 1998 was cool 1998 was a very good year for me with good songs and tv shows mtv showed the best real world ever in real world miami with to my mind two main real worlders teck and ruthie...I remembered ruthie always drunk on that show! and MTV thought a I idea lasted 2000 I think is called wanna be a VJ I think is started in 1998 the first winner is jesse camp,2nd winner is thaila and third and final winner was the moron called raymond I wish MTV revived wanna be a VJ contest I Like it

'97 felt like a watered down '96, but maybe the last pure 90's year. 1998 was a totally awesome year for sports. Mostly fantastic movies, mostly crappy mainstream music. Mostly great year for wrestling, mainly the WWF. Also, I went to the movies this year, more than any other year ever. I just had this movie theater obsession in '98 and '99, especially '98, for some reason.

'97 felt like a watered down '96, but maybe the last pure 90's year. 1998 was a totally awesome year for sports. Mostly fantastic movies, mostly crappy mainstream music. Mostly great year for wrestling, mainly the WWF. Also, I went to the movies this year, more than any other year ever. I just had this movie theater obsession in '98 and '99, especially '98, for some reason.


'97-'99 had a ton of great movies.

'97-'99 had a ton of great movies.


Austin Powers and Fifth Element are my favorite movies from '97, and I kind of liked Starship Troopers. Men In Black was ok, but Batman & Robin (the one with George Clooney) was the worst of all the Batman movies, and I didn't like Titanic either. In 1998, the only good movies I remember are Rush Hour, Something About Mary, Armegheddon, Wedding Singer, and Waterboy. I think 1999 had the best movies out of those 3 years. It had the Matrix, Office Space, American Pie, the South Park Movie, Sixth Sense, Fight Club, and many others.

Hated 1997, liked the later half of 1998. Good memories of high school.

1997 always stood out to me as being the only 90's year so much different than all the others.  It almost seemed like a throwback to the mid 80's, with tons of Pop Music and New Toys/Inventions introduced.  Overall I loved 1997, it was a fun year for me

I also loved 1998, but 1998 seemed alot different than 1997.  1998 was the year of "Sap".  The Biggest Music Hits in 1998 were all "Sappy" and "Depressing" Songs ("Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls, "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" by Aerosmith, and "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion)

1998 was also the year I first got the Internet during the Summer and the Summer of 1998 is my favorite Summer of all time

1997 always stood out to me as being the only 90's year so much different than all the others.  It almost seemed like a throwback to the mid 80's, with tons of Pop Music and New Toys/Inventions introduced.  Overall I loved 1997, it was a fun year for me


1997 was an odd year. In some ways, the end of 1997 is more like 2001 than it is like 1996.  I think it was the beginning of the current pop culture trend in many respects, but in many ways it was truly different from any other year. It marked the new type of '90s that prevailed until the 9/11 attacks, but there are certain things that were popular around then that weren't around, even in 1999. 

1997 was an odd year. In some ways, the end of 1997 is more like 2001 than it is like 1996.  I think it was the beginning of the current pop culture trend in many respects, but in many ways it was truly different from any other year. It marked the new type of '90s that prevailed until the 9/11 attacks, but there are certain things that were popular around then that weren't around, even in 1999. 


1997-1998 was about half mid-90s and half late '90s.

1997-1998 was about half mid-90s and half late '90s.


I agree. I think 1995-1998 was the X/Y cultural cusp; of anything I'd say 1995 and 1996 are more Xish and 1997 and 1998 more Yish.

I agree. I think 1995-1998 was the X/Y cultural cusp; of anything I'd say 1995 and 1996 are more Xish and 1997 and 1998 more Yish.



1997 was the first year that was more Y than X.

1997 was the first year that was more Y than X.


The only really Y things about '97 were really the Spice Girls, Hanson, and South Park.

The only really Y things about '97 were really the Spice Girls, Hanson, and South Park.



Yeah, '97 wasn't nearly as Y as say 2001 or 2002 but I think it is the first year that's a little more Y than X.

Yeah, '97 wasn't nearly as Y as say 2001 or 2002 but I think it is the first year that's a little more Y than X.


It still had a very strong overall X atmosphere.

It still had a very strong overall X atmosphere.



No doubt. The first year without a strong X atmosphere IMO is 1999.

It still had a very strong overall X atmosphere.


It was definitely more Gen X than say 1999 or 2000, but the Y culture, which really didn't affect music at all prior to 1997 began to emerge then.  Still, the more adult culture of the time was more Gen X. 

It was definitely more Gen X than say 1999 or 2000, but the Y culture, which really didn't affect music at all prior to 1997 began to emerge then.  Still, the more adult culture of the time was more Gen X. 


Radiohead was huge in '97, and if there is a band that epitomises Gen-X it is Radiohead. It appeals to their 'the world's gonna end, let's all be depressed, but do it in style' sensibilities. Along with bands like Blur (the whole Britpop movement was a musical bridge between Gen-X and Gen-Y)

I just watched "I Love the 90's" last night, and it reminded me how corny 1997 and 1998 were. '97 was the year of Tamagachi's, Beenie Babies, Spice Girls, Hansen, the Heaven's Gate cult suicide, and Dolly the cloned sheep. '97 also had that "Barbie Girl" song. '98 was the year of Furbies, Telletubbies, the revival of 1950's swing, and Master P.

Yeah, 1997 and 1998 look surprisingly dated nowadays.  Still, I actually like them better now than when they were actually going on.  The late 90's were a lot more optimistic, with a booming economy, rapidly growing technology, and relative world peace.  Sure, there were some crappy things in the late 90's, but I think a lot of us took it for granted.  At least the late 90's didn't have a warmongering president and gas prices pushing $3 a gallon.

Yeah, 1997 and 1998 look surprisingly dated nowadays.  Still, I actually like them better now than when they were actually going on.  The late 90's were a lot more optimistic, with a booming economy, rapidly growing technology, and relative world peace.  Sure, there were some crappy things in the late 90's, but I think a lot of us took it for granted.  At least the late 90's didn't have a warmongering president and gas prices pushing $3 a gallon.


I'll have to agree with you there. Even though my life wasn't going great in '97 and '98, at least things in the world were going good. 1999 and 2000 were great years for me, but things started going downhill since 2001 with 9/11, the rising gas prices, and the slowing economy. However, compared to now, the 2000's up to 2005 seem still seem like the good ol' days.

I just watched "I Love the 90's" last night, and it reminded me how corny 1997 and 1998 were. '97 was the year of Tamagachi's, Beenie Babies, Spice Girls, Hansen, the Heaven's Gate cult suicide, and Dolly the cloned sheep. '97 also had that "Barbie Girl" song. '98 was the year of Furbies, Telletubbies, the revival of 1950's swing, and Master P.


"I Love The 90's" Seriously Overrated the Hype of "Master P".  He was not THAT popular at all in 1998 like they claim.  So don't think about Master P when thinking of 1998

Not to mention, "Make Em Say Uhhh!" by Master P came out in 1997, so they had that wrong.  I remember getting the Master P CD with that song on it for Christmas in 1997.  It was my first CD ever

"I Love The 90's" Seriously Overrated the Hype of "Master P".  He was not THAT popular at all in 1998 like they claim.  So don't think about Master P when thinking of 1998

Not to mention, "Make Em Say Uhhh!" by Master P came out in 1997, so they had that wrong.  I remember getting the Master P CD with that song on it for Christmas in 1997.  It was my first CD ever


Being a fellow 86er, 1997 is a year I remember well (unlike many of those who have supposed experienced it all  ;)). Of course from today's perspective everything looked a little dated, but believe me it was one of the least 'corny' parts of the 90s. Watch old M.C. Hammer video-clips, or even eps of Full House/Fresh Prince of Bel Air and you'll see what I mean. :)

If you always think about The Spice Girls and Leonardo DiCaprio when you hear "1997", then it will be natural to hate that year.

I remember 1997 and 1998 well. It isn't much different than today enviroment wise. I spent a lot of time on the computer and online then, and I do the same today. The Internet was slower and not as useful then, but it was still pretty cool. Windows 95/98 crashed a lot, those BSODs used to freak me out, lol, XP is not quite as bad. Fashion isn't that much different, just more preppy/stylish nowadays. Music is a bit different, but a number of the songs don't sound that old like early '90s stuff does. Movies generally don't really look dated to me. Technology has dated obviously, we didn't have the cool LCD monitors or DVD burners back in 1997. Plasma TVs were very rare, I don't remember seeing any in stores and I frequented tech stores. LCD tvs were not around either. HDTVs began to appear circa 1998, an HD CRT projection was about $4,500-6,000 I think. Today those type of HDs go for about $1,000-$1,500. DVD players were at least $200 in 1998, there were no cheap $30 models. My IBM from Jan. 1997 was 200 MHz pentium with a 3.2 GB HD and that was a very good computer at that time. Scanners and Digital Cameras also became mainstream around this time. The cars didn't look much different. Basically 1997/1998 is like an earlier version of 2006.

If you always think about The Spice Girls and Leonardo DiCaprio when you hear "1997", then it will be natural to hate that year.


Hey, I'll take that over Pussycat Dolls and Tom Cruise any day of the week

Plus, stuff was just Better/Happier back in 1997

Ask yourself, would you rather stay in 2006 or go back to 1997?

Hey, I'll take that over Pussycat Dolls and Tom Cruise any day of the week

Plus, stuff was just Better/Happier back in 1997

Ask yourself, would you rather stay in 2006 or go back to 1997?



Though overall I like the 90s better, I'd still rather live in 2006.

I'd rather go back to 1997, honestly...I hate the hipster/super-corporate environment of 2006.

Hey, I'll take that over Pussycat Dolls and Tom Cruise any day of the week

Plus, stuff was just Better/Happier back in 1997

Ask yourself, would you rather stay in 2006 or go back to 1997?


Right now, I wouldn't mind going back to 2004 or 2005.

^2004,2005,2006...not much difference really.

Hey, I'll take that over Pussycat Dolls and Tom Cruise any day of the week

Plus, stuff was just Better/Happier back in 1997

Ask yourself, would you rather stay in 2006 or go back to 1997?


Well people were still talking about Tom Cruise back in 1997.  Though back then it was in a cool way.  He was a cool guy who wasn't always talking about scientology, at least publicly.  He forever ruined himself when he acted crazy on Oprah in 2005.  In 1997 he just had two big hits the pevious year with Mission Impossible and Jerry Maguire.  And people were definately talking about Tom Cruise in 1986 and '87 too, he had Top Gun.  And people talked about Tom Cruise in 1983.  At that time he had Risky Buisness.

Tom Cruise has.....been around for-,....forever.  He won't go away.  The man has been a big time celebrity, an A-list star, since I was a little kid.  And strangely he still looks about the same, noticeably more mature looking, but he doesn't look like an old man or anything.

He won't go away!  He just won't go away!!  Tom Cruise will always be around!   :P

Somebody do something! 

I think the 1997-1998 year was the "last call" of '90s alt rock before it either transformed or died. It saw Soundgarden breaking up, and Tori Amos, Beck, Liz Phair, and the Smashing Pumpkins releasing their last studio albums that fit in with their earlier work...I also think that whole period, going into maybe early 2000, was marked by country and techno moving into the mainstream heavily, "happy pop" coming back, and alot of artists experimenting with that, and the beginnings of "emo", with stuff like Elliott Smith and Belle and Sebastian that isn't that bad, but was still a big influence to it.

I think the "true" late '90s, from late 1998 to about the middle of 2000, began when Korn released Follow the Leader in August 1998 and alot of the remaining elements of the mid-'90s disappeared, like Seinfeld and the insightful phase of The Simpsons. 1997-1998 still had an overall mid-'90s zeitgeist and worldview, despite alot of embryonic late '90s-very early '00s elements, like teen pop (The Spice Girls, Hanson), late '90s-style alternapop (stuff like Tonic, and that song "The Way", Third Eye Blind, etc., even if that was around from like '95 on), the techno explosion and country crossover getting big and very noticeable, etc. But I think 98-99 was when the true late '90s actually started. 98-99 saw Windows '98 getting common, the nu metal and goth explosion, Columbine, and a new wave of TV shows.

I think the "true" late '90s, from late 1998 to about the middle of 2000, began when Korn released Follow the Leader in August 1998 and alot of the remaining elements of the mid-'90s disappeared, like Seinfeld and the insightful phase of The Simpsons. 1997-1998 still had an overall mid-'90s zeitgeist and worldview, despite alot of embryonic late '90s-very early '00s elements, like teen pop (The Spice Girls, Hanson), late '90s-style alternapop (stuff like Tonic, and that song "The Way", Third Eye Blind, etc., even if that was around from like '95 on), the techno explosion and country crossover getting big and very noticeable, etc. But I think 98-99 was when the true late '90s actually started. 98-99 saw Windows '98 getting common, the nu metal and goth explosion, Columbine, and a new wave of TV shows.


You like the word zeitgeist, don't you?  ;D

You like the word zeitgeist, don't you?   ;D


I LOVE the word zeitgeist.

I LOVE the word zeitgeist.


Is it so you'll sound clever? Well, buddy, I, for one, know exactly what zeitgest means.  ;D

Is it so you'll sound clever? Well, buddy, I, for one, know exactly what zeitgest means.  ;D


NO! It just sounds cool...

NO! It just sounds cool...


How do you pronounce it?

How do you pronounce it?


I know what it means, as well...the general feeling and ethos of a period.

Like zai rhyming with my and gaist rhyming with heist.

I know what it means, as well...the general feeling and ethos of a period.

Like zai rhyming with my and gaist rhyming with heist.


That's kind of what I thought. Is the 't' silent?

Well people were still talking about Tom Cruise back in 1997.  Though back then it was in a cool way.  He was a cool guy who wasn't always talking about scientology, at least publicly.  He forever ruined himself when he acted crazy on Oprah in 2005.  In 1997 he just had two big hits the pevious year with Mission Impossible and Jerry Maguire.  And people were definately talking about Tom Cruise in 1986 and '87 too, he had Top Gun.  And people talked about Tom Cruise in 1983.  At that time he had Risky Buisness.

Tom Cruise has.....been around for-,....forever.  He won't go away.  The man has been a big time celebrity, an A-list star, since I was a little kid.  And strangely he still looks about the same, noticeably more mature looking, but he doesn't look like an old man or anything.

He won't go away!  He just won't go away!!  Tom Cruise will always be around!   :P

Somebody do something! 


He's IMMORTAL!  AHHH!!  ;D

But anyway, I was only 7 in 1997 (6 at the very beginning of the year), but I remember it fairly well.  Not the pop culture, so much, but the general feel I do remember.  It wasn't that much different from 2006, certainly not as different as 1988 and 1997 are to each other, but it was notably less hi tech, that is the basic technological scheme of today was present, but it was very bare-bones (i.e. no Napster, iPods, HD, very, very few DVDs, etc.).  The popular culture was a cross of tail-end X culture and late 1991-1996 stuff and more 1999ish sort of stuff; in some ways it's more like now than even 1992 but it's definitely old school compared to 2006.

He's IMMORTAL!  AHHH!!  ;D

But anyway, I was only 7 in 1997 (6 at the very beginning of the year), but I remember it fairly well.  Not the pop culture, so much, but the general feel I do remember.  It wasn't that much different from 2006, certainly not as different as 1988 and 1997 are to each other, but it was notably less hi tech, that is the basic technological scheme of today was present, but it was very bare-bones (i.e. no Napster, iPods, HD, very, very few DVDs, etc.).  The popular culture was a cross of tail-end X culture and late 1991-1996 stuff and more 1999ish sort of stuff; in some ways it's more like now than even 1992 but it's definitely old school compared to 2006.


1997 definitely had formative elements of the late '90s, in the alternapop, beginnings of techno and country crossover, and beginnings of teen pop. But there was also alot of stuff from say 1994 that still stuck around, and finally called it quits in a noticeable way around late 1998. I think Windows '98 becoming common and Seinfeld being cancelled, and maybe SP getting really popular in fall '98 had something to do with the beginning of the late '90s.

1997 definitely had formative elements of the late '90s, in the alternapop, beginnings of techno and country crossover, and beginnings of teen pop. But there was also alot of stuff from say 1994 that still stuck around, and finally called it quits in a noticeable way around late 1998. I think Windows '98 becoming common and Seinfeld being cancelled, and maybe SP getting really popular in fall '98 had something to do with the beginning of the late '90s.


I agree.  1997 was, I would say more like 1995 than 1999.  It was 100% '90s, whereas 1999 had a '00s element to it that 1997 lacked, even if in some ways, like the Teen Pop movement, general presence of the Net and the premiere of South Park, it was still way more '90s than say 1999 was.

Well that's stating the obvious...1997 seemed like a very optimistic year. Technology developed very quickly that year.