I'm curious: how did people react when 80s media was consumed in the 90s? I know there was an 80s backlash at the time, but was it a backlash against EVERYTHING 80s, or just the music and fashion?

Like, let's say someone was watching Back to the Future, Pretty in Pink, or The Empire Strikes Back on tv in 1995 - a year that was the core of "90s"-ness, with no 80s influence to speak of . What would people say? "Eww, why are you watching lame 80s movies?" or "Those movies are clearly 80s, but they're still great movies"? ;D

Or let's say they brought back a famous 80s commercial or TV show in 1995 for the 10th anniversary. Would there have been some Gen Xers saying "Man, that's nostalgic", or would they have said "That's the recent past, not nostalgic yet"?

Not 1995, but I used to watch 80s movies on VHS with my uncle in the late 1990s. Robocop, E.T., Back To The Future, Aliens etc. and I thought nothing of it. They were cool movies to me :P

The 80s were just recent in the 90s. Just like of how most people see the 2000s as recent in the 2010s.

For the most part I don't remember there being any backlash against 80's media.  80's movies would often air on t.v. and people would still rent them.  I remember it being a backlash against the music and fashion.

The biggest backlash I remember was on 80s music, especially hair metal bands, many of whom were dropkicked by their labels.

1987-1989: great time for those bands

by 1992: poison, warrant, winger WHO?

Ant

It honestly depended, since even today, certain things stand the test of time better than others. It was still cool to watch The Empire Strikes Back as it wasn't like it was "so '80s" anyway, much like watching a Harry Potter movie today that is universally liked. If anything, I feel that the fashion was the most ridiculed, even more so than hair bands which IMO were a close second. A mullet with a Members Only jacket with chic jeans in 1995? Not! The vocabulary was also changing thanks to political correctness, not to mention lingo such as Valspeak and neo-surfer dude terms that were first popular in the 1950s/60s. Not until the very end of the '90s did a few subtle things that were "way cool" began to be seen again, mostly early New Wave and early '80s fashions. You just can't find the same backlash against '90s in the '00s. There was a smaller '00s backlash around 2008-10 thanks to the bad economy and certain musical trends, but it was again minor compared to the '80s-'90s backlash.

Let's say that in 1995, CBS brought back He-Man for reruns, or Nintendo brought back that NES cereal for a limited time. Would there have been 20-25 year olds saying "Man, that's nostalgic", or would the general reaction have been "That was only 10 years ago, 10 years isn't nostalgic!"?

Let's say that in 1995, CBS brought back He-Man for reruns, or Nintendo brought back that NES cereal for a limited time. Would there have been 20-25 year olds saying "Man, that's nostalgic", or would the general reaction have been "That was only 10 years ago, 10 years isn't nostalgic!"?


I don't know if I would be nostalgic for that in 1995.

Let's say that in 1995, CBS brought back He-Man for reruns, or Nintendo brought back that NES cereal for a limited time. Would there have been 20-25 year olds saying "Man, that's nostalgic", or would the general reaction have been "That was only 10 years ago, 10 years isn't nostalgic!"?


Well for Transformers, we had Generation 2 and Beast Wars in the mid-90s and I was still playing Pac-Man once in a while on the NES, even if I thought the later was "simple, yet still fun" compared to the Sonic 3's, Dooms, and Donkey Kong Countries out there. He-Man basically just petered out in popularity like Cabbage Patch Kids were doing. Like I posted above, it depends on how kitsch the product turns out to be since those that were less hated were already basically described as "a classic" even if they weren't too old, just like many of the then-current Disney Renaissance movies already were and even some of the neo-Renaissance movies today.

There WAS a backlash. I remember it well. Especially among young adults and teens.

Hmm, let me think ::) ...


I feel it was probably mainly because young adults wanted a pop culture all their own(NO REVIVALS, NO '80S CULTURE!)...


Lol, aw I love the '80s and will always have a place in me for that decade. I think everyone who remembers it does. But I guess we feel that way now because we are grown people.

Lol, aw I love the '80s and will always have a place in me for that decade. I think everyone who remembers it does. But I guess we feel that way now because we are grown people.


;D ;D ROTFL!! I NEARLY FELL OFF MY CHAIR!

Oh god, WTH!!

;D ;D ROTFL!! I NEARLY FELL OFF MY CHAIR!

Oh god, WTH!!


Why did you quote yourself?

Why did you quote yourself?


Aw Howard, lol! I don't know.

I'd better stop I'm off topic now. I can't help it though, hahaha!

The biggest backlash I remember was on 80s music, especially hair metal bands, many of whom were dropkicked by their labels.

1987-1989: great time for those bands

by 1992: poison, warrant, winger WHO?

Ant




http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bret-Michaels-Poison-RIP-Cover-Jan-1992-Magazine-VG-METALLICA-SKID-ROW-POSTER-/311540584926

Y'know, even though the Zelda CD-i games were made in 1993 (two years after people claim the 80s "died"), the music sounds VERY 80s.

OiFEa6YCCRE

Since the games were made in the Netherlands, they must've been pretty behind on the times.

So, let's say that one day in 1995, MTV is playing an old music video from the 80s. How would a typical TV viewer react? "That's a good song" or "God, why are they playing this dated crap"? ;D

All I know is that on the first few seasons of Buffy, she'd always diss the 80s ;D ;D ;D

Y'know, even though the Zelda CD-i games were made in 1993 (two years after people claim the 80s "died"), the music sounds VERY 80s.

OiFEa6YCCRE

Since the games were made in the Netherlands, they must've been pretty behind on the times.
Does this song sound 80s or 90s?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mLBLB4zL8XM

Does this song sound 80s or 90s?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mLBLB4zL8XM

That sounds 90s to me

I think most of us would agree that 1990-1992 were still fairly "80s years". However, I've heard some people on other message boards claim 80s culture stretched to 1993, 1994, or even 1995. Do you agree with that at all, or is that too far (similar to the YouTube commenters who think 2000-2005 were the "early 2000s")?

I think most of us would agree that 1990-1992 were still fairly "80s years". However, I've heard some people on other message boards claim 80s culture stretched to 1993, 1994, or even 1995. Do you agree with that at all, or is that too far (similar to the YouTube commenters who think 2000-2005 were the "early 2000s")?


I think it seems really far to call 1993-1995 as leftover 80s years. Same with how 2003-2005 aren't really that much like 2000-2002, since they aren't that associated with late 90s culture.

I think it seems really far to call 1993-1995 as leftover 80s years. Same with how 2003-2005 aren't really that much like 2000-2002, since they aren't that associated with late 90s culture.


They're only leftover 80s in technology.

There was a Target commercial from 1994 where after a disco-style tun starts playing complete with a disco ball and fashions of the era, the woman's voice changes from being gentle to shouting "We could start selling outdated fashions!" as if enjoying the era was seen as imbecilic.

They're only leftover 80s in technology.


But even then, people still used VCRs, boomboxes, and cassette tape players in the 90s.

They're only leftover 80s in technology.

Yeah. A lot of quissisential 80s technology, such as the Amiga and the NES, wasn't discontinued until 1995 or '96.

But even then, people still used VCRs, boomboxes, and cassette tape players in the 90s.


The majority of people back then still used it.

Yeah. A lot of quissisential 80s technology, such as the Amiga and the NES, wasn't discontinued until 1995 or '96.


Well yeah, but it's not like a lot of people used the NES during the mid 90s. They were already into the Super Nintendo when the NES was discontinued.

I think most of us would agree that 1990-1992 were still fairly "80s years".


That's interesting. I know of older people who think of the years 1986,1987,1988, and 1989 as "90s years".

Have your ever read this article (http://popgeeks.net/90s-began-80s-theories/) before?

That's interesting. I know of older people who think of the years 1986,1987,1988, and 1989 as "90s years".


How in any way possible are those years culturally 90s? There was a lot of stuff that defined 1986-89 as 80s years. Most importantly with having Ronald Reagan as president, despite having George H.W. Bush as president in most of '89, Reagan was still president in January 1-19 of that year.

How in any way possible are those years culturally 90s?


They weren't, but they're closer on the timeline to 1990 than they are to 1978. So, there was more incoming '90s culture (Roseanne, Batman, NES, Full House) in '86,'87,'88,'89 than there was in the beginning in the '80s.

They weren't, but they're closer on the timeline to 1990 than they are to 1978. So, there was more incoming '90s culture (Roseanne, Batman, NES, Full House) in '86,'87,'88,'89 than there was in the beginning in the '80s.


But the NES was more defined in the late 80s/early 90s, since that was when they had the most games released.

But the NES was more defined in the late 80s/early 90s, since that was when they had the most games released.


Yes, but Xers, early Millennials, and late Millennials all have memories of playing the NES  throughout the 1990s.

The '90s were the age where the NES went from being a must-have item among Xers and early Millennials to a hand-me down console for late Millennials.

Yes, but Xers, early Millennials, and late Millennials all have memories of playing the NES  throughout the 1990s.

The '90s were the age where the NES went from being a must-have item among Xers and early Millennials to a hand-me down console for late Millennials.


But it's not like those who were born in the early 90s would actually care about the NES back then. They probably got a Nintendo 64, since that was the console which was available during their childhood in the late 90s/early 2000s.

I think most of us would agree that 1990-1992 were still fairly "80s years". However, I've heard some people on other message boards claim 80s culture stretched to 1993, 1994, or even 1995. Do you agree with that at all, or is that too far (similar to the YouTube commenters who think 2000-2005 were the "early 2000s")?


I agree!


That's interesting. I know of older people who think of the years 1986,1987,1988, and 1989 as "90s years".

Have your ever read this article (http://popgeeks.net/90s-began-80s-theories/) before?


Why do they say '86? That year is one of the defining 80's years. Also, 1989 isn't even really a 90's-feeling year, either.

Also, his theory doesn't work. The whole point about Nirvana's Bleach being a "game changer" (said no one ever) forgets that underground rock bands right from the start of the 80's were against the whole glam stereotypes and even the sound is something bands like The Melvins and Green River were doing first in the mid 80's. I think Nirvana is an excellent band but he comes off as just another 90's-nostalgic millennial teen who wears Nirvana shirts to look cool.


Yes, but Xers, early Millennials, and late Millennials all have memories of playing the NES  throughout the 1990s.

The '90s were the age where the NES went from being a must-have item among Xers and early Millennials to a hand-me down console for late Millennials.


This.

Why do they say '86?


The synthpop/new romantics sound was gone by the start of 1987 and the '90s were really starting to kick in.


O17kvAwh554

4B_UYYPb-Gk

http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/list/566b7a191df840ea55a2c9cf3bcd49676d9a8bd5.png

O17kvAwh554

4B_UYYPb-Gk

http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/list/566b7a191df840ea55a2c9cf3bcd49676d9a8bd5.png


House music was rather a fad in the late 80s/early 90s, so I suppose it wasn't that 90s.

But it's not like those who were born in the early 90s would actually care about the NES back then. They probably got a Nintendo 64, since that was the console which was available during their childhood in the late 90s/early 2000s.


I got an NES in '96 ;D played it until I got an N64 in '98. I had an Atari too though, my parents were cheap and stuck to the flea market stuff.

I got an NES in '96 ;D played it until I got an N64 in '98. I had an Atari too though, my parents were cheap and stuck to the flea market stuff.


That doesn't mean a lot of late 90s kids got the NES, even though it was discontinued by then.

I got an NES in '96 ;D played it until I got an N64 in '98. I had an Atari too though, my parents were cheap and stuck to the flea market stuff.


What games did you have for your NES?

What games did you have for your NES?


Super Mario Bros. 1 and 3, Duckhunt, Bomberman and this game of billiards I can't remember the name of. I'm sure I had a few others, but I couldn't read back then so it's difficult to remember ;D

I played my Atari way more. There was this vertical SHMUP on a jet plane that was super addictive. My neighbour who was 5 years older than me bought an Atari controller so she could play it with me LOL

Also, 1989 isn't even really a 90's-feeling year, either.


True. '89 was the last year when a guy could get away with wearing a striped long sleeve rugby shirt like the one in this photo:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIhcpNhJnmU/VeS-7oxAtJI/AAAAAAAABWg/YA1UU-dUlwc/s1600/27705_426956277068_2785249_n%255B1%255D.jpg

The synthpop/new romantics sound was gone by the start of 1987 and the '90s were really starting to kick in.


O17kvAwh554

4B_UYYPb-Gk

http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/list/566b7a191df840ea55a2c9cf3bcd49676d9a8bd5.png


I dunno, even without the synthpop, that stuff still seems fairly 80's.


True. '89 was the last year when a guy could get away with wearing a striped long sleeve rugby shirt like the one in this photo:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIhcpNhJnmU/VeS-7oxAtJI/AAAAAAAABWg/YA1UU-dUlwc/s1600/27705_426956277068_2785249_n%255B1%255D.jpg




Yeah, there were quite a lot of things like that where they were pretty popular in '89 and gone by '90. Not everything but there's a few things I've noticed that went away right as we entered the 90's.

That's interesting. I know of older people who think of the years 1986,1987,1988, and 1989 as "90s years".

Have your ever read this article (http://popgeeks.net/90s-began-80s-theories/) before?


How old are the people who think 1986 and 1987 are 90s years?

I know older people who think the 80s were there up through 1991

The synthpop/new romantics sound was gone by the start of 1987 and the '90s were really starting to kick in.


O17kvAwh554

4B_UYYPb-Gk

http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/list/566b7a191df840ea55a2c9cf3bcd49676d9a8bd5.png


I do actually see house music as predominantly a 90s thing, as its popularity truly skyrocketed around the very beginning of 1990 in the United States (it was already massive in the UK in 1989), but Run-DMC represent 80s hip hop to a tee. They declined in popularity during the late 80s and bombed with Back from Hell in 1990, although they did have a brief comeback in 1993 with "Down with the King." Also, Janet Jackson's Control was the primary influence to most pop songs from the late 80s, not the 1990s. 1990 was the last full year that Control-style music was still highly prevalent on the charts; it started to decline in 1991 and was basically nonexistent by late 1992.

How old are the people who think 1986 and 1987 are 90s years?


Early Boomers.

Early Boomers.


Some older people I know say the 90s happened when grunge replaced the metal bands on MTV. They were pissed off about it because the channel they watched so much got rid of the music they liked. They viewed the 80s up to 1991 and 1992 as half 80s half 90s. They were so into the 80s some of them even quoted 80s songs, whether rock or pop and wished the 80s never died.
What age would you guess they were?

Some older people I know say the 90s happened when grunge replaced the metal bands on MTV. They were pissed off about it because the channel they watched so much got rid of the music they liked. They viewed the 80s up to 1991 and 1992 as half 80s half 90s.
What age would you guess they were?


Early Xer?

Some older people I know say the 90s happened when grunge replaced the metal bands on MTV. They were pissed off about it because the channel they watched so much got rid of the music they liked. They viewed the 80s up to 1991 and 1992 as half 80s half 90s.


Then, by that account, 1990 was "half '80s and '90s", too.

Beverly Hills 90210 was already on Television by '91. I don't know how people forget that.

Donna Martin's graduation defined 1993 (the first year of the mid '90s) just as much as Vs. by Pearl Jam, in my opinion.

Then, by that account, 1990 was "half '80s and '90s", too.

Beverly Hills 90210 was already on Television by '91. I don't know how people forget that.

Donna Martin's graduation defined 1993 (the first year of the mid '90s) just as much as Vs. by Pearl Jam, in my opinion.


The first season and even the second season had a lot of late 80s vibes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pm5W1BZOdg

Early Xer?


What do you consider people born in the very early 70s?

Early Boomers.

That's cuz they're out of touch! ;D

What do you consider people born in the very early 70s?

Early 70s born are the heart and soul of Gen X. Users like Slowpoke, Mq, Artic, agree as well.

Some older people I know say the 90s happened when grunge replaced the metal bands on MTV. They were pissed off about it because the channel they watched so much got rid of the music they liked. They viewed the 80s up to 1991 and 1992 as half 80s half 90s. They were so into the 80s some of them even quoted 80s songs, whether rock or pop and wished the 80s never died.
What age would you guess they were?

Yea MANY view the early 90s as ''their own thing,'' they weren't exactly 80s, but they weren't the true 90s either.

Yea MANY view the early 90s as ''their own thing,'' they weren't exactly 80s, but they weren't the true 90s either.


The early '90s were true '90s years, but so many people tend to think of '90s pop culture as '80s pop culture because shows like Roseanne and Growing Pains first appeared in the 1980s.

The early '90s were true '90s years, but so many people tend to think of '90s pop culture as '80s pop culture because shows like Roseanne and Growing Pains first appeared in the 1980s.


I could get Roseanne (1989-1997), but Growing Pains (1985-1992) was more 80s than it was throughout its ran. That's like saying The Cosby Show (1984-1992) was more 90s, despite the fact that it was really popular during the 80s.

I could get Roseanne (1989-1997), but Growing Pains (1985-1992) was more 80s than it was throughout its ran. That's like saying The Cosby Show (1984-1992) was more 90s, despite the fact that it was really popular during the 80s.


While it's true that Growing Pains hit its peak in the late '80s, it still aired on ABC from January 3, 1990 to April 25, 1992.

Growing Pains and The Cosby Show were '80s/'90s sitcoms.

They were new in the '80s and more developed in the '90s.

The synthpop/new romantics sound was gone by the start of 1987 and the '90s were really starting to kick in.


O17kvAwh554

4B_UYYPb-Gk

http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/list/566b7a191df840ea55a2c9cf3bcd49676d9a8bd5.png


I can't believe house music started 30 years ago.  :o

Early 70s born are the heart and soul of Gen X. Users like Slowpoke, Mq, Artic, agree as well.


I'm also part of Generation X.

The first season and even the second season had a lot of late 80s vibes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pm5W1BZOdg


I see what you mean.

September 29,1991 (when the music video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" premiered on MTV)was really the tipping point of the early '90s. That's when it started to feel more like a day in 1993 (the first year of the "real '90s"/mid '90s/core '90s).

While it's true that Growing Pains hit its peak in the late '80s, it still aired on ABC from January 3, 1990 to April 25, 1992.

Growing Pains and The Cosby Show were '80s/'90s sitcoms.

They were new in the '80s and more developed in the '90s.


But it's not like it aired for a long time in the 90s. Hell, people could identify those sitcoms as part of the 80s.

But it's not like it aired for a long time in the 90s.


It was on TV for every year of the '90s. The reruns aired on TBS and The Disney Channel back then.

It was on TV for every year of the '90s. The reruns aired on TBS and The Disney Channel back then.


Reruns don't really count for a TV show. They could do it before or after the show ended.

But it's not like it aired for a long time in the 90s.


The most memorable season of Growing Pains (season seven/the Dicaprio episodes) ran in the early '90s.

The most memorable season of Growing Pains (season seven/the Dicaprio episodes) ran in the early '90s.


But it still doesn't change the fact that Growing Pains was still more dominant in the 80s.

It was on TV for every year of the '90s. The reruns aired on TBS and The Disney Channel back then.


I liked the reruns.

But it still doesn't change the fact that Growing Pains was still more dominant in the 80s.


It was more dominant in the '80s, but the show did not go off the air in 1989. It's ridiculous to call it anything other than an '80s and '90s sitcom.

It was more dominant in the '80s, but the show did not go off the air in 1989. It's ridiculous to call it anything other than an '80s and '90s sitcom.


It's basically like an 80s/early 90s sitcom. So, you could call it like that.

I think most of us would agree that 1990-1992 were still fairly "80s years".


1978 was officially old in 1990. So, I'd say there was nothing fairly '80s about '90, '91, or '92 at all. Shows like Ryan's Hope and Now You See It were all off the air by 1990. Believe you me, the tide had passed.  8)

1978 was officially old in 1990. So, I'd say there was nothing fairly '80s about '90, '91, or '92 at all. Shows like Ryan's Hope and Now You See It were all off the air by 1990. Believe you me, the tide had passed.  8)


The people I know that lived through the 80s consider 1978 far less 80s than 1990. They'd be offended if you called 1990 or most of 1991 part of the typical 90s. They consider them the 80s.
They associate that period with songs like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RjJKxsamQ

The people I know that lived through the 80s consider 1978 far less 80s than 1990. They'd be offended if you called 1990 or most of 1991 part of the typical 90s. They consider them the 80s.
They associate that period with songs like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RjJKxsamQ


Well, I don't know where they are coming from. We were getting to the year 1990 in the '80s. 1990 did not feel like a year of the '80s at all. '90 and early '91 were both are made up of everything introduced in the '80s, but the CBS Late Movie promos were gone.

The people I know that lived through the 80s consider 1978 far less 80s than 1990. They'd be offended if you called 1990 or most of 1991 part of the typical 90s. They consider them the 80s.
They associate that period with songs like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RjJKxsamQ


There was a lot of 90s influence, though. Rock may have still been primarily 80s, but pop and dance were already entering a pretty new era during the first two years of the decade:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm6DO_7px1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN25cGQUPRI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbegAGlaBaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwpjsToHzAE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO6BtpIzIiM

That said, I do agree that 1990 and 1991 both felt much more 80s than 1978 did. The only significant things that can be described as vaguely 80s from that year would be tv shows like Dallas and Diff'rent Strokes making their debuts, plus some early new wave albums like Outlandos d'Amour, The Cars, and Parallel Lines, but even those were pretty retro compared to what was to follow. 1978 was still very much the peak of disco, progressive rock, shaggy hair, Jimmy Carter, etc.

Well, I don't know where they are coming from. We were getting to the year 1990 in the '80s. 1990 did not feel like a year of the '80s at all.


It was a LOT more like the late 80s, though, than the mid-late 90s.

I once saw a 1988 movie, and thought that it was from 1990. So, maybe by 1988, the 90's was slowly creeping through the cracks??

It was a LOT more like the late 80s, though, than the mid-late 90s.


We were basically living in a post-1989 and pre-1993 world. That's the best way to describe it.

In the very beginning of the early '90s, '89 was still recent in our rememberance, but by the end of '92, it was distant to us.

We were basically living in a post-1989 and pre-1993 world. That's the best way to describe it.

In the very beginning of the early '90s, '89 was still recent in our rememberance, but by the end of '92, it was distant to us.

Pretty interesting way to describe that time! :) 

I've gotta go with the man of the Early 90's himself here. 1989 is much more like any year before it of the 80's whereas (even though I think the early 90's still had some pretty clear 80's vibes), even as early as '90, it was clear that the real 90's were settling in. Maybe not as noticeable at first but the hints got clearer as the time period went on.

I think most of us would agree that 1990-1992 were still fairly "80s years".


We were a lot closer to the start of the 21st century in those years and that another thing that sets them apart from the '80s to me.

All of this stuff was not around in the '80s:

http://www.retro-daze.org/images/postImages/144712190628543377.jpg

https://drunkrambles.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/opening-bus-stop.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0d/90210_main_logo.jpg

http://images.watchfree.to/thumbs/5172_Law_Order_1990.jpg

http://www.wolfstad.com/dcw/images/comics/225px/us_disneyadventures2.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/33/Jurassicpark.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/a5/fa/07/a5fa0780e6c796ff4e96cc0d8b6adf3e.jpg

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/sonic/images/6/6d/Sonic1.png/revision/latest?cb=20120907011607

http://aquazone.frankism.net/ssc/newimages/ss100new.png

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/rugrats/images/a/a9/Screen-shot-2011-07-07-at-7-51-37-am.png/revision/latest?cb=20111220034503

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Basic_instinct.jpg

From what I remember about the time, there was a lot of 80s influence but also more grit and cynicism. There was a mix of bright attitudes and cynical ones.
Some songs were something you could only find in the early 90s era
Like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbXvaE39wM
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMXuuYnoRdI

Generally, the more affected by the recession you were or the more urban you were, and the more teenage you were, the more 90s it was.
The older you were or more suburban you were, or into the old metal (for 1990 and 1991) the more 80s it was. There were quite a lot of people that held on to the 80s.


It was most 80s to 2 demographics. People who were avid MTV watchers holding on to the 80s rock scene until it died out (applies to 1990 and the vast majority of 1991). Even somewhat to 1992. Usually these were early Gen X or very early core Gen X. In other words, Gen Xers born before 1973.
and mid to late upper middle class Boomers who were still into the gotta have it all 80s lifestyle, listening to the adult contemporary charts that were far more 80s than what a lot of teens were listening and wearing late 80s style clothes and hair.

From what I remember about the time, there was a lot of 80s influence but also more grit and cynicism. There was a mix of bright attitudes and cynical ones.
Some songs were something you could only find in the early 90s era
Like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbXvaE39wM
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMXuuYnoRdI

Both of those songs are prime examples of late 80s holdovers. Granted, neither acts were that popular in any other era besides the 90s (Amy Grant was already huge in the Christian music scene in the 80s, she just didn't crossover into the pop market until Every Heartbeat, aside from "Find a Way" being a minor hit in 1985), but the gated drum sound was already a lot older-sounding than the rising house and polished-up new-jack swing at the time.

1992 was the last full year during which a lot of hit songs sounded like they could easily pass for late 80s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C9AD1oyE30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byEGjLU2egA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otgnuwR6w8o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB0iJBgrM2Q

Both of those songs are prime examples of late 80s holdovers. Granted, neither acts were that popular in any other era besides the 90s (Amy Grant was already huge in the Christian music scene in the 80s, she just didn't crossover into the pop market until Every Heartbeat, aside from "Find a Way" being a minor hit in 1985), but the gated drum sound was already a lot older-sounding than the rising house and polished-up new-jack swing at the time.

1992 was the last full year during which a lot of hit songs sounded like they could easily pass for late 80s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C9AD1oyE30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byEGjLU2egA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otgnuwR6w8o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB0iJBgrM2Q


It seems the times for rock and especially the time for adult oriented music was behind most teen oriented music and especially urban.

Like in 1987, the stuff targeted towards adults was very mid 80s style like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojPUIjiaH_I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt2YIpZWBqA

But a lot of the teen stuff was very clearly late 80s and the urban style music was often similar to the early 90s in some ways.

Is this the last ever 80s song?

dDLiVwpv89s

Is this the last ever 80s song?

dDLiVwpv89s


This here came out in late 1995:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7ew_jIxLa8