I know I haven’t written a new post in a while, although I have been keeping up with comments. I just wanted to let you all know that I just started a new blog on tumblr (trying to learn how that whole mess works, haha) called Peace. Pink. Pop. It’s basically gonna be my daily thoughts and rants about anything in connection with those three topics: the pursuit of equality and PEACE, anything PINK and the entertaining word of POP culture. I will do my best to come back to this blog and post my lovely 90s moments, but I would really appreciate it if you would check out my new blog!
According to a post on Artist direct, R&B star Akon says that Lady Gaga‘s success makes Christina Aguilera insecure. There have been rumors of a feud between the two popstars in the press lately. Christina, who has been known to always switch up her looks and sound, is releasing a new CD called Bionic, which sports a more electronic sound. With the release of this CD, she has also changed her hair. Surprisingly, she looks very much like Lady Gaga, the singer of hit songs, such as “Just Dance” and “Bad Romance.”
Lady Gaga is on the left and Christina Aguilera is on the right. Akon has been quoted in saying that he prefers the old Christina, and I definitely agree with him. I can’t really speak for the change in music because Christina has always been successful when she changes her sound; however, she has not always been successful when she changes her looks. I think that she should stick to the look she created after her Back to Basics CD (first picture above). That look is definitely more classy and elegant. As for feeling insecure when it comes to Lady Gaga’s success, there is no reason for that. Christina has been wicked successful in her career. She has amazing talent and will always be recognized for that. She may not be as big as she was in the 90s, but she will always have a following, myself included. What are your thoughts on the Gaga-Aguilera controversy?
Don’t even try to lie with this one. Everyone, I repeat EVERYONE, rocked out to Hanson‘s 1997 mega-hit “MMMBop.” It is definitely one of those songs that defines the 90s. It makes absolutely no sense, yet you can’t help but try to sing the chorus of mmmbops whenever you hear it.
Hanson is a band of three brothers (from left to right): Isaac, Taylor and Zac. I remember that the first time I saw this album on my sister’s desk, I asked her if the people on the cover were boys or girls. I was eight, and I was used to seeing girls with long hair and boys with short hair. Despite my confused first impression, I popped in the CD, and I was sold.
First of all, I gotta say, nice braids, Zac. And whose wonderful idea was it to perform in front of a background of a flower? Using the green screen is a privilege, guys, don’t abuse it. And someone needs to teach those boys how to correctly lip-sync for a music video. They seem way too happy-go-lucky and enthusiastic that they definitely don’t look believable. Again, the song isn’t amazing, but it’s fun to listen to and sing. You have to give the brother props for being so musically talented. Isaac plays the guitar, Taylor plays the keyboard and Zac, the youngest of the group, is an awesome drummer. They all started out by playing the piano.
Even though I loved “MMMBop,” that was about the only song of theirs that I liked. None of their other songs really stood out. After a few years, the hype around Hanson died down, and no one in school would be caught dead talking about them. Everyone denied loving that song. While the boys did go on to tour and make more albums, none of their songs were ever quite as successful as “MMMBop.” In 2002, they made a guest appearance on the television show Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
It’s nice to see the Hanson brothers all grown up. Apparently Isaac did grow out of his awkward, feminine phase. While I love “MMMBop,” Hanson’s musical stylings will never suit me. In my opinion, they are a part of 90s culture which should definitely stay in the 90s.
One of my favorite songs of 90s is Ace of Base’s 1994 international hit, “The Sign.” I am pretty sure that it was the first song I learned all the lyrics to, and I would always sing along with it whenever it came on the radio. Even though the lyrics aren’t intricate and in some places seem like placeholders, you can’t deny the catchy-ness of the tune.
In a 1995 episode of Full House, Stephanie, Kimmy (the neighbor), Gia (played by Marla Sokoloff) and another friend form a band. At a talent show, they sing a cover of “The Sign,” but it goes horribly wrong. We all knew that Stephanie could dance, but Jodie Sweetin doesn’t have that bad of a singing voice either.
This is one of my favorite 90s television moments because it combines one of my favorite 90s songs and my favorite childhood show. What are some of your favorite 90s television moments?
Do you guys remember the 1997 song “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia, the Australian singer and songwriter? It was actually a cover song originally sung by the Los Angeles alternative rock band Ednaswap. Personally, I like Natalie’s version better. It just sounds better as a pop song.
Well, I was randomly surfing YouTube, and I found another cover of the song done by YouTube sensation Marie Digby. Marie, a singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist, reached fame status when her cover of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” hit the airwaves in 2007. I fell in love with her voice when I heard her cover, and her version of “Torn” is just as good. Enjoy, check out some more of her YouTube videos and let me know what you think!
Along with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, Mandy Moore is another pop princess of the 90s. She never grew to be as popular as Britney and Christina, but she has gotten a lot of recognition for her movie roles.
As a singer, her voice isn’t as powerful as Christina’s, but it is more melodic and sweet than Britney’s. She is also different from the other two because she hasn’t experienced much scandal in her career. While Britney and Christina have received a lot of criticism for their sexuality, Mandy has always acted her age and been a little bit more reserved. Mandy was 15 when she released her first single “Candy” in December of 1999.
If this music video doesn’t scream late 90s I don’t know what does. Volkswagen Beetles, armbands and Princess Leah type hair. I don’t care what the critics say, I love this song! The lyrics may not be impressive, but it’s catchy and fun to sing. She may not be a great dancer, but when you’re dancing in the middle of a skate park, I don’t think it matters.
Mandy went on to make more albums and have more singles, like I Wanna Be with You and Crush; but I definitely think her calling is the silver screen. But it’s okay because she actually sings in a lot of her movies.
I’m sorry, I just had to put this music video on here. In 2001, Mandy played the role of Lana Thomas, a mean but popular cheerleader, in The Princess Diaries with Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. While the role isn’t anything major, she definitely showcases her acting ability. Before this movie, many people only knew her as a singer.
(DANGER: Spoiler alert!!) A Walk to Remember. This film established Mandy as a lead actress in 2002. Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, Mandy plays Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of a Protestant minister who falls in love with bad boy Landon Carter, played by Shane West. Troubles arise when she reveals that she has leukemia.
Everytime I watch this movie I bawl like a baby. It is just so heart-wrenching and tragic.
I didn’t even watch the whole movie, and I legit just started to cry while watching this. How could you not? That proposal is probably one of the most romantic things ever. But that’s not on trial here, Mandy’s acting is. Just wanted to share that scene because it’s one of my favorites, but I guess I’ll move on…
This scene is really emotional. I think Mandy does a great job portraying that emotion. She isn’t too over-dramatic because her character has already accepted her sickness, but telling the love of your life that you’re going to die does warrant some tears. “I do not need a reason to be angry with God.” When Mandy says this, I completely believe her. I know the film didn’t get fabulous reviews, but Mandy was praised for her role. She won the award for “Breakthrough Female Performance” at the MTV Movie Awards and “Choice Breakout Performance” in a film by an actress at the Teen Choice Awards.
And like I said before, Mandy sings in this movie as well. She sings many songs on the soundtrack, including “Only Hope,” which she also performs in the movie.
I love the way she sings this song. The lyrics and melody are simple and sweet, which is perfect for Mandy’s voice.
And of course there’s “Cry.” This is the theme song for the movie. I love this song. Again, it’s not complicated, but her voice sounds beautiful, especially in the high parts. I remember I would blast this song after I watched the movie and sing my heart out to relieve all the heart-rending tension. It always made me feel better.
Mandy has a wonderful sweet-sounding voice, but I believe her future is in film. There is no denying her vocal ability; however, she brings an amazing presence on camera. Apparently Mandy has many upcoming roles in the works, including the voice of Rapunzel in Disney’s upcoming animated feature Tangled and the role of Allie Finkels in Swinging with the Finkels. What do you guys think about Mandy Moore? Singer or actress?
Disney movies are a part of everyone’s childhood. They represent a time in people’s lives when magic is real and love conquers all. There was never a situation that didn’t have a happy ending. The bad guys always lost and the good guys always won. And of course, the good guy would always get the girl.
Over the years, Walt Disney has released many animated features and still continues to do so; however, the films of the 90s are very distinct and characterize a time of simplicity and predictability. The Disney animated features of today are not able to posses that quality, nor should they. Kids today require more. They want high-tech images and more action-filled films. Don’t get me wrong, I love Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo, but they aren’t the same as the classics. Below are some of my favorite 90s Disney animated features.
The Little Mermaid
Released in 1989, The Little Mermaid is one of my favorite Disney movies. I think one of the reasons why I like it so much is because Ariel has red hair (I have auburn: red & brown). This movie is also a little empowering for little girls. It tells girls that it’s okay to have a mind of your own.
This is my second favorite Disney song. I love singing it. If you’ve seen Enchanted, also by Disney, you might like to know that Jodi Benson, the woman who plays Patrick Dempsey’s secretary, was the talking and singing voice for Ariel. I am pretty sure that The Little Mermaid is one of the only Disney movies in which one person does the talking and singing voice for the lead.
Everyone knows this song. It is probably sung at day camps everywhere, I know it was at mine. It’s such a fun song and fuels kids’ imaginations about the ocean.
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast was released in 1991. The main protagonist, Belle, is one of Disney’s most intelligent yet sweet and caring characters. This girl does not take crap from anyone, including Gaston (the village creep) and even the Beast, who at first seems a bit too territorial if you ask me.
I love this scene! It’s probably one of the most memorable scenes from a Disney animated feature. To a kid, this whole spectacle is amazing. Dancing plates, singing candlesticks and teapots, that just doesn’t happen in real life at the dinner table.
Of course, like every other Disney film, Belle and the Beast fall in love and live happily ever after. This movie has been re-made to fit more modern circumstances. There’s The Beautician and the Beast, starring Fran Drescher, and more recently, there is Beauty and the Briefcase, starring Hilary Duff. But the storyline is always the same: woman meets man, woman and man do not get along, and then there’s always a turning point when the woman and man realize that they actually have a lot in common, and they fall in love. Maybe that’s the appeal of this Disney movie. The fact that it truly is a timeless tale.
Aladdin
Aladdin, released in 1992, is my favorite Disney movie of all time. I own the original and both sequels as well. I even dressed up as Princess Jasmine one halloween. I love the music, I love the genie (played by the very funny Robin Williams) and I love the magic.
With this film, Disney brought back Cinderella‘s (1950) idea of a fairy godmother. Only this time, the character granting the wishes is a genie. As a little kid, this scene is great to watch. Who wouldn’t want all their wildest dreams to come true? I know I sure would.
And this is why every female blames Disney for putting delusional ideas about men in their heads. This is my most favorite Disney scene and song of all time. It’s so romantic and magical at the same time that I never get tired of watching or listening to it. I’m still waiting for my magic carpet ride.
The Lion King
The Lion King was released in 1994. I love this movie because it’s funny, and it’s different from all the others. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Lion King‘s characters are all animals.
This is such a fun song with which to sing along. Years ago, my old day camp was going to perform this play. To determine who would play the role of Simba, interested campers had to sing this song. Imagine my surprise when I won the part. I was so excited; however, we never ended up doing the play. I remember we practiced, but I can’t remember why we never performed.
“Hakuna Matata. What a wonderful phrase.” And what a wonderful message to kids. While this song shows how Simba is running away from his problems (which isn’t good), it also shows kids that you shouldn’t sweat the small stuff either.
Pocahontas
Pocahontas, released in 1995, was loosely based on the true story of Pocahontas. She was in fact a real Native American. John Smith was also a real person. I loved the imagery of this movie. All the leaves blowing in the wind and beautiful skies. And yes, I also was Pocahontas one halloween as well. I guess I just really wanted to be a Disney princess. This movie also taught kids about the beauty of nature and tolerance.
This film is a little different than the others. Unfortunately, the guy doesn’t get the girl in the end. While Pocahontas saves John Smith from being killed, he ultimately has to leave and go back to his homeland, leaving Pocahontas behind.
Mulan
Released in 1999, Mulan is a movie about female power. Unlike past Disney movies, where love is a central feature, the love in this film takes a back burner to Mulan’s quest to find herself and prove her worth.
In my post about Christina Aguilera, I mentioned this movie and song. Above is the version that was in the film. The same person who is the singing voice for Princess Jasmine is the singing voice for Mulan: Lea Salonga.
I love how this movie is empowering for girls. It shows that they can go off to war with the boys and kick some serious ass. But it wouldn’t be a Disney movie without a happily ever after. Mulan does find love with her captain.
Disney movies allow children to use their imagination and believe in a world where anything is possible. The 90s was a time when Disney was at its greatest. Kids will continue to watch these films for years to come because they are timeless. Their innocence speaks to all. Even though technology is always changing and allows for things to get bigger and better, I will always love watching these movies.
Pokemon. The word is still a mystery to me. Created by the Japanese company Satoshi Tajiri in 1996, Nintendo owns the Pokemon media franchise. Pokemon originally started off as a video game series, but since then has grown to include a television anime series, trading cards, toys, books and more.
I was never into Pokemon as a child. Barney, Beanie Babies, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers…those were my thing. Pokemon never interested me, and I still don’t understand the allure. The anime series follows three main Pokemon trainers: Ash (below), Misty and Brock.
The three go on to collect Pokemon and battle to become the ultimate Pokemon breeder.
Obviously I don’t know a lot about Pokemon. I only know the names of two creatures: Pikachu (the main Pokemon on the left) and Jigglypuff (the cute pink ball of fluff on the right).
Pokemon grew into a craze among certain people. Not everyone was into them. It was more of an underground obsession or an acquired taste. Especially the anime series. Filmed in a Japanese style, the show has an element that really bothers me. The characters speech and their mouth movement never match up. I mentioned this in my post about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, a series that was also based off a Japanese series. I don’t understand that technique. Why wouldn’t you have them match up with each other? What’s the point of making it that way? I guess I’ll never know.
I can’t do anything besides laugh when I watch this commercial. I mean come on! They are tiny little plastic animals! The funny part is that they are trying to make it seem like these miniature toys are invading the world, yet they don’t even do anything. But I guess that happens with an obsession. You want something, and you don’t even really know why you want it.
And the trading cards. The Pokemon lovers would bring them everywhere, always looking for a certain character and hoping to find another person with whom to trade. At least these cards have some purpose. It’s more of a game than the itty bitty Pokemon toys above.
I will never understand the craze behind Pokemon. I just don’t get the attraction. On a love or hate scale, I definitely hate Pokemon. Your thoughts?
What do you get when you put together two good-looking talented actors, an intense, dramatic love affair, and a widely known true story of a once thought unsinkable ship sinking on April 15, 1912 on it’s way from Southampton to New York City? Titanic, directed by James Cameron, nominated for 14 Academy Awards and winner of 11. At the time in 1997, it was the most expensive film ever made ($200 million) and the highest-grossing film of all time. It retained the highest-grossing status until Cameron’s film Avatar stole the title in 2010.
Oh, Titanic. This movie is a legend. I remember the hype around the release was so huge. Everyone knows the story, and there have been remakes since the tragedy, but Cameron’s film brought the story to life in way that had never been done before.
Watching this trailer really brings back memories. Everyone was obsessed with this movie. I myself saw it three times in theaters, and I don’t usually do that. Every girl in my school fell in love with Leonardo DiCaprio after seeing this film. It seems like he is made to play these intense romantic roles, like his Romeo role in Romeo & Juliet. In Titanic, he was able to make really gushy, lovesick scenes and corny dialogue believable.
We all remember this scene. “I’m the king of the world!” It’s probably one of the most well-known phrases in pop culture. DiCaprio was able to take that really cheesy line and say it in a way that lifted the spirits of the audience. You were happy and excited for Jack Dawson as he looked out over the vast ocean ahead of him.
Besides Disney movies, I blame Titanic for giving me the false belief that guys can be just as romantic as Jack Dawson and would do anything for their love. In this case, Jack, a lower class passenger, set his eyes on the upper-class Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by the beautiful and talented Kate Winslet. “I’m flying! Jack!” This scene just captivates your attention. I couldn’t take my eyes off DiCaprio and Winslet. Cameron made the perfect choices in angles while shooting this scene. You really get a sense of how big the ocean was and how alone they were out there, but also how exciting it was to be on a ship of that size. By watching the movie, you were embarking on a new adventure with the characters.
Wow, did it get hot in here? The drawing scene is also another very memorable point in Titanic. Rose asks Jack to draw her like he draws his French girls. The scene actually has more meaning than I thought it did. Back in 97, it was just embarrassing to watch while with my parents and an “oohing” moment with my friends. If you think about it, this scene represents Rose’s attempt at liberating herself. She was trapped in a rigid lifestyle, forced to marry a man she did not love. She felt like she was suffocating and wanted a way out. Being drawn in the nude like this was Rose’s way of expressing her emotions.
This was another embarrassing scene to watch with anyone at the age of 9, but probably one of the most memorable scenes of the movie. Everyone knows the hand. Winslet turned up the steam in this sex scene when she slapped her hand on the window and left an imprint. I remember that this was the scene that everyone talked about and made fun of. In cars, my friends and I would try to re-create the hand slapping motion and imprint whenever the windows got all steamed up due to weather.
“I’ll never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go.” I tried to find a good enough video of this scene to put on here, but the ones I found were bad quality, too long or cut off at the wrong part. So I just decided to put the picture up here because in this case, a picture is worth a thousand words. Out of the entire film, THIS is the MOST memorable scene. Probably one of the most memorable scenes in film history, in my opinion. It was scary, creepy and tragic, yet DiCaprio and Winslet were still able to keep the love alive. Because the film was based on a true story, everyone knew what was going to happen. The ship was going to sink no matter how much you hoped that the ending would be a happy one. I would cringe every time I saw the frozen to death bodies. The music and the darkness also escalated the sadness and feeling of despair. I think this really showcases DiCaprio’s and Winslet’s talents. While I am able to make fun of this scene later on in life, I still get tongue-tied while actually watching it. The intense emotion that the actors portray is incredible. A little fun fact: the water was actually really warm, which exhibits DiCaprio’s and Winslet’s talents even more. This is also another scene that people often try to re-create. I found this funny video on YouTube of two little kids portraying the roles of Jack and Rose in this scene.
Hahaha, they are too cute. I especially love the other little boy in the background whispering to his mommy.
Aaah, the heart of the ocean necklace. “But I thought the old lady dropped it into the ocean in the end.” Well Britney Spears, you were right. The last memorable scene of Titanic is when Old Rose, played by Gloria Stuart, walks out to the edge of ship and drops the legendary necklace. Who knows if the character actually meant to drop it or if it just slipped from her hands, but I do know that everyone was asking, “Whyyyyy!?” I think that she wanted the necklace to be with Jack, but if I were her, I probably would have made some money off it. The very end of the film is also supposed to be left to interpretation. The camera slowly moves past pictures in Rose’s bedroom of her experiencing all of the things that Jack wanted for her, including wearing pants and riding a horse the way a man did. The camera then slowly moves past a sleeping or deceased Rose (your call) and into a dream or heaven (also your call) where she at last reunites with Mr. Jack Dawson and all of the other people lost on the RMS Titanic. I think that she died, but some people believe it was just a dream. What do you think? Either way, I believe that this was a perfect way to end the film.
Besides the movie creating a crazed obsession, Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” also created a huge frenzy.
This song played on every single radio station and between every single commercial break for well beyond the time when the hype died down on the movie. At first, I loved this song. Celine Dion’s voice is amazing and powerful. It reminded me of the tragic love story; however, that was also the problem. There was such a craze surrounding this movie, that all of a sudden it did what every other craze does: it faded. Just as quickly as it rose, it fell. All of sudden, it was considered un-cool to like Leo and to obsess over Titanic. My friends and I were annoyed by the song, and would change the radio station every time it came on. Eventually the dislike-of-anything-Titanic also died down. The film is extraordinary and the acting, whether you like to admit it or not, captured your heart and human inclination for love story tragedies.
But, wait, Titanic is coming back? According to a USA Today interview with Cameron, he is planning to re-release Titanic in 3D in the spring of 2012 for the 100th anniversary of the sailing of the ship. Wow, that will definitely bring millions of people to the theater, in my opinion. However, I am worried about the effect the 3D will have. It took me three times to not get the feeling like I couldn’t breath when water was rushing and breaking through the ship, and that was just by watching the screen. With all the dramatic sounds and imagery, a 3D Titanic experience will be even more intense. Everything is going to be right in your face, and you will feel even more like you are on the ship. While I do have some qualms on the subject, they probably won’t stop me from seeing the new version of the film. After all, who wouldn’t want to experience Leonardo DiCaprio in 3D?
Beanie Babies are the kind of 90s pop culture craze that just amazes me. Yes, of course I had a Beanie Baby collection. They were the cool thing to collect. Created by Ty inc. in 1993, Beanie Babies are different colored, plastic pellet filled stuffed animals.
When I first started growing my collection, I was attracted to Beanie Babies because let’s be honest, what kind of little girl could resist cute, cuddly, little stuffed animals? I was only interested in them for their cute and cuddly value, but that quickly changed once I realized that people were actually making big bucks off these furry little creatures. To me, this change happened overnight. I had apparently already lost half of the value of my Beanie Babies by taking off many of the little heart shaped Ty tags that were attached to them.
How was I to know? I thought they just got in the way of playing with the beanies. Needless to say, every Beanie Baby purchase after that kept their tags.
The pop culture craze of Beanie Babies was not a mistake. Ty inc. followed several marketing strategies that led them to success. To avoid mass production, the creatures were kept at a reasonable price of around $5. They kept the beanies on the down low by not bombarding customers with advertisements. Because these toys were kept secret in this way, they appealed to customers even more because they didn’t know what to expect. The unpredictability of the stuffed animals kept the product engaging. People didn’t know when a beanie was going to be retired. They also limited the production of the toys, keeping them rare. By selling them at smaller specialty shops instead of large chain toy stores, Ty inc. gave off the image of authenticity. And who said bigger is better? Beanie Babies were also successful because of the simplicity of the design. People knew what they were buying. With the Ty tags, beanies were more than just a stuff animal. They turned Beanie Babies into a personal experience by including names, birthdays and unique poems. Because there was such a variety of animals to choose from, the creatures appealed to everyone. Collectors had to have them all. Retirements of certain models created high demand and sent collectors on a wild goose chase to find the retired beanies.
Little boys and girls were not the only ones collecting Beanie Babies. Adults joined in on the craze as well. In my opinion, that’s a sign of a very successful marketing effort. Ty inc. was able to turn a product that was meant for children into a product that adults cherished as well. In many cases, adults were more Beanie Baby crazed than children.
Yes, the awkward boy narrating is Samm Levine from the cult classic Freaks and Geeks and the movie Sydney White. I have to say, that older guy must have a very strong sense of self to tell the world that he has a passion for collecting Beanie Babies. While I am amazed by the phenomenon that the beanies created, I still think that they should be left to kids. Something about a grown man collecting stuffed animals doesn’t sound right to me.
With the height of the craze around 1995, the fad eventually slowed down after 1999. I am very sad to say that I never ended up selling my collection. They are still in a bag in the basement of my house. I kick myself everytime I think about it because if I had sold them back in the 90s, I could have been a very rich kid. Unfortunately, when the fad died down, so did the price. I recently looked on eBay, and people are currently selling them for as low as $1 and as high as $10. But there is an alternative to selling your Beanie Babies for money. You can donate them. “Operation Beanie Baby” is a mission started by Easter Seals Arc in Fort Wayne, Indiana to bring joy to the lives of deployed soldiers in Iraq as well as Iraqi children.
I wonder if Beanie Babies will ever make a comeback here in the U.S. There have been companies since who have come out with similar products. Perhaps the most popular today are Webkinz.
To me, they look almost exactly like Beanie Babies, except they have a more furry texture. The result of living in digital age, Webkinz animals come with a special code that children can then use to interact with a digital version of their animal on the Webkinz website. Kids who attended the camp I used to counselor at were crazy for these things. They’d bring them to camp and take them everywhere. I guess that shows that there will always be a market for cute and cuddly collectibles. To try to stay in that market, Ty inc. recently launched Beanie Babies 2.0, which employs the same code tactic.
I’m not sure if I think that Beanie Babies 2.0 or any other stuffed animal collection could ever reach the magnitude of the 90s Beanie Baby phenomenon. If a company could get everyone to be obsessed with collecting once, it could happen again. Children will always love anything cute and cuddly; however, do you think adults would be able to fall victim to a trend like this again? Share your thoughts.
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