Generation X Wasn't Giving It Away
We weren't losing our religion, nor did we need a personal Jesus. We were moving mountains and getting connected. Some of us were shiny, happy people, some were just too sexy, and some were unbelievable. Some were up for the 3 A.M. Eternal. We knew no other way.
Boyz N Da Hood | 90210 | Lollapalooza
Boyz N Da Hood, Pump Up the Volume, and Silence of the Lambs were a few of the movies you had to see. The shows 90210, In Living Color (which skewered everyone and everything), and the Simpsons reigned supreme on TV. Jane's Addition, Nine Inch Nails, and the Rollins Band played the first Lollapalooza. Music was changing rapidly. Big hair bands and top 40 were giving way to the sounds of Blur, EMF, Divinyls, and Jesus Jones. Hip hop and R&B remained popular. L. L. Cool J was gonna knock you out. Boys 2 Men were new jack swinging Motown Philly, Color Me Badd wanted to sex you up, and C&C Music Factory was gonna make you sweat. Rave, house, industrial, and grunge were starting to infiltrate the clubs and the radio. Pure dance acts like Dee-Lite and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch helped us all feel the vibrations. However, college radio darlings like R.E.M., the Violent Femmes, and Elvis Costello were still in the mix. Ice-T was performing "Cop Killer," Prince had his New Power Generation, and Anthrax and Public Enemy were bringing the noise. The 2 Live Crew was still being banned and fighting for freedom of speech (and record sales). Desert Storm | Rodney King | Freddie Mercury Desert Storm started and CNN provided non-stop coverage of the events (this was a first). The Rodney King/L.A.P.D. video surfaced, further fueling racial tensions. A free Nelsen Mandela was elected president of the ANC. The Soviet Union fell, Freddie Mercury and Miles Davis died. The Oakland hills fire destroyed 3,469 homes and 10,000 people were evacuated. Ted Turner was Time's Man of the Year. Drug lord, Pablo Escobar, surrendered to Colombian officials. MTV's Headbangers Ball, Yo! MTV Raps, and 120 Minutes were still popular shows. The Iran-Contra convictions against Oliver North were overturned. Serial killer, and cannibal, Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested. The U.S. was still in the biggest recession since the early 1980s. Doc Martens | Big Hair | Patterned Sweaters Zubaz pants and Doc Martens were big (just not together). Rave and b-boy culture spawned various styles, including fluorescent colors, work boots, and overalls. Baggy jeans, flannels, military flight jackets, and jean shorts were all popular trends. Shoulder pads in both men's and women's suits were the norm. You could also buy a Hypercolor shirt from Generra (there are many things you "can" do). It would change color with your body heat. Big, crimped hair was popular with the ladies and some guys sported mullets, high-top fades, or long hair. Patterned, acrylic sweaters and thrift store, grunge cardigans peacefully co-existed. |