The 1990s were a pop culture treasure trove, from iconic TV shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and Sex and the City to the rise of Britpop and 'Cool Britannia'. Catchphrases, haircuts, and even Gail Porter's bum being beamed onto the Houses of Parliament defined the era. Our highlights may have been stripy and our backpacks tiny, but we were always ready to rhumble—in the Ant and Dec sense.
Music dominated the decade, from the Blur vs. Oasis rivalry to Celine Dion's pan pipes. Christmas wouldn't be the same without Mariah Carey and East 17, while Westlife taught us the perfect time to stand up from a stool. Dancing was made easy with routines for Saturday Night, The Macarena, and Cotton Eye Joe. And who could forget the Spice Girls and their Union Jack tea towel dresses?
Film and TV gave us endless debates about Jack's fate on the Titanic raft, Jordan Catalano from My So-Called Life, and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air rap. The Primrose Hill set—Kate Moss, Jude Law, and friends—made us wish we were flies on the wall. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Hurley's safety pin dress and Professor Brian Cox's D:Ream days added to the cultural mix.
Sport brought tears with Gazza's World Cup heartbreak and pride in Jonathan Edwards' triple jump record. Politics had its moments too, from Nelson Mandela's release to Boris Yeltsin's dance moves. The internet officially arrived, and mobile phones—especially Nokias with Snake—made you the coolest. Girls smelled of Impulse or White Musk, and TFI Friday marked the start of the weekend.
