Back In The Day - The 50 Greatest Discontinued '90s Foods and Beverages

Time for some nostalgia.  Who remembers Vanilla coke?  How 'bout Crystal Pepsi and Spice Girl Lollipops?  Ahhh, the memories.

 Check out the other 42 discontinued products from the 90's here.

Isn't This The Truth? 1993 vs. 2013

Man, isn't this the truth? Sad thing is... I remember having all these gadgets.  Actually, it's not a sad thing; I'm proud to be a part of that moment.  It's an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.  But it is quite funny and cool to see it in this perspective...  What a difference 20 years makes.

Back In The Day - The 90's vs. Today

These pictures are hilarious, because they're so true.  I especially love how Blockbuster went from a mega superstore (overtaking every mom and pop shop video store), to becoming almost obsolete.  When was the last time you rented a video? LOL.

 

 

 

Six more pics after the jump...

Flashback to the 1990's - Roxette - It Must Have Been Love

If you want to talk about a year in the life - talk about the year 1990.  So many hits were released this year, and it was one of the most memorable years of my life.  I can't even begin to mention the amount of times I've listened to this song after my heart was broken, because "it must have been love, but it was over."   I can quite honestly say, it is one of my all time favorite hits.

Today, almost every girl and boy in America associate the song with Pretty Woman, because this was also the year the film was released.  If you ever want to feel Nostalgic, just watch that movie or play that song - they will take you back to a time of young love, or your most memorable moments.

"Remember, if it must have been love, and it's over now; know that as you get older you will learn to respect what love and relationships are all about. For I can truly say, if it must have been love, and it's over now, I wouldn't have, or be where I am today."

~ Peter a.k.a. Blade

Flashback to the 1990's - Tarzan Boy by Lee R

When I heard this song on my way to work this morning, it reminded me of those days when I was out partying and drinking my life away.  Talk about having a flashback. 

The song, "Tarzan Boy" was actually released in 1985 by Baltimora, a group from Italy, and has been re-recorded over the years by several artists.  

The version I listened to was re-recorded by Lee R back in 1999, and played in all the dance clubs I went to.  It was definitely a catchy tune, and dancing to it was a lot of fun.  I think it was the, "oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh" that got everyone pumped-up and ready to party the night away.

The original artist, Jimmy McShane (Baltimora's front man) died of AIDS 9 years after the song was released, and was able to catch it being used in a Listerine commercial and also on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III soundtrack.  Unfortunately, he wasn't able to enjoy the success of the version you're about to hear, but I'm sure he would've loved it just as much as those who partied to it in 1999 and 2000.

You can catch the original music video by Baltimora after the jump...

Keeping It Old Skool - Issue No. 9 - Battle of the Nerf

I'm sure by now every kid in America has grown up playing with some type of Nerf product.  Growing up I used to play with the guns and sportballs, they were so much fun.  Of course back in the 80's we didn't have quite the selection they do now.  Watching this video brings back memories, it was definitely fun to watch.  

Most of the toys are made of a foam-based material and are neon in color.  Parker Brothers created the toy in 1969, according to Wikipedia, but didn't really take off until the 1980's and 1990's.

Caution:
Watch as these kids partake in a violent nerf battle, but it's unlike any you've seen before.  This one comes complete with blood and gore.  Kudos to whoever put this together, though, it may not be suitable for children to watch. LOL. literally.

Music Video Flashback - 1999

I wonder how many people would've actually got this correctly if the answers had not been given.  A little mambo to make your day :-)

Keeping It Old Skool - Issue No. 6 - Tight-rolled Pants

Ahhh... talk about Keeping It Old Skool.   Tight-rolled pants were a huge rage back in the 1980's and early 1990's.  I'll be honest - I thought it was cool, and tried to incorporate this awesome fad with my school attire.  Granted, the hot jocks looked so much better than I did.  You know - the football, baseball, and soccer players?  I thought they looked hot sporting those tight rolled up pants - I'll spare you the details of my fantasies.  

I love how Wikipedia describes it below, LOL.

"girls and boys would tight-roll the bottoms of their jeans or any pants that they wore. On full length pants tight rolling is performed by taking up the slack around the ankles at the hem of the pants, folding the extra material over and then rolling upwards 2 or 3 times over. A proper tight-roll should have the extra material folded inward across the lower shin. The use of safety pins was key to a good roll, but to the experienced tight roller they can be achieved without them. "

And yes, everyone did it - even the celebrities on television, like Zac Morris from Saved by the Bell.  I think every gay boy in America had a huge crush on him growing up.

I also found this hilarious instructional video on YouTube on how to sport those tight-rolled up pants. 

Who knows?  You may find you like it; I have heard they're making a comeback.

Wish to see past issues of Keeping It Old Skool? View Here.

The Internet. Have You Heard Of It?

And you thought when you were born, the Internet was already here...

Imagine living in a world where we didn't have Google to help us find the answers to a test.  Where we didn't have a "smart" phone when we went camping hundreds of miles away from our home. Where all we did was play outside with our friends, shoot hoops, and afterwards head to the library to complete a science fair project.

Check out this hilarious video from the 90s where the Today show anchors are introduced to the Internet. Most importantly, "Can you explain what internet is?"

Flashback to the 1990's - Suzanne Vega - "Tom's Diner"

With music in one hand, and a briefcase in the other, I headed to work.  I popped the rectangular shaped object into my car stereo and reminisced about the time the song was released.  As the cassette turned, I took the time to reflect on my past, without regret, without shame, but with unequivocal admiration for the lessons I have learned.  And "Tom's Diner," did just that.  

The song was released on Suzanne Vega's 1987 album, "Solitude Standing," and originally an a cappella vocal, but later remixed by two British producers under the name DNA, in 1990.  The video below is the one I listened to this morning, and the version everyone is familiar with.

Tom's Restaurant, after which the song Tom's Diner was named

Courtesy of Wikipedia:

Suzanne Vega's song "Tom's Diner" was used as the reference track in an early trial of the MP3 compression system, earning her the distinction of being the Mother of the MP3.  The original music video, "Tom's Diner," takes place in Tom's Restaurant at 112th Street and Broadway in New York City. Exterior shots of the same restaurant appear in the television sitcom Seinfeld as Monk's, which is the eatery where Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer hang out. The DNA remix of the track was so popular that it inspired many cover versions—the best of which were eventually collected by Vega on an album titled Tom's Album.

And here's the song as I heard it this morning.  Good Times. :-)

Flashback to the 1990's

Every week I would like to post a music video or song popular in it's own decade.  It will be similar to my "One Hit Wonders back when I ran Peter's Daily Blog.  

Without the focus of an artist who only had one hot track in their career, this weekly series will feature a blend of everyone and everything, from hot artists, to not-so-hot artists, to one-hit wonders, to 10-hit wonders.

I will consider last week's music video flashback of Cazwell's "Ice Cream Truck" as my first issue, and continue this week with my second.

This week's song features a very popular track from 1996; "Magic Carpet Ride" by Mighty Dub Katz.  It was huge success in all the major dance clubs of the time, and instantly became one of my favorite songs.  Yes, I still have the cassette. LOL.

I came out to my family in 1996, and this song truly brings back memories.  Take a listen down below.

What is the Internet?

When people look at me and think I'm crazy when I tell them I didn't know what the internet was all about in 1990, I'll show them this video.

In 1994, Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel ask a producer to explain what the internet is and what the @ sign means, while filming an episode of the Today show.