What era/decade did you miss out on or want to relive?
Discussion
Being born in 1970, musically I think I've largely experienced a lot of good stuff.
I remember my Mum holding dinner parties in the 1970's, and falling asleep in bed to the muted sounds of Wings and David Bowie and Roxy Music. Then I discovered Gary Numan's work both in Tubeway Army and his solo work. Then it was Marillion, and U2 which kept me going until grunge. Pearl Jam and Soundgarden until the mid 1990's, when Trance entered my life (along with other man-made enhancements). Oh, and Band Aid.
Culturally, IMVHO the 80's were a free for all and all the better for it. If I might also venture, ladies in the 80's were hot (Sean Young / Sharon Stone / Kelly McGillis / Phoebe Cates et al)
1950's America appeals also, if nothing else for the cars (fins, and wrap-around windscreens, and push-button transmissions)
I remember my Mum holding dinner parties in the 1970's, and falling asleep in bed to the muted sounds of Wings and David Bowie and Roxy Music. Then I discovered Gary Numan's work both in Tubeway Army and his solo work. Then it was Marillion, and U2 which kept me going until grunge. Pearl Jam and Soundgarden until the mid 1990's, when Trance entered my life (along with other man-made enhancements). Oh, and Band Aid.
Culturally, IMVHO the 80's were a free for all and all the better for it. If I might also venture, ladies in the 80's were hot (Sean Young / Sharon Stone / Kelly McGillis / Phoebe Cates et al)
1950's America appeals also, if nothing else for the cars (fins, and wrap-around windscreens, and push-button transmissions)
Another here born in 1980.
I'm loving the repeats of Top Of The Pops from the 80s and 90s on BBC Four (currently doing 1991) - more or less reliving my childhood/youth. Amazes me how some stuff got played on peak time telly eg. proto-hardcore tune like Total Confusion by A Homeboy Hippy And A Funky Dred and 21 seconds by Silver Bullet.
Glad I enjoyed music from the right side of the 80s. Lots of good crossover dance tunes/acts such as Bomb The Bass, 808 State, KLF... then got into Prodigy/rave/hardcore... the scene splitting into happy hardcore and jungle/drum & bass. Wished I was old enough to have gone to raves/clubs in 91-94.
90s was the last great era for coupes and motorsport - F1 still had V12s till Ferrari gave up, design was better looking; Super Touring, GT1, DTM, Indycar, NASCAR (when the good ol' boys were still racing ie. guys nearer to 50 than 20 ruled the roost).
If I could sample a different era it would be the Northern Soul scene in the 70s and block parties in the Bronx.
I'm loving the repeats of Top Of The Pops from the 80s and 90s on BBC Four (currently doing 1991) - more or less reliving my childhood/youth. Amazes me how some stuff got played on peak time telly eg. proto-hardcore tune like Total Confusion by A Homeboy Hippy And A Funky Dred and 21 seconds by Silver Bullet.
Glad I enjoyed music from the right side of the 80s. Lots of good crossover dance tunes/acts such as Bomb The Bass, 808 State, KLF... then got into Prodigy/rave/hardcore... the scene splitting into happy hardcore and jungle/drum & bass. Wished I was old enough to have gone to raves/clubs in 91-94.
90s was the last great era for coupes and motorsport - F1 still had V12s till Ferrari gave up, design was better looking; Super Touring, GT1, DTM, Indycar, NASCAR (when the good ol' boys were still racing ie. guys nearer to 50 than 20 ruled the roost).
If I could sample a different era it would be the Northern Soul scene in the 70s and block parties in the Bronx.
I’m happy with the current decade thanks.
Love being a father. Couldn’t imagine going back to a time when I wasn’t one.
After a lifetime working retired early and now able to spend my days doing what I like, when I like.
Happily married for decades. Go back to teenage insecurity and trying to find a partner? No thanks!
Music: I have access to all the music from previous decades (currently listening to Hybrid Theory as I write this) plus current music from all around the world.
TV/Movies - similarly access to old and new plus so much foreign stuff that we wouldn’t have known about when we were younger.
Food: sorry to be repetitive but near me so many great places to eat out, ranging from brilliant cafes, cheap and authentic Asian food through to Michelin stared restaurants.
Cars - modern cars are brilliant for getting from A to B, so much more comfortable and reliable. Plus old cars still available (I’ve had classic 911s).
My motorbike - Aprilia Tuono Factory is just incredible. You probably don’t have to go back many decades before it could have won a MotoGP race yet it comfortable and civilised for everyday use, sounds amazing with brilliant handling. And all for £13k new.
Diversity: things are perfect now but so much better that people are much able to live their lives without hate and oppression (I don’t think being gay in the 80s or earlier was easy). When I was growing up I had a few second gen Indian friends and one second gen Jamaican but today have friends from India, China, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, America, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark (amongst others). Much more interesting.
Love being a father. Couldn’t imagine going back to a time when I wasn’t one.
After a lifetime working retired early and now able to spend my days doing what I like, when I like.
Happily married for decades. Go back to teenage insecurity and trying to find a partner? No thanks!
Music: I have access to all the music from previous decades (currently listening to Hybrid Theory as I write this) plus current music from all around the world.
TV/Movies - similarly access to old and new plus so much foreign stuff that we wouldn’t have known about when we were younger.
Food: sorry to be repetitive but near me so many great places to eat out, ranging from brilliant cafes, cheap and authentic Asian food through to Michelin stared restaurants.
Cars - modern cars are brilliant for getting from A to B, so much more comfortable and reliable. Plus old cars still available (I’ve had classic 911s).
My motorbike - Aprilia Tuono Factory is just incredible. You probably don’t have to go back many decades before it could have won a MotoGP race yet it comfortable and civilised for everyday use, sounds amazing with brilliant handling. And all for £13k new.
Diversity: things are perfect now but so much better that people are much able to live their lives without hate and oppression (I don’t think being gay in the 80s or earlier was easy). When I was growing up I had a few second gen Indian friends and one second gen Jamaican but today have friends from India, China, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, America, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark (amongst others). Much more interesting.
t in 2001. I do somewhat miss the late 90's/early 00's
Cars - when a model range meant a variety of vehicles, as opposed to 6 slightly different SUVs. Generally speaking the sweet spot between reliability and complexity had been reached, and most cars didn't rust that much. No relentless green propaganda either, or the impending all-electric, speed limited, GPS-tracked future that awaits us. That said, I would rather keep modern crash protection and equipment standards.
Films - still a reliance on practical effects and miniatures, as opposed to a the cgi mess that is many modern blockbusters, with so much being flung at the screen you can't tell what's going on.
Video games - advanced to the point they could tell an engaging narrative and allow basic online play, but no microtransactions, loot boxes, season passes etc. Plus if you wanted to play a sports title you actually had a choice. Games journalism was also about reviewing games, as opposed to forcing their political views on you and complaining about attractive female characters.
Music - as with anything else, there was a lot of utter dross that has been deservedly forgotten. But you got actual rock and metal music in the charts. whereas today the closest you'll get is Imagine Dragons. Plus nothing can beat browsing through a rack of vinyl or cds, or attending a record fare to find those obscure releases.
The internet - I don't miss 1mb an hour downloads, or being told to get off the line as my dad was expecting a call. But it did feel far less toxic back then, there was still a barrier to entry and it was somewhat like the wild west in many places, but it seemed easier to chat to a random person and people were less offended. The more I see social media, the more I am convinced it was a mistake.
Cars - when a model range meant a variety of vehicles, as opposed to 6 slightly different SUVs. Generally speaking the sweet spot between reliability and complexity had been reached, and most cars didn't rust that much. No relentless green propaganda either, or the impending all-electric, speed limited, GPS-tracked future that awaits us. That said, I would rather keep modern crash protection and equipment standards.
Films - still a reliance on practical effects and miniatures, as opposed to a the cgi mess that is many modern blockbusters, with so much being flung at the screen you can't tell what's going on.
Video games - advanced to the point they could tell an engaging narrative and allow basic online play, but no microtransactions, loot boxes, season passes etc. Plus if you wanted to play a sports title you actually had a choice. Games journalism was also about reviewing games, as opposed to forcing their political views on you and complaining about attractive female characters.
Music - as with anything else, there was a lot of utter dross that has been deservedly forgotten. But you got actual rock and metal music in the charts. whereas today the closest you'll get is Imagine Dragons. Plus nothing can beat browsing through a rack of vinyl or cds, or attending a record fare to find those obscure releases.
The internet - I don't miss 1mb an hour downloads, or being told to get off the line as my dad was expecting a call. But it did feel far less toxic back then, there was still a barrier to entry and it was somewhat like the wild west in many places, but it seemed easier to chat to a random person and people were less offended. The more I see social media, the more I am convinced it was a mistake.
Being wealthy in almost any era could be fun. The roaring 20s in the US might have been great.
For many minorities, the current era is better than most.
I was young in the 1980s (although quite aware from a young age and have good memories of that time), starting High School in 1989.
Merseyside in the 1980s wasn't really about loadsamoney and red 911 Turbos, although I do remember seeing 911s roaring past on the M6.
My Dad's mate was, however, very 80s -a sales rep with a BMW 3 Series and a carphone.
I remember watching Live Aid from Wembley and my Dad recording some of the Philadelphia gig on VHS.
The 90s were my teenage years, with Indie, grunge and Britpop being the soundtrack, but the 80s music appeals more to me nowadays - there is more joy to much of it.
80s F1 and rallying seemed better. I remember seeing Mike Tyson fight and my Dad saying that he was "a brawler, but a very good brawler". Football - I remember watching the Heysel stadium riot, Maradona's handball goal and the Hillsborough disaster.
Driving in the 90s, in 90s cars that were quite well developed, felt more free.
For many minorities, the current era is better than most.
I was young in the 1980s (although quite aware from a young age and have good memories of that time), starting High School in 1989.
Merseyside in the 1980s wasn't really about loadsamoney and red 911 Turbos, although I do remember seeing 911s roaring past on the M6.
My Dad's mate was, however, very 80s -a sales rep with a BMW 3 Series and a carphone.
I remember watching Live Aid from Wembley and my Dad recording some of the Philadelphia gig on VHS.
The 90s were my teenage years, with Indie, grunge and Britpop being the soundtrack, but the 80s music appeals more to me nowadays - there is more joy to much of it.
80s F1 and rallying seemed better. I remember seeing Mike Tyson fight and my Dad saying that he was "a brawler, but a very good brawler". Football - I remember watching the Heysel stadium riot, Maradona's handball goal and the Hillsborough disaster.
Driving in the 90s, in 90s cars that were quite well developed, felt more free.
Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 14th September 19:44
MC Bodge said:
For many minorities, the current era is better than most.
Don't want this to get too political as it is a bit of fun, however, the world is a long long way from a perfect place but it has to be better for the vast majority than it has been historically. Spend too much time online and you'd end up thinking otherwise Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 14th September 19:44
I'd go back to the 70's or 80's, despite all the faults with society as there always are it was just a better time to be alive.
Girls/women were largely feminine and attractive, you didn't need to be stitched into a hivis to go about your work, people didn't take themselves so damned seriously and telly wasn't 24/7 propaganda.
Girls/women were largely feminine and attractive, you didn't need to be stitched into a hivis to go about your work, people didn't take themselves so damned seriously and telly wasn't 24/7 propaganda.
Smint said:
I'd go back to the 70's or 80's, despite all the faults with society as there always are it was just a better time to be alive.
Girls/women were largely feminine and attractive, you didn't need to be stitched into a hivis to go about your work, people didn't take themselves so damned seriously and telly wasn't 24/7 propaganda.
I suspect that people are largely nostalgic for the era of their youth.Girls/women were largely feminine and attractive, you didn't need to be stitched into a hivis to go about your work, people didn't take themselves so damned seriously and telly wasn't 24/7 propaganda.
I also suspect that many people would be disappointed, having forgotten many of the things that were rubbish or not available.
"Girls/women were largely feminine and attractive"
Interestingly, there was a programme about the history of the Premier League on TV. They showed the introduction of pre-match cheerleaders/dancers in the early 90s. The women dancing were notable in not having big painted-on eyebrows, spherical breasts, pumped-up lips or orange tans. They looked better for it...
I'll go against the grain due to being a bit younger and say I'd love to re-live 2000 - 2010 (born in 89.)
Probably the best 10 years of my life thus far. Zero responsibilities, not a care in the world, I spent my evenings either playing the PS2 or becoming engrossed in very early online MMORPGS (got my first PC in 01!) with my best mate who lived around the corner. First 5 years was a mash up of sleeping over at a mates, gaming, watching nerdy movies, climbing trees and mostly harmless mischief. The second half was finishing school up to leaving sixth form and getting my first job. House parties every weekend when we were 15-16, sneaking into pubs, meeting copious amounts of girls, doing stuff to said girls, first ever night clubs, then onto my first job where I did more partying and more shagging while trying to configure who I was. Then came the lads holidays in 08/09/10. Fantastic times. I feel like I lived 2 or 3 different lives during that small ten year period.
I made mistakes, probably threw away a few good opportunities (said no to uni despite getting in) but I developed so much as a person. I look back fondly. They were really the best of times for me.
Probably the best 10 years of my life thus far. Zero responsibilities, not a care in the world, I spent my evenings either playing the PS2 or becoming engrossed in very early online MMORPGS (got my first PC in 01!) with my best mate who lived around the corner. First 5 years was a mash up of sleeping over at a mates, gaming, watching nerdy movies, climbing trees and mostly harmless mischief. The second half was finishing school up to leaving sixth form and getting my first job. House parties every weekend when we were 15-16, sneaking into pubs, meeting copious amounts of girls, doing stuff to said girls, first ever night clubs, then onto my first job where I did more partying and more shagging while trying to configure who I was. Then came the lads holidays in 08/09/10. Fantastic times. I feel like I lived 2 or 3 different lives during that small ten year period.
I made mistakes, probably threw away a few good opportunities (said no to uni despite getting in) but I developed so much as a person. I look back fondly. They were really the best of times for me.
I’m with the OP. Probably the 80’s.
I was born 1977 so grew up through the 80’s and 90’s. Although I’d maybe have liked to be around twenty in the mid 80’s there’s actually not much I’d change as I grew up through the hot hatch boom and then owned almost all of the ones I liked when they were cheaper in the mid 90’s.
I’ve always had an obsession with America especially 70’s/80’s America. You know the tree lined streets with mail boxes at the end of the garden plus the shopping Malls looked great.
I said to my wife though if I was around back then it would just be the norm. It only holds some interest as it’s a life I didn’t live and has a nostalgic air to it.
I went to Orlando a few years ago but only sampled the cheesy tourist side. I’d have liked to visit the places where normal working folk would live and go but how do you do that? I’d look like a right weirdo asking a taxi driver to take me to where the normal people live.
A few films for reference that I grew up with and liked the settings were No Mans Land with Charlie Sheen. Porsche film. Cheesy now but I love it.
Back to the future, Flight of the Navigator, etc etc.
I was born 1977 so grew up through the 80’s and 90’s. Although I’d maybe have liked to be around twenty in the mid 80’s there’s actually not much I’d change as I grew up through the hot hatch boom and then owned almost all of the ones I liked when they were cheaper in the mid 90’s.
I’ve always had an obsession with America especially 70’s/80’s America. You know the tree lined streets with mail boxes at the end of the garden plus the shopping Malls looked great.
I said to my wife though if I was around back then it would just be the norm. It only holds some interest as it’s a life I didn’t live and has a nostalgic air to it.
I went to Orlando a few years ago but only sampled the cheesy tourist side. I’d have liked to visit the places where normal working folk would live and go but how do you do that? I’d look like a right weirdo asking a taxi driver to take me to where the normal people live.
A few films for reference that I grew up with and liked the settings were No Mans Land with Charlie Sheen. Porsche film. Cheesy now but I love it.
Back to the future, Flight of the Navigator, etc etc.
Edited by marky911 on Wednesday 15th September 09:58
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