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Mass media, television, the early internet, gossip magazines, music videos, and celebrity fandom became available to our greedy hearts in the 1990s in ways that our parents probably never could have imagined—much like the generational gaps between Gen X and Millennials or Boomers. We’ll leave it to the sociologists to debate whether Pop Culture is considered low-brow entertainment and middle-class escapism. Most would agree that Princess Diana’s elegant public appearance in her iconic ‘Revenge Dress’ was pretty high class. Regardless, we lived through some of the best pop cultural moments in the 1990s. Let’s look back:Â
The saying goes that living well is the best revenge. Still, for anyone alive in 1994, it could be argued that dressing well is the best revenge—precisely when the outfit comes in the form of a slinky off-the-shoulder look with a pleated bodice and draped chiffon skirt. The dress in question, known today as the Revenge Dress, was designed by Christina Stambolian for Princess Diana, who memorably wore the black number on June 29, 1994, to the Serpentine Gallery, the same night that Prince Charles admitted to his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles on national television.Â
Nirvana’s Performance on MTV Unplugged
On November 8, 2019, music history was made with Nirvana’s acoustic performance on MTV’s Unplugged concert series. Fun fact: both Nirvana and MTV thought their now-iconic episode of Unplugged would be a disaster. Kurt Cobain was also quietly suffering through addiction withdrawal at the time. According to drummer Dave Grohl, the rehearsals for the show were terrible. They both turned out to be wrong because the performance was incredible. The highly-anticipated performance came only two months after the release of the band’s final studio album, “In Utero.” It immediately became a defining moment in Nirvana’s career. The band dazzled the audience with unique versions of their material and a few covers, including David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World.” The pivotal moment came at the show’s end during a cover of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” during which Cobain gave a spine-tingling rendition that no one can forget. The band didn’t do an encore because Cobain stated backstage that there was no way he could top what had just transpired, and that’s probably a fair assumption considering the magnitude of his performance. It was brilliant.
Release of Harry Potter BooksÂ
Were you one of the eager masses waiting hours in line outside of a Barnes & Noble waiting for the release of the Harry Potter books in the 1990s? Fans of the series were so eager for the latest installment that bookstores worldwide began holding events to coincide with the midnight release of the books. The fandom would meet epic proportions by the early 2000s, but fan websites were established as early as 1997 and 1998. The books have sold over 600 million copies worldwide, making them the best-selling book series in history.Â
Sinead O’Connor Rips Up Image of Pope Live on SNLÂ
Singer Sinead O’Connor sparked outrage and admiration on October 3, 1992, when she tore up a picture of the Pope during her musical performance on Saturday Night Live. The 26-year-old musical guest of the evening walked out onto the SNL stage for her second number of the night on the live show. She sang “War,” O’Connor’s inimitable voice building in passion power until, after delivering the song’s final message, “And we know we shall win/As we are confident in the victory/Of good over evil,” raised a photograph of Pope John Paul II to the camera and, staring straight down the barrel of the live camera, tore it up. “Fight the real enemy,” O’Connor urged, then blew out the candles that had been her only accompaniment and walked offstage. For O’Connor’s claim that the Catholic Church and Pope John Paul II were responsible for enabling untold offenses against children in Ireland and across the world, well, history has vindicated at least the then-taboo accusations the young singer made on live American TV, even if the damage to her career lingered. She is remembered now posthumously for her bravery, courage, and convictions.Â
Courtney Love Attacks Madonna at the MTV Video Music Awards
Long before Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj, we had Courtney Love and Madonna at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1995… and it was better than could have ever been expected.
So, Madonna is being interviewed by the host when a make-up compact comes falling through the air. “Hi Courtney”, greets the host, as the camera pans to a slightly wobbly Courtney Love at the bottom of a staircase. “That’s Courtney… everybody’s favourite…” he trails off. Madonna doesn’t seem to agree. “Should we let her come up?” asks Madonna before quickly retracting it – “no, don’t. Please,” she adds. However, Courtney is already on the way, throwing more things as she approaches. “Courtney Love is in dire need of attention right now,” adds Madonna. Awk-ward. But it gets better. 1) They shake hands. 2) They have a shoe-off – Love in Charles Jourdan, Madonna in Gucci. 3) Madonna makes a thinly veiled dig at Love’s drug use.Â
The Earring Magic Ken Doll, Gay Icon
This cultural moment was just fun and hilarious if you were a part of any queer community in the 90s. In 1993, Mattel released the Earring Magic Ken doll. However, it wasn’t a hit with its intended audience. Actually, it went on to become a massive seller among gay men. This was mainly because he was dressed in sorta ’90s gay club clothes, had an earring, and highlights — oh, and the fact that he appeared to be wearing a “c**k ring” as a necklace. The doll was produced as part of the Earring Magic Barbie line. While it was selling well, it was discontinued, and the remaining dolls were recalled. It also led to Mattel having to issue this interesting statement: “We’re not in the business of putting c**k rings into the hands of little girls.”Â
Fran Fine’s Fashion Broke the Mold
The 1990s gave birth to many fictional style icons whose wardrobes inspire generation after generation. Still, not many have had the cultural impact of “The Nanny” herself, Fran Fine. With her leopard print mini dresses, neon skirt suits, and rainbow vests, Fran (played by the incomparable Fran Drescher) was a colorful and feminine respite from the muted grunge fashions popular at the time the sitcom premiered in November 1993. The show’s inaugural costume designer, Brenda Cooper – dressed Drescher in designer wares from Versace, Todd Oldham, Dolce and Gabbana, Bob Mackie, and Anna Sui, among others. But the Italian label Moschino provided many of Fran’s most kitschy and whimsical looks.
Dennis Rodman Donned a Wedding Dress & Married Himself
For over a decade, basketball player Dennis Rodman was one of the most recognizable people on the planet, a headline-making machine known as much for his flamboyant style as his bad-boy antics on the court. In 1996, while promoting his brazen memoir “Bad As I Wanna Be.” A throng of tuxedo-clad women escorted him from a horse-drawn carriage into a Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue. He said he was bisexual and was marrying himself.
Provocative? Sure. Gender-bending? Absolutely. But the stunt also generated the media frenzy most publicists only dream of. “Bad As I Wanna Be” quickly topped the New York Times bestseller list and remained on it for 20 weeks.
