Growing Up in the 90s
Growing Up in the 90s UK: My Favourite Music, TV Programmes and Games
Hi, I’m Vanessa, and I live in the UK.
I thought I’d do something a little different from my usual money-saving and self-improvement posts. Instead, I’m taking a trip back to the 1990s and early 2000s—a time filled with great music, unforgettable TV programmes, and some brilliant computer games.
The 1990s were a big decade for me. I started high school, went to college, and then began my first job, so my memories of the late 90s and early 2000s tend to blend together.
If you grew up during this time too, I hope this post brings back some happy memories.
Music
Music has always been a huge part of my life. I listen to it every single day and enjoy almost every genre—pop, rock, indie, dance and even a bit of new age. My favourite era is definitely the 1980s and 1990s, although I’ll happily listen to anything from the 1950s onwards.
As for today’s charts…I’ll admit I’m a little lost! Maybe I’m just getting older, or maybe music really was better back then! Whenever I watch a music awards show these days, I’m lucky if I recognise one or two artists.
Here are a few of my go-to 90s tracks, in no particular order.
- Sit Down – James
- Kingston Town – UB40
- I Love You Always Forever – Donna Lewis
- Circle of Life – Elton John
- Killing Me Softly – The Fugees
- Just Another Day – Jon Secada
- Changes – Tupac
- Turn Back Time – Aqua
- Don’t Speak – No Doubt
- Hold on – Wilson Phillips
- I’ll Remember – Madonna
- Fields of Gold – Sting
- As I lay me down – Sophie B Hawkins
- Sunshine on a rainy day – Zoe
- Little Bird – Annie Lennox
- Better the devil – Kylie Minogue
- I’ve been thinking about you – Londonbeat
- Yes – McAlmont and Butler
- November Rain – Guns N Roses
- Jump Around – House of Pain
Turn up the volume! Here are some top dance picks.
Dance music always puts me in a good mood. Whether I’m working, cleaning the house or just relaxing, these are some of my all-time favourites.
- Set You Free – N-Trance
- You Got the Love – The Source
- Insanity – Oceanic
- Last Train to Transcentral – The KLF
- The Rhythm of the Night – Corona
- Ground Level – Stereo MC’s
- Unfinished Sympathy – Massive Attack
- Got to Have Your Love – Mantronix
- Infinity – Guru Josh
- Sweet Harmony – The Beloved
- Mysterious Times- Tina Cousins
- Bullet in the Gun – Planet Perfecto
- Hideaway – De’Lacy
- Right in the Night – Jam and Spoon
- Find Me – Jam and Spoon
- Insomnia – Faithless
- Nothing Lasts Forever – Ultracynic
- No Good (Start the Dance) – The Prodigy
- Not Over Yet – Grace
- Is There Anybody Out There? – Bassheads
Even now, hearing any of these songs instantly takes me back.
Computer games
I grew up playing computer games, and my first console was the Atari 2600. My absolute favourites were Moon Patrol and Pitfall, and I spent hours playing them.
Later, I moved on to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the Sega Mega Drive. Although I enjoyed both consoles, I couldn’t afford to buy many games at the time, so gaming became more of an occasional hobby.
Things changed when I got a Game Boy Advance and, later, a Nintendo DS. I played my DS almost every day! Looking back, it’s probably my favourite console because by then I was working and could finally afford to build a decent game collection.
Writing this list has actually made me want to buy another Nintendo DS!
Here are some of the games I remember loving!
- Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town
- Lego Batman: The Video Game
- Finding Nemo: Escape to the Big Blue
- Garfield’s Nightmare
- Garfield the Search for Pooky
- Garfield and his nine lives
- Super Princess Peach
- Bomberman
- Asterix & Obelix
- Super Mario World
- Sonic The Hedgehog 2
TV Programmes
At the start of the 1990s, there were only four main TV channels in the UK, but everything changed when we got Sky TV in the mid-90s.
Around 1996, we got Sky TV. I had my MTV!!! I was so happy to have MTV and VH1. If I wasn’t watching the music channels, I still had loads of things to watch. These were some of my favourites:
- Neighbours
- Brookside
- Sunset Beach – Quite possibly the best (or worst!) soap ever. The storylines were completely ridiculous, there was even an evil twin, and yet I couldn’t stop watching! But for some reason they cancelled it and I was gutted.
- Blockbusters – “I’ll have P, please Bob”. Still makes me laugh. Simple things!
- Bullseye – “Oh look what you could have won” Classic.
- Cagney and Lacey
- Cheers
- Prisoner Cell Block H
- Roseanne
- Golden Girls
- The Word
- Cops – “Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do, Whatcha Gonna Do When they come for you”
- Eurotrash
- Hale and Pace
- Ricki Lake – I thought this was the best talk show out of them all.
- Rugrats – I still watch this when I can!
- Spitting Image
- Hitman and Her
- Top of the Pops
Looking Back
The 1990s really were a lovely time to grow up and enter adult life. Life really did seem a lot simpler, and some of my happiest memories were listening to music and playing video games! Of course, every generation probably says that about their own childhood, but there’s something special about remembering the music, TV shows, games, and little moments that made those years so enjoyable.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little trip down memory lane. If you grew up in the 90s, I’d love to hear about your favourite books, toys, TV programmes, or songs. Let me know in the comments—I always enjoy reading other people’s memories!
Click the link below to play Game Boy games Online
- https://playclassic.games/games/game-boy-games/
The link below is to play Game Boy Advance Games Online
