'90s Nostalgia: Guilty Pleasures Of Pre-9/11 Optimism

If my adolescence and that of other Gen-Y kids has been defined by war, our pre-adolescence was defined by "Wannabe." (by the Spice Girls.)And now, I find myself taking guiltily pleasurable trips back in time, whether online or in my head.

• "Oops!" We're not REALLY on Mars.

  Who cares that this video made no sense? That red jumpsuit was AWESOME. And it's not like she's doing any weird, non-song-connected sci-fi video nowadays.....wait a minute....

• Before Jamie-Lynn Spears Fucked it Up

  The closest a bunch of kids ever came to creating a family-friendly SNL.

• It WAS Their World.

  My best friend still owns this on VHS, and we watched it recently...and I loved it.

• Signs of the Crimes.

  Who knew from the bridge scene in this video that she'd get in countless future fender-benders?

• Excuse Me, I Have to Clean Up Its Mess.

  

  I don't know about you, but I felt very important when I had a Tamagotchi to take care of.

• YAY! Version 6-point-3-point-4-point...

  

  The internet was so much more special when it was on disc.

• SNICK.

  'Nuff said.

• Magic Magic Magic

  I'd like to believe that the then-recent Gulf War had nothing to do with Jasmine and Aladdin looking particularly "American" among a bunch of stereotyped Arab men.

• Hanson Did an Eggo Commercial.

  Did you forget how big they were? If 1997 was 2011, ItsKinglseyBitch would totally do an "Overexposed" for them.

• What My Young Dreams Were Made Of.

  I know this was 2003, but fuck it. I was 11 and thought this was the most inspirational song ever. And I still have the kid's dream of being in front of screaming fans. Don't we all?