5 Things From the 90s That Might (As Well) Come Back
2010 has seen the return of two things from the 90's that no one expected: Soundgarden and Faith No More. And while these were two of my all time favorite bands, the news of their reunions has left me less than enthused. Maybe its because theyre not releasing any new material so watching them now promises to be only marginally more exciting than checking in with Kurt Cobain. Or maybe its because their return was so unexpected, it's left me reeling with uncertainty. I mean, what else from the 90's will return? Here are five fearless predictions:
Back in the mid 90s a bunch of ladies saw the success of Lollapalooza and decided to show the world that sisters could do it for themselves. Soon a group of somewhat talented artists banded together united only by their one hit wonder status and lack of a penis. Shawn Colvin, Meredith Brooks, Paula Cole, and others. (Id include Sarah McLachlan, but shes had more than one hit and that would ruin my wild generalization. Also, she never replied after I wrote that letter about kissing her so hard, so Im just going to assume she actually does have a penis.)
Well in 2010, Lillith Fair will return with a vengeance. And not with Lady Gaga and Ke$ha flying the grrl-power banner. No, instead, our old friends will take to the stage with new anthems like Brookss Im a Bitch (Just Like This Menopause); Colvins Sonny Never Visits Anymore; and Paula Coles Piss Off Gladstone, I Had Two Hits. The feisty music-loving college girls of the 90s will now be able to purchase tickets at Starbucks, Talbots, and, of course, Gymboree.
I hesitate to go here because after the Lillith Fair cracks Id hate to be misunderstood as a misogynist. But being misunderstood is what writing for the internet is all about. Its like a big game of Telephone that you play only with your deaf friends. Who are also neurologically impaired. So here goes. I know it may come as a surprise to you 21st century boys and girls, but women were different in the 90s. This was before Sex and the City feminism took hold. Today, women hold onto the false delusion that they can empower themselves by tweeting frankly about how much they enjoy oral sex. Where a frattish mentality of getting drunk and laid is somehow akin to saying, Im a woman and I will not be denied ! Now, of course thats wrong-headed and false, but men dont typically try to dispel that notion because, well why would we dissuade you from talking about oral sex? Its much easier for dudes to say, Yes, youre an independent woman. Now finish your beer and do that thing I like with the thing.
But back in the 90s, it was a different scene. Intelligent, sexual women across the land (or at least at my University) wanted to run with the wolves while reading Naomi WolfesBeauty Myth. They couldnt put on make up or shave their legs without asking, Why am I doing this; are these the tools of my oppression; and how does Gladstone get so dreamy? I dont have the stats to prove this, but in the 90s fewer asses got spanked during sex then any decade in modern history. The 69 rose in prominence as the only accepted egalitarian form of oral sex. And for the first time in history, a frank dialogue about the magic and glory of the menses was considered foreplay.
Well, get ready, because in 2010, its all coming back. Sex and the City 2 will hit theaters and suddenly women will react in horror at the lifeless shell Carrie Bradshaw has become. Soon Ani DiFranco records will start to sell again and French maid outfits will be returned in record numbers. Your free ride is over fellas. Time to grow a pony tail and get some Indigo Girls records.
Historians tell us that for a brief six week period in the fall of 1991, it was actually considered somewhat witty and/or clever to say thanks for sharing or too much information when confronted with unwanted details from anothers personal life. We may never know why humor was ascribed to these phrases, but all our best data tells us its true. Indeed, even today, there are still clusters of humorless conversation trolls who feel empowered by using these phrases as if they were magical incantations, instantly transforming the speaker into a person more important than the addressee. They have no idea that every self-respecting human stopped saying this shortly before the start of the Clinton administration.
Well theyre in luck. In 2010, a void will form in our language and welcome the unfortunate return of these phrases. Why? Because in 2010 Fail will finally leave the vernacular. (Incidentally, meh will hold tight for another five years.) Soon, millions of the worst people in the world will be unsure what to say when being exposed to unexpected, unwanted information. And thats when the TMI jargon returns. Some of you may be doubting this prediction. How does it make sense to reply thanks for sharing to a youtube video you dont approve of? Well , in truth, it makes no sense. But then again, it was never really logical to say too much information to your co-worker when he was trying to open up to you about the death of his mother either.
Did you misread that? Not Goatse. Thats a 21st century creation. No, I said goatee that tiny beard circling ones mouth that --much like Goatse-- actually does conjure thoughts of a-holes. But in the 90s it was part of the standard uniform. Its hard to believe, but just over a decade ago, this incomplete facial hair formation, could actually increase a guys chances of having sex especially when coupled with long hair. It was a look that said, Hey world, I dont have a beard. Im not clean-shaven either. You cant define me with your boring rules. And seriously whats sexier than that?
In 2010, the goatee comes back stronger than ever. Why? Because of this column. The power of the internet, baby. Tomorrow morning, every guy whos read this will stare in his bathroom mirror overcome by a certain sensation. Good lord, Gladstones onto something! What if the ladies couldnt see the skin immediately around my mouth? What if it appeared from the proper distance that I had a cinnamon donut stuck to my face? Good lord, how much tail would that get me? You may doubt it now, but it's already in play. Youre already on your way. Congratulations, sexy!
In fact, I just started a facebook group called Goatees for 2010 to get this baby going. If the group gets, over 100 members with pics posted, I promise to post too.
(I understand it will take a few days to get the facial hair in place). I will also do my best to get the other Cracked columnists to do so understanding, of course that Daniel OBrien and Michael Swaim may lack the testerone-based fortitude to achieve such things.
Hey remember one of the worst sitcoms ever? No? Why? Because you were 5? Oh. Well what about syndication? Yes, Im talking about Full House. That show about a Jewish guy who was somehow named Tanner and not actually Jewish who had to raise two baby troll dolls after his wife died. Thinking fast, he recruits John Stamos and Dave Coulier to help out. The show ran from 1987 to 1995 and I imagine it sucked the entire length of that time, but truth be told, Im not sure I ever saw a full episode.
In any event, in 2010, Full House returns. Not a remake. All the same actors return in modern day. The make-shift family will reunite to help the Olson twins deal with their eating disorders. Bob Saget, once known for being funny and one of the dirtiest stand ups prior to Full House, will now drop F bombs non stop. And Dave Couliers catch phrase will be Hey, yknow Alanis Morrissette was totally talking about going down on me in that theater. Dont believe me? Doesnt sound right for TV? What if I told you the cast did the whole show in black face and it was called Tyler Perrys Full House of Payne? Yep. Believe it. Enjoy your 2010, guys.
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Though this the decade for 90's nostalgia, I hope nothing from the 90's comes back except maybe Lilith Fair and OJ's bronco chase. Everything in the 90's was bad, clothes, music, everything. It seemed cool then, but now I realized it was just a less fun, stuffy version of the 1980's.
ReplyDear Gladstone: It's Sunny. Also, the sequel to Sunny Came Home would be Sunny's In Prison, since Sunny Came Home is a -murder ballad- and any doof can find that out by Googling the lyrics. Herp da derp.
Reply"Come on knock on my dooooor"
ReplyUhhh ... Shawn Colvin, a one-hit wonder? Just cuz you haven't heard of someone doesn't make them obscure. Paula Cole also had a good career going until she got sick of the music business.
ReplyMeredith Brooks, mind, IS a one-hit wonder.
@3: 3 words. Cool Story Bro.
ReplyYou Goatee guys should form a band & call it, like, The Goatees ...man
ReplyThe absence of quotes and apostrophes make this article exceptionally hard to read, as it's hard to tell where the possessives end and the satiric titles begin.
ReplyAw Gladstone, I think you look nice in that photo!
Reply Hide All See All 3 RepliesAlso I still don't know what Goatse is and I'm too afraid to google it...
Really? Must not have been on any internet forums from 2000 to 2005.
Actually, that's true I was studying really hard in university over those years and had little time to browse the net, then when I came back I kept seeing references but no explanation, but from what I can gather I'm probably better off!
In 2005, I was 11 and therefore not allowed on those types of websites. However, I have heard secondhand what it is. After Blue Waffle, I learned my lesson, and successfully avoided 2 girls 1 cup, Goatse, Lemon Party, and Pen Island. Come to think of it, there are an awful lot of those. We, as a global society, are absolutely horrible.
I've always like goatees because they just scream "villian".
ReplyIt's amazing, as a child I enjoyed Full House. I tried to watch a rerun a while back, and ten minutes in my brain wanted to explode just to make it stop. I was stunned by how bad it actually was.
ReplyI remember that show, I loved it, too. I thought about watching some of the episodes again, but I wasn't sure... and now that I read your comment, I guess I won't do it. I don't want to destroy my great memories.
Also, your comments has four upvotes, zero downvotes and a "score" of +3. And here I thought I would understand math. ._.
(@Codric, re: the upvotes vs. downvotes, I know that when someone "likes" his or her own post, then that doesn't count towards the total. However, I've also noticed the same discrepancy on my own posts, and I NEVER click thumbs up to my own posts. So there must also be another category whose vote doesn't counteract thumbs-downs.)
Testify, pouncing to over-use "Too Much Information/Thank You for Sharing" always bugged the sht out of me.
ReplyToday's version of it is lunging for "dude, that's emo!" whenever a songwriter feels a feeling. Away with emotions in songs! Songs should not make you feel emotions. They should be as dead emotionally as a plastic iPod cover.
I've never heard of that one, probably because I actually listen to emo music (also metal and alternative rock). I think the new TMI is going to be "Cool Story Bro".
Gladstone was right about #3 the thing people like to say now is "Cool story bro" which is only funny to me because no one has used on it me.
ReplyThe lack of apostrophes is really grating. Couldn't get through the first page. Dude, remember your punctuation, please. It can turn "Let's eat, Grandpa!" into "Let's eat grandpa!", and that's just wrong.
ReplyIf you're going to nitpick about punctuation, that's a comma, not an apostrophe.
Unfortunately, goatees never left. Geez, I fuckin' hate goatees... lucky the dh hates them, too.
ReplyUm. I'm overly annoyed by little things: I could not get through the front page due to errors. I hope the lack of apostrophes is due to the new layout.
ReplyGoatees come back... I never got rid of mine. Why?
ReplyGood man. That of course is because red blooded males know the true power of the goatee. It does everything from keeping my chin warm, and my shirt free of errant soup, to providing another bit of stimuli to my lady's undercarriege and forming a velcro-like bond between my face and her... well, you get the idea. Also as a hidden bonus; putting on a bit of winter weight is not as disconcerting when the start of a double chin is concealed by that flag of manliness known as the goatee. Wear it well brother.
Damn, what's with the hate for Gladstone? I have never picked up on any "whining" or him being a hipster. Illiteracy is a huge problem, apparantly. It's one thing to just not like the kind of humor he uses, but he is actually a damn good writer.
ReplyTMI and goatees definitely never left, idk what kinda crack u smoked, but it definitely made you see the past incorrectly. altho, i really really hope FULL HOUSE stays f**king dead.
ReplyGoatees stopped being cool a long time ago, hate to break it to you. And if you didn't make this comment from a phone, you should be ashamed of yourself for not spelling out simple words like "you" and "although". I agree about Full House though.
I say thee nay! Goatees are a wonder to possess and a joy to behold! Were it not for my badge of masculinity, I would need dozens, maybe hundreds of paper towels and napkins every week, and that is simply not an option for manly men.
Top Ways to Write an Article While Drunk
ReplyMy thoughts exactly, just seems like a drunken rant. C'mon Gladstone, I loved Hate by Numbers, but your article suck...
did anyone else notice the obnoxious lack of apostrophes?
Reply Hide All See All 3 RepliesI've noticed that in several articles. I'm starting to think it's a thing.
It's the way the old site converted to the new site. Messed up a bunch of s**t like that. Tru fax.
I believe Tangle to be correct. I've noticed that all the older articles lack apostrophes.