About This Quiz
Let's go back to the good ol' days when Backstreet came back ... from a six-month hiatus. It was a time of very thin eyebrows and boy band overload. Disney stars consumed pop culture and we loved every second of it. The 1990s and 2000s gave us some of the best fashion to make fun of, some of the most interesting musical trends and some of the most cutting-edge movies around. If you grew up during this time, you were immersed in this pop culture boom and consumed it regularly. Even if you didn't like it, it was always there for you to hear, see and experience. Chances are, you don't mind taking this step back in time to see just what was cool back in your day.
If you're a Millennial or a Gen-Xer, you had the luxury of watching pop culture evolve into an interesting creature that pretty much took over the world, but now it's time to see how much you remember from back then. We found 40 of the "coolest" things from the '90s and '00s, and we want to see how much you know and remember from back then. Take this quiz to learn just how well you know your generation's touchstones.Â
If you didn't watch "Friends" when you were younger, chances are you watched it in syndication. Additionally, it's difficult to get through a conversation with a fan without hearing at least one reference to the hit show.
Although Britney Spears went through a hard time in the mid-2000s, she was once at the top of the pop charts, changing the lives of those around her. However, having to maintain the perfect princess persona really got to her.
The Spice Girls took over American airwaves in the late 1990s. People loved their style, their attitude, and most of all, their music. These pop stars took over the world for a short period, but it was memorable nonetheless.
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Alicia Silverstone was a staple of the mid-1990s. Her most iconic character Cher Horowitz showed that people could care and work harder to help each other, no matter where they came from or how they got to where they are now.
Though there was a popular movie that came out before the TV show, everyone remembers Sarah Michelle Gellar starring as the teen who had to balance school work and killing vamps all at the same time.
Kurt Cobain was the lead singer of the popular grunge band, Nirvana. They were the voice of an entire generation. Even those who grew up in the late '90s know about this band and how it changed the world.
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The "Austin Powers" series began in 1997, shedding light on the ridiculousness of what villains in 1970s spy movies actually wanted. Not only were these movies over the top, but they were also pretty hilarious.
Maroon 5 burst onto the scene with a new sound that no one had ever heard. It was hard to turn on the radio and not hear a song from "Songs About Jane" — "This Love," "She Will Be Loved," "Harder to Breath" and "Sunday Morning" were all on heavy rotation.
Eminem got a lot of push back from every angle. Most in the industry didn't like his look or the color of his skin, while those in the FCC hated his lyrics and the message they misinterpreted. Ultimately, he's the kind of musician that persevered.
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Though many clearly remember the breakdown and descent of Lindsay Lohan, others like to remember her phenomenal acting skills before Hollywood took over. She played the roles of both twins in this remake.
Teen girls didn't need to be cheerleaders to appreciate the first installment of the "Bring It On" series. There was something so amazing about watching competitions that required choreography and drama.
Smashmouth was the kind of band that could produce catchy songs with deeper meanings. However, their most popular songs were cultural commentaries on the clothing and social norms of the time.
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Missy Elliot was well-known as one of the most powerful women in the rap world. Not only did she dismiss haters, but she also gave women the tools they needed to gain confidence and be strong even in the toughest situations.
Of all the one-hit wonders that came around in the '90s and '00s, people probably remember this summer song better than most. It's no wonder they didn't last long; they don't even eat Chinese food.
"Napoleon Dynamite" changed comedy forever. It no longer had to be bold and full of monologues. It was now cool to have a comedy that mimicked life in a way that was slow and intelligent at the same time.
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There was something about a business where the owners constantly bickered and fought with each other that attracted viewers from all backgrounds. "American Chopper" gave people exactly what they wanted when they needed it.
In "Hollaback Girl" (2004), we learn how to spell bananas, but we also learn how to tell a guy to stop using us. It was a girl-power song that brought a lot of great messages and dance moves to young women.
Though Miley Cyrus seemed as though she was going down the same path as most Mouseketeers, her transition shocked us all as she never stopped making music. She became a wild child, but her fans absolutely loved it.
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She was America's sweetheart before her meltdown made her nearly unemployable in Hollywood. She was adorable and could be seen on TV and in movies teens loved, like "What a Girl Wants."
"Dawson's Creek" didn't shy away from talking about the toughest topics that teens faced in the late 1990s. From teen pregnancy to losing your virginity, many learned a thing or two about the struggles of teen life from this show.
While many argued that Shakira's voice wasn't their favorite thing on Earth, no one could deny that the woman could dance, and she could dance well. Her body moved in ways we hadn't seen in quite some time.
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"Charmed" was a mix between a supernatural drama and a daytime soap opera. It included three sisters who had magical powers living together and fighting (or falling in love) with demons.
In 2001, up and coming artist Aaliyah tragically died in an airplane accident. Most people believed that she was the next diva to sweep the nation, but unfortunately, her time ended before she made it that big.
Ricky Martin was a hot item at the turn of the century. He could dance and sing and get others to dance and sing with him. His music is still used in films and television, and it's also still stuck in our heads.
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The movie stars Rob Schneider as Clive, who switches bodies with a mean girl who is the queen of her school. Chaos and comedy are all that follow as the two try to figure out how to fix their lives and become better people.
"The Lord of the Rings" series turned even the coolest people into fanboys. Audiences couldn't get enough of the spectacular special effects and the intense battle scenes. It brought in more money than anyone ever thought it would.
Lauryn Hill made her first mainstream appearance with the band The Fugees. The group created R&B that people wanted to listen to and loved to hear. She later started a solo career, but her work is well-remembered in many circles.
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With popular songs like "Bye Bye Bye" and "It's Gonna Be Me," *NSYNC was the kind of band that young girls flocked to in hopes of getting a glimpse at the attractive young men who sang and danced around the stage.
Throughout the '80s and '90s, audiences were given teen movies that all pretty much had the same plot. In seeing this, writers of "Not Another Teen Movie" decided to take things as far as they could with the ridiculousness of it all and poke fun at the common tropes.
Much like Smashmouth, The Barenaked Ladies gave us some exciting sounds that delivered an interesting message. The fast-paced music showed us that we didn't have to settle for slow pop anymore, even if we couldn't dance to it.
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Federal agents received a lot of attention after September 11th, and we all wanted to see red-blooded Americans saving the country over and over again. For this reason, "24" was a highly regarded and highly watched show from 2001 to 2014.
Although "Seinfeld" claimed to be a show about nothing, the show was really about how comedians get their material. The odd situations that "you just can't make up" changed the comedy game for everyone in the decade.
Uma Thurman has played several roles that show off her range. However, she is most remembered for her excellent work in the "Kill Bill" series in which she goes on a killing spree for vengeance.
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"Firefly" didn't take off as much as producers wanted it to, and Fox canceled the show in 2003. Fans were outraged, as it was well-written and creative. Though there was a release of a movie, fans still push to have it resurrected.
The Backstreet Boys took over several radio stations as the boy band craze of the late 1990s swept the nation. Not only were these bands creating music videos, but they were drawing crowds that rivaled the Beatles.
You might not think that a show can be entertaining if it's just couples have to compete against each other to get to different destinations around the world. However, audiences continue to tune into this one that airs on CBS.
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Jason Priestly is always remembered as Brandon Walsh. He didn't do a lot of acting after "Beverley Hills, 90210" ended in 2000, but he was considered a heartthrob of the '90s as his show attracted teen girls from across the country.
Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson were in a lot of trouble as the live half-time show revealed a part of Janet's body that was supposed to remain covered. The controversy exists when you listen to the lyrics that were sung just before that part of her wardrobe was ripped off her body.
There was no doubt that people wanted to show what happens when you push teens to the edge. While high school football can change a student's life, it shouldn't change it in physical ways that are unhealthy.
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"Can't Take Me Home" was an album that swept audiences away. Not only did P!NK sing about her independence, but she also sang about some traumatic experiences. She spoke to teenage girls about the hardships they'd face and how to get over them.