Revisiting the Nostalgic Power of 90s Pop Culture Through Posters In The Middle East
Posters have the power to bring back nostalgic memories that we yearn for, reminding us of all the good memories from our youth and even resemble an obsession or a passion that moulded us as children. In the 1990s, western pop culture was continuing to take over even here in the region, with Arab 90s kids having posters of Titanic, Brittney Spears and all-time Aqua. We’re in the mood for some nostalgia, and so we’ve have curated a list of all our favorite posters from the 90s and early 2000s that all MENA kids can relate to.
Titanic
Even now, Titanic continues to rank among the greatest and most enduring movies in Hollywood history. We all daydreamed about the kind of romantic relationship Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet had as a result of their captivating dramatic performances although many believe she could have budged a bit and let the guy survive. Even today, the film is still shown in theatres, particularly in Egypt. When the movie came out in 1997, both kids and adults were obsessed with the movie and started purchasing the film’s posters right away, as well as fake Chinese replicas of the infamous blue heart shaped diamond necklace. To this day, people still reminisce about the movie with artwork that reminds them of the movie’s debut and how it was hailed as a “cinematic miracle.”
Hisham Abbas
The 1999 track “See” (shofi) by Egyptian pop artist Hisham Abbas is among his most significant and well-known compositions. The official music video featured dance moves that were well timed with an upbeat attitude, nothing screams out the cool 90s than Hisham Abbas and his killer style. Abbas continued to rock the 90s with his 1997 song “My Eye” (Einy), which he performed alongside renowned Egyptian musician Hamid El Shaeri. Abbas is still considered one of the most cheerful artists trying to spread his positive vibes throughout the Middle East as many saw him as an icon of just pure happiness…I mean check out that smile.
Backstreet Boys
“You are my fire…The one desire…Believe when I say…I want it that way,” the biggest song by the American boy band Backstreet Boys, no one can start out with one of their lyrics without a crowd of even strangers joining in. When the song, “I Want It That Way” was released in May 1999, the entire world went absolutely crazy. Every band wanted to become the Backstreet Boys as their influence eventually gave rise to many boy bands all over the world. Their song, “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” from the same album, Millennium, became another smash, and fans decided that the group would now be their new fixation. Their souvenirs, CDs, and posters became widely available in Egyptian homes. I dare you to stand in a crowd and start with a line from their most famous hits without having the whole crowd joining in.
Mostafa Amar
Mostafa Amar’s sultry voice, which made him sound confident and artistic, was what made him distinctive than other artists in his generation. Amar’s music was upbeat and focused on love, which was a common theme back in the 1990s. “Her Black Eyes” (Elsoud Oyounoh) his 1998 song, became popular throughout the region and was f=a wedding favorite. After all, a number of young people idolized the musician and were even moved to pursue music as a career because of him, especially the touch of guitar playing.
Brittney Spears
Britney Spears rose to fame in 1998 after releasing the smash-hit single “Baby One More Time,” which helped her establish herself as one of the biggest pop artists in the world. Spears’ popularity was largely attributed to her unique voice as well as the attention she attracted with her magnificent outfits like the snakeskin and sequin gowns she wore. She quickly won the hearts of many kids in the region who were obsessed with her riske outfits, pop songs and who she was dating.
Amr Diab
Amr Diab aka “The Hill,” became one of Egypt’s most well-known and adored musicians, it’s almost unfair to place him on this list since he’s the icon to every generation arguably till today. His music lasted for so long as he was able to adapt to fit new musical trends every summer. In 1992, the artist both sang and acted in the well-known film “Ice Cream in Glim” (Ays Krim fi Glim.) Diab rapidly then rose to fame thanks to his song from the film and has remained a musical sensation ever since and now the joke continues that this guy just doesn’t age.
Even if you weren’t born in the 1990s, you’ll be able to relate to some of these musicians and movies as many of them are still popular to this day and are true game changers of the 90s.
