Is it cliche for me to say that I’m an old soul? One thing I always wish is that I lived in the 80s or 90s. Besides the crack epidemic and the extensivity of racism at the time, the generational time period was what I had an interest in. Even though I enjoy the time I live and am thankful for the improvements since that time, sometimes I feel like the culture of the 80s and 90s is not replicable. It was the beginning and the foundation of the African-American culture we see today. That was when rap was born, rhythm and blues were born, and fashion was born. Of course Lil Baby makes good music, but he can never compare to the hip hop artists from back in the day like Biggie, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac. Their music has a different vibe, it gives me a feeling that I cannot feel while listening to Summer Walker, Nicki Minaj, or Ariana Grande. Rhythm and Blues from the 70s and 80s hits even more different. I feel like I’m in another dimension when I listen to songs like Strawberry Letter 23 by the Brothers Johnson, or Footsteps in the Dark by the Isley Brothers. They give me such a serene and eccentric feeling. I feel that maybe the reason why I tend to favor the older versions of these genres rather than newer ones is that back then it was just starting, and it was original. Music now is not bad, but it has been reinventing and recycling itself for decades and decades. I remember when the black 90s sitcom Moesha came out on Netlfix during quarantine. I watched all six seasons in less than a week. it wasn’t even just the excitement of the plot that kept my attention, but the fantasy of being a teenager in the 90s. I was obsessed with the idea and the music I heard, the fashion I saw, and the all-around atmosphere of the show. The tales and stories I hear and read and watch make me envious of 90s teenagers, and make me wonder how my life would be if I grew up in that time. However, I am always glad to have been born in the era I was born in. I just wish I could’ve experienced the 80s and 90s.
Unruly Bodies 
Oh, man! Reading this brought back memories!!! Strawberry Letter 23 was one of my favorites.!!!! Though I never understood why the song was called Strawberry Letter 23, in the lyrics, it says 22. Thank you for appreciating the 80’s/90’s. As an old head, I must admit it was a fantastic time for music and sitcoms. I guess everybody thinks their era was the best, and I’m no exception. The ’80s was the beginning of rap music, the 90’s experienced that “new jack swing/ hip hop culture. The only thing I didn’t like was the 80’s hair! 90’s hair cool! I guess it wasn’t all good.
You captured my thoughts perfectly!! I’ve always been fascinated with music from the 70s and 80s when I was in high school. I’m a 90s baby but that ain’t stopping me. That turned into watching movies and documentaries about that time period and falling in love with the fact that I would love to live a day in those decades. I think listening to music transports me back into that time period in a way that feels like a different realm. Moesha and Saved by the Bell also are arguably one of the best shows to hit streaming services. I’m going to go take a listen to Strawberry Letter 23 now.