16 Sights, Sounds, and Feels Only GenX and OG Millennial Kids Will Truly Appreciate
Be prepared to feel nostalgic
I wanted to write something really fun for this week’s post, so I thought it would be cool to reminisce on some of the the things we would all be familiar with. I believe our generation had some really special and unique sounds and tactile things that only we would understand. Here they are. I hope they take you back!
1. The Satisfying Click of a Cassette Tape
Remember the distinct "click" when you popped a cassette into your Walkman? What was the first cassette tape you remember buying or listening to?
Bonus points if you ever had to use a pencil to wind a tangled tape back into its case!
2. The Static-y Glow of a VHS Tape Starting
That blue screen with "Play" in the corner, accompanied by a slight static buzz - it was the universal signal that your VCR was about to play your movie! And let's not forget the anxiety of whether someone remembered to rewind the tape!
3. The Ear-Piercing Screech of Dial-Up Internet
How can we ever forget the robotic symphony of connecting to the internet? That cacophony of beeps and screeches was the soundtrack to entering the digital world - at a blazing 56k speed!
Do you remember the kind of computer you had as a teen?
4. The Battle Cry of "I Have the Power!"
He-Man's transformation was a daily ritual for many kids. The moment Prince Adam held aloft his magic sword, you knew it was go-time against the forces of evil (or time to beg mom for more action figures). I remember rushing home from school most days so I wouldn't miss Masters of The Universe!
5. The Clatter of Quarters at the Arcade
The jingle of quarters in your pocket meant serious business at the local arcade. Whether you were lining them up on the Street Fighter II cabinet or hoarding them for just one more try at Pac-Man, those quarters were your passport to a great arcade experience. Remember running out of quarters and asking your friend for a few? That was a true test of friendship!
6. The Crinkle of Opening a Pack of Trading Cards
Whether it was Garbage Pail Kids or baseball cards, that crisp sound of tearing open a fresh pack was pure excitement. Would you get that rare card you've been hunting for, or just more doubles to trade? I can’t tell you how many packs of 1989 Upper Deck I went through until I got the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card!
7. The Clunk of a Cartridge Entering the NES
Blowing on the cartridge, inserting it into your Nintendo Entertainment System, and hearing that satisfying "clunk" - it was the start of a good day. Well, that is unless the light kept blinking!
What was your favorite game on NES? Mine has always been Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!
8. The Beeps and Boops of a Speak & Spell
This educational toy's robotic voice was both creepy and fascinating. Its monotone "That is correct" was music to any budding speller's ears.
9. The Whir of a Polaroid Camera
Long before digital cameras and smartphones, the mechanical whir of a Polaroid camera ejecting a photo was magical. Watching the image slowly appear felt like actual sorcery.
10. The Crackle of Pop Rocks
These fizzy candies created a party in your mouth - and urban legends about what would happen if you mixed them with soda. That distinctive crackling sound and sensation was unlike any other candy experience. You can still buy Pop Rocks today. Go ahead and try the soda thing!
11. The Scratch of Velcro on a Trapper Keeper
I’m not sure there is a more satisfying rip of Velcro than the one on a Trapper Keeper! You know some serious learning, or flipping through your hidden sheets of Garbage Pail Kids, was about to happen.
Here’s one of mine…
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12. The Chime of a Casio Digital Watch
That iconic "beep-beep" hourly chime was the bane of every teacher's existence. But for kids, it was a high-tech way to count down to recess or the end of the school day. It was also a way to feel like you were like Michael Knight signaling KITT.
13. The Clack of Slap Bracelets
Remember the satisfying "slap" of those colorful fabric-covered metal bands wrapping around your wrist? Slap bracelets were the ultimate '80s accessory, banned in many schools but coveted by every kid. That sharp clacking sound was like a badge of honor on the playground.
14. The Whir of a Tape Rewinding in a VCR
Before "Be Kind, Rewind" became a nostalgic phrase, it was a necessity. If you had great listening skills you could tell when the tape was getting close to stopping!
Bonus memory: the moment of panic when you realized you'd forgotten to rewind a rental before returning it to Blockbuster!
15. The Crunch of Cap Gun Caps
Long before concerns about toy guns, cap guns were a staple of '80s/’90s playtime. The sharp "pop" and pungent smell of a freshly fired cap was thrilling. Whether you preferred the roll caps or the individual ones, that satisfying crunch under your thumb was irresistible. It was for me, at least.
16. The Melodic Chime of an Ice Cream Truck
While not unique to the 80s or 90s, the melody of an approaching ice cream truck held a special magic for kids of these decades. That cheerful tune floating down the street on a hot summer day meant it was time to beg mom or dad (genius level was going to both) for some change and chase down a WWF Superstars of Wrestling Ice Cream Bar or, Bomb Pop or Screwball.
For kids from our generation, these sights, sounds, and feels were something really special. These tangible experiences truly shaped our world. When I think back on the past (basically daily), I tend to look back in fondness on the things I held in my hand and that I remember triggered excitement in me when I heard or saw them. I think you probably do too.
I truly hope you enjoyed this and it made you smile.
Definitely the quarters and the cassette tape...
I still have my speak and spell from what must’ve been the early eighties and the ET cartridge, “Spell Elliot!” And I taught my son to spell with it 😆