I'd say pop culture generally froze around 2001, but 1997 is where you can trace the current stuff back to. Not that everything that was popular in '97 is still super-cool today, but almost all of it is generally liked/accepted. You could listen to a Third Eye Blind song in public, and while people may not be as crazy for it now, they probably wouldn't laugh at it either, if that makes sense.

Sure, there's alot of minute differences for the 2000's, most notably 9/11 on the political side, and improved technology, such as Ipods and cameraphones. Boy bands have pretty much faded away or gone solo. Jerry Springer-type talk shows have given way to reality TV and such. However, 2005 still feels like a worn out late '90s, if you know what I mean?

Hmm. That's given me something to think about.

I'm not so sure that pop culture has slowed down, it's just easier to spot when you're further away from it. For example, in the eighties I couldn't have defined the style for you - I thought the eighties were 'normal' and that all the other decades were weird! When I was in the eighties I also thought the music wasn't as good as previous decades, now I think eighties music is great!

Nineties style is emerging as we move away now - 'nice' boys, curtain hair an baggy tousers.

The first new milennium decade has a few crazes that people will always say "that's so noughties" about.

Scoubidou jewellery, reality TV, makeover TV, mobile/cell phones (as the 'digital watch' was to the eighties) & mobile/cell phone ringtones, Blue Cow, long sleeved/short sleeved tops in one (IE it looks like you're wearing two tops), clothes that look dirty when they're new (like ripped jeans in the eighties!), laminate flooring, pink/blue hair, straight hair (the opposite of eighties hair!).

All these things will look really funny to the next generation in the next decade!

^ Forgot to respond to this earlier, but I think the UK definitely beats the USA in things like that (you guys are lucky - you got the Beatles too!).

Yeah, I can almost guarantee a kid in 2015 will think reality TV and 50 Cent was stupid and campy, LOL! Still, I don't think things are as distinct and vibrant as they used to be (i.e. the '70s were already starting to be uncool by 1979, from all I know).

Most of the '90s does feel a bit old-school, but people don't backlash it. That era is only becoming less cool by virtue of it getting further away, so less people remember it. Whereas in the 90s, the 80s were deemed uncool because of what they WERE.

The whole idealogy of the Grunge era seemed to try and be as "un-80s" as possible, especially in the music and fashion. Technology was still 80s-like (tape players and VCR's were still the big thing, and it was mostly pre-Internet) but the perception of what was cool, and the overall attitude and mindset was alot closer to the present.

My prediction is the 00s will drag along with this same late 90s style, then around 2009-2010 we will see pop culture change into something noticeably different from what we have been living in since 1997.

Where've you been, Spotty? We've missed you

I agree totally with that statement. In the 90's, the eighties were seen as drudgy and grey. People shunned anything eithties and laughed at the fashions.

Now, you can actually buy eighties style clothes (admittedly toned down a bit) in the shops again! Everyone thinks it's cool again!

It's a funny old world....

The Millenium isn't really a decade in my opinion, more of a patische of the 90's with the occasional retro 80's and 70's coming through.

We've had "Make Luv" by Room 5, a remix 1983's of "Get Down Saturday Night", and even odder, "Saturday" which is the same song yet again! Elton John's having his songs redone from the late 70's as well.

Miami Vice, Dukes of Hazzard and a huge amount of shows are being remade into films for the audience, Quantum Leap should be made sometime soon as well!

Old hawaiian shorts are being brought back in, and pink is now the in colour? *cringes*

Bring on 2011 and the start of the 10's please!

I plan personally to wear the same kind of clothes (with leather trenchcoat) for the next 20 years and I don't think anyone will ever notice! lol

Makes me laugh, you watch Doctor Who and wherever he goes, no-one ever comments what he's wearing! I plan to do that with a character in one of my novels, he never changes his clothes despite the year because he realises that a: no-one realises, or b: no-one cares!

Anyway, apart from the songs and fashion, its been an alright decade, but the tradegies we've had, September 11th, Iraq, London and Madrid bombings, Tsunami, Katrina means its been a very troubling time to live.

I hope the 2000's decade ends soon.

Rock and roll does seem to be making somewhat of a revival. It seems like a majority of the people who are active in the BTTF fandom are teens or young adults, who would generally be able to have an all-around appreciation for the 1980s. I think there are a lot o teens rebelling against the kind of the music that they're expected to like. BTW, just what are teens expected to listen to now. I was quite a bit out of touch when I suggested that people of Haven Brown's generation were expected to listen to Britney Spears.

It really depends on what click you fit into. I may not be a teen anymore but I am friends with some who are, one is a bonefied EMO and listens to heavey rock and metal, as I do, and generally speaking do not make it into the mainsteam. The others are more mainstream and listen to chart music, sappy pop songs by the likes of Girls Aloud, Take That and Alicia Keys to name but 3, all of those are in the UK top 10.

What do you mean by a revival?

I mean, fighting back against rap and pop. More and more teens do seem to be turning towards rock, as opposed to the other two genres.

On the other hand, though, you have book series like Harry Potter and His Darkest Materials that are being held in high regard. Even though music, movies, and TV may currently be in a slump - I don't think the same can really be said of books. Granted, I'm not a Harry Potter fan - but you have to give credit where it's due.

I do wonder if, some twenty or thirty years down the road, people will be talking about how much things were nicer during the years 2000 to 2009. I wouldn't doubt it, really. I mean, that's kind of the funny thing about nostalgia. The '60s, the '70s, the '80s, and the '90s all certainly had their share of problems - when you really think about it.

I think, if I was to go back in time, the internet would probably be the one thing I'd miss most about the present.

It certainly would be nice to see rock music live on, though.

Just be patient until December 31st, 2010.

I doubt it will end in 2010. The 60s didn't end until 1973. The 70s ended around 1982.

Perhaps, we should be thinking a little more positively. I haven't been listening to a lot of modern music, lately - but I know the music of this decade isn't all The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, and gangsta rap.

Here are some rock bands of this decade that have been highly lauded:
Wolfmother
The White Stripes/The Raconteurs
Audioslave
Jet
Muse

There are plenty others, I'm sure - but these are what I can come up with, at the top of my head. I think much of what you hear on active rock stations is pretty decent. Active rock stations are radio stations that combine classic rock with newer rock, which seem to be quite popular. I'm sure they're also excellent for bridging the generation gap, a little.