A Drive Through NYC In 1997

Unedited footage of a drive through Manhattan in 1997. Shot on a Sonny Handycam Camcorder by my father Rachid Echahly

[carl_anderson]

Late 90s hit hard for me because they feel so close, so around the corner. By that we had everything we needed as teenagers: Internet, cool music, awesome video games, blockbuster movies, hi-tech devices, CDs, cellphones, lots of friends, we had the best of both worlds, past and future, without drowning ourselves in the toxicity of social media, Twitter, absolute invasion of our privacy, an epidemic of mental health problems, complete lack of common sense. It was a nice time to be young and alive.

[spaman]

"The World you grew up in no longer exists"

[Norsilca]

I love that the radio, including ads, is included. Commercials are some of the least preserved things but formed such a large part of the experience of certain eras.

[idiotic]

The nostalgia is killing me. NYC in the 90s was a magical place, full of adventure, classy people, no social media and no smartphones. There was a certain special vibe in the atmosphere of the city back then, that you just don’t feel anymore.

[Uaarkson]

Back when NYC was cleaned up enough to live a decent life, but still rough around the edges enough to be fun. And rent while not cheap, was still affordable.

[jayyt]

Dude really traveled all the way to 1997 and back just to upload a YouTube video. That’s dedication👍

[omarcominyo]

Man, I miss the 90s. You never realise you're living in the "good old days" until they're gone.

[CorruptionDee]

As a native NYer, this video hits deep. For me, 1997 was one of the best years of my life. So sad seeing and living in what NYC, the country, and the world has become. I don't think NYC will ever be the same. Thanks for sharing this.

[djmutt]

“You will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory” - Dr Seuss

[foreignparticle]

What I wouldn't give to have experienced NYC in the 80s and 90s, when it really was the epicentre of global popular culture.
Footage like this is priceless.

[rockturtleneck]

I was living in NYC at this time (on the Upper East Side) and it has to be one of the best eras ever for the city. Crime was dropping rapidly, the economy was booming, it was pre-9/11, pre-Columbine, cell phones were new, no Twitter. It was a fantastic time and place to be young and carefree. Looking at this footage really takes me back, especially those flea markets in the parking lot!

[coachNewman]

Such a great era, great decade. Nothing is perfect of course. But the 90's had it all. Tech boom, music was amazing, movies were amazing, sports. Just everything was still in that non-social media time period and it ROCKED

[terrrell]

That's the NYC I grew up in. I miss that NYC. I miss the Twin Towers.

[rickwong]

The 90s had the special 'raining nostalgia' effect on camera that no one can describe. I can even smell the air and its unique aroma. What an era!

[linnea]

This date was my mom's 43rd birthday. Now I'm watching in 2022 and I'm 44 and she's been gone for 2 years.

[glizzyhendrix]

this really captures the 90s energy, there was a certain electricity in the air back then

[ownedbymykitty]

I moved to NYC in 1997 at age 23. I stayed for almost 5 years. Good times. The internet was new, the world was less depressing, there was A LOT more human interaction and there were new forms of music and art coming out each year. Culture was not so stagnant like it is now.

[ww]

I grew up across the river during this time. I couldn’t make it through this video without getting really sad. For some reason that world still feels more real to me then this one. I can’t explain it, everything looks/feels familiar. The cars, business, the radio in the background.
I always knew I would get older but I didn’t quite realize that while I changed, so did the world.

I’m not going to say one time is better than another. People have been saying that for all of recorded history. But, I don’t think the world will ever feel as optimistic and familiar than it did when I was younger. I bet the youth of today will feel the same way when they get older too.

Last thing, I used to think I was born in the wrong time. I wished I could have grown up in the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70’s. All of those decades seemed so much better to me when I was younger. Now, I want nothing more than to go back to the 90s. It was a golden age for me and I didn’t even know it.

[booch]

The best thing about seeing this video is watching everyone walking around and not a single cell phone! What a wonderful world we used to live in.

[Erix]

1:42 Allure - All Cried Out (1997)
2:43 unknown
5:26 Company B - Fascinated (12" Inch Club Mix) (1986)
6:38 Monica - For You, I Will (1996)
7:38 Club 69 feat. Suzanne Palmer - Much Better (1997)
7:52 Az Yet ft. Peter Cetera - Hard To Say I'm Sorry (1996)
9:12 Love Tribe - Stand Up (1997)
12:42 Soul II Soul - Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) (1989)
13:08 Call Me - Le Click (1997)
13:41 Ricky Martin - María (1996)
13:55 Captain Hollywood Project - More and More (1993)
15:43 No Authority - Don't Stop (1998)
18:44 Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - Joy and Pain (1988)
20:28 unknown
21:16 Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart (Classic Radio Mix)
(1996)
24:04 Yo No Se - Pajama Party (1989)


Thank you, Shazam.