Flashback: August 3, 1996

Welcome Back

Welcome back to The GenX Edit where nostalgia meets real life in the best way. This week, we’re rewinding to August 1996, a moment in time when the world felt a little more analog and a lot more alive.

Grunge was fading, pop was rising, and we were caught somewhere between No Doubt and Toni Braxton. The Macarena was everywhere (whether we liked it or not), and Blockbuster movie marathons were still a valid weekend plan.

Meanwhile, the 1996 Olympics gave us one of the most unforgettable summers in sports…complete with gold medals, gold shoes, and a flaming torch in the hands of a legend.

Whether you were making your first mixtape CD, starting a part-time job, or just savoring the last free days of summer vacation, August ’96 hit different and that’s exactly what we’re diving into this week

This Mixtape Memory Lane is sponsored by 50 Ways to Keep Your Lover.

Mixtape Memory Lane 

These were the songs stuck in our heads and our CD players during the first week of August 1996:

🎧 “Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)” – Los Del Rio
The ultimate wedding/BBQ/dance-floor takeover. You didn’t need rhythm…just the arm routine and zero shame. Like it or not, this was the sound of summer '96.

🎧 “You’re Makin’ Me High” – Toni Braxton
Sultry, hypnotic, and mature in a way that felt borderline scandalous if you were under 18. Babyface’s production paired with Toni’s velvet voice made this a grown-up slow jam classic.

🎧 “Give Me One Reason” – Tracy Chapman
Proof that simplicity can hit harder than spectacle. A bluesy guitar riff, a steady beat, and Chapman’s voice doing exactly what it needs to…everything.

🎧 “Change the World” – Eric Clapton
From the Phenomenon soundtrack, this soft rock groove was sentimental without being sappy. It played equally well at weddings, waiting rooms, and wistful car rides.

🎧 “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)” – Quad City DJ’s
An aerobic workout disguised as a party track. Whether you were in a club or a middle school gym, this one got everyone moving.

👆 Watch the full throwback video playlist on YouTube Music.

Screen Time Rewind 

At the box office, action reigned and aliens ruled.  Independence Day wasn’t just a blockbuster…it was the blockbuster. Will Smith went from sitcom star to silver screen hero, delivering one-liners and uppercuts to aliens like it was his full-time job. With massive explosions, a rousing presidential speech, and a welcome blend of humor and heart, it set a new bar for summer spectacle.

Meanwhile, A Time to Kill brought gravitas and gut-punch emotion to theaters. Adapted from John Grisham’s novel, it tackled race, justice, and morality in the deep South…made unforgettable by a raw performance from Samuel L. Jackson and a breakout role for Matthew McConaughey.

And then there was The Nutty Professor…a wild, transformative showcase for Eddie Murphy. His turn as the sweet but insecure Sherman Klump and his entire chaotic family reminded us that Murphy didn’t just steal scenes… he multiplied in them. Part slapstick, part heartwarming glow-up story, it was pure ’90s energy.

On the small screen, the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta marked 100 years of the modern Games and the U.S. made it count.

🥇 The “Magnificent Seven”, led by Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, and Kerri Strug, won America’s first-ever gold medal in women’s team gymnastics. Strug’s unforgettable vault on an injured ankle? Pure heart.

🥇 Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic cauldron in a powerful, emotional moment that honored his legacy and resilience.

🥇 Michael Johnson, rocking gold spikes, became the first man to win both the 200m and 400m shattering records and expectations.

🥇 The men’s basketball team (not the original ’92 Dream Team, but still stacked with stars like Shaq and Barkley) dominated and took home the gold.

🥇 The Games were marred by the tragic Centennial Park bombing, but the spirit of the competition and the city endured.

Whether you were glued to NBC or just trying to do the Macarena between events, Atlanta ’96 was a cultural moment that went far beyond the medals.

his Life Reboot is sponsored by La’Merde Designs apparel.

Life Reboot: Body

The Skin You’re In (And How to Keep It Thriving)

Your skin isn’t just your largest organ, it’s your most visible one. And as we age, it starts telling stories we didn’t realize we were writing: a little less bounce here, a few extra sunspots there, maybe a “laugh line” that’s permanent now.

Good skincare in your 40s and 50s isn’t about chasing youth, it’s about preservation, protection, and feeling confident in the skin you’re in.

Block Smart

Sunscreen isn’t optional. But how much and what kind depends on your skin tone.

• Lighter skin tones: SPF 30–50, reapplied every 2 hours outdoors.

• Medium to deep tones: Still need SPF, but SPF 15–30 may suffice for daily wear. Focus on broad-spectrum protection and non-ashy formulas (look for tinted mineral sunscreens or chemical options designed for deeper skin).

Pro tip: Daily sunscreen reduces hyperpigmentation and uneven tone, not just burns.

Hydrate the Real Way

Drinking water is great but hydration isn’t just about chugging bottles.

• Try coconut water, herbal teas, or infused water with cucumber or mint.

• Eat water-rich produce like watermelon, cucumber, strawberries, tomatoes, and celery, especially if plain water gets boring.

• Your skin will show the difference in elasticity and glow.

Gentle is the New Strong

Your skin barrier gets thinner with age. That means no more scrubbing like you're prepping a countertop.

• Switch to creamy cleansers, fragrance-free moisturizers, and exfoliate no more than 2x a week.

• Serums with hyaluronic acid can plump and hydrate without irritation.

Your Reboot Challenge:

This week, audit your skincare routine.

• If you’re using too many products, simplify.

• If you’re doing nothing, start with cleanse, moisturize, sunscreen…done.

• Bonus: Eat at least two water-rich foods a day and see if your skin notices.

You don’t need to glow like a teenager. Just give your skin the respect it’s earned.

Results Rewind

Last week’s rebus puzzle:

1️⃣ Repeat after me

2️⃣ Music Television (MTV)

3️⃣ Stand in line

4️⃣ Boombox

Visual Feature is sponsored by Practical Advice from the Scriptures.

Visual Feature

Throwback Ad: Back-to-School Joy (for Parents, Anyway)

In 1996, Staples hit us with the perfect blend of sarcasm and seasonal truth. This now-iconic back-to-school ad showed a gleeful dad gliding through the aisles to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”…while his kids trailed behind, miserable.

It was hilarious then, and if you’re a parent now… it might hit even harder.

Life Reboot is sponsored by La’Merde Designs.

Mixtape Memory Lane is sponsored by 50 Ways to Keep Your Lover.

Visual Feature is sponsored by Practical Advice from the Scriptures.

Sticking the Landing

In August 1996, summer was shifting gears, but the world didn’t slow down. From a gymnast defying gravity in the spotlight, to Michael Johnson blazing across the track in gold shoes, to you nervously counting out change for that back-to-school outfit you had to have, everything was in motion.

The Olympics reminded us that greatness doesn’t come out of nowhere…it comes from preparation meeting guts. From showing up, even when the odds feel stacked.

As GenXers, we grew up with defiance in our DNA. So it feels right to borrow a line from Independence Day (1996):
“We will not go quietly into the night. We will not vanish without a fight.”

We’ll be here next week.