The Uncommon Life

   Popular Song   

“Hey Jude” by The Beatles

Originally written for John Lennon’s son, Julian, “Hey Jude” was the longest of any Beatles single, clocking in at over seven minutes. At the time it was the longest single to ever top the British charts and tied for the longest run at the top of the US charts.

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Photo by ingen uppgift (Scanpix) via Wikimedia Commons

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Fondue

The trendiest thing to serve guests at a dinner party in 1969 was fondue. It could be cheesy or chocolate, but it always had to be seductive and delicious.

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Photo by 663highland from Wikimedia Commons

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Love Story

It is hard to put into words how touching this love story is. For anyone who has seen it, you can appreciate how valuable the principles of sacrifice and dedication are in this ever changing world of ours.

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“Just My Imagination” by The Temptations

Soul music was in its golden era in 1971, centered around massive groups like The Temptations. Hearing the strings and backup harmonies of this track probably transports you to the listless summer days of youth, just as you were falling love together!

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“Rocket Man” by Elton John

Elton John cemented himself at the top of the pop charts with this stellar hit. Ostensibly about an astronaut going out into space, it also describes being a gay man in a heterosexual world. Elton always had a way of giving his songs a double meaning.

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Granola

Granola. The hippie movement has contributed quite a bit to contemporary culture. Perhaps its most symbolic contribution is granola, a simple breakfast dish made by roasting oats in honey and adding fruit and nuts.

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Photo by Hail Merry via Wikimedia Commons

   Popular TV Show   

Good Times

A refreshing return to social realism on TV! Good Times was set in Chicago and depicted a charming African American family who always find a way to put food on the table and have some laughs.

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Sushi

A long time staple of upper class Japanese cuisine, sushi swept like wildfire across America in 1975. Part of the reason why it has stuck around is that sushi is actually a catch-all term for various types of rice and fish-based dishes (including nigiri, sashimi, California rolls, etc.).

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Photo by Japan Sushifrom Wikimedia Commons

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The Bionic Woman

Excitement about the future of technological advancement produced this sci-fi action series for popular consumption. Jaime Summers receives life-saving surgery from doctors who stitch her back up with bionic capabilities. Status as the world’s best undercover spy soon follows.

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Pasta Primavera

In Italian cooking, primavera means fresh vegetables. For increasingly health-conscious consumers, this lighter dish offered welcome respite from the heavier pasta dishes often associated with Italian cuisine.

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Photo by Stacy Spensley from San Diego via Wikimedia Commons

   Popular Movie   

Grease

If you were a young lady in 1978, you probably thought John Travolta was cute. Coming off the huge success of Saturday Night Fever, Travolta burst back into the spotlight as the leading man in the film adaptation of the musical, Grease. (We won’t ask if your husband looked like John Travolta at the time, though).

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“Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson

The cute boy from the Jackson 5 had grown up, and he wanted to sing about the forces of attraction and desire. Not only did MJ sing like diva – he also danced better than all of his backup dancers, making his live show a once in a lifetime experience.

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“Call Me” by Blondie

The singer of Blondie (Deborah Harry) was ready to set the tone for a new era of independent women just calling it like it is. And if it’s love your feeling, then embrace it.

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Photo by Private Stock Records via Wikimedia Commons

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The Love Boat

By the early ‘80s, enough people had lived (or heard about) the wild life you can lead on cruise ships. The Love Boat justified some of these assertions, painting life on a boat as a one surprising interaction after another. You never know what will happen when you leave the shore!

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Three’s Company

Most of us have found ourselves, at some point or another, living in unusual circumstances without a reliable income on the horizon. Three’s Company gives props to the absurd fun that can emerge in these transitional periods of life, foreshadowing the popularity of sitcoms like Seinfeld and Friends in the ‘90s.

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Photo by ABC Television via Wikimedia Commons

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“Every Breath You Take” by The Police

Before the release of this ballad the Police were known as a funk-punk trio. Fans of the raucous early days may not have seen this turn coming, but we like his foray into the softer side.

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“When Doves Cry” by Prince

In this song Prince lays bare his deepest feelings about relationships and wraps it up in gorgeous symbolism. With a captivating video to boot, Prince was everywhere in this year.

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A Room with a View

Finding love in Edwardian times was a pretty limited affair. A Room with a View depicts the trials of looking outside your lot for love, and it is an engaging journey from start to finish.

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Top Gun

Tom Cruise made a strong impression in this romantic military action movie. The critics did not give rave reviews, but as is often the case with film, the general public loved every bit of it. A sequel is in the works for 2019!

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Photo by LCDR DAVID BARANAK via Wikimedia Commons

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“With Or Without You” by U2

Now this is a love song. Bono holds nothing back in his declaration of love for a women who makes him sleep on a bed of nails for her love. Sometimes it goes the other way and ladies need some time to be sure of a man before jumping headfirst into love.

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The Wonder Years

What did we just say about coming-of-age stories? The top show in 1988 was The Wonders Years, which depicted the trials and tribulations of a suburban teenage boy in the 1960s. Not the most cutting-edge plot ever conceived, but like we said, if it’s about young people learning valuable lessons about the world we just lap it up!

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Photo via Wikimedia Commons

   Popular Movie   

When Harry Met Sally

This instant classic arguably shed more light onto the complexities of a relationship than any other romantic comedy to date. The question of whether men and women can just be friends looms large – but in this case love wins out (as it always does!).

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Seinfeld

This hilarious sitcom ran its first season in 1989, and by 1990 all the men were dressing like Kramer and all the ladies had lipstick like Elaine. Okay, maybe it was not that influential, but it definitely remains one of the most important shows in American television history.

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Beauty and the Beast

Here’s hoping this wonderful tale is retold to new generations for years to come. It is definitely an uncommon love between Belle and the Beast – who initially imprisons her, only realizing later that he actually loves her.

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“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

Seriously, what is not to love about Whitney Houston? She has the vocal cords of a goddess, supermodel looks, and a heart big enough for every soul on the planet. With this song she instantly became the soundtrack to countless weddings across the country.

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Photo by PH2 Mark Kettenhofen via Wikimedia Commons

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Sleepless in Seattle

One of the most endearing films about love ever made, Sleepless in Seattle portrays the grief in losing a loved one and the angst in searching for love once again. A true classic for anyone fascinated by all the ways that love can change us.

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   Popular TV Show   

Friends

Following the escapades of Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Ross was practically a full-time hobby. Each encapsulating a different stereotype of young adults, Friends gave a new generation something to compare themselves against. Let’s hope things never went as bad for you as they did for this endearing bunch!

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   Popular Food Trend   

Molten Lava Cake

This soft-centered chocolate mouthful was first introduced in New York City in 1995. Though it’s creation was a mistake, our taste buds never lie, and within a year it was popping up on the desert menu at high-end restaurants.

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Photo by Vegan Feast Catering via Wikimedia Commons

   Popular Movie   

Jerry Maguire

Tom Cruise does a fine job making the life of a sports management agent look exhilarating. However, the crux of the film revolves around his inability to keep a stable marriage going with the loving Dorothy, who is ready to sacrifice her happiness for the marriage.

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Titanic

We all knew the story of the Titanic before it was made into a movie. But we’re sure no one thought the tragic story could be portrayed with such romance.

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The Cosmopolitan

What drink did you have on the first date with your soulmate? If you were following the trends it was probably a Cosmopolitan, a drink made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry, and lime juice. Granted, it could have been another specialty drink of the moment, as the Cosmopolitan embodied the best of an emergent craft cocktail culture that has since become the norm.

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Photo by Jon Sullivan via Wikimedia Commons

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“No Scrubs” by TLC

The ladies in TLC were never going to settle for just an ordinary partner. And you weren’t either.

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Smoothies

Do you remember the smoothie craze? Business popped up left, right and center offering low-cal, nutrient-rich drinks full of fresh fruit and added protein supplements. You can see why they were so popular when initially introduced!

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Amelie

The French have always indulged in the surreal, and Amelie is a romantic comedy depicted in this heightened style. The interior design of the Parisian cafe is wonderful, and the entire film is a whimsical feast for the eyes.

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Sweet Home Alabama

Reese Witherspoon plays a lovable fashion designer from the South trying to make a new life in the uncompromising metropolis of New York. A romantic comedy on the surface, but also a vivid portrayal of the culture differences between the North and the South.

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Pumpkin Spiced Latte

Trick-or-treating or giving out candy on Halloween was a lot of fun with a pumpkin spiced latte in hand. We still like this creamy hot beverage because, well, it tastes pretty close to pumpkin pie.

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The Notebook

The Notebook offers a peek into the engrossing romance of South Carolina in the 1940s. Abandoned homes, fiery young love, and a brutal war that tore so many relationships apart. Heart wrenching cinema that leaves you wanting to live in Charleston circa 1950.

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Grey’s Anatomy

Perhaps the success of Scrubs induced ABC to make a hospital drama of their own. Grey’s Anatomy had little humor about it, focusing more on the minutia of the doctor’s craft and detailing the personal sacrifice required to make it in the medical field.

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Photo by Hunterfk88 from Wikimedia Commons

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Ramen

This Japanese noodle soup is a relatively recent creation, but it feels like it’s been around forever. Packed noodle soups definitely had a role to play in popularizing ramen soup across America, a status it has retained every year since.

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Photo by Kyoww from Wikimedia Commons

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The Big Bang Theory

It’s not true that all scientists are socially awkward. However, it is true that all three scientists in the Big Bang Theory do suffer from a lack of social graces. Not for lack of trying, mind you.

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Breaking Bad

The first season of Breaking Bad aired in 2008, a show that had millions of us captivated for the entirety of its five season run. We always found the best way to watch Breaking Bad was together with someone (like your future groom?) who was just as committed to watching every episode.

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   Popular Song   

“I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas

If there was ever a song that defined your first months of marriage, it was probably this one. Every time the song comes on you probably get transported back to the places and things you did as a couple – with this song as your soundtrack.

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“Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars

Like all the most gifted songwriters, Bruno Mars has an incredible ability to send a simple message about one of the most important aspects of a relationship. We all want to reach for the stars in life, but we also want to be with someone who loves us for who we are, inside and out.

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Photo by Brothers Le [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

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Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones captured the imagination of the nation when it first came out in 2011. A whole fantastical universe was created for us to indulge in, even if it did involve violence and incest. If your like us, you skipped over the violent parts and paid extra close attention to the immaculate set design.

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Rainbow Cake

Any birthdays you attended in 2012 (including your own) probably included rainbow cake. Usually sectioned off into bite sized quarters, rainbow cake was yet another confectionary creation designed to delight the eyes as much as the tongue.

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Photo by Mervat from Wikimedia Commons

   Popular Movie   

The Great Gatsby

The Great American novel was turned into a film (once again), and this time it portrays the roaring twenties to a younger audience who can only imagine the glitz and glamor of the time. Plenty of relationship intrigue abounds, making The Great Gatsby more than just a gorgeous cinematic experience.

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Photo By Nelatti [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons

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The Fault in Our Stars

The blockbuster of 2014 was a tragic romantic comedy that really pulled at the heartstrings. Portraying the burgeoning love between terminally ill cancer patients makes you want to grip on to your loved one and cherish every single moment you have together.

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“Hello” by Adele

The Queen of the charts returned in 2015 with a track full of nostalgia for old friends you never see anymore. The video for the song was directed by Xavier Dolan and set the Vevo record with over 27.7 million views within a 24-hour span.

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Photo by marcen27 from Glasgow, UK via Wikimedia Commons

   Popular Food Trend   

Avocado Toast

If you have ever experimented with avocado at home (like, when all you have at home is an avocado and a loaf of bread) you will know it can stand alone on a piece of multi-grain. It is the ideal healthy-yet-slightly indulgent snack. Restaurateurs took notice, and 2016 became the year of avocado toast.

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“Passionfruit” by Drake

Although Drake is not married, he clearly understands some of the challenges of a long-term relationship. Commitment is one thing, but helping each other overcome interpersonal barriers? That’s a whole other level of devotion.

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Photo by The Come Up Show from Canada (Jorja Smith & Drake) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons