These high schoolers weren't even born in the 90s, but they're bringing back the hits

CBC

08-05-2025

The '90s are back at a London high school this week as a group of students is taking the stage to perform grunge, rock and pop hits from the iconic decade.
'Smells Like the 90s' is a musical tribute by the Musical Theatre students at Clarke Road Secondary School. The show features hits from bands like Metallica, Spice Girls, TLC, and, of course, Nirvana. It runs from Thursday to Saturday.
"It's funny cause walking around, you see a lot of people in cargo pants," said music teacher Kevin Kennedy. "A lot of the trends of the 90s are coming back — and if you talk to people, they're listening to the '90s still."
The show helps to deepen the respect for the '90s among students, he said, and to learn about the decade of music and changes that took place. For some students, it's expanding their playlist, he said.
Drums, guitar, saxophones and flutes
It's great news for student Brooklyn Taitt, who stayed an extra year at Clarke Road just to perform in the show.
"I've been in the music program for five years, and I was really interested in the '90s music. I wanted to play in a rock band, and it was just so interesting having all the wind instruments and everything in these big songs," she told CBC's Afternoon Drive.
"It was just interesting bringing songs back and having the nostalgia of everything," she said. "Even though I wasn't there in the '90s, it just feels like so much energy from everybody."
Taitt is already a '90s fan and knew "every song in the entire set list," she said, and was excited to see the show come together after students have been working so hard since September.
"It's just so nice to see it be a final product with all of our energy and all of our love for each other and just being able to have fun with it."
Grade 11 student Koda Greene-Cavanagh, who likes the grunge vibe of the decade, first got introduced to '90s music from her dad, but now listens to it "all the time," she said.
She plays flute, which is featured in her favourite song of the night, Guns N' Roses' November Rain.
"It's really flute heavy, you can hear me really well. It really pops out," she said. "I'm also excited for the two people to see the set because the set is really cool, and all the lights."
Dress, sing and dance like it's the '90s
Those who make it out to the show are encouraged to dress like the '90s, said Kennedy, along with singing and dancing to the music.
"It's a lot as much fun for the audience as it is for the band, which is the point of the evening," he said.
The show was originally supposed to take place in 2020, but was cancelled due to the pandemic. This year, it was time to check the box and do the show, said Kennedy. Some original people from the band are still helping with this show.
The group is taking the show on the road to perform at an arts school in Cleveland and take a trip to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.