Speaking as someone who was a teenager and young adult in South Wales during the 90's, they sure felt like a good time, even if the spectacles are now rose tinted. Thatcherism was thankfully on its way out the window and the Blair era held promise of prosperity and social improvement and greater EU integration, which to some extent came true during the middle third of the decade. The bleak attitude people had in the area under the Tory government in the 80's was replaced by optimism that things could get better, and the economy began to recover signifigantly (which is why Labour used the D-Ream song...), and a sense of national pride began to re-emerge after Thatchers attempts to destroy communities and thier liveleyhoods. Under Blair it felt like some of the poorer parts of the nation were benefiting from the economic growth, even if that bubble would burst with the banking crisis in the next decade. The internet, home computers and consoles were new and wonderful to most people. Boom and Bust? You bet! Of course, by the end of the 90's and into the 2000's this optimism in "better" seemed misplaced. The first Gulf War felt like a force for good, an almost justifiable application of force to liberate an opressed nation, unlike its subsequent offspring. The IRA were disarming, and devolution was a reality. Eastern Europe was opening up, and the USA had Clinton, who seemed more human than both Reagan and Bush. Japan was seen as the next big thing, even if Africa and China both had thier fair share of problems. The middle east was a shitstorm, but thats not unusual for any time.
That enough of a snapshot?