Deep Dive: Bringing Back the ’80s

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January 27, 2022

The 1980s were truly memorable and was a decade that people can’t get seem to get enough of. Remakes of popular ’80s movies are in the works and well known shows of that time are also being rebooted on numerous streaming platforms. Things such as fashion, music, and styles of that decade have resurfaced. Let’s take a look at what makes this decade worth reliving all over again!

The launch of MTV, or Music Television, was one of the most memorable moments in music history. It began in 1981 with the statement ‘Ladies and gentleman, rock and roll.’ The first video it played was The Buggles’ ‘Video Killed The Radio Star.’ Madonna’s outrageous performances raised eyebrows all around during the 1980s, but she was well-loved by many fans. Michael Jackson’s career was at its peak in the ’80s; this was when he acquired most of his wealth and fame.

Big hair styles were a symbol for the whole decade. Those hairstyles required a lot of hairspray in particular! Shoulder pads were seen on almost every powerful female character on TV during the ’80s. Real people obviously wore them as well, though we can’t imagine how they managed that extra burden throughout the day. Leather jackets, denim jackets, and aviator jackets were trending throughout the ’80s, sometimes simultaneously. Parachute pants were also a thing, though they also had a practical purpose. Break-dancers found these clothing items useful when they showed off their moves. Since movies like ‘Fame’ and ‘Flashdance’ were reaching new heights of popularity, this also meant that aerobics wear was in. Leg warmers were a part of such ensembles and you could find several different colors and designs. Along with permed hair, you could find the mullet, one of the most recognizable hairstyles of the ’80s. Some women also sported mullets in the ’80s and today, you can see this hair style popping up on women and men. Jeans are an everyday clothing item for most of us, but the ’80s added their own touch to them. Fashion-conscious youngsters would either buy jeans with an acid wash effect or try to bleach their current pair for those white streaks. If there were rips at the knees, the jeans would be even more in keeping with ’80s fashion. The Madonna effect on fashion in the ’80s is undeniable. Fingerless gloves, leggings with longer skirts, beaded necklaces, fishnets, bangles, busty tops and huge hair bows…the influences were shocking at times, but you can’t deny they were easy to follow. Several styles of the ’80s are still relevant today. Just a couple of examples include women having several earrings in one ear, wearing denim jackets on denim jeans, shoulder pads, and just like I mentioned mullets are coming back!

The arcade game Pac-Man was one of the most popular and quintessential trends of the ’80s. It was released in the United States in October 1980 and was immediately popular among all video and arcade game lovers. The Rubik’s Cube debuted in the 1980s and soon triggered a worldwide craze. It’s now considered to be the best-selling toy ever. Other amazing toys that hail from the ’80s include Micro Machines, Cabbage Patch Kids, G. I. Joe, Transformers, Care Bears, Masters of the Universe, etc. The Sony Walkman made its first appearance during the ’80s. Soon, every portable cassette player was called a ‘Walkman’ whether they were associated with Sony or not. If you were strolling along with a Walkman in your hands or attached to your belt, you were probably one of the cool kids. No discussion about pop culture in the ’80s would be complete without mentioning the Indiana Jones series. Harrison Ford was the biggest action star of the decade, though his work on Star Wars cannot be ignored. The first installment of the Batman series, ‘Top Gun’, ‘Die Hard’, Terminator were all within the ’80s decade. Other notable movies of this time include ‘Beetlejuice’, ‘The Goonies’, ‘Predator’, and ‘Gremlins’. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ probably deserves a separate mention, as this movie is still well-loved for its super confident, supercool protagonist. Steven Spielberg and John Hughes ruled the film industry in the ’80s. They were responsible for several popular works such as ‘The Breakfast Club’, ‘Sixteen Candles’, ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’, ‘E.T’, and so many more.

‘NASA launched several space shuttles during the 1980s. Most of these missions were successful, though it’s hard to forget the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. This occurred in 1986 and caused the loss of seven lives. This was also the year of the first untethered space walk. Other historic technological advancements included cable television, VCRs, CDs, video game consoles, and so on. Nintendo released Super Mario Bros. which made up for the lack of enthusiasm with the original Super Mario earlier in the decade. The first Apple computer came on the market and the rest was history.

There’s no doubt that the ’80s was an important and instrumental decade for those who experienced it. We are able to have just a small taste of this incredible time watching TV shows like ‘The Goldbergs’, ‘Young Sheldon’, and ‘Stranger Things’ which all pay tribute to the ’80s. The music of that era is genuinely enjoyed today. While we can’t literally bring the ’80s back, it is no question that the decade will never be forgotten and never put on an old shelf.

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