The 1980s was a period that saw many fashion trends and famous personalities that set such trends. There were certain
characteristics of the 1980s period. This was the time when there was a widespread influence of the media and music and rock
stars set trends. Bling was in and people were seen sporting big hairdos as well. There were many famous people of the 1980s that
caused a large fan following. Read on to know more about the famous people of the 1980s.
Famous People of the 1980s:
There were a lot of people who made their mark in the 1980s. From singers to musicians, sport personalities to politicians, here are
a few of the famous people of the 1980s.
Madonna:
Madonna made her debut in the year 1982. This original Queen of Pop soon tasted success with many chart busters to her credit.
Madonna is also cited to be the ‘World’s most successful female musician’ as per the Guinness Book of World Records. This
Material Girl soon became the idol for pop lovers all over the world. Although Madonna’s videos were dogged in controversy, there
was no looking back for this star. This stunning and beautiful singer has won the Grammy Award American singer-songwriter 9
times so far.
Michael Jackson:
If Madonna was the Queen of Pop in the 1980s, Michael Jackson was referred to as the King of Pop. Michael Jackson had his debut
at the tender age of eleven. He began his career with the Jackson Five and later, went on with a solo career. Michael soon became
a pop icon with his chart busting tracks. His revolutionary videos that showcased his break dancing skills inspired youngsters
worldwide to follow suit. He is the sole singer to have received 8 Grammy Awards in a single night. Billie Jean, Beat It, The Way You
Make Me Feel, Black or White are only the tip of the iceberg. This talented personality has many more hit albums and songs to his
name. As is the case with most famous people of the 1980s, Michael Jackson also found himself dogged by controversies. This did
not however affect the record-breaking sales of all his albums
Read to know all about the biography of Michael Jackson
George Michael:
George Michael tasted success when he became a part of the very popular band- Wham. George Michael won hearts all over the
world with his rendition of Careless Whispers and Last Christmas. When George Michael gained success with his solo career in the
80s, there was no looking back for this talented singer. Such was his magic that George won a Grammy Award in 1988 for the Best
R&B performance with vocals. Faith brought more fame and fortune for George in the year 1987. This was also his first solo album.
Decked in shiny black boots with a guitar in hand, George Michael soared through the music charts and went on to carve a niche for
himself in the music industry.
Tom Cruise:
Known for his drop dead gorgeous looks, Tom Cruise is the recipient of three Golden Globe Awards and was also nominated thrice
for the Academy Awards. This famous person of the 80s began his career in the year 1981 with a modest role in Endless Love. It
was in the year 1983 which saw the release of Risky Business, which finally saw Tom Cruise rising to fame. With Tom Cruise
signing on Top Gun, which was released in 1986, he was catapulted to fame. This movie soon became the highest grossing film of
the year. In 1988, with the release of Cocktail followed by Rainman, Tom Cruise proved that he was definitely here to stay.
Martina Navratilova:
This determined Tennis player sure rocked the world with her brilliant performances. With many trophies to her credit, Martina was
almost like the perfect Tennis icon for many in the 80s. She won her French Open in 1984 and this left-handed tennis star won four
Grand Slam Women’s Doubles title the same year. The 1980s also witnessed Martina being ranked as the World no. 1 doubles
player. Despite the appearance of Steffi Graf on the tennis scenario, Martina may have suffered a little setback, but she bounced
back in the in 1987 by beating Steffi in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals.
Vivian Richards:
Vivian Richards also known as the Master Blaster was known for his dynamic batting skills and was also a very handy bowler as
well. This strong and forceful personality rose to fame in the 80s. Vivian became the captain of over 50 test matches in the 80s. He
also saw success when his team won the Nat West trophy in the year 1983. Vivian Richards also holds the reputation of being the
single West Indies caption to have never lost any test series.
Richard Gere:
This famous actor tasted success in the 1980s. He is best known for his romantic leads. Richard Gere got his first break in the year
1971. He was seen in Hollywood movies only in the mid 1970s. He became a rage with the release of American Gigolo in the year
1980. This hunky actor also has the reputation of being the first male ever to be featured on the cover of the glamorous Vogue
magazine. Richard Gere had more hits in the subsequent years and is still considered to be hot property till date!
It was the time when Pop Diva Madonna crooned ‘Like A Virgin’ in her lacy tops and fishnet stockings worn with short skirts.
Perceived by some as ‘shocking’, she left an indelible mark during her time. Yeah! We are talking about the rocking 80s. Get the
entire scoop on some of the hottest trends of that era.
With heavy influences from the music industry and MTV, it was during this time, the younger generation, in their bid to be hip and
cool, rushed to all the nearest shopping areas to emulate their favorite star. Movies like ‘Footloose’ and ‘Flashdance’ with their
ripped sweatshirts made a huge style statement and influenced the minds and hearts of the younger generation.
Fashion in the 80s was also more than just influences from movies and the music industry. It was about a whole lot of people trying
to make a statement about their own individuality. High on bling, it was also the time when people turned adventurous in terms of
the fabrics being used or the way their hair was styled.
The denim got a new look being acid washed and it found its way into the wardrobes of many. These streaked jeans became hugely
popular with both male and female fashion enthusiasts. Teamed with red or black studded jackets (inspired by Michael Jackson)
and accessorized with fingerless gloves, it was not an uncommon sight to see the teens trying their best to emulate their pop idols.
This was the time for flashy bling. Right from the shoulder pads to the earrings, it was all screaming for attention. Bands like the
‘Human League’ popularized the asymmetrical look in hairstyle, which could be wild as if teased by the wind or simply splashed with
loud colors. Volume for the hair, topped with glitter for some, caught on hugely. Rock bands like ‘Bon Jovi’ and ‘Scorpions ‘, also
flaunted their big hair-dos with flamboyance. The old adage ‘Bigger is better’ was truly personified by these groups.
Apart from bling, tattooing, body piercing, wearing multiple watches on one arm or even sporting ‘shades’ at night were some of the
varied trends that took shape in the 80s. Teenage boys were known to pierce their ears, irrespective of what the adults would think.
Men even went to the extent of using eyeliner and lipstick as worn by the likes of ‘Boy George’.
When it came to footwear for women, things got a little uncomfortable. But the hardcore fashion enthusiasts would do anything for
fashion and how! The loud red or pink high-heeled stilettos, which were in vogue, were given stiff competition by see-through flat
sandals. These scored high on looks, but were very low on the comfort level, being made of plastic. But like they say, anything for
fashion! Colored and metallic clutch bags helped to complete the look.
With the popularity of aerobics, dancewear gained impetus and it was no longer restricted to the dance floor. It became a style
statement when combined with casual wear. Available in varied colors, and even sizes, one could simply team them up with denims
and boogey the night away. (Inspired from Jane Fonda’s aerobic videos.)
The 80s may not be in fashion now, but it was a period that set many trends, some of which are prevalent even today!
Definitely 80s:
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acid house
adult child
airhead
awesome
Shoulder Pads
Flats
Heavy Mascara
Stonewashed Jeans
Legwarmers
Mini Skirts
Leather Jackets
Hoop Earrings
Fingerless Gloves
House music inspired by the use of LSD. See also house
music.
Word(s) to describe grown-up children from dysfunctional
families.
n. A stupid or unaware person; moron, dim-wit. Origin:
term implies that there is nothing but air in the subject’s
head. (“He’s confused again. What an airhead!”)
Unrenowned to popular belief, Valley Girls did not invent
this word. It was used to describe them.
\Awe”some\, a. 1. Causing awe; appalling; awful; as, an
awesome sight. In the 80′s, if something was cool, it was
awesome. See also bad.
bad
bad to the bone
barf bag
barf me out
bimbette
bodacious
bogus/bogue
boinking
boho
bomb
adj. very good, excellent; Cool, Awesome. See also
awesome.
The group George Thorogood & the Destroyers had a hit in
the early 80′s that had started this quote. The movie Fast
Times At Ridgmont High was bad to the bone! See also
bad.
A type of insult. Something Jo on The Facts of Life might
of called Blair for spilling something on her homework.
You might of heard this come from a Valley Girl after
you’ve said something offensive to her. Also used to
describe something you do not particularly like.
The use of bimbo would of been too outdated for use in the
80′s. Bimbette would be used instead of calling a girl a
“slut”. Also used to describe a girl who is stupid.
An 80′s guy’s way to describe a woman who had a
beautiful body. She is bodacious with gnarly ta-tas. See
also gnarly & ta-tas for descriptions.
Unfair or unfortunate. Having one night to do a termpaper
is so bogus!
Having sex. Some say Bruce Willis’s character on
Moonlighting created this word.
A bohemian or artist. From the late 80′s this word
emerged. Probably from the Soho art district in Manhattan.
Adj. Something favorable. See also awesome.
butt ugly
A word to describe a cute guy used as a toy for older
woman. Madonna invented this one with her “Boy Toy”
belt on her 1984 Like a Virgin album.
Adj. Unattractive to the sight.
Cap
As in to “cap” on someone. Meaning to insult.
Case
As in “casing on a person.” Meaning to insult.
cheesy/cheezy
Adj. 1. In poor taste; lame, corny. The gift I received was
really cheesy. 2. Overly sentimental or insincere.
v 1. to relax; hang out. Let’s go chill at your place. Dude,
just chill. Made popular by black Americans in the rap
phase of the 80′s.
Word to describe an alcoholic. Became a somewhat
popular word during the Nancy Reagan “Just Say No” era.
Big, all-American boy. Meant as a word of praise.
Usually used by mid-80′s preppy girls.
The act of fixing up your home. Investing in it for the
long-term. Poor people make rent or mortgage payments,
yuppies cocoon.
boy toy
chill
chocoholic
clydesdale
cocooning
couch potato
crack
deep house
Someone who sits in front of the TV on their couch or sofa.
With the boom of cable, MTV and home video, more
people parked their butts on their couches. Hence the term
couch potato.
The most addictive form of cocaine. Not in the form of
powder, but crystallized into a hardened form used
to smoke. Popularized in 1985.
House music with a gospel flair. See also house music.
Two incomes with no kids. A couple of yuppies with lots
of money to burn.
n An unintelligent person; moron, dim-wit; idiot.
dipstick
Popularized by “Boss Hogg” on TV’s The Dukes of
Hazzard. Also used instead of using the word dick. See
also dick/dickbrain/dickhead.
A less harsh way of describing a person who is not very
ditz
smart. See also airhead.
One of the most used phrases in the 80′s. Notoriously used
do lunch
by yuppies to get together for power lunches or mixing
lunch with business. Lets do lunch. One of the few
surviving phrases of the 80′s ,used in the 90′s and possibly
beyond!
Having sex. They were doing the nasty last night when I
do the nasty
tried to call her.
do/doing the wild thing To have sex. Popularized by Ton Loc’s 1989 hit “Wild
Thing”. Not used too often today. See also do the nasty
and boinking.
Geek, nerd. Someone who is not “in”.
dweeb
dink
eat my shorts
eat shit and die
ecstasy/X/XTC
eurofag
eurotrash
for sure/fer shur
flamer
Phrase used as a comeback. Heavily in use in the 80′s and
also used on TV’s The Simpsons. If someone was to put
you down in anyway, you can reply with this phrase.
An extreme phrase and implies death on the part of the
person on the receiving end. Most of the time, not literally.
Used in the mid-80′s.
“Designer drug” used to enhance sensations while dancing.
Gained popularity in the early 80′s. This drug is still
popular if not more popular throughout the 90′s among
teens and young adults on the party scene.
Word used by Americans to describe usually British
singers or bands of the early 80′s.
Europeans who were rich that frequented the club scene in
the early to mid 80′s.
To stress what you are saying. Usually in a valley type
accent. Fer shur, fer shur dude!
An actual or openly gay guy. See also fag.
fresh
Cool, new. Duran Duran’s new album is so fresh!
gag me with a spoon
A typical Valley Girl response to something you dislike.
Not meant to be taken literally.
A spin on boy toy, used to describe a guy’s girlfriend or a
girl’s girlfriend. Also used to describe a woman who is not
openly gay.
Belonging to an urban street gang. Also used to describe a
group of guys having sex with one girl.
Having sex. See also do the nasty, do/doing the wild thing
and boinking.
Very good. Not commonly used today. She is gnarly!
galpal
gang banging
get horizontal
gnarly
grody
gross out/grotesque
hacker
have a cow
hellacious
homeboy
hoser
house music
ill
“In your dreams!”
JAP
joanie
“Just Say No”
lame
really, really gross. Sometimes used with: Grody to the
max! Max being a degree of grossness.
To make someone sick. Most of the time - not literally.
Computer genius. In WarGames, Mathew Broderick
played a hacker.
Being overly excited or to make a big deal out of
something.
Bad, not good.
Used in the early 80′s to describe someone who is a gang
banger. Later used to describe a black male – which was
okay for blacks to use this word. And even later was
accepted to be used by all do describe a black guy.
Loser, jerk. Rob Moranis & Dave Thomas as “Bob and
Doug McKenzie” made this a popular slang word. See also
take off/take off to the great white north.
Disco type dance music, very repetitive. See also acid
house and deep house.
Uncool, unhip. ”You be illin’”. Sometimes used if
someone looks under the weather, unhappy or even if they
have suffered a catastrophe.
A phrase used usually when a person totally disagrees with
something someone said.
Jewish American Princess. Also used to describe a prissy
Jewish girl who dresses preppy, spoiled and is a sexual
tease.
A boring, not-so-hip girl. From the 70s and 80s show
Happy Days, Erin Moran, the character of Joanie
Cunningham the unhip girl of the 50s.
First Lady, Nancy Reagan’s slogan of the early 80′s.
Sometimes thought of as an oversimplified slogan aimed
to teach kids not to use drugs.
Used to describe something or someone who is not cool or
acceptable.
like
major
mall chick
Mint
Moldy
“Not even!”
networking
new wave
o-rama
out
outing
out the door
paninaro
party hearty/party
hardy
PC
pencil you in
Phat
A word used before every sentence in the 80′s. ”Like, are
you going to the prom?”
To stress something you say, immensely. ”You are a major
dipstick, Major!”
Girl who spends most of her time at the mall. Big meeting
place of the 80′s.
adj; Meaning perfect; Awesome; beautiful; i.e. “That chick
is mint!”
Meaning if one does something stupid or embarrassing
they feel moldy “you feel moldy” Can also be used as “you
feel Molded”.
Used when someone says something you don’t like or
disagree with.
To meet well-connected people at parties. Sometimes old
friends and most of the time, new people. A way for
yuppies to get ahead and make connections.
A type of heavily synthesized pop music performed by
groups like A Flock of Seagulls, Duran Duran, The
Busboys, Thompson Twins and Eurasure. A form of disco
that had an essence of the future. This spun off people who
dressed “new wave”. Lots of mouse or gel in the hair,
makeup on the face, loud colors, etc.
Suffix you affix to a word to describe the whole spectrum
of the meaning. ”He is a Dweeb-o-rama”. Meaning, you
are describing someone that is every sense of that word.
Explaining that someone is “out of the closet” or openly
gay. ”She is out finally.”
Another way of describing someone publicly, someone is
gay.
A suffix used at the end of a phrase. ”Gag me out the
door.” Meaning, something gaged them so much they had
to leave the room.
Italian slang for a person or persons who are fashion
conscious. Came from the Pet Shop Boys with their song
“Paninaro”.
To party excessively.
1. Personal Computer (early 80s) 2. Political correctness.
To tentively set an appointment with someone. If you were
not sure you will make the appointment, you would say,
“I’ll pencil you in, just in case something comes up”.
To be phat is a good thing. If someone says you are phat, it
doesn’t mean you are overweight. Sort of like telling
someone they are bad. A term still used today. See also
bad.
Pisser/Pissa
Funny; Hilarious; “He’s a pissa”.
Poser
A ‘wannabe’ spin off
POSSLQ
Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters.
preppie/preppy
road pizza
A collegiate type, someone who wore Polo or Izod shirts,
deck shoes and a cloth belt. Preppies usually grew up to be
yuppies. See also yuppies.
A term meaning “gotcha”! Psych was usually used after
telling someone something not true.
An early 80′s way of saying someone is gay. Not
necessarily true though. See also fag.
If something is rad, it’s not only attractive, it’s attractive
immensely.
Speaking or singing rhythmically over a beat in the
background. One who raps is a rapper.
Road kill. A dead animal on the road.
rush/head rush
Big thrill. ”That roller coaster was such a head rush”!
schmooze
To kiss up to someone. Yuppies schmoozed their way to
the top of their field.
An undesirable person. Scumbag in the 80s did not
mean condom.
1. Physically dirty, filth 2. Immorally dirty. 3. Disapproval
psych
queer
rad/radical
rap
scumbag
skank
spazzing
Punk teens throwing themselves while “dancing”, trying to
harm either themselves or others for enjoyment. The same
sort of dancing resides today in mosh pits.
Overly excited. An exaggeration of being excited.
stoked
To be ready to do something.
stud
A macho guy, man or teenager. Guys used to call each
other studs as well as woman referring to a good looking
guy as a stud. Also used to describe a man who is sexually
active.
Disapproval of something or someone. ”This sucks”. -or“He sucks”.
A Canadian expression made popular by Rick Moranis and
Dave Thomas who played “Bob and Doug McKenzie” in
the beer guzzling movie Strange Brew. They also did a
song with Geddy Lee of Rush named Take Off to the Great
White North. They emphasized the Canadian accent in
their movies and recordings. Saying ‘eh after each
sentence. See also hoser.
To the extreme. Taking it to the max or maximum level.
slamdance
sucks
take off/take off to the
Great White North
to the max
totally
tubular
UV
Valley Girl/Val
veg
wannabe
WASP
“What choo talkin’
’bout?”
wicked
word
word-up
word to your mother
yuppie
Another way to stress what one is saying. ”That is totally
tubular”. -or- “School is totally uncool”.
Something that is cool. Something overwhelming.
“Tubular, totally tubular.”
Ultraviolet rays. ”I’m going to the beach to catch some
UV’s.”
Airheaded, spoiled girls in California’s San Fernando
Valley. Later, valley girl talk or valspeak inhabited the 80s
across America. A Valley Girl would of said something
like: “That stud is like, omygod, so rad!”
Term used to describe chilling out or taking it easy.
Derived from the word vegetable or someone who is
paralyzed. A couch potato would be a veg. See also couch
potato.
A person who would like to be like someone else. Usually
a pop star or a person in the public eye. There were lots of
Madonna wannabe’s in the mid-80s.
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. To be a WASP in the
80s was to be very “white” or well-to-do. A yuppie could
be called a WASP. See also yuppie.
From the hit 80′s Show Diff’rent Strokes. Little Arnold
used to say this at least one time in each episode.
Another word for good, radical or bad. See radical and
bad. “She is wicked nice.”
Adjective; Very cool or wicked. “That movie was word!”
‘Truth’. Something you said when you would agree with
someone.
Another variant of “word”.
And yet another variant of word and word-up; something
that is true or a way to express that you agree with
something someone said or done.
Young urban professional -or- young upwardly mobile
professional. A well educated, career oriented, almost
always white and driven by lots of money. This person is
also into the social scene especially if it could better their
business or career.
op 10 80s Fashion Trends
As far as fashion goes,
no decade is quite as no-no-notorious as the 80s. After all, in
what other decade could you get away with wearing skin-tight
pants one day and baggy “MC Hammer” pants the next? During
what other time period could you wear leg warmers, a sweater
and a miniskirt all at the same time (and in electric neon colors)?
Take a walk down memory lane. Here are the top 10 80s fashion
fads we used to love.
In all of these fads, color was the order of the day. The drab khakis, white and black of the 90s do not apply. Big color and color mixed in
unusual ways (say, bright yellow with red) were considered totally tubular – to the max.
Let us here from you. Do you agree with our top 10? Did we miss your favorite 80s fashion trend? Tell us onFacebook or Twitter.
Shoulder Pads
Shoulder pads may very well be the worst of the top 10 80s fashion fads. In fact, our online polls on this site indicate that you agree with that
assessment, with an overwhelming majority of our site visitors rating shoulder pads as the worst of the fashions of the 1980s. Why on earth did
we want to make our shoulders look bigger? I can’t quite remember. Maybe it had something to do with woman's lib and the assertion of power
that women were beginning to have in the work place? Rank speculation. Whatever the reason, we wore shoulder pads often and we did so
with pride. The second picture below is a beautiful example of shoulder pads in action. Between her totally bitchin' feathered hair and the
awesome oversized jacket with shoulder pads to the heavens, this 80s babe had it going on.
Mini Skirts
The shorter the better… women and girls loved miniskirts. Denim was the most popular, but miniskirts were made in a number of other
materials including knit and leather. These were often paired with leggings. This particular look has made a big comeback recently. The only
people who weren’t wearing miniskirts in the 80s were men (ok, well some did) and elderly women.
Leg Warmers
Another of one of the top 10 80s fashion fads that didn’t make a lot of sense was that of leg warmers. Maybe we all had really cold legs
because of the miniskirts we wore or maybe we just thought they looked cute. Whatever our reasoning was at the time, at least one or two
pairs of leg warmers could be found in every girl’s dresser.
Huge Earrings
You know how cute Christmas ornaments look on a tree? During the 80s we thought the same would apply to our ears. Huge earrings from
various costume jewelry collections were all the rage and if your earrings didn’t touch your shoulder, they weren’t big enough.
Fingerless Gloves
Fingerless gloves were another odd 80s fashion fad, and it seems to be coming back into style. From romance enthusiasts to punk-rock fans,
fingerless gloves were popular with quite a variety of 80s genres. The fingerless gloves are forever interconnected with Madonna's look in the
mid-80s in her boy toy phase. Click here to learn more about the Madonna look.
Parachute Pants
Oh yes… and then there were parachute pants. They started off skin tight and ended up baggier than a potato sack. Parachute pants may very
well be the one piece of clothing that can sum up the ridiculousness of the top 10 80s fashion fads.
Members Only Jackets
Who didn’t want a Members Only jacket in the 80s? If you didn’t have one, you were instantly labeled a dork and you could forget about getting
in with the “in” crowd. Members Only jackets were all the rage, and imitations were completely unacceptable.
UNITS
A one-size-fits-all clothing store featuring knit skirts, shirts, belts and leggings in coordinating colors. The clothes were sold in UNITS boutiques
located in malls throughout the United States. You could buy six different pieces of UNITS clothing and create an entire wardrobe from them. It
goes without saying that UNITS did not make it out of the 80s.
Stretch-Stirrup Pants
The stirrup pants version of this particular fad had to be the worst. Presumably the idea of fashion and being in fashion is to look as good as
possible. These pants made NO ONE look good. They created a triangle-leg effect that made even the thinnest person look big. While many of
these 1980s fashions are making their way back on the scene and into our stores, the stretch pants/stirrup pants trend needs to stay tucked
safely back in the 80s.
Oversized Tops
Last, but not least, we have the 80s fashion fad of oversized tops. Big sweaters, sweatshirts and t-shirts were totally hot and wearing them
over a miniskirt or a pair of leggings made them even hotter. These tops were most often belted with big and gaudy, low slung belts with the
top bloused over the belt.
Electronics and computers
Arcade games and video games had been growing in popularity since the late 1970s, and by 1982 were a major industry. But a
variety of factors, including a glut of low-quality games and the rise of home computers, caused a tremendous crash in late 1983.
For the next three years, the video game market practically ceased to exist in the US. But in the second half of the decade, it would
be revived by Nintendo, whose Famicom console had been enjoying considerable success in Japan since 1983. Renamed
the Nintendo Entertainment System, it would claim 90% of the American video game market by 1989.
Computers experienced explosive growth in the '80s, going from being a toy for electronics hobbyists to a full-fledged industry. The
IBM PC, launched in 1981, become the dominant computer for professional users.Commodore created the most popular home
computers of both 8-bit and 16-bit generations. MSX standard was the dominant computer platform in Japan. Apple was committed
to resisting the tide of IBM PC clones, while introducing the first Macintosh computer in 1984. It was the first commercially
successful personal computer to use a graphical user interface and mouse,[1] which started to become general features in
computers after the middle of the decade.
in computers after the middle of the decade.
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IBM 5150, the first model of the IBM PC, was released in 1981. The IBM PCs and compatible models from other vendors would become the
most widely used computer systems in the world.
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Commodore 64 which sold an estimated at more than 17 million units in 1982–1994 became the best-selling computer model of all time.
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The Macintosh 128K, the first commercially successful personal computer to use a graphical user interface, was introduced to the public in
1984.[2]
Walkman and Boomboxs, introduced during the late 1970s, became very popular and had an profound impact on the Music industry
and youth culture. Consumer VCRs and video rental stores became commonplace as vhs won out over the
competing betamax standard.
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Walkman WM-D6C Pro (1984)
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1980s Boombox
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VHS won out over the competingBetamax standard.
Popular culture
The most prominent events and trends in popular culture of the decade include:
Music
See also 1980s in music, Timeline of musical events#1980s
Madonna is considered one of the most successful female Pop artists of the 1980s.
Michael Jackson is considered one of the most successful male Pop and R&Bartists of the 1980s
Stage view of Live Aid concert atPhiladelphia's JFK Stadium in the United States in 1985. The concert was a major global international effort by
musicians and activists to sponsor action to send aid to the people of Ethiopia who were suffering from a major famine.
Hard rock, heavy metal, and glam metal became some of the most dominant music genres of the decade, peaking with the
arrival of such bands as Iron Maiden, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Guns N'
Roses, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, Overkill, Mötley Crüe, Suicidal Tendencies(they were a punk band
in their beginnings, but would become a metal band in their later career), Dream Theater, Queensrÿche, and guitarists Joe
Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen (who had joined Steeler and Alcatrazz before he became a solo artist). Punk rock continued
to make strides in the musical community; it gave birth to many sub-genres like hardcore, which has continued to be
moderately successful, giving birth in turn to a few counterculture movements, most notably the Straight Edge movement
which began in the early era of this decade. College Rock caught on in the underground scene of the 1980s in a nationwide
movement with a distinct D.I.Y approach. Bands like the Pixies, R.E.M., The Replacements, Sonic Youth,The Cure, etc.
experienced success in this genre.
In the United States, MTV was launched and music videos began to have a larger effect on the record industry. Pop artists
such as Michael Jackson,Duran Duran, Prince, Madonna, and Queen mastered the format and helped turn this new product
into a profitable business. New Wave and Synthpopwere developed by many British and American artists, and became
popular phenomena throughout the decade, especially in the early and mid eighties.Michael Jackson was a popular
entertainer of the 1980s and his leather jacket, glove and Moonwalk dance were often imitated. Jackson's 1982
albumThriller became—and currently remains—the best-selling album of all time, with sales estimated by various sources as
somewhere between 65 and 110 million copies worldwide. Madonna was regarded as the most ground breaking female artist
of the decade; she was also noted for her many fashion incarnations. The keyboard synthesizer and drum machine were
among the most popular in music in the 1980s, especially in New Wave music. After the 1980s, electronic instruments were
no longer popular in rock but continued to be the main component of mainstream pop.
The hip hop scene, which had been popular by 1989, continued to evolve, gaining recognition and exhibiting a stronger
influence on the music industry. The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C., Grandmaster Flash and the Furious
Five, N.W.A, LL Cool J, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, EPMD, Eric B. & Rakim, Ice-T, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh
Prince, 2 Live Crew, Tone Lōc, and others experienced success in this genre.
The Techno style of electronic dance music emerged in Detroit, Michigan during the mid to late 1980s. The House
music style, another form of electronic dance music, emerged in Chicago, Illinois in the early 1980s. It was initially
popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino and gay communities, first in Chicago, then
in New York City and Detroit. It eventually reached Europe before becoming infused in mainstream pop and dance music
worldwide.
Several notable artists died in from the early to mid 1980s. John Lennon was shot in the back outside of his home in New
York City on the night of December 8, 1980; Tim Hardin died of a heroin overdose on December 29, 1980; Bob Marley died
from a lentiginous skin melanoma on May 11, 1981; Marvin Gaye was shot dead by his father at his home in Los Angeles on
April 1, 1984 (one day before what would have been his 45th birthday); and Metallica bassist Cliff Burton was killed in a bus
accident inSweden on September 27, 1986.
1985's Live Aid concert, featuring many artists, promoted attention and action to send food aid to Ethiopia whose people
were suffering from a major famine.
Film
Main article: 1980s in film
 Oscar winners: Ordinary People (1980), Chariots of Fire (1981), Gandhi (1982), Terms of
Endearment (1983), Amadeus (1984), Out of Africa (1985), Platoon (1986),The Last Emperor (1987), Rain
Man (1988), Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
 The 15 highest-grossing films of the decade are (in order from highest to lowest domestic grossing): E.T. the ExtraTerrestrial, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Indiana Jones and
the Last Crusade, Batman, Rain Man, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Top
Gun, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Back to the Future Part II, Crocodile Dundee, Fatal Attraction and Beverly
Hills Cop.[5]
The highest-grossing film of the decade was "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982)
This was the period when the 'high concept' films were introduced. The movies were supposed to be easily marketable and
understandable, and, therefore, they had short cinematic plots that could be summarized in one or two sentences. The
modern Hollywood blockbuster is the most popular film format from the 1980s. Producer Don Simpson[6] is usually credited
with the creation of the high-concept picture of the modern Hollywood blockbuster.
The 80s also spawned the Brat Pack films, many of which were directed by John Hughes. Films such as The Breakfast
Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Porky's, Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science and Valley Girl were popular
teen comedies of the era and launched the careers of several major celebrities such as: Emilio Estevez,Anthony Michael
Hall, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Sean Penn and Nicolas Cage. Other popular films
included About Last Night...,Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, Footloose, Raging Bull and St.
Elmo's Fire which also launched the careers of high profile celebrities like Demi Moore, Joe Pesci, Keanu Reeves, Kevin
Bacon, Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze.
Horror films were a popular genre during the decade, with several notable horror franchises being born during the 1980s.
Among the most popular were the A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th and Hellraiser franchises. Aside from these
films, the concept of the B horror film gave rise to a plethora of horror films that went on to earn a cult status. An example of
such is the 1981 film The Evil Dead, which marked the directorial debut of Sam Raimi.
Several action film franchises were also launched during the 1980s. The most popular of these were the Beverly Hills
Cop, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon and Rambo franchises. Other action films from the decade which are of notable status
include The Terminator and Predator. These films propelled the careers of modern celebrities such as Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Eddie Murphy, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stalloneto international recognition.
Television
Main article: 1980s in television
Seinfeld premiered on NBC in 1989 and soon thereafter became a commercial blockbuster and cultural phenomenon, and one of the most
popular sitcoms of all time.
MTV was launched in the United States in 1981 and had a profound impact on the music industry and popular culture further
ahead, especially during its early run in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Some of the most popular TV series which premiered during the 1980s include: Alf, Airwolf, The ATeam, Dynasty, Dallas, Knight Rider, MacGyver, Magnum, P.I., Miami Vice, Diff'rent Strokes, The Jeffersons, The Facts of
Life, The Cosby Show, Murder, She Wrote,"21 Jump Street", Star Trek: The Next Generation, Night Court, Who's the
Boss?, Family Matters, Quantum Leap, Saved by the Bell, Roseanne, Full House, The Golden Girls, Cheers, Growing
Pains, Family Ties, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, andMarried... with Children.
The 1980s was the decade of transformation in television. Cable television became more accessible and therefore, more
popular. By the middle of the decade, almost 70% of the American population had cable television and over 85% were paying
for cable services such as HBO or Showtime.[7]
The 1980s was also the heyday of nighttime soap operas such as Dallas and Dynasty.
TV talk shows expanded in popularity; The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson remained popular into its third decade, and
some of the most viewed newer shows were hosted by Geraldo Rivera, Arsenio Hall andDavid Letterman.[8]
The 1980s also was prominent for spawning several popular children's cartoons such
as ThunderCats, Voltron, Transformers, Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Inspector
Gadget, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Garfield and Friends.
Sports
 The 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow were disrupted by a boycott led by the United States and 64 other countries in
protest of the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
 The 1980 Winter Olympics are remembered for the Miracle on Ice, where a young United States hockey team defeated
the heavily favored Soviet team and went on to win the gold medal.
 The 1981 Stanley Cup was won by the New York Islanders
 The 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles were boycotted by the Soviet Union and most of the communist world (China,
Romania, and Yugoslavia participated in the games) in retaliation for the 1980 boycott.
 The 1984 Winter Olympics are held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina). Yugoslavia
becomes the second communist country to host the Olympic Games, but unlike the Soviet Union in 1980, there were no
boycotts of the Games by western countries.
 The Jamaica national bobsled team received major media attention and stunned the world at the 1988 Winter
Olympics in Calgary, Canada for its unexpected good performance. It overcame the stereotype that northern countries
were the only efficient competitors in winter Olympic Games due to their experiencing an actual winter. The events
surrounding the Jamaica bobsled team in 1988 would lead to the creation of the Disney movie Cool Runnings five years
later which was based on Jamaica's 1988 bobsled team.
 The 1988 Summer Olympics are held in Seoul, South Korea. Attempts to include North Korea in the games were
unsuccessful, and it boycotted along with six other countries, but with 160 nations participating, it had the highest
attendance of any Olympics to date.
 FIA bans Group B rallying after a series of deaths and injuries take place in the 1986 season.
 Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky rises to fame as a dominant player in the North American National Hockey
League (NHL) during the 1980s.
 In the US, basketball player Michael Jordan bursts onto the scene in the 1980s, bringing a surge in popularity for the sport
and becoming one of American culture's most beloved icons.
 On November 26, 1986 Mike Tyson became the Youngest Heavyweight Champion of the world.
 West Germany won UEFA championship 1980 in Italy.
 Italy won FIFA world cup 1982 in Spain.
 France hosted and won the UEFA football championship in 1984.
 Argentina won FIFA world cup 1986 in Mexico.
 Holland won UEFA football championship in 1988.
 Liverpool FC were the most successful club side of the era, becoming English champions on six occasions (1980, 1982,
1983, 1984, 1986 and 1988) and winning two European Cups (1981, 1984). They also won the FA Cup in 1986,
completing the first double in their history, and four consecutive League Cup titles from 1981 to 1984.
 Other highly successful club sides of the 1980s include Juventus (7 major honours won), Real Madrid (10 major honors
won), Bayern Munich (9 titles won) and PSV Eindhoven (4 times Dutch champions and European Cup winners in 1988).
Video gaming
See also: 1980s in video gaming
Pac-Man (1980) became Immensely popular and an icon of 1980s popular culture.
The Nintendo Entertainment System was released in the mid 1980s and became thebest-selling gaming console of its time
 Popular video games include: Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Donkey
Kong, Frogger, Digger, Tetris and Golden Axe.
 Pac-Man (1980) was the first game to achieve widespread popularity in mainstream culture and the first game character
to be popular in his own right.
 Handheld electronic LCD games introduced into the youth market segment.
 North American video game crash of 1983
 The primary gaming computers of the 1980s emerged in 1982: the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.
 Nintendo finally decided in 1985 to release its Famicom in the United States under the name Nintendo Entertainment
System (NES). It was bundled with Super Mario Brothers and it suddenly became a success. The NES dominated the
market until the rise of the next generation of consoles in the early 1990s, causing some to call this time the Nintendo
era.
 In 1989 Nintendo released the Game Boy, a monochrome handheld console. Sega released its 16-bit console, Sega
Genesis.
Fashion
Main article: 1980s in fashion
Tom Bailey of theThompson Twins in 1986 with the trendy Big hair style achieved with liberal applications of mousse and hairspray.
Ray-Ban sunglasses
Rubik's Cube
The beginning of the decade was marked by the New Romantic movement and later by fashion inspired by heavy
metal bands, including teased hair, ripped jeans and neon clothing. Some clothing and mens hairstyles had influences from
the 1950s, especially in the first part of the decade.
Significant hairstyle trends of the 1980s include the Perm (started popularity in the late 1970s), the Mullet (evolved from the
1970s to a cleaner look using hair gel), the Jheri curl, the Flattop, the Hi-top fade and Big hair.
Significant clothing trends of the 1980s include Shoulder pads, Jean jackets, Leather pants, Aviator jackets, Jumpsuits, Diane
von Fürstenberg Wrap Dress, Members Only Jackets, Skin-tight acid-washed jeans, Miniskirts, Leggings and Leg
warmers (popularized in the film "Flashdance"), Off-the-Shoulder Shirts and Cut Sweatshirts (popularized in the film
"Flashdance").
Additional significant trends of the 1980s include Headbands, Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses (popularized in the film "Top
Gun"), Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses(popularized in the films "Risky Business" and "The Blues Brothers"), Swatch
watches, Slap bracelets (popular fad among children, pre-teens and teenagers in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was
available in a wide variety of patterns and colors), and the Rubik's cube (became a popular fad throughout the decade).
SOME FADS
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Normandy rose jeans they were the thing when I was young
Cotler pants jeans that had snap pockets that would fold over exposing a different color.
zebra club oversize sweatshirts (maybe its only a west coast thang)
la bands (black bracelets Madonna's wearing (now sell it at hot topic))
trench coats
long scarves
jelly shoes/sandals
sling back usually by spirit
Esprit laundry bags
guess or jean jacket (usually in light pink or blue jean and or white)
door knocker earrings gold bamboo
ripped jeans
pink lip stick
blue eyeliner
heavy eyebrows
wearing non matching earrings (pretty n pink)
pumps (all colors)
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large buttons or large burgundy tan striped out fits w/ a flip over collar
playboy bunny sweatshirts, t-shirts etc
putting letters or your name or tag on the back of t-shirts or member only jackets
Sailor hats and or sailor like blouses
Mob like hats
Zute suits pants w/ suspenders
Overalls
button type earrings and or odd shaped/dice earrings/metal or metallic earrings
kamikaze shirts that had sleeves that would zip off like a t-shirt length or like a muscle shirt
Japanese earrings or clothing w/ Japanese characters on them
Biker shorts or spandex
Wearing biker shorts under mini skirts
polka dots
lace jeans on one side/jeans w/ different color front & backs
EBS tennis shoes that were much like skippies very simple tie up
Mary janes or the karate type shoes for guys
wearing jeans tight or tapered around the ankles (also called pegging)
wearing jeans tight period!
head bands
hair ties, banana clips and ribbon barrettes
Coca-cola shirts
blush & visual apparent foundation cover up makeup
nose piercing
carrying around a large radio/ghetto blaster / cassettes
drive in movie theatres
arcades
hanging out at dicks restaurant on Broadway in Seattle
graffiti & break dancing
wearing your bra outside w/ a jacket over or wearing a mesh / see thru shirts
80s Trends
In the early 1980s, the first generation of computer graphics in arcade games produce the
popular Space Invaders arcade game (technically, Space Invaders came out in 1978), followed by Pac-Man, Donkey
Kong, and Frogger. Towards the end of the decade, home video game consoles begin to outstrip the arcade game.
The Rubik's cube, Cabbage Patch Kids, "Baby on Board" signs, and Trivial Pursuit fads capture the interest of the
American and British public.
Due to the rising influence of computers, nerds experience an increase in status. Popular movies such as Revenge of
the Nerds boost the image of computer nerds.
The Karate Kid becomes a blockbuster hit. Ninja and martial arts mania sweeps North America due to the popularity
of Kung Fu Theater and Ninja Movies. The cartoon characters Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles become very popular
and widely mass-marketed. The emergence of self-styled martial arts experts gives rise to the so-called McDojo and
Bullshido trends.
Aerobics are huge. The fad reaches across exercise videos, fashion, and music trends as seen in Olivia Newton
John's music video (Let's Get) Physical, the 1982 movie Flashdance that inspired legwarmers as a fashion trend and
the popular Jane Fonda workout videos.
Rap music begins to break into the mainstream and a string of breakdancing movies appeared Beat Street, Breakin',
and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo; the must-have accessory here was the ghetto blaster or boom box. Breakdance
battles showed up as an alernative to gang fights and were popular in music videos, such as Michael Jackon's Beat
It. rand names became increasingly important in this decade, making Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein household
names.