Ever wondered why the 80's has always been an unforgettable decade? Sure, the neon spandex and big fluffy hair looks ridiculous and fun, but why do we keep going back to it, 30 years later? Lots of pretty nifty stuff happened in this period, and it was an exciting time of technological and multinational changes. Here's a few 80's facts 1980 The Good CNN was broadcast worldwide for the first time The virus smallpox was wiped out ?Rubik's cube became popular worldwide The Shining, The Blues Brothers, and Friday the 13th were released Call Me by Blondie #1, Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd was #2, Magic by Olivia Newton John was #3 (weird mix, right?) The Not-So-Good John Lennon was assassinated 60 countries boycotted the Olympics, held in Moscow The first Persian Gulf war between Iran and Iraq began 1981 The Good MTV was created Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married Sony released the first ever video camera Horror movies exploded, and werewolves were a big thing Pac Man was released Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes was #1 The Not-So-Good Bob Marley passed away from malignant melanoma Mohammed Ali retired from boxing after 20 years First cases of AIDS were reported 1982 The Good CDs were developed by Sony The first Hooters restaurant was opened in Florida 2,075 couples were married at the same time at Madison Square Garden Prince William was born Thriller by Michael Jackson was #1 The Not-So-Good Great Britain was at war with Argentina 66 people were crushed to death trying to leave a soccer match in Moscow 1983 The Good Motorola released the first mobile phone in the US Sony developed the first camcorder Vanessa Williams won Miss America Scarface, Cujo, Flashdance, and Risky Business were the big movies Down Under by Men at Work gave us a Vegemite sandwich #aussiehumour The Not-So-Good Ash Wednesday bushfires in Australia destroyed 3700 homes and buildings, and killed 47 people Crack cocaine was produced for the first time in the Bahamas, and spread to the US 1984 The Good ?The charity Band-Aid was created to raise funds for the famine in Ethiopia. Members included Bob Geldof, U2, David Bowie, Sting, and Sir Paul McCartney 1984 was a huge year for movies! The Terminator, Ghostbusters, Neverending Story, and Nightmare on Elm Street were all released this year Michael Jackson took the record for most Grammy's won in a single night, with 8 awards The Not-So-Good The death toll due to the famine in Ethiopia hit 1 million casualties A chemical disaster in India killed over 2,000 people overnight, killing over 15,000 total 1985 The Good The kidney dialysis machine was invented The first Apple Macintosh PC was developed ✏ The board-game Pictionary was released by Hasbro The wreckage of the Titanic is found and explored Back to the Future, The Color Purple, and Fright Night are the big movies Like a Virgin by Madonna was #1 The Not-So-Good 25,000 people died due to a volcanic eruption in Columbia ?The first hole in the ozone layer is discovered 1986 The Good 7 million people participated in Hands Across America, raising $34mil for charity. The longest chain of people measured 4,152 miles! The Oprah Winfrey Show was born The first laptop was made by IBM Fujifilm developed the first disposable camera Top Gun, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and The Little Shop of Horrors were released Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi was top of the charts The Not-So-Good The 'Challenger' space shuttle caught fire after launch, and the 7 astronauts aboard were killed The first computer virus, named 'Brain', wreaked havoc on MS-DOS 1987 The Good The first pacemaker was implanted ?The first disposable contact lenses were made Prozac came onto the market FOX began regular broadcasting Dirty Dancing, Predator, Spaceballs, and Good Morning Vietnam are some of the best from this year Walk like an Egyptian by Bangles was #1 The Not-So-Good ?On Black Monday, the global stock market crashed, starting in Hong Kong, and spread worldwide 70 miles of beach was closed off along the NY coastline following the Syringe Wave, where medical waste including needles, washed ashore. It took two years for the beaches to reopen 1988 The Good The Doppler Radar was invented, which tracks the speed of wind and storms The first transatlantic fibre optic cable was built, connecting France, England, and US ✔Nike's 'Just Do It' slogan was created Die Hard, Beetlejuice, Rain Man, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit were released Faith by George Michael was #1 The Not-So-Good One of the worst heat waves in the US caused between 5,000 to 10,000 deaths George H. W. Bush was elected President of the US 1989 The Good The Cold War ended, and the Berlin Wall came down The first episode of The Simpsons aired ?The Nintendo Game Boy came out Batman, Dead Poet's Society, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids were released Every Rose Has its Thorn by Poison was top of the charts The Not-So-Good During a student protest, 241 died and 7000 were injured under martial law in the Tiananmen Square massacre 96 people were crushed to death and 760 injured in Sheffield, England, due to overcrowding at a soccer match BONUS Can't have an 80's thread without showcasing some of the, uhh, awesome fashion and hairstyles Any oldies out there that remember this stuff? Or youngens that have heard all about it? What's your fave aspect of the 80's? *NB* disasters mentioned with solemn respect
I'm not american so I wouldnt know, but why is George Bush being elected as President in the "Not so good" list? Lol
? The bush election was not so good. Started desert storm. The first Iraq war, if I'm not mistaken. it's been a while since I've been in school
thank you Berry lady.. I'm a bit fuzzy on US history. Nick and Karla, totally debated whether to add my birthday to the '85 section
Bahahahahaha ahli boo that hair tho…… the matching family portrait is my fav and def yayyyy for 80's movies. Great thread straya!!