The 80s--A totally rad decade that continues to seep into pop culture today.
In the book, The Nine, my main character, Gabe died in the 80s and currently lives in Hell. He clearly has an affinity for this time in history proven by his favorite outfit, a t-shirt, and 501 button-fly jeans.
Here are my top ten reasons why the 80s were totally awesome!
1. The Beginning of Video Games
Pac-Man Fever took hold in arcades across the country as teens everywhere guided Pac-Mac to eat all the dots in each level while avoiding Inky, Blinky Pinky and Clyde.
2. The Death of Disco
When synth pop and hair bands hit the scene, it was time for Kool and the Gang and Donna Summer to hang up their bell-bottoms and make way for the electronic sounds of the 80s!
3. MTV
In 1981 MTV launched the new 24 hour a day music video channel with the Buggles, “Video Killed The Radio Star. Music videos became all the rage and the first VJ’s (video jockey)were created: Alan Hunter, Mark Goodman, Nina Blackwood, Martha Quinn, and J.J. Jackson.
4. The Hair
Meghan Trainor may say it’s “all about the bass” but in the 80s it was all about the hair. And the bigger the better. Curling irons, perms and lots of hairspray set the trend.
5. Hair Bands
With big hair came the “hair bands” who not only rocked their music but their amazing manes as well. The guys of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Poison had some of best hair around.
6. Walkmans
Portable music! There was now a way to play cassettes while on the go and listen to Duran Duran and The Bangles through the headband looking headphones.
7. Legwarmers
Thanks to the movie Flash Dance, everyone could feel like a dancer by wearing colorful leg warmers. They were also a must have during this decade of aerobics mania.
8. Bright, Neon Colors
80s children were never lost! The eye-piercing colors kept them in style and easy to spot in a crowded room.
9. Michael Jackson’s Thriller
In true Jackson style, the Thriller video raised the bar for all artists to up their game with music videos. The hype, the extended story line, the dancing, the makeup… everything about it made it one of the best videos of all time.
10. John Hughes Movies
The 80s would not be as totally rad without the movies of John Hughes. The decade was defined with classics like Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Weird Science and of course The Breakfast Club.
The 80s were a decade that encouraged us to wear our sunglasses at night, showed us that a Saturday spent at detention could be fun (and life changing) and instilled in us the mantra, "don't stop believin!" Long live the 80s!
What did you like best about the 80s?
C.G.Harrisis the author of the sci-fi series, The Rax and the urban fantasy series, The Judas Files.. The Nine, book one in the series, is now available as an audiobook narrated by the talented, MacLeod Andrews.