Hey, You guys just post anything that might help me learn anything about the 80S, That are important and might be useful for me I'm only 17 so basically anything will help thanks a lot guys, Have fun!!!! :) ;) 8)

Disclaimer:  I was only born in 1990 so I have no more firsthand experience than you but from what I've learned: Well New Wave music and Hair Metal was popular.  There was an obsession with investment, and the country was very conservative.  In fact the state of the government then is a lot like ours now except instead of Iraq there was the Cold War, which was more a series of threats and distrust than a real war.  Fashion was very excessive and showy, often plain out ugly.  Technology was like a primitive version of today's. 

As someone who spent their teenage years in the 80's, I'll be honest with you: The biggest difference between now and then are the Internet and the threat of terrorism that has been hanging over us since 9/11. Other than that (and the obvious changes in pop culture), if you could somehow time warp back to the 80's and interact with people you would find that things aren't really all that different now.

As someone who spent their teenage years in the 80's, I'll be honest with you: The biggest difference between now and then are the Internet and the threat of terrorism that has been hanging over us since 9/11. Other than that (and the obvious changes in pop culture), if you could somehow time warp back to the 80's and interact with people you would find that things aren't really all that different now.


OH, Really OH then i guess i didn't miss much then, But wasn't things cheaper back then? And i bet the people were more nice right??? :) 8)

Well as for me. The 80's where the best time of mylife. Just everything about the 80's.
The clothes
The music
The life style
People where more carefree back then.

Yeah, It sounds like a great time!!!! Better then today.. At least you weren't worried about getting shot.. OH i bet there was violence back then and all but they where real fights and maybe some switch blades, But nothing like today all they do is today is pull the trigger and i hate that, I want to live in 80S SO bad!!!!!!! :) ;) 8)

to sum it up....u get back to the future, Miami vice, saved by the bell, batman, quantum leap, knight rider, Richard Marx, 21 jump street, some pink shirts and teal and purple shirts, THE BRAT PACK, a flock of seagulls, Naked Eyes, Poison...and add a Little New Wave, and some glamorous rock stars.....and there is a short version of the 80's...oh yeah i forgot A-ha - Take on me too & dance clubs that played Eurythimics- sweet dreams..............dam as as well as Rubik's Cube...forgot that too.....................man!!!!!......1982 Pontiac trans am & DeLorean too!

Try these 2 links...it is from VH1's specails on each one of the year's of the 80's. This is a great general overview w/ pics and video clips too.

http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/i_love_the_80s/series.jhtml

http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/i_love_the_80s_strikes_back/series.jhtml

OH, Really OH then i guess i didn't miss much then, But wasn't things cheaper back then? And i bet the people were more nice right??? :) 8)


I don't think people were more nice in general.  (but I wasn't there) There's always been dysfunctional, weird, and psycho people (jerks if you will).  But it did seem more carefree (or ignorant if you're a cynic).  The violence was probably as bad and as cowardly as today I'm afraid, but it wasn't on our TV screen (like a-ha said, "The Sun Always Shines on TV").  

But is sounded fun  8)

Actually the 80s had pretty high crime rates; even the early 90s crime wave was largely a product of the 80s crack binge, after 1992/93 crime declined and is now but is slowing down (damn terrorists and Bush!)  

With the Internet explosion in the mid/late 90s and 9/11/01 the 80s "lifestyle" went away I'm guessing.

I think there wasn't as much political correctness as there is now. I think the movies knew how to talk to teens without talking down to them. (ie. Breakfast Club) I know there was dysfunction, but the escape was the movies, music and tv that was out there. The only "reality tv" was the news and the only kind of talk show was Donahue and Oprah. I know I had more fun and the fashions (as cheesy as they may have been) was fun...not too much today is about that. I miss that. :)

I think if you want to learn about the pop culture of the 80's. The main page of this website (
www.inthe80's.com ) is a great place to start. Alot of information. It might help if you asked particular questions.

So, Basically the 80S where pertty much the same as today (in ways) But you can't beat 80S music and i think bands/artists are figuring that out since, They are kind of going back to 80S music either the style of it or just remaking the song, SO in general the 80S were almost the same as today except the music?? 8)

So, Basically the 80S where pertty much the same as today (in ways) But you can't beat 80S music and i think bands/artists are figuring that out since, They are kind of going back to 80S music either the style of it or just remaking the song, SO in general the 80S were almost the same as today except the music?? 8)


Pretty much from what I've heard/seen.  I'd say the three main differences are:

1. Internet
2. Style
3. Terrorism Crap

OH, So i guess you guys can teach me a bit about the music background of the 80S, Since i don't know that much about it...... ;) 8)

It depends on what you mean. I really think the 80's were very DIFFERENT. I mean there are some classic themes that have always been and will always be.

Such as: interpersonal relatoinships, political uprest, focus on fashions, etc.

But its the specifics of each that makes it different. For example, there has always been music, but its the type of music that differs. As long as there have been movies, there have been different movies for different decades, etc. All of that leads to an overall difference of culture during that time period.

Now the internet, terrorism, etc. adds new elements to today's society. Just as there were elements then that aren't now. Example, yuppies, cold war, rubix cube, etc.

Pretty much from what I've heard/seen.  I'd say the three main differences are:

1. Internet

Check...

2. Style

Check...

3. Terrorism Crap

Not quite, FHF...there was plenty of the stuff going on in the 80s and prior to that - just to name a few...Baader-Meinhoff, The ETA, certain factions in Iran (who were public enemy #1 at one stage) and of course, The IRA goings-on here in Britain...

It depends on what you mean. I really think the 80's were very DIFFERENT. I mean there are some classic themes that have always been and will always be.

Such as: interpersonal relatoinships, political uprest, focus on fashions, etc.

But its the specifics of each that makes it different. For example, there has always been music, but its the type of music that differs. As long as there have been movies, there have been different movies for different decades, etc. All of that leads to an overall difference of culture during that time period.

Now the internet, terrorism, etc. adds new elements to today's society. Just as there were elements then that aren't now. Example, yuppies, cold war, rubix cube, etc.


Yeah, Boomtown Rats, I guess what Rubixgirl and others are trying to say is that the 80s weren't like the 1800s or anything; that is it was the same AGE as now, it wasn't like medieval times, people lived roughly the same as now in a historical sense.  But it was different; the news, fashion, the technology, just the feel was different.  Yeah like 80s had the Cold War, Yuppies, Rubix Cube, New Wave, assymetrical Haircuts, the 90s had Gangsta and Old School Rap, Grunge, dreadlocks, tatoos, body piercings, Beavis and Butthead, Dance music, coffee, and slackers, the 00s have Terrorism, South Park, Mainstream Rap, Reality TV, Bush, Gulf War II, Chappelle's Show, Lost, etc.

yo, full house fan/aha-are-the-bomb dude, you sound awesome! i was totally born in 1990 too, but wanted to be an 80's child soooooooooo bad! anyway, i don't want to freak you out but if you ever wanna chat respond to this, i just think it's so cool that a guy likes the 80s who never lived in it. yeah... sorry spazzy tonight!  ;)

oh yeah, and it's AWESOME that you like full house. jesse is the coolest!

yo, full house fan/aha-are-the-bomb dude, you sound awesome! i was totally born in 1990 too, but wanted to be an 80's child soooooooooo bad! anyway, i don't want to freak you out but if you ever wanna chat respond to this, i just think it's so cool that a guy likes the 80s who never lived in it. yeah... sorry spazzy tonight! ;)

oh yeah, and it's AWESOME that you like full house. jesse is the coolest!


Hey Bendergoonie1988 :)  Thanks!  What up?  You like Full House too? Awesome!  Unfortunately I don't remember watching it when it was on, but I watch the reruns regularly more or less.

-FHF  :) 8)

Ha ha, this topic is getting crazy!!! lol, But yeah do you guys have anything you miss back then like ANYTHING? like conserets or stores or anything back then???

i misss.....those old defing moment shows....tv was a big part and movies too....i wonder how the malls and the teen secen was acutally like on a sat. night

  the biggest difference to me was just everyday life in general.  The 80s were more... carefree, or easy-going.  But I probley see it that way cause it was my early  childhood.  I remember it as being a great time in life.  Big Differences?.. video game quality, television, just about everything was a bit more simple.

Cartoons were better in the 80's, a little more innocent.  The cartoons today are odd.  If you want to learn more about 80's music, Direct TV has an 80's music channel.  Channel 823.  They tell you the song, artist and year it was released.  The violence started in the later 80's.  I remember my first day of high school (1988) some guy got shot at school, some Blood/Crip problem.  Gangs were big in the late 80's early 90's.  I lived in an L.A. suburb though.  Best thing to do is watch 80's movies, listen to 80's music and keep talking to us old people.  :)  I always though that the 50's would have been a cool time to be young.  Looks so innocent. 

Oh, Disco was still popular in 80-81ish...New Wave was early-mid 80's......Hair Bands late 80's.

OH, Right on you guys are helping me bigg time!!!! I never knew any of the things I'm hearing, Hey but keep going guys your doing great how where the stores? Or how was the pricing different from today??  :) ;) 8)

OH, Right on you guys are helping me bigg time!!!! I never knew any of the things I'm hearing, Hey but keep going guys your doing great how where the stores? Or how was the pricing different from today?? :) ;) 8)


Uh I think 1980 dollars were about $2.20 2005 dollars.  1990 dollar are about $1.25 2005 dollars.  That's just my guess. :)

-FHF

I myself, was born in 1976 (I'll be 29 this year!  ::))  One of my favorite things about the 80's, were the TV shows, some of which are on DVD (or will be soon). My favorites are:

Knight Rider
Quincy
V
The A-Team
MacGyver
ALF
Night Court
Simon and Simon
Magnum P.I.
Miami Vice
l.A Law
Newhart
Cheers

Hope it helps!

OH, Right on you guys are helping me bigg time!!!! I never knew any of the things I'm hearing, Hey but keep going guys your doing great how where the stores? Or how was the pricing different from today??  :) ;) 8)


If you don't mind me asking, what state do you live in or country for that matter.  I know stores are different in every state.  I can speak for California stores only.  As for prices......I found this web site    http://www.1980sflashback.com  Check it out! 

Oh and if you haven't heard it yet listen to the song Valley Girl to hear how some of us talked.  There is also a movie called Valley Girl that can show you a lot about the 80's.  It's a pretty gay movie though.

 The myth that things were cheaper simply isn't true if you factor in average earnings back then. Gasoline was around $1.00/gallon. Autos were about double what they were in the 70's. Insurance rates were on the rise. Inflation was almost out of control early in the decade. Interest rates were raised to keep inflation in check, which made borrowing a lot more expensive. There was the savings & loans scandal, resultiong in banks going belly-up. :o

 A computer w/16mHz-20mHz processor, 40mb-100mb HDD, 8mb RAM, 5.25" & 3.5" floppy drives, mouse, keyboard, and 15" VGA monitor would run around $1,500-$2,000. That was top-of-the-line in the late 80's. :)

 Terrorism was around also. I guess the media(in the U.S.) didn't think it newsworthy enough then.
There was the Afghanistan/USSR war and the Iran/Iraq war. I.R.A. bombings in the U.K.. The U.S. Marine barracks suicide bombing in Beruit, Lebanon. The U.S. bombing of Lebanon in late 1983. The Israel/Lebanon conflict.

 On the positive side the stock market was returning good dividends. Individual Retirement Accounts were doing well. CD's were earning good interest rates. MTV actually played music. We had more game shows and cartoons in the morning/afternoon than talk shows. "Reality" television shows were few and usually shown in the form of docu-dramas or mini-series. We actually had drama, action, and comedy shows that required originality and talent to create. "Politically Correct" hadn't caught on too much, which made parody shows a lot better. SNL had better writers. Monty Python was very popular. I watched the CBC on my big dish which opened up a whole new and very entertaining broadcast experience. SCTV was "On The AIR". John Candy made his best films.

 Now that I think about, if it wasn't for the 80's consumers paying too much back then and paving the way for research and development, todays low-cost gadgets probably would never have become so low cost and miniaturized.

 That's all for now..........."CLASS DISMISSED".........("Hot For Teacher" music starts  ;D ;D )

We actually had drama, action, and comedy shows that required originality and talent to create.


I agree with most everything else except this quote.  Ever seen LOST??
But yes, since Nov. 2000 Reality destroyed TV for the better part.

-FHF  ;)

Ever seen LOST??

  Nope, can't say that I have. If you recommend it I might watch it. With recent movies like "Cast Away" and "Six Days and Seven Night" plus the "Survivor" series I just figured it to be another lame rip-off show.

Oh, I forgot something.  In the early 80's we didn't have cable or satellite.  We only had about 15 or so channels, they were 2-13 and those PBS type channels.  Well there was this system you could subscribe to called ON.  It was a box, kind of like a cable box but a little bigger, and it had a gigantic knob that you could either switch on or off and when you turned it to the on position you would be on a movie channel kind of like HBO.  During the evenings they had newer movies and during late night the pornos would come on.  Of course we were supposed to be in bed by that time but my mom would fall asleep on the couch and after a while the porn would come on and my sister and I would peek around the corner and watch them and laugh our butts off.  So corny!  There was also a similar product called Select TV.  I can't remember how that worked though.  

so much happened in the 80s
the world just started changing
things were more expensive i think no e bay to get a good deal no supermarket deals
all the gas electric phone companys were run by government so no deals there
music was the best summers were great
no sattelite tv
no computers
no mobiles til late 80s (in england that is)
life was simple really
didnt get a vcr til 1983! or colour tv !
a generation of young people who started to stand up for what they think is right was born mostly thanks to johnny rotten i think making us realise the goverment was crap the monarchy was a joke draining all their money from the state
that man is an icon

I remember my mom never used to lock our front door.  Ever.  Or even the car doors.

I was in 4th grade in 1980.  in rutherford, nj we were just starting to learn multiplication.  when i moved 2 towns away to nutley, nj that same year, they were learning division.  when we needed to use the bathroom, we had to ask for a "court pass".  there was such a thing as petticoat day, where any girl who was wearing a dress or skirt was subject to having it lifted up by all the boys at school.  adam ant was the coolest singer in the world.   
 
We called payphones to meet guys (how SAD sounding is that?  but it WORKED!!!)  i had actual pen pals.  my first computer was a commodore 64.

when i graduated high school in 1988, the big thing to do was drive around on our local "strip" & pick up any hot guys with long hair that we wanted to meet.  i'd actually pull over & offer them a ride to wherever they were going!  funny thing is... not only was EVERYONE doing this, but to this day, that is how i met my 2 best friends.

in 1989 i shared lipstick & eyeliner with not only my brother, but with guys in the girl's bathroom at studio one in newark, nj.  many of them were WAY prettier than i was.  it was depressing.  LOL

we used to leave messages on a phone dating service (it was free for girls to do this) & guys would mail me letters, pictures & call me to meet up.  we used to get trashed in the meadows, we broke into a big-rig parking lot & used their cb's, hung out under dingy bridges in newark, lit fires in trash cans to keep warm, went skinny-dipping at a reservoir, went to nyc with guitars & drank in battery park with the bums while we all sang songs.  speaking of cb's - that was my main dating source before AOL came about LOL

the East Coast Rocker was the glam-scene's must-have publication.  i used to write to all the bands in there & they would send me their demos.  i still have about 50 assorted tapes from different bands.

i could go on forever... but i'll leave you with that (before someone actually recognizes me!)  LOL

Yeah, so that reminds me............when I was in high school and we wanted to drink, we would drive out to some dead end street all the way on the undeveloped side of town at the base of the mountains.  Well the cops knew that kids went out there to drink and they would drive out there and make you pour out your beer and drive home.  They wouldn't follow you and try to bust you or anything, they would just let you drive under the influence.

WOW, This is a huge topic lol, But its great because you guys can go back into your years in the 80S and pick out the important things and help someone like me understand it better, I think you guys are great and doing an awesome job keep it up!!!!!! :) ;) 8)

I was in Dillards the other day and they have a bunch of clothes (womens at least) that are totally 80's.  It's coming back! :o

I think one way to help describe the 80's is that there was a futuristic vibe it. It seemed like there was this push in popular culture to usher in a new kind of high-tech age. This was when home video games and computers first became affordable to the masses, and this techno vibe was reflected by the first real widespread use of synthesizers in music. Many new cars featured digital dashboards (although they've since moved away from that). A lot of the fashions and designs seemed to be more sleek and minimalist, compared to the wild and funky (and sometimes gaudy) styles of the 70's. The only thing I didn't like about the 80's is that they seemed a little bit too "preppy" for me.

I think one way to help describe the 80's is that there was a futuristic vibe it. It seemed like there was this push in popular culture to usher in a new kind of high-tech age. This was when home video games and computers first became affordable to the masses, and this techno vibe was reflected by the first real widespread use of synthesizers in music. Many new cars featured digital dashboards (although they've since moved away from that). A lot of the fashions and designs seemed to be more sleek and minimalist, compared to the wild and funky (and sometimes gaudy) styles of the 70's. The only thing I didn't like about the 80's is that they seemed a little bit too "preppy" for me.


Yeah they did seem futuristic, in a cheap and campy way.  Sorta like a fifties monster movie.  A lot of 50s fashion came into the eighties, don't you think?

I'm not sure, About the fashion in the 50S... But i know that a lot of 80S fashion is comming back today and people actually like it, I think that is nuts because why do they have to go back in time they can't think of any other styles, Like are they that dumb?? :-\\ 8)

I'm not sure, About the fashion in the 50S... But i know that a lot of 80S fashion is comming back today and people actually like it, I think that is nuts because why do they have to go back in time they can't think of any other styles, Like are they that dumb?? :-\\ 8)


Not sure....  :-\\

Styles are constantly being recycled.  We are still wearing some 70's comebacks.  Flare pants, platform shoes....................puma anything.