This thread is inspired by Reasons to Dislike the Early 90s. I'm interested in knowing what things people dislike about the mid 1980s.

This is a toughie as this is generally the most-liked part of the decade. I'd say things like merchandised-driven "toy informerical" cartoons, led by He-Man and G.I. Joe and leading to Strawberry Shortcake, Go Bots, Transformers, and eventually the Real Ghostbusters. Others include poor Star Wars knockoffs since after Return of the Jedi, the franchise was losing steam with the Droids/Ewoks series and 1984 Ewoks TV Movie. Video games were also in a lull following the 1983 crash. Also, the loss of sessioned musicians in exchanged for synthesizers/drum machines (in particular, gated drums) really took hold around this time giving pop music a very "cold, glossy" sound. The working class also hates this era since trickle down economics took hold, benefiting the rich dis-proportionally.

As a twenty-something who transitioned from on-off student/worker to full-time career woman in the mid 80's ('85 college grad), I can tell you there was a whole lot to love about the mid 80's.  But it wasn't perfect.  The following song captures the attitude of the mid 80's in many ways:

Big Time by Peter Gabriel (late 1986)

Hi There

I'm on my way I'm making it, huh!
I've got to make it show yeah, hey!
So much larger than life
I'm gonna watch it growing
Hey hey hey heyyyyyyy

The place where I come from is a small town
They think so small, they use small words
But not me, I'm smarter than that,
I worked it out
I'll be stretching my mouth to let those big words come right out
I've had enough, I'm getting out
to the city, the big big city
I'll be a big noise with all the big boys, so much stuff I will own
And I will pray to a big god, as I kneel in the big church

Big time, I'm on my way I'm making it,
Big time, oh yes
Big time, I've got to make it show yeah,
Big time
Big time, so much larger than life
Big time, I'm gonna watch it growing,
Big time
Ho ohh ohh, oh oh, ho ohh ohh, oh ohhh

My parties have all the big names and I greet them with the widest smile
Tell them how my life is one big adventure
and always they're amazed when I show them 'round my house to my bed
I had it made like a mountain range with a snow white pillow for my big fat head
And my heaven will be a big heaven, and I will walk through the front door

Big Time, I'm on my way I'm making it,
big time, Huh!
Big time, I've got to make it show yeah,
big time
Big time, so much larger than life
Big time, I'm gonna watch it growing,
big time
Big time, my car is getting bigger
Big time, my house is getting bigger
Big time, my eyes are getting bigger
and my mouth
Big time, my belly's getting bigger
Big time, and my bank account
Big time, look at my circumstance
Big time, and the bulge in my big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big


Here's a link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBAl9cchQac

i dont like disco :-[

i dont like disco :-[


Disco was not popular music in the mid 80s. Disco music faded away into music history in 1981. After that it was all New Wave, Pop, Rock and Old School Hip hop.  :)

i dont like disco either :( the mid 80s are the worst

i dont like disco :-[


What was wrong with disco? ???

What was wrong with disco? ???
It's just a matter of taste. Some people like certain music styles and others don't. ;)

Disco was not popular music in the mid 80s. Disco music faded away into music history in 1981...


Agree 100%.  Yes, there was dance music in the mid/late '80s, but it was not Disco.  I did a lot of clubbing in that era - many of the tunes we danced to were mainstream pop, as it was so danceable in the 80's.  At that time Disco was a bad word...  :)

People usually love 1984 to 1987.  ;D  ;D  :(

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher
Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher, Out! Out! Out!

The mid 80s were the best.  :)

Oh come on, OP. The late 80s had some good music but most was becoming overproduced and fashion was OTT. 1985 alone had some of the greatest releases ever. Just the guitar solo of Money For Nothing make it a great year. Also the silly catchiness of You Spin Me Round Like A Record. A-ha's Take On Me etc.

Other than some politics, the 80s for a kid were awesome!

The preachy sidekicks in mid 80s 30 minute toy commercials.

Bad Perms! SCARY SCARY Perms!  :o

Powersource - Dear Mr. Jesus (1986)
(I was never a fan of children singing. Sorry.)

- The new pop and R&B music being recorded in this time frame by artists like Lisa Lisa and Bobby Brown. It was too much like a return to the 60s after hearing it for me and I never lived in the 60s.  :o

In case you can’t tell, I was bored listening to my parents’ music in those days. To this day, I don’t care for it.

I’m glad all of that stopped by end of the late 80s.

Strikes!

Video games were also in a lull following the 1983 crash.


We will never experience anything like that again.

As an 8 year old it was surreal. One day standing in awe at the mall looking at all the $50 video games, the next day walking by huge crates of games for $1 and not giving a rat's patootie.

It was a very early economics lesson for 80s kids.