It is just about spring cleaning time, so don’t throw out your Frankie Goes to Hollywood cassette tape or your Bon Jovi “Slippery When Wet Tour 1987” concert t-shirt just yet because, yes folks, the 80’s are back! Just when you thought you didn’t need your Aqua Net hair spray or your old school Adidas sneakers anymore, you’ve been sucked back into the time warp again. It sure seems things come in cycles, like trends and styles.
Around 1999, we started to see the 80’s come back. The movie “The Wedding Singer” was a fun flashback for everything silly about the 80’s. We also started to see a trend in other types of movies like those classic John Hughes films (“Pretty in Pink”, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, and “Sixteen Candles”) with updated versions. Not only movies but also music was becoming nostalgic.
Today you can even get your cell phone to ring your favorite classic 80’s anthem, I have mine set on “Take On Me” by A-ha. The music of the 80’s was probably one of the best things about the decade. We had the introduction to Rap and Hip-hop music as well as those dark and brooding new wave or romantic bands like The Smiths and The Cure. It also was a time when Madonna and Michael Jackson were King and Queen of the airwaves, both television and radio.
Artists now are covering 80’s songs left and right. Orgy and P-Diddy have already covered songs from the past. Popular artists like Alien Ant Farm have covered song like Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” Marilyn Manson covered Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love.” Even the so-called artist Britney Spears is covering Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ song “I Love Rock N Roll” for her movie soundtrack. It seems fashionable to jump on the 80’s bandwagon.
Not only music but also television is feeling the 80’s vibe. The new show called “That 80’s Show” is about young adults in their late 20’s dealing with their lives in the age of Reganomics. Also look who is the new love interest on Ally McBeal: it’s good old Jersey boy Jon Bon Jovi. The once long-haired, spandex wearing singer is now a handyman. Wonder if he will be doing any singing? Maybe some old classics like “Livin’ on a Prayer” or “Bad Medicine.”
Even 80’s inspired clothing is coming back in style. Thanks to the clothing store Hot Topic you can find all sorts of cool 80’s wear. Men and women have access to clothing with name brands, cartoons, and even old children’s games on them. The store sells lunchboxes with Care Bears and shoe laces with Rainbow Brite on them.
So I guess after 22 years, the impact of the 80’s is still being felt. One will hope that we soon get over it and then we will relive the 90’s Generation X life over again. But please this time no more plaid flannel shirts.
Best and the worst of the 80’s
Top five best things5. Madonna 4. E.T.3. Madonna 2. The use of the words radical, tubular and awesome1. They’ve been gone for over a decade
Top five worst things5. Tapered jeans4. Shoulder Pads3. Hot pink everything2. Mullets1. Actually, all fashion from the 80’s bites! Why is it back in style?
Comment Policy: Comments are welcomed and encouraged. However, the editorial board reserves the right to edit or delete, without notice, any comments submitted to the blog. For more details, see our full Comment Policy.