The 1980s were bursting with iconic music, fashion, and pop culture movements that left a big mark on the world. While there are parts of the decade that should definitely be left in the past, here are 18 unforgettable things from the ‘80s that we want to make a comeback.
Arcade Games
The likes of Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Donkey Kong dominated the gaming scene in the 1980s, and young people gathered in arcades to socialize and play. According to Love to Know, “Even the smallest towns had an arcade where kids could run around pressing buttons and maneuvering joysticks to get their names at the top of the high scores list.”
Old-School Skateboarding
Skateboarding became popular with teenagers in the 1980s, and iconic skaters such as Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen inspired many young people to have a go at the sport. This influenced fashion, music, and art at the time, and skating became more of a lifestyle for many.
Analog Photography
35mm film, Polaroids, and disposable cameras meant that you didn’t have endless storage for photos, and you couldn’t see the results until you’d paid for them to be developed. As a result, people were careful to take more meaningful photos, something that many people today enjoy.
Roller Disco
Roller disco was a major part of the nightlife scene in the ’80s, and teenagers gathered to dance and socialize with friends over music. Your fashion choices were an extremely important part of the roller disco experience, and people mostly opted for brightly colored outfits and accessories.
Vintage Synthesizer Music
According to the Guardian, bands of the 1980s shared a sound of “synthesisers before guitars, outlandish ideas before rock’n’roll cliches.” Artists such as Depeche Mode and Duran Duran were at the forefront of this electronic pop sound, and musicians today are still inspired by them.
Iconic ‘80s Cartoons
Saturday morning cartoons were a big part of the week for most kids in the 1980s, and they’d often wake up early to enjoy programs like He-Man, ThunderCats, and G.I. Joe. These shows were so popular that they also launched merchandise lines, including toys and accessories.
Cassette Tapes
According to the Sound of Life, “By the 1980s, cassette tapes were the leading audio format worldwide and sold by the millions every year.” This new format allowed people to record their own mix tapes and listen to music on the go with Walkman players.
‘80s Style Diner
Known for their neon lights and jukeboxes for playing the latest hits, ‘80s diners had a distinct aesthetic that meant they were social hubs for teenagers and other groups. Customers enjoyed the classic American comfort foods on offer, such as burgers, shakes, and all-day breakfasts.
Breakdancing
Breakdancing actually originated in the 1970s, but it exploded in popularity during the ‘80s and became associated with hip-hop music and culture. It then became a competitive sport where people would battle each other with their moves, ultimately leading to it being included in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Neon Fashion
Neon colors featured in everything from sportswear to formal wear in the 1980s and were made popular by cultural icons such as Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. Business Insider says, “Huge shoulder pads, head-to-toe sequinned outfits, and neon Spandex workout ensembles are some of the decade’s worst fashion trends.”
Aerobics
Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons were at the center of the aerobics boom in the 1980s with their workout videos that people bought to follow along with at home. The routines were high energy and were performed in brightly colored clothes to upbeat music.
Iconic ‘80s Advertisements
Advertisements in the 1980s were very creative, and many marketing teams today reference iconic ads such as Apple’s ‘1984’ and Coca-Cola’s ‘Catch the Wave.’ They captured the mood and aesthetic of the era, and many modern companies love the retro styling they used.
Tech Gadgets of the ‘80s
Personal computers, the Walkman, and the first mobile phones all became accessible to consumers in the 1980s, marking the start of a huge consumer electronic industry over the decades to come. Many people today love the simplicity of these early devices.
‘80s Celebrity Fashion Icons
Big 1980s celebrities such as David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Madonna had a huge influence on fashion as well as the music scene. Their iconic styles are still famous today, and as trends come and go, you’ll often find references to their ‘80s looks.
Choose Your Own Adventure Books
Popular in the ‘80s, ‘choose your own adventure’ books entertained children by giving them the option to make decisions as they read through the book, which would change the outcome of the story. This gave them a unique experience and meant they could read through the book a few times to get all the versions.
Iconic ‘80s Science Fiction and Fantasy
In a golden age for science fiction and fantasy, movies such as Blade Runner, E.T., and The Princess Bride were loved by audiences worldwide. They often used groundbreaking special effects that gave audiences a more ‘real’ experience and hugely impacted cinema today.
Power Ballads and Stadium Rock
Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and Guns N’ Roses are just some of the artists who dominated the music charts with their power ballads and stadium rock throughout the decade. These songs became anthems and filled arenas with fans across the globe, as well as being heavily featured on the radio and in movie soundtracks.
Daytime Soap Operas
Millions of people sat down each day to watch daytime soap operas such as Dallas, Dynasty, and General Hospital. Each one had a cast of characters that you grew to know through their various plots and dramatic twists. While not as popular now, this form of TV has influenced the shows we love today.
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