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Zoom back in time On PopRadio 77 and experience some great memories from the 1980's.
Also known as the “greed decade”, it was the decade of big hair, heavy mobile phones, bright neon colors, shoulder pads, the Cold War, Rubik’s cubes, Air Jordans, Michael Jackson, Pac Man, Music On MTV and the list could go on and on.
During the 1980s, the culture shifted for sure. Life became more fast-paced as people built careers and focused on technology. For instance, The personal computer, microwave, cell phone, wireless phone, VCR, and fax machine appeared, along with ATM machines and overnight package delivery. It’s hard to imagine a time without these inventions, some of which have already been replaced by newer technologies.
The baby boomers – the generation born after WWII – were in the prime of their careers and earning a lot of money. They spent their money on nice cars, large houses, and entertainment. They were sometimes called yuppies.
The Rest...Is History. One thing for sure is that the 80's music will always bring back memories from this decade of change.
Use the Cirrus Content Player to listen to the memories From the 1980's all day, every day on PopRadio 77. Then, you will get detailed info on every Song and Artist on your device.
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Memories From The 1980's
MTV Is Born
On August 1, 1981, MTV: Music Television went on the air for the first time ever, with the words “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first music video to air on the new cable television channel, which initially was available only to households in parts of New Jersey. What happened was MTV went on to revolutionize the music industry and become an influential source of pop culture and entertainment in the United States and other parts of the world.
Music Video Age
In MTV’s early days, its programming consisted of basic music videos that were introduced by VJs (video jockeys) and provided for free by record companies. As the record industry recognized MTV’s value as a promotional vehicle, money was invested in making creative, cutting-edge videos. Some directors, including Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Three Kings) and Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), worked on music videos before segueing into feature films. In the 1980s, MTV was instrumental in promoting the careers of performers such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince and Duran Duran, whose videos played in heavy rotation.
Programming Shift
By the late 1980s, MTV started airing non-video programming, geared toward teenagers and young adults. Its popular reality series The Real World launched in 1992 and was followed by such highly rated shows as The Osbournes, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet 16 and The Hills. MTV also debuted animated series including Beavis and Butthead and Celebrity Deathmatch, as well as documentaries, news, game shows and public service campaigns on topics ranging from voting rights to safe sex. MTV developed a reputation for pushing cultural boundaries and taste; the airing of Madonna’s 1989 “Like a Prayer” video is just one famous example. In 1984, the channel launched the MTV Music Video Awards, which were followed in 1992 by the MTV Movie Awards.
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The 1980's are in focus every Saturday night from 6pm - 8pm at The Amazing 80's. It is two hours of memories from the 1980's. M.G. Kelly hosts this roller coaster ride through the MTV decade. This fast paced show explodes with entertaining features and the hottest hits from the 80's. Saturday nights at 6pm on PopRadio 77.
Use the Cirrus Content Player to listen to The Amazing 80's. Get detailed info on every Song and Artist. Like them on their Facebook page and see recent tweets from the Artist.
Time is Up!
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Every decade has its fads, fashion statements and crazes. The 1980's was no different! It was bursting at the seams with interesting toys and even more interesting fashion choices. But let’s be honest – it’s a relief that some of these stayed in the 80s! Most 80's fads were either cringeworthy, hilarious or just completely out of this world. Check out some of these great memories from the 1980's.
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PARACHUTE PANTS
In the ‘80s, these trousers were essential, especially for breakdancing boys. Parachute pants are tightly fitting trousers that were made with nylon material, just like the one that is used in making a parachute. These pants often have a large crotch area that can go lower than the knees. These pants may look absurd, but back in the ‘80s, someone thought that they looked good in these.
BIG HAIR
It wasn’t just men who sported an iconic hairstyle back in the ‘80s, the women are also guilty of having iconic but terrible hairstyles. Back then, it seemed that the bigger your hair, the better. If you ever looked at old photos that were taken back in the ‘80s, we bet you that you will see a woman with big hair. This big hair trend continued even the ‘80s were over, and you will see celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston sport this look back in the ‘90s.
LEG WARMERS
The ‘80s was the decade where the movies Flashdance and Fame were released, and it’s not a surprise that leg warmers also reached the peak of their popularity during this decade. Basically, the leg warmers were designed to be used on cold days, but it seemed that people used them more in the gym. Going to the gym can make you feel warm, so leg warmers must have been a little bit sweaty. However, they aren’t just for dancers or gym-goers. People also used to wear them as a part of their day to day outfits, too, especially over tights. Leg warmers have been around before the ‘80s, but it was the decade where they became popular. They came in different designs and colors.
SHOULDER PADS
The shoulder pads were one of the biggest trends of the ‘80s. Considering that this decade, where women started to take over the workplace, they wanted to make it clear that they were also capable of doing the job that a man can do. That’s why power dressing became a trend, and the desire of the women to present themselves as intelligent, serious, and strong individuals in the workplace became stronger.
CAR SURFING
Ever since Michael J. Fox’s character on Teen Wolf was seen surfing on the roof of his friend’s van, car surfing became a thing. We bet most of the ‘80s kids remembered this craze and tried it at least once.
JELLY SHOES
These shoes were light, airy, and they never leave your feet sweaty. They also come in different colors and styles, which means you can mix and match them with many outfits. Plus, it also comes at a low price, too. They are the perfect shoes to wear if you’re going to the seaside and wanted to have a little fun at the sea without taking your shoes off.
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MULLET HAIR
The mullet hair was one of the ultimate men’s hairstyles in the 80's. To be honest, this hairstyle didn’t look that great. Pet Sharp was one of the celebrities who single-handedly kept this hairstyle going over the decade, and consequently it definitely inspired a generation to copy his hairstyle.
SONY WALKMAN
Before the Discman and iPods, there was the Walkman, and it was surprising that it seemed ahead of its time when it was released in the 1980's. When you own one of these back in those days, it looks like you are holding the future in the palm of your hand. During those times, being able to take your music with you anywhere you go was awesome, and the idea of it seemed surreal at that time. Today, this kind of technology is being taken for granted because we can now have thousands of songs in our pockets on demand.
GARBAGE PAIL KIDS
These were the ultimate collectable cards and yet some of the designs were really quite disgusting. At the time, it just seemed like they were very gross, disgusting characters that the manufacturers had made up, and we felt really grown up collecting them. Looking back, these were actually really inventive, and it’s amazing to see how many of the characters were based on other creatures or characters that were already around and had been adapted.
CABBAGE PATCH KIDS
We’ll be totally honest here – we have never been able to understand this particular fad. What were the Cabbage Patch Dolls all about? Cabbage Patch Dolls were not attractive toys, they didn’t look nice and they didn’t look friendly. In reality, these things looked creepy as hell! But the result was these were incredibly popular at the time and sold in the millions.
RUBIK'S CUBE
The Rubik’s Cube took the World by storm and was insanely popular. These days it’s about who can complete it the quickest, but in the 80's it was just about trying to crack it at all. In the end, far too many people simply resorted to one of two things – either give up, or peel off the stickers and cheat!
But it wasn’t just the Rubik’s Cube. There were several other puzzles released by Rubik’s, all of them incredibly inventive, but none of them taking off in the same way as the infamous Cube! Which of the Rubik’s puzzles do you remember attempting – and failing?
POLLY POCKETS
This was one of the biggest toy crazes aimed at girls of the 80s. You had Barbie, Cindy and of course, Polly Pocket! The difference was you could take a couple of Barbies or Cindy’s when you’re out for the day, and maybe a change of clothing for them. But you could take Polly and her whole world with you! These were really inventive and really encouraged kids to use their imaginations. They released dozens of different sets and people would collect as many as possible. Apparently there are signs that Polly Pocket is about to make a big comeback, and all we can say is it’s a welcome return, long overdue!
