This Week in the 80s: April 28–May 4

Welcome back to the 1980s. Every week we travel through all ten years of the decade at once — same calendar dates, ten different years. This week covers April 28 - May 4 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from April 28 to May 7. We aim to list things as close to the date they happened, and each week may have overlaps with adjacent weeks due to this calendar nuance.

📰 The News That Shaped the Decade

1980

• April 30, 1980: The Iranian Embassy siege in London began on April 30, 1980, when six armed men took 26 people hostage.
• April 21, 1980: The Mariel boatlift began on April 21, 1980, bringing Cuban refugees to the United States. It continued into May.
• May 4, 1980: Yugoslavian President Josip Broz Tito died on May 4, 1980.

1981

• May 5, 1981: Bobby Sands, an Irish republican hunger striker, died on May 5, 1981, in Maze Prison.
• 1981: The DeLorean DMC-12 sports car, famous for its role in 'Back to the Future', began production in Northern Ireland in late 1980 and was being sold in 1981.

1982

• April-May 1982: The Falklands War continued, with significant naval engagements occurring in late April and early May 1982.
• May 1, 1982: The World's Fair opened in Knoxville, Tennessee, on May 1, 1982.

1983

• April 28, 1983: The first American woman in space, Sally Ride, was announced by NASA on April 28, 1983, as a crew member for STS-7.
• 1983: The sitcom "Cheers" was in its first season, gaining popularity throughout 1983.
• April–May 1983: Michael Jackson's Thriller album, released just five months earlier, was still dominating the charts. "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" were both in the Top 10 simultaneously — the first time any artist had two songs in the Top 10 from the same album at the same time. The Thriller era was in full swing. The new biopic Michael (now in theaters) opens with the making of this album.

1984

• January 1984: The first Apple Macintosh computer was introduced in January 1984, marking a significant technological advancement.
• 1984: The Wendy's 'Where's the Beef?' commercial was a cultural phenomenon throughout 1984, having debuted in January.
• May 1984: Michael Jackson was three months removed from the Pepsi commercial fire that burned his scalp (January 27, 1984). He was recovering and preparing for the Victory Tour, which launched in July 1984. Michael Jackson was three months removed from the Pepsi commercial fire that burned his scalp (January 27, 1984). He was recovering and preparing for the Victory Tour with his brothers — a tour that would gross over $75 million and become one of the highest-grossing tours in history to that point. The new biopic Michael (now in theaters) recreates the Pepsi accident in detail.

1985

• April 23, 1985: Coca-Cola introduced 'New Coke' on April 23, 1985, leading to widespread public backlash.
• 1985: The sitcom 'The Golden Girls' premiered in September 1985, but was in production and highly anticipated during the year.
• May 1, 1985: President Reagan imposes a trade embargo on Nicaragua.

1986

• April 26, 1986: The Chernobyl disaster occurred on April 26, 1986, with news and global impact unfolding in the following days and weeks.

1987

• 1987: The Iran-Contra affair continued to be a major political scandal throughout 1987, with investigations and hearings ongoing.

1988

1989

• April-June 1989: The Tiananmen Square protests began in April 1989 and culminated in early June, with international attention focused on China.
• May 1, 1989: Riot at Risley Detention Centre in Cheshire, England.

🎵 Soundtrack of the Week

Here's a taste of what was climbing the charts this week across the decade. Paid members get the full Top 10 for every year — all 100 songs, every one linked so you can listen and watch right now.

1980 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Cars — Gary Numan
7. You May Be Right — Billy Joel
8. Coming Up — Paul McCartney
9. Stomp! — The Brothers Johnson
10. Biggest Part of Me — Ambrosia

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. The Best of Times — Styx
7. Sweetheart — Franke and the Knockouts
8. A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) — Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
9. I Love a Rainy Night — Eddie Rabbitt
10. Living Inside Myself — Gino Vannelli

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Heat of the Moment — Asia
7. Freeze-Frame — The J. Geils Band
8. Open Arms — Journey
9. 867-5309/Jenny — Tommy Tutone
10. We Got the Beat — The Go-Go's

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Shame on the Moon — Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
7. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) — Journey
8. Africa — Toto
9. Hungry Like the Wolf — Duran Duran
10. She Blinded Me with Science — Thomas Dolby

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. You Might Think — The Cars
7. The Reflex — Duran Duran
8. Let the Music Play — Shannon
9. Love Somebody — Rick Springfield
10. Miss Me Blind — Culture Club

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Loverboy — Billy Ocean
7. Everything She Wants — Wham!
8. Smooth Operator — Sade
9. Nightshift — Commodores
10. Obsession — Animotion

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Why Can't This Be Love — Van Halen
7. What Have You Done for Me Lately — Janet Jackson
8. Take Me Home Tonight — Eddie Money
9. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. — John Cougar Mellencamp
10. Harlem Shuffle — The Rolling Stones

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Let's Wait Awhile — Janet Jackson
7. Lean on Me — Club Nouveau
8. Sign 'O' the Times — Prince
9. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) — Aretha Franklin & George Michael
10. La Isla Bonita — Madonna

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Every Rose Has Its Thorn — Poison
7. Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car — Billy Ocean
8. Rocket 2 U — The Jets
9. I Want Her — Keith Sweat
10. Devil Inside — INXS

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. I'll Be Loving You (Forever) — New Kids on the Block
7. Second Chance — 38 Special
8. Girl You Know It's True — Milli Vanilli
9. Soldier of Love — Donny Osmond
10. Funky Cold Medina — Tone Lōc

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

Every song. Every year. Click to listen and watch.

1980

1. 🏆 Call Me — Blondie
2. Ride Like the Wind — Christopher Cross
3. Lost in Love — Air Supply
4. With You I'm Born Again — Billy Preston & Syreeta
5. Working My Way Back to You — The Spinners
6. Biggest Part of Me — Ambrosia
7. Stomp! — The Brothers Johnson
8. Coming Up — Paul McCartney
9. You May Be Right — Billy Joel
10. Cars — Gary Numan

1981

1. 🏆 Morning Train (Nine to Five) — Sheena Easton
2. Just the Two of Us — Grover Washington, Jr. (feat. Bill Withers)
3. Being with You — Smokey Robinson
4. Kiss on My List — Daryl Hall & John Oates
5. Angel of the Morning — Juice Newton
6. Living Inside Myself — Gino Vannelli
7. I Love a Rainy Night — Eddie Rabbitt
8. A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) — Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
9. Sweetheart — Franke and the Knockouts
10. The Best of Times — Styx

1982

1. 🏆 I Love Rock 'n Roll — Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
2. Chariots of Fire — Vangelis
3. Don't Talk to Strangers — Rick Springfield
4. Ebony and Ivory — Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
5. Centerfold — The J. Geils Band
6. We Got the Beat — The Go-Go's
7. 867-5309/Jenny — Tommy Tutone
8. Open Arms — Journey
9. Freeze-Frame — The J. Geils Band
10. Heat of the Moment — Asia

1983

1. 🏆 Beat It — Michael Jackson
2. Come On Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners
3. Billie Jean — Michael Jackson
4. Jeopardy — The Greg Kihn Band
5. Der Kommissar — After the Fire
6. She Blinded Me with Science — Thomas Dolby
7. Hungry Like the Wolf — Duran Duran
8. Africa — Toto
9. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) — Journey
10. Shame on the Moon — Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

🎙️ "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" in the same chart, same week — that's Thriller. The new MJ biopic opens with the making of this album. Watch the trailer →

1984

1. 🏆 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) — Phil Collins
2. Hello — Lionel Richie
3. Footloose — Kenny Loggins
4. Somebody's Watching Me — Rockwell
5. Hold Me Now — Thompson Twins
6. Miss Me Blind — Culture Club
7. Love Somebody — Rick Springfield
8. Let the Music Play — Shannon
9. The Reflex — Duran Duran
10. You Might Think — The Cars

1985

1. 🏆 We Are the World — USA for Africa
2. Crazy for You — Madonna
3. Rhythm of the Night — DeBarge
4. One More Night — Phil Collins
5. Don't You (Forget About Me) — Simple Minds
6. Obsession — Animotion
7. Nightshift — Commodores
8. Smooth Operator — Sade
9. Everything She Wants — Wham!
10. Loverboy — Billy Ocean

1986

1. 🏆 Kiss — Prince and The Revolution
2. Addicted to Love — Robert Palmer
3. West End Girls — Pet Shop Boys
4. Manic Monday — The Bangles
5. Rock Me Amadeus — Falco
6. Harlem Shuffle — The Rolling Stones
7. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. — John Cougar Mellencamp
8. Take Me Home Tonight — Eddie Money
9. What Have You Done for Me Lately — Janet Jackson
10. Why Can't This Be Love — Van Halen

1987

1. 🏆 (I Just) Died in Your Arms — Cutting Crew
2. With or Without You — U2
3. Looking for a New Love — Jody Watley
4. Don't Dream It's Over — Crowded House
5. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now — Starship
6. La Isla Bonita — Madonna
7. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) — Aretha Franklin & George Michael
8. Sign 'O' the Times — Prince
9. Lean on Me — Club Nouveau
10. Let's Wait Awhile — Janet Jackson

1988

1. 🏆 Where Do Broken Hearts Go — Whitney Houston
2. Anything for You — Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
3. Wishing Well — Terence Trent D'Arby
4. Angel — Aerosmith
5. Pink Cadillac — Natalie Cole
6. Devil Inside — INXS
7. I Want Her — Keith Sweat
8. Rocket 2 U — The Jets
9. Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car — Billy Ocean
10. Every Rose Has Its Thorn — Poison

1989

1. 🏆 Like a Prayer — Madonna
2. The Look — Roxette
3. She Drives Me Crazy — Fine Young Cannibals
4. I'll Be There for You — Bon Jovi
5. Eternal Flame — The Bangles
6. Funky Cold Medina — Tone Lōc
7. Soldier of Love — Donny Osmond
8. Girl You Know It's True — Milli Vanilli
9. Second Chance — 38 Special
10. I'll Be Loving You (Forever) — New Kids on the Block

🎬 Box Office #1 This Week

The biggest movie in America during this week, for each year of the decade.

📺 Primetime TV Spotlight

What America was watching in primetime this week across the decade.

1980 — That's Incredible! (ABC)

This reality television show, which premiered in March 1980, showcased people with unusual talents and extraordinary feats, capturing the public's imagination with its 'believe it or not' segments.

📺 Where to Watch That's Incredible! →

1981 — Happy Days (ABC)

In its eighth season, 'Happy Days' continued to be a popular sitcom, following the lives of the Cunningham family and their friends in 1950s and 60s Milwaukee, with Fonzie as a cultural icon.

📺 Where to Watch Happy Days →

1982 — Cheers (NBC)

In its inaugural season, 'Cheers' introduced viewers to the beloved Boston bar 'where everybody knows your name,' establishing its iconic characters and witty banter that would define the sitcom for years to come.

📺 Where to Watch Cheers →

1983 — The A-Team (NBC)

In its first full season, 'The A-Team' became a breakout hit, known for its action-packed plots, memorable characters, and catchphrases, as a group of ex-Special Forces soldiers worked as mercenaries for hire.

📺 Where to Watch The A-Team →

1984 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

In its debut season, 'The Cosby Show' revolutionized the sitcom genre, portraying the Huxtable family as an affluent and loving African-American household, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon and a ratings giant.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1985 — The Golden Girls (NBC)

In its premiere season, 'The Golden Girls' charmed audiences with its witty humor and heartwarming portrayal of four older women sharing a home in Miami, tackling themes of aging, friendship, and family with grace and laughter.

📺 Where to Watch The Golden Girls →

1986 — ALF (NBC)

In its first season, 'ALF' introduced audiences to Gordon Shumway, a sarcastic alien from the planet Melmac, who crash-landed into the suburban Tanner family's home, leading to comedic situations as they tried to keep his existence a secret.

📺 Where to Watch ALF →

1987 — A Different World (NBC)

Spinning off from 'The Cosby Show,' 'A Different World' began its first season following Denise Huxtable's experiences at Hillman College, exploring themes of higher education, identity, and social issues within a historically black college setting.

📺 Where to Watch A Different World →

1988 — Roseanne (ABC)

In its groundbreaking debut season, 'Roseanne' offered a realistic and humorous portrayal of a working-class American family, the Conners, tackling everyday struggles with sharp wit and relatable characters, quickly becoming a critical and commercial success.

📺 Where to Watch Roseanne →

1989 — The Wonder Years (ABC)

In its second full season, 'The Wonder Years' continued to captivate audiences with its nostalgic look at adolescence in the late 1960s and early 1970s, narrated by an adult Kevin Arnold reflecting on his youth, family, and first love.

📺 Where to Watch The Wonder Years →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic 'Where's the Beef?' commercial featured three elderly women examining a hamburger with a tiny patty. One of the women, Clara Peller, repeatedly asks 'Where's the Beef?', highlighting Wendy's larger patties compared to competitors. The catchphrase became a national sensation.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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