This Week in the 80s: May 5–11

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 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from May 5 to 14. 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

• May 5: SAS siege of the Iranian Embassy in London ends.
• May 9: MV Summit Venture collides with Sunshine Skyway Bridge, killing 35.
• May 10: Film "Friday the 13th" is released.

1981

• May 5: Bobby Sands, Irish republican hunger striker, dies in Maze Prison.
• May 10: François Mitterrand is elected President of France.

1982

• May 5: Falklands War: HMS Sheffield is hit by an Exocet missile.
• May 6: First 200 cases of AIDS are reported in the United States.

1983

• May 5: Fake Hitler Diaries are published by Stern magazine.
• May 9: Pope John Paul II revokes the excommunication of Martin Luther.

1984

• May 5: Soviet Union announces boycott of 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
• May 8: Summer Olympics torch relay begins in New York City.
• May 10: Film "Sixteen Candles" is released.
• May 8, 1984: The Soviet Union boycotts the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

1985

• May 5: President Ronald Reagan visits the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
• May 8: First McDonald's restaurant opens in Beijing, China.

1986

• May 5: Chernobyl disaster is publicly acknowledged by the Soviet Union.
• May 7: Film "Top Gun" is released.

1987

• May 5: Iran-Contra affair: The Tower Commission report is released.
• May 8: Gary Hart withdraws from Democratic presidential race.

1988

• May 5: Soviet Union begins withdrawal from Afghanistan.
• May 8: François Mitterrand is re-elected President of France.

1989

• May 5: Students in Beijing begin a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square.
• May 10: Film "Road House" is released.

🎵 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. Coming Up — Paul McCartney
7. Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer — Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
8. You May Be Right — Billy Joel
9. Stomp! — The Brothers Johnson
10. Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl — The Spinners

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Take It on the Run — REO Speedwagon
7. A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) — Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
8. I Love You — Climax Blues Band
9. Sweetheart — Franke and the Knockouts
10. Living Inside Myself — Gino Vannelli

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Goin' Down — Greg Guidry
7. I've Done Everything for You — Rick Springfield
8. Open Arms — Journey
9. Heat of the Moment — Asia
10. Freeze-Frame — The J. Geils Band

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Africa — Toto
7. Billie Jean — Michael Jackson
8. Mr. Roboto — Styx
9. Little Red Corvette — Prince
10. Der Kommissar — After the Fire

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Hold Me Now — Thompson Twins
7. You Might Think — The Cars
8. Oh Sherrie — Steve Perry
9. The Reflex — Duran Duran
10. Love Somebody — Rick Springfield

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Some Like It Hot — The Power Station
7. Obsession — Animotion
8. Nightshift — Commodores
9. Smooth Operator — Sade
10. Everything She Wants — Wham!

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Kiss — Prince & The Revolution
7. On My Own — Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald
8. Harlem Shuffle — The Rolling Stones
9. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
10. What Have You Done for Me Lately — Janet Jackson

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. The Lady in Red — Chris de Burgh
7. Lean on Me — Club Nouveau
8. Sign 'O' the Times — Prince
9. Don't Dream It's Over — Crowded House
10. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) — Aretha Franklin & George Michael

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. I Still Believe — Brenda K. Starr
7. Foolish Beat — Debbie Gibson
8. Together Forever — Rick Astley
9. Electric Blue — Icehouse
10. Pink Cadillac — Natalie Cole

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Patience — Guns N' Roses
7. Girl You Know It's True — Milli Vanilli
8. The Look — Roxette
9. Funky Cold Medina — Tone-Loc
10. She Drives Me Crazy — Fine Young Cannibals

🎵 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. Biggest Part of Me — Ambrosia
6. Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl — The Spinners
7. Stomp! — The Brothers Johnson
8. You May Be Right — Billy Joel
9. Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer — Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
10. Coming Up — Paul McCartney

1981

1. 🏆 Morning Train (Nine to Five) — Sheena Easton
2. Just the Two of Us — Grover Washington, Jr. with 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. Sweetheart — Franke and the Knockouts
8. I Love You — Climax Blues Band
9. A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) — Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio
10. Take It on the Run — REO Speedwagon

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 & Stevie Wonder
5. 867-5309/Jenny — Tommy Tutone
6. Freeze-Frame — The J. Geils Band
7. Heat of the Moment — Asia
8. Open Arms — Journey
9. I've Done Everything for You — Rick Springfield
10. Goin' Down — Greg Guidry

1983

1. 🏆 Beat It — Michael Jackson
2. Come On Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners
3. Jeopardy — The Greg Kihn Band
4. Let's Dance — David Bowie
5. She Blinded Me with Science — Thomas Dolby
6. Der Kommissar — After the Fire
7. Little Red Corvette — Prince
8. Mr. Roboto — Styx
9. Billie Jean — Michael Jackson
10. Africa — Toto

1984

1. 🏆 Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) — Phil Collins
2. Hello — Lionel Richie
3. Footloose — Kenny Loggins
4. Let's Hear It for the Boy — Deniece Williams
5. To All the Girls I've Loved Before — Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson
6. Love Somebody — Rick Springfield
7. The Reflex — Duran Duran
8. Oh Sherrie — Steve Perry
9. You Might Think — The Cars
10. Hold Me Now — Thompson Twins

1985

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

1986

1. 🏆 Addicted to Love — Robert Palmer
2. West End Girls — Pet Shop Boys
3. Greatest Love of All — Whitney Houston
4. Why Can't This Be Love — Van Halen
5. Live to Tell — Madonna
6. What Have You Done for Me Lately — Janet Jackson
7. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
8. Harlem Shuffle — The Rolling Stones
9. On My Own — Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald
10. Kiss — Prince & The Revolution

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. La Isla Bonita — Madonna
5. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now — Starship
6. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) — Aretha Franklin & George Michael
7. Don't Dream It's Over — Crowded House
8. Sign 'O' the Times — Prince
9. Lean on Me — Club Nouveau
10. The Lady in Red — Chris de Burgh

1988

1. 🏆 Anything for You — Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
2. Wishing Well — Terence Trent D'Arby
3. Angel — Aerosmith
4. Where Do Broken Hearts Go — Whitney Houston
5. Nothin' But a Good Time — Poison
6. Pink Cadillac — Natalie Cole
7. Electric Blue — Icehouse
8. Together Forever — Rick Astley
9. Foolish Beat — Debbie Gibson
10. I Still Believe — Brenda K. Starr

1989

1. 🏆 Like a Prayer — Madonna
2. I'll Be There for You — Bon Jovi
3. Real Love — Jody Watley
4. Soldier of Love — Donny Osmond
5. Forever Your Girl — Paula Abdul
6. She Drives Me Crazy — Fine Young Cannibals
7. Funky Cold Medina — Tone-Loc
8. The Look — Roxette
9. Girl You Know It's True — Milli Vanilli
10. Patience — Guns N' Roses

🎬 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 week featured segments on identical twins reunited after 39 years, daredevils who ski while on fire, and a skydiver who jumps while handcuffed and in a straitjacket.

📺 Where to Watch That's Incredible! →

1981 — M*A*S*H (CBS)

The series was in its ninth season, continuing to follow the lives of doctors and support staff stationed at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War.

📺 Where to Watch M*A*S*H →

1982 — Cheers (NBC)

The pilot episode of the iconic sitcom aired this week, introducing viewers to the bar where everybody knows your name.

📺 Where to Watch Cheers →

1983 — The A-Team (NBC)

The first episode of this action-adventure series aired, introducing the fugitive ex-military unit who work as soldiers of fortune.

📺 Where to Watch The A-Team →

1984 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The show was in its first season, quickly becoming a ratings phenomenon and redefining the family sitcom with its humorous and heartwarming portrayal of the Huxtable family.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1985 — Miami Vice (NBC)

The stylish police drama was in its first season, known for its innovative use of music, fashion, and visual style to depict undercover detectives Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs.

📺 Where to Watch Miami Vice →

1986 — The Golden Girls (NBC)

The first episode of this beloved sitcom aired, introducing the four elderly women living together in Miami and navigating the challenges of aging with humor and wit.

📺 Where to Watch The Golden Girls →

1987 — Moonlighting (ABC)

The romantic comedy-drama was in its third season, continuing the witty banter and sexual tension between private detectives Maddie Hayes and David Addison.

📺 Where to Watch Moonlighting →

1988 — Roseanne (ABC)

The groundbreaking sitcom was in its first season, offering a realistic and humorous portrayal of a working-class American family.

📺 Where to Watch Roseanne →

1989 — The Simpsons (Fox)

The first full-length episode of the animated sitcom aired, introducing the dysfunctional but lovable Simpson family and their satirical take on American life.

📺 Where to Watch The Simpsons →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic 'Where's the Beef?' commercial featured elderly women comically questioning the small patty size of competing fast-food burgers. The catchphrase became a cultural phenomenon, highlighting Wendy's larger, square patties.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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