This Week in the 80s: May 12–18

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 May 12-18 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from May 12 to 21. 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 18, 1980: Mount St. Helens volcano erupts in Washington state, killing 57 people and causing widespread damage.

1981

• May 13, 1981: Pope John Paul II is shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.
• May 15, 1981: Len Barker pitches the first perfect game in Major League Baseball since 1968.

1982

• May 12, 1982: Falklands War: The British destroyer HMS Glasgow is hit by an unexploded Argentine bomb.
• May 13, 1982: Pope John Paul II is attacked with a bayonet during a pilgrimage to Fátima, Portugal.
• May 15, 1982: Falklands War: The British destroyer HMS Antelope is sunk after being hit by Argentine bombs.

1983

• May 16, 1983: Michael Jackson performs "Billie Jean" at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever TV special — and debuts the moonwalk to 47 million Americans watching at home. The move wasn't planned as the centerpiece; MJ added it at the last moment, sliding backward across the stage in a single, impossible-looking glide. Berry Gordy called it "the greatest performance I've ever seen." Fred Astaire reportedly called Michael the next morning to say the same. The Michael biopic (now in theaters) recreates this scene — it's one of the most talked-about moments in the film. Watch the original →
• May 17, 1983: Lebanon, Israel, and the United States sign an agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

1984

• May 12, 1984: The 1984 Louisiana World Exposition opens in New Orleans.
• May 17, 1984: Michael Silka kills nine people near Manley Hot Springs, Alaska.

1985

• May 16, 1985: Scientists of the British Antarctic Survey announce the discovery of the ozone hole.
• May 13, 1985: Bob Geldof and Midge Ure announce the Live Aid concerts, a massive dual-venue benefit event planned for July 13, 1985, to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The Live Aid concerts were announced in May 1985, with the event scheduled for July 13, 1985.

1986

• May 12, 1986: The Soviet Union announces it will not participate in the 1986 Goodwill Games in Seattle.

1987

• May 17, 1987: USS Stark is hit by two Iraqi-fired Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors.

1988

• May 15, 1988: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that police can search discarded garbage without a warrant (California v. Greenwood).
• May 18, 1988: The PEPCON chemical plant explosion in Henderson, Nevada, injures 372 people.

1989

• May 12, 1989: The Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, China, intensify as students begin a hunger strike.
• May 15, 1989: Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev visits China, the first Soviet leader to do so since 1959.

🎬 This Week in History: The Night the Moonwalk Changed Everything

Forty-three years ago this week, on May 16, 1983, Michael Jackson did something on live television that no one had ever seen before — and no one has quite replicated since.

The Motown 25 special was supposed to be a reunion celebration. Michael agreed to perform only on the condition that he could do one non-Motown song: "Billie Jean." What followed was five minutes that rewrote pop culture history.

The moonwalk — which MJ had been quietly developing with dancer Jeffrey Daniel — lasted just a few seconds on screen. But those seconds were enough. The next morning, the phones at Motown were ringing off the hook. Within days, every kid in America was trying to slide backward across their kitchen floor.

Thriller had already been out for five months. It had already broken sales records. But the Motown 25 performance was the moment Michael Jackson stopped being a pop star and became a phenomenon.

The new biopic Michael (in theaters now) recreates this performance. Whether it captures the electricity of the original is something only you can judge — but this week, as you scroll through the charts from May 1983 below, remember: this was the week the world changed its mind about what a pop performance could be.

🎥 Watch the original Motown 25 moonwalk → 🎬 Watch the Michael biopic trailer →

🎵 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. Biggest Part Of Me — Ambrosia
7. Another Brick In The Wall — Pink Floyd
8. Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer — Kenny Rogers w/Kim Carnes
9. You May Be Right — Billy Joel
10. Sexy Eyes — Dr. Hook

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Too Much Time On My Hands — Styx
7. Kiss On My List — Daryl Hall & John Oates
8. Sukiyaki — A Taste Of Honey
9. Living Inside Myself — Gino Vannelli
10. Take It On The Run — REO Speedwagon

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Did It In A Minute — Daryl Hall & John Oates
7. The Other Woman — Ray Parker, Jr.
8. Freeze Frame — The J. Geils Band
9. '65 Love Affair — Paul Davis
10. I've Never Been To Me [re-release] — Charlene

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Der Kommissar — After The Fire
7. Solitaire — Laura Branigan
8. Little Red Corvette — Prince
9. Flashdance...What A Feeling — Irene Cara
10. Come On Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Time After Time — Cyndi Lauper
7. Oh, Sherrie — Steve Perry
8. Footloose — Kenny Loggins
9. You Might Think — The Cars
10. To All The Girls I've Loved Before — Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Axel F — Harold Faltermeyer
7. Everybody Wants To Rule The World — Tears For Fears
8. We Are The World — USA For Africa
9. Rhythm Of The Night — DeBarge
10. Some Like It Hot — The Power Station

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Addicted To Love — Robert Palmer
7. If You Leave — Orchestral Manuevers In The Dark
8. Bad Boy — Miami Sound Machine
9. Take Me Home — Phil Collins
10. Your Love — The Outfield

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Always — Atlantic Starr
7. Talk Dirty To Me — Poison
8. You Keep Me Hangin' On — Kim Wilde
9. Big Love — Fleetwood Mac
10. Heat Of The Night — Bryan Adams

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. I Don't Want To Live Without You — Foreigner
7. Electric Blue — Icehouse
8. Naughty Girls (Need Love Too) — Samantha Fox
9. Angel — Aerosmith
10. Always On My Mind — Pet Shop Boys

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
7. Patience — Guns N' Roses
8. Rock On — Michael Damian
9. Second Chance — Thirty Eight Special
10. After All — Cher & Peter Cetera

🎵 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. Funkytown — Lipps Inc.
5. With You I'm Born Again — Billy Preston & Syreeta
6. Sexy Eyes — Dr. Hook
7. You May Be Right — Billy Joel
8. Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer — Kenny Rogers w/Kim Carnes
9. Another Brick In The Wall — Pink Floyd
10. Biggest Part Of Me — Ambrosia

1981

1. 🏆 Bette Davis Eyes — Kim Carnes
2. Just The Two Of Us — Grover Washington Jr.
3. Being With You — Smokey Robinson
4. Angel Of The Morning — Juice Newton
5. Morning Train — Sheena Easton
6. Take It On The Run — REO Speedwagon
7. Living Inside Myself — Gino Vannelli
8. Sukiyaki — A Taste Of Honey
9. Kiss On My List — Daryl Hall & John Oates
10. Too Much Time On My Hands — Styx

1982

1. 🏆 Ebony And Ivory — Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
2. Chariots Of Fire — Vangelis
3. Don't Talk To Strangers — Rick Springfield
4. I Love Rock N' Roll — Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
5. 867-5309/Jenny — Tommy Tutone
6. I've Never Been To Me [re-release] — Charlene
7. '65 Love Affair — Paul Davis
8. Freeze Frame — The J. Geils Band
9. The Other Woman — Ray Parker, Jr.
10. Did It In A Minute — Daryl Hall & John Oates

1983

1. 🏆 Beat It — Michael Jackson
2. Let's Dance — David Bowie
3. Jeopardy — Greg Kihn Band
4. Overkill — Men At Work
5. She Blinded Me With Science — Thomas Dolby
6. Come On Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners
7. Flashdance...What A Feeling — Irene Cara
8. Little Red Corvette — Prince
9. Solitaire — Laura Branigan
10. Der Kommissar — After The Fire

🎙️ "Billie Jean" was still in the Top 10 this week — the same song MJ performed at Motown 25 on May 16, 1983. The moonwalk happened while this song was on the charts.

1984

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

1985

1. 🏆 Don't You (Forget About Me) — Simple Minds
2. Crazy For You — Madonna
3. One Night In Bangkok — Murray Head
4. Everything She Wants — Wham
5. Smooth Operator — Sade
6. Some Like It Hot — The Power Station
7. Rhythm Of The Night — DeBarge
8. We Are The World — USA For Africa
9. Everybody Wants To Rule The World — Tears For Fears
10. Axel F — Harold Faltermeyer

1986

1. 🏆 Greatest Love Of All — Whitney Houston
2. West End Girls — Pet Shop Boys
3. Why Can't This Be Love — Van Halen
4. What Have You Done For Me Lately — Janet Jackson
5. Live To Tell — Madonna
6. Your Love — The Outfield
7. Take Me Home — Phil Collins
8. Bad Boy — Miami Sound Machine
9. If You Leave — Orchestral Manuevers In The Dark
10. Addicted To Love — Robert Palmer

1987

1. 🏆 With Or Without You — U2
2. Looking For A New Love — Jody Watley
3. (I Just) Died In Your Arms — Cutting Crew
4. La Isla Bonita — Madonna
5. The Lady In Red — Chris DeBurgh
6. Heat Of The Night — Bryan Adams
7. Big Love — Fleetwood Mac
8. You Keep Me Hangin' On — Kim Wilde
9. Talk Dirty To Me — Poison
10. Always — Atlantic Starr

1988

1. 🏆 Anything For You — Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
2. Shattered Dreams — Johnny Hates Jazz
3. Wishing Well — Terence Trent D'arby
4. One More Try — George Michael
5. Pink Cadillac — Natalie Cole
6. Always On My Mind — Pet Shop Boys
7. Angel — Aerosmith
8. Naughty Girls (Need Love Too) — Samantha Fox
9. Electric Blue — Icehouse
10. I Don't Want To Live Without You — Foreigner

1989

1. 🏆 I'll Be There For You — Bon Jovi
2. Like A Prayer — Madonna
3. Real Love — Jody Watley
4. Forever Your Girl — Paula Abdul
5. Soldier Of Love — Donny Osmond
6. After All — Cher & Peter Cetera
7. Second Chance — Thirty Eight Special
8. Rock On — Michael Damian
9. Patience — Guns N' Roses
10. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler

🎬 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 — The Incredible Hulk (CBS)

David Banner becomes a victim of mistaken identity and is pursued by the police and a vindictive gang in the episode "Broken Image" (Season 3, Episode 12).

📺 Where to Watch The Incredible Hulk →

1981 — Happy Days (ABC)

In the episode "Howard's Bowling Buddy" (Season 8, Episode 20), Howard Cunningham's temporary bowling partner targets him as her next good time while his wife Marion recovers from a back injury.

📺 Where to Watch Happy Days →

1982 — The Incredible Hulk (CBS)

The series finale of "The Incredible Hulk" aired on May 12, 1982.

📺 Where to Watch The Incredible Hulk →

1983 — The Fall Guy (ABC)

In the episode "P.S. I Love You" (Season 2, Episode 23), a woman arrested for a heist has Jody kidnapped to force Terri to bail her out, leading Colt to tail her while trying to locate Jody.

📺 Where to Watch The Fall Guy →

1984 — The A-Team (NBC)

The second season of the popular action-adventure series concluded on May 15, 1984, with the episode "Curtain Call".

📺 Where to Watch The A-Team →

1985 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The first season of the groundbreaking sitcom concluded in May 1985, establishing its popularity and critical acclaim.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1986 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

Continuing its dominance, The Cosby Show remained the number one most-watched program during its second season, which concluded in May 1986.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1987 — Married... with Children (Fox)

The iconic sitcom premiered on April 5, 1987, as part of Fox's inaugural primetime lineup, quickly becoming a signature show for the new network.

📺 Where to Watch Married... with Children →

1988 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The fourth season of The Cosby Show concluded on April 28, 1988, continuing its run as a top-rated program.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1989 — Fox Night at the Movies (Fox)

Fox Night at the Movies premiered on May 17, 1989, with "The Fly," marking a significant expansion of Fox's primetime programming.

📺 Where to Watch Fox Night at the Movies →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic "Where's the Beef?" commercial featured three elderly women examining a large hamburger bun from a competitor, with one of them, Clara Peller, exclaiming the famous catchphrase. The ad was a huge success, boosting Wendy's sales by 31% and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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