This Week in the 80s: May 19–25

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 19-25 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from May 19 to 28. 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.
• May 19, 1980: Gwangju Uprising begins in South Korea, a democratic movement against the military government.
• May 22, 1980: Pac-Man, one of the most iconic video games of all time, is released in Japan.

1981

• May 20, 1981: The first major biotechnology contract is signed between Massachusetts General Hospital and Hoechst AG.
• May 21, 1981: François Mitterrand is inaugurated as President of France, the first socialist president of the French Fifth Republic.
• May 22, 1981: A break in the Atlanta Child Murders investigation leads to Wayne Williams being identified as a suspect.

1982

• May 21, 1982: Falklands War: British forces land at San Carlos Bay, establishing a beachhead on East Falkland.
• May 25, 1982: British destroyer HMS Coventry is sunk by Argentine aircraft during the Falklands War.

1983

• May 20, 1983: The AIDS virus is identified by Luc Montagnier and his team at the Pasteur Institute in France.
• May 25, 1983: Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is released in theaters, concluding the original trilogy.
• May 1983: One week after debuting the moonwalk on Motown 25, Michael Jackson was the most talked-about person in America. Thriller had now been on the Billboard 200 for 25 weeks — it would go on to spend 37 weeks at #1, a record that still stands today. The album would eventually produce seven Top 10 singles, another record. The biopic Michael is in theaters now and covers this entire era.
• May 1983: The original "Star Wars" trilogy concluded with the release of "Return of the Jedi" on May 25, 1983, with anticipation building in the preceding weeks.

1984

• May 23, 1984: The U.S. House of Representatives approves a bill to raise the national drinking age to 21.
• May 25, 1984: The Soviet Union announces its boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

1985

• May 25, 1985: A devastating cyclone strikes Bangladesh, killing an estimated 10,000 people.
• May 24, 1985: The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA playoffs.

1986

• May 25, 1986: Hands Across America, a charity event to raise money for hunger and homelessness, takes place.
• May 25, 1986: The Chernobyl disaster is officially reported by Soviet media, days after the incident.

1987

• May 25, 1987: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of independent counsel investigations.
• May 16, 1988: The first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation concludes with the episode 'The Neutral Zone'.

1988

• May 15, 1988: The Soviet Union begins withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.
• May 23, 1988: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that states can require parental consent for minors' abortions.

1989

• May 19, 1989: Tiananmen Square protests: Students in Beijing continue their hunger strike, drawing international attention.

🎵 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. Steal Away — Robbie Dupree
7. Cars — Gary Numan
8. Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer — Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
9. Biggest Part Of Me — Ambrosia
10. Stomp! — The Brothers Johnson

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

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

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Always On My Mind — Willie Nelson
7. Don't You Want Me — The Human League
8. I Love Rock 'N Roll — Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
9. Rosanna — Toto
10. Heat Of The Moment — Asia

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Der Kommissar — After The Fire
7. Family Man — Daryl Hall & John Oates
8. Electric Dreams — P.P. Arnold
9. She Blinded Me With Science — Thomas Dolby
10. Overkill — Men At Work

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Head Over Heels — The Go-Go's
7. Love Somebody — Rick Springfield
8. You Might Think — The Cars
9. Hold Me Now — Thompson Twins
10. The Reflex — Duran Duran

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Fresh — Kool & The Gang
7. Axel F — Harold Faltermeyer
8. Some Like It Hot — The Power Station
9. One More Night — Phil Collins
10. Smooth Operator — Sade

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
7. Harlem Shuffle — The Rolling Stones
8. Bad Boy — Miami Sound Machine
9. What Have You Done For Me Lately — Janet Jackson
10. Addicted To Love — Robert Palmer

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) — Aretha Franklin & George Michael
7. You Keep Me Hangin' On — Kim Wilde
8. La Isla Bonita — Madonna
9. Head To Toe — Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
10. Don't Dream It's Over — Crowded House

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Make It Real — The Jets
7. Electric Blue — Icehouse
8. I Want Her — Keith Sweat
9. Angel — Aerosmith
10. Together Forever — Rick Astley

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Funky Cold Medina — Tone-Loc
7. Buffalo Stance — Neneh Cherry
8. Like A Prayer — Madonna
9. I'll Be Loving You (Forever) — New Kids On The Block
10. Patience — Guns N' Roses

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

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

1980

1. 🏆 Call Me — Blondie
2. Funkytown — Lipps Inc.
3. Against The Wind — Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
4. Coming Up — Paul McCartney
5. Lost In Love — Air Supply
6. Stomp! — The Brothers Johnson
7. Biggest Part Of Me — Ambrosia
8. Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer — Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
9. Cars — Gary Numan
10. Steal Away — Robbie Dupree

1981

1. 🏆 Bette Davis Eyes — Kim Carnes
2. Kiss On My List — Daryl Hall & John Oates
3. Morning Train (Nine To Five) — Sheena Easton
4. Just The Two Of Us — Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers
5. Being With You — Smokey Robinson
6. Take It On The Run — REO Speedwagon
7. Sweetheart — Franke & The Knockouts
8. Living Inside Myself — Gino Vannelli
9. I Love You — Climax Blues Band
10. A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) — Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio

1982

1. 🏆 Ebony And Ivory — Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
2. Don't Talk To Strangers — Rick Springfield
3. I've Done Everything For You — Rick Springfield
4. Chariots Of Fire — Vangelis
5. The Other Woman — Ray Parker Jr.
6. Heat Of The Moment — Asia
7. Rosanna — Toto
8. I Love Rock 'N Roll — Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
9. Don't You Want Me — The Human League
10. Always On My Mind — Willie Nelson

1983

1. 🏆 Flashdance...What A Feeling — Irene Cara
2. Let's Dance — David Bowie
3. Beat It — Michael Jackson
4. Little Red Corvette — Prince
5. Come On Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners
6. Overkill — Men At Work
7. She Blinded Me With Science — Thomas Dolby
8. Electric Dreams — P.P. Arnold
9. Family Man — Daryl Hall & John Oates
10. Der Kommissar — After The Fire

1984

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

1985

1. 🏆 Everything She Wants — Wham!
2. Don't You (Forget About Me) — Simple Minds
3. Crazy For You — Madonna
4. Suddenly — Billy Ocean
5. Rhythm Of The Night — DeBarge
6. Smooth Operator — Sade
7. One More Night — Phil Collins
8. Some Like It Hot — The Power Station
9. Axel F — Harold Faltermeyer
10. Fresh — Kool & The Gang

1986

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

1987

1. 🏆 With Or Without You — U2
2. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For — U2
3. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now — Starship
4. Looking For A New Love — Jody Watley
5. The Lady In Red — Chris De Burgh
6. Don't Dream It's Over — Crowded House
7. Head To Toe — Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
8. La Isla Bonita — Madonna
9. You Keep Me Hangin' On — Kim Wilde
10. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) — Aretha Franklin & George Michael

1988

1. 🏆 Anything For You — Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
2. Nothin' But A Good Time — Poison
3. Pink Cadillac — Natalie Cole
4. Foolish Beat — Debbie Gibson
5. One More Try — George Michael
6. Together Forever — Rick Astley
7. Angel — Aerosmith
8. I Want Her — Keith Sweat
9. Electric Blue — Icehouse
10. Make It Real — The Jets

1989

1. 🏆 Forever Your Girl — Paula Abdul
2. I'll Be There For You — Bon Jovi
3. Real Love — Jody Watley
4. Every Little Step — Bobby Brown
5. Soldier Of Love — Donny Osmond
6. Patience — Guns N' Roses
7. I'll Be Loving You (Forever) — New Kids On The Block
8. Like A Prayer — Madonna
9. Buffalo Stance — Neneh Cherry
10. Funky Cold Medina — Tone-Loc

🎬 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 — M*A*S*H (CBS)

In the episode 'Good-Bye Radar (2)', Radar reluctantly prepares to leave the 4077th as the operating room continues to fill with wounded soldiers during a power outage.

📺 Where to Watch M*A*S*H →

1981 — Dallas (CBS)

The season 4 finale, 'The Sweetest Revenge', aired on May 15, 1981, leaving viewers in suspense about J.R.'s latest scheme.

📺 Where to Watch Dallas →

1982 — Magnum, P.I. (CBS)

The second season of the popular detective series was airing, featuring Thomas Magnum's adventures in Hawaii.

📺 Where to Watch Magnum, P.I. →

1983 — The A-Team (NBC)

The first season of the action-adventure series was airing, following the exploits of a group of ex-Special Forces soldiers on the run.

📺 Where to Watch The A-Team →

1984 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The groundbreaking sitcom, which premiered in September 1984, was not yet airing during this week.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1985 — Miami Vice (NBC)

The first season of the stylish crime drama was airing, known for its iconic fashion and music.

📺 Where to Watch Miami Vice →

1986 — Moonlighting (ABC)

The second season of the popular romantic comedy-drama, known for its witty banter and breaking the fourth wall, was airing.

📺 Where to Watch Moonlighting →

1987 — Family Ties (NBC)

The fifth season of the beloved sitcom, featuring the Keaton family and their generational clashes, was airing.

📺 Where to Watch Family Ties →

1988 — The Wonder Years (ABC)

The critically acclaimed coming-of-age series, which premiered in March 1988, was airing its first season.

📺 Where to Watch The Wonder Years →

1989 — Seinfeld (NBC)

The pilot episode of the iconic sitcom, originally titled 'The Seinfeld Chronicles', aired in July 1989, so it was not yet airing during this week.

📺 Where to Watch Seinfeld →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic 'Where's the Beef?' commercial featured elderly actress Clara Peller questioning the small patty size of competing fast-food burgers. The catchphrase became a cultural phenomenon.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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