This Week in the 80s: May 26–June 1

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 26 - June 1 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from May 26 to June 4. 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 26, 1980: Gwangju Uprising: Pro-democracy protesters clash with military forces in South Korea.
• June 1, 1980: CNN, the world's first 24-hour television news network, launches.

1981

• May 26, 1981: Marine jet crashes on flight deck of USS Nimitz, killing 14.
• May 31, 1981: Burning of the Jaffna Public Library in Sri Lanka.
• June 1, 1981: An army rebellion in Bangladesh collapses.

1982

• May 26, 1982: Aston Villa wins the 26th European Cup, defeating Bayern Munich 1-0.
• May 26, 1982: The 35th Cannes Film Festival concludes.
• June 1, 1982: US-Soviet arms limitation talks announced to begin on June 29 in Geneva.

1983

• May 26, 1983: Manchester United wins the FA Cup, beating Brighton in a replay.
• May 28, 1983: The US Festival '83 begins in California, featuring major rock acts.
• June 1, 1983: Injured Workers Day protest held in Ontario, Canada.

1984

• May 26, 1984: US President Ronald Reagan rules out US military intervention in the Iran-Iraq war.
• June 1, 1984: Operation Blue Star begins in India.

1985

• May 25, 1985: Cyclone ravages Bangladesh, killing 11,000 people.
• May 26, 1985: Explosions destroy two tankers off Gibraltar, killing 30.
• May 26, 1985: Danny Sullivan wins the Indy 500.

1986

• May 25, 1986: Hands Across America, a charity event to raise money for hunger and homelessness, takes place.
• May 26, 1986: News reports continue on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
• May 26, 1986: Violence erupts in a squatter camp near Cape Town, South Africa.

1987

• May 26, 1987: US Supreme Court rules dangerous defendants can be held without bail.
• May 26, 1987: Cecilia Bolocco of Chile is crowned Miss Universe.
• June 1, 1987: Cleveland Indians pitcher Phil Niekro earns his 314th MLB victory.

1988

• May 26, 1988: Edmonton Oilers win the Stanley Cup, sweeping the Boston Bruins.
• June 1, 1988: The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty comes into effect.
• June 1, 1988: The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty comes into effect.

1989

• May 26 - June 1, 1989: Tiananmen Square protests continue in Beijing.
• June 4, 1989: The Tiananmen Square protests are suppressed in Beijing, China.

🎵 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. Against The Wind — Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
8. Hurts So Bad — Linda Ronstadt
9. Stomp — The Brothers Johnson
10. Biggest Part Of Me — Ambrosia

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Watching The Wheels — John Lennon
7. Too Much Time On My Hands — Styx
8. A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) — Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio
9. Just The Two Of Us — Grover Washington Jr. (with Bill Withers)
10. Living Inside Myself — Gino Vannelli

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Get Down On It — Kool and the Gang
7. Did It In A Minute — Daryl Hall and John Oates
8. Always On My Mind — Willie Nelson
9. Don’t You Want Me — The Human League
10. ’65 Love Affair — Paul Davis

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Straight From The Heart — Bryan Adams
7. My Love — Lionel Richie
8. Time (Clock Of the Heart) — Culture Club
9. Solitaire — Laura Branigan
10. Little Red Corvette — Prince

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Hold Me Now — Thompson Twins
7. Breakdance — Irene Cara
8. Sister Christian — Night Ranger
9. The Reflex — Duran Duran
10. To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before — Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Don't Lose My Number — Phil Collins
7. Some Like It Hot — The Power Station
8. Suddenly — Billy Ocean
9. One Night In Bangkok — Murray Head
10. Crazy For You — Madonna

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. If You Leave — Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
7. Take Me Home — Phil Collins
8. All I Need Is a Miracle — Mike + The Mechanics
9. Why Can’t This Be Love — Van Halen
10. West End Girls — Pet Shop Boys

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Big Time — Peter Gabriel
7. Don’t Dream It’s Over — Crowded House
8. La Isla Bonita — Madonna
9. Heat of the Night — Bryan Adams
10. Right on Track — Breakfast Club

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Shattered Dreams — Johnny Hates Jazz
7. Nothin’ But a Good Time — Poison
8. Where Do Broken Hearts Go — Whitney Houston
9. Two Occasions — The Deele
10. Wait — White Lion

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Second Chance — 38 Special
7. Buffalo Stance — Neneh Cherry
8. Close My Eyes Forever — Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne
9. Every Little Step — Bobby Brown
10. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

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

1980

1. 🏆 Funkytown — Lipps, Inc.
2. Call Me — Blondie
3. Coming Up — Paul McCartney and Wings
4. Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer — Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes
5. Sexy Eyes — Dr. Hook
6. Biggest Part Of Me — Ambrosia
7. Stomp — The Brothers Johnson
8. Hurts So Bad — Linda Ronstadt
9. Against The Wind — Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
10. Cars — Gary Numan

1981

1. 🏆 Bette Davis Eyes — Kim Carnes
2. Being With You — Smokey Robinson
3. Medley: Intro Venus/Sugar Sugar/No Reply/I’ll Be Back/Drive My Car/Do You Want To Know A Secret/We Can Work It Out/I Should Have Known Better/Nowhere Man/You’re Going To Lose That Girl/Stars On 45 — Stars On 45
4. Sukiyaki — A Taste Of Honey
5. Take It On The Run — REO Speedwagon
6. Living Inside Myself — Gino Vannelli
7. Just The Two Of Us — Grover Washington Jr. (with Bill Withers)
8. A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) — Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio
9. Too Much Time On My Hands — Styx
10. Watching The Wheels — John Lennon

1982

1. 🏆 Ebony and Ivory — Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder
2. Don’t Talk To Strangers — Rick Springfield
3. I’ve Never Been To Me — Charlene
4. 867-5309/Jenny — Tommy Tutone
5. The Other Woman — Ray Parker Jr.
6. ’65 Love Affair — Paul Davis
7. Don’t You Want Me — The Human League
8. Always On My Mind — Willie Nelson
9. Did It In A Minute — Daryl Hall and John Oates
10. Get Down On It — Kool and the Gang

1983

1. 🏆 Flashdance…What a Feeling — Irene Cara
2. Let’s Dance — David Bowie
3. Beat It — Michael Jackson
4. Overkill — Men At Work
5. She Blinded Me With Science — Thomas Dolby
6. Little Red Corvette — Prince
7. Solitaire — Laura Branigan
8. Time (Clock Of the Heart) — Culture Club
9. My Love — Lionel Richie
10. Straight From The Heart — Bryan Adams

1984

1. 🏆 Let’s Hear It For The Boy — Deniece Williams
2. Hello — Lionel Richie
3. Time After Time — Cyndi Lauper
4. Against All Odds — Phil Collins
5. Oh, Sherrie — Steve Perry
6. To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before — Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson
7. The Reflex — Duran Duran
8. Sister Christian — Night Ranger
9. Breakdance — Irene Cara
10. Hold Me Now — Thompson Twins

1985

1. 🏆 Everything She Wants — Wham!
2. Don’t You Forget About Me — Simple Minds
3. Everybody Wants To Rule The World — Tears For Fears
4. Axel F — Harold Faltermeyer
5. Smooth Operator — Sade
6. Crazy For You — Madonna
7. One Night In Bangkok — Murray Head
8. Suddenly — Billy Ocean
9. Some Like It Hot — The Power Station
10. Don't Lose My Number — Phil Collins

1986

1. 🏆 Greatest Love of All — Whitney Houston
2. Live to Tell — Madonna
3. On My Own — Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald
4. I Can’t Wait — Nu Shooz
5. What Have You Done for Me Lately — Janet Jackson
6. West End Girls — Pet Shop Boys
7. Why Can’t This Be Love — Van Halen
8. All I Need Is a Miracle — Mike + The Mechanics
9. Take Me Home — Phil Collins
10. If You Leave — Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

1987

1. 🏆 With or Without You — U2
2. The Lady in Red — Chris de Burgh
3. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) — Aretha Franklin and George Michael
4. (I Just) Died in Your Arms — Cutting Crew
5. Looking for a New Love — Jody Watley
6. Right on Track — Breakfast Club
7. Heat of the Night — Bryan Adams
8. La Isla Bonita — Madonna
9. Don’t Dream It’s Over — Crowded House
10. Big Time — Peter Gabriel

1988

1. 🏆 One More Try — George Michael
2. Wishing Well — Terence Trent D’Arby
3. Anything for You — Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
4. Pink Cadillac — Natalie Cole
5. Always on My Mind — Pet Shop Boys
6. Wait — White Lion
7. Two Occasions — The Deele
8. Where Do Broken Hearts Go — Whitney Houston
9. Nothin’ But a Good Time — Poison
10. Shattered Dreams — Johnny Hates Jazz

1989

1. 🏆 Rock On — Michael Damian
2. Forever Your Girl — Paula Abdul
3. I’ll Be Loving You (Forever) — New Kids on the Block
4. Patience — Guns N’ Roses
5. Real Love — Jody Watley
6. Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
7. Every Little Step — Bobby Brown
8. Close My Eyes Forever — Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne
9. Buffalo Stance — Neneh Cherry
10. Second Chance — 38 Special

🎬 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)

The series follows a team of doctors and support staff stationed at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Uijeongbu, South Korea, during the Korean War.

📺 Where to Watch M*A*S*H →

1981 — The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS)

The series follows the adventures of ‘the Duke boys,’ cousins Bo and Luke Duke, who live in a rural part of the fictional Hazzard County, Georgia, with their cousin Daisy and their wise old Uncle Jesse.

📺 Where to Watch The Dukes of Hazzard →

1982 — Hart to Hart (ABC)

The series revolves around Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, a wealthy couple who lead a glamorous jetset lifestyle and regularly find themselves working as amateur detectives to solve crimes in which they become embroiled.

📺 Where to Watch Hart to Hart →

1983 — The A-Team (NBC)

A group of ex-United States Army Special Forces members work as soldiers of fortune while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a crime they didn't commit.

📺 Where to Watch The A-Team →

1984 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper-middle-class African-American family living in a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, New York.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1985 — Miami Vice (NBC)

The series stars Don Johnson as James ‘Sonny’ Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo ‘Rico’ Tubbs, two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami.

📺 Where to Watch Miami Vice →

1986 — The Golden Girls (NBC)

The show's premise revolves around four older single women sharing a house in Miami, Florida.

📺 Where to Watch The Golden Girls →

1987 — Cheers (NBC)

The show is set in a bar named Cheers in Boston, Massachusetts, where a group of locals meet to drink, relax, and socialize.

📺 Where to Watch Cheers →

1988 — The Wonder Years (ABC)

The series depicts the social and family life of a boy in a typical American suburban middle-class family from 1968 to 1973, covering the ages of 12 through 17.

📺 Where to Watch The Wonder Years →

1989 — Roseanne (ABC)

The show revolves around the Conners, an American working-class family struggling to get by on a limited household income in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois.

📺 Where to Watch Roseanne →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The commercial features three elderly women examining a large, fluffy hamburger bun from a fictional competitor. Two of the women poke and prod the bun, while the third, Clara Peller, famously asks, ‘Where's the beef?’ The ad became a pop culture phenomenon.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

Enjoying This Week in the 80s? Share it with a friend who lived through the decade.