This Week in the 80s: June 2–8

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 June 2 to 11. 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

• June 2, 1980: The first 24-hour news channel, CNN, is launched.
• June 3, 1980: A series of powerful eruptions begin at Mount St. Helens in Washington state.
• June 6, 1980: The film 'The Blues Brothers' premieres in Chicago.

1981

• June 5, 1981: The CDC reports the first cases of what will later be known as AIDS.
• June 7, 1981: Israeli Air Force bombs Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor.
• June 8, 1981: The Supreme Court rules that children of illegal immigrants are entitled to free public education.

1982

• June 6, 1982: Israel invades Lebanon, starting the 1982 Lebanon War.
• June 8, 1982: President Ronald Reagan addresses the British Parliament, outlining his vision for a global democratic crusade.

1983

• June 4, 1983: The Space Shuttle Challenger completes its second mission, STS-7, carrying Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.
• June 5, 1983: The Soviet Union launches Soyuz T-9, carrying two cosmonauts to the Salyut 7 space station.
• June 8, 1983: Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party wins a landslide victory in the UK general election.

1984

• June 5, 1984: The Indian Army launches Operation Blue Star, an assault on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.
• June 6, 1984: The video game 'Tetris' is first released in the Soviet Union.
• June 8, 1984: The film 'Ghostbusters' premieres in the United States.

1985

• June 4, 1985: The Supreme Court rules that public schools can prohibit student religious groups from meeting on school property.
• June 7, 1985: The American hostage David P. Jacobsen is released in Beirut, Lebanon.
• June 8, 1985: The film 'The Goonies' premieres in the United States.

1986

• June 2, 1986: The Supreme Court upholds a Georgia law criminalizing sodomy.
• June 4, 1986: Jonathan Pollard pleads guilty to espionage for selling classified U.S. military information to Israel.
• June 8, 1986: Kurt Waldheim is elected President of Austria despite controversy over his wartime past.

1987

• June 2, 1987: The Supreme Court strikes down a Louisiana law requiring creationism to be taught alongside evolution.
• June 4, 1987: The film 'The Untouchables' premieres in the United States.
• June 8, 1987: The first McDonald's restaurant in a communist country opens in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

1988

• June 2, 1988: The Soviet Union begins withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.
• June 5, 1988: The film 'Big' premieres in the United States.
• June 8, 1988: The U.S. Senate ratifies the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

1989

• June 4, 1989: The Tiananmen Square massacre occurs in Beijing, China.
• June 4, 1989: The first free elections in Poland since World War II are held.
• June 2, 1989: The film 'Dead Poets Society' premieres in the United States.

🎵 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. Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer — Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
8. Lost in Love — Air Supply
9. The Rose — Bette Midler
10. Steal Away — Robbie Dupree

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. I Love You — Climax Blues Band
7. The One That You Love — Air Supply
8. Take It on the Run — REO Speedwagon
9. America — Neil Diamond
10. Kiss on My List — Daryl Hall & John Oates

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. 867-5309/Jenny — Tommy Tutone
7. Harden My Heart — Quarterflash
8. The Other Woman — Ray Parker Jr.
9. Don't You Want Me — The Human League
10. Heat of the Moment — Asia

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Beat It — Michael Jackson
7. Billie Jean — Michael Jackson
8. Come on Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners
9. Little Red Corvette — Prince
10. She Blinded Me with Science — Thomas Dolby

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Hard Habit to Break — Chicago
7. Jump (for My Love) — The Pointer Sisters
8. Sister Christian — Night Ranger
9. Borderline — Madonna
10. Self Control — Laura Branigan

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Angel — Madonna
7. Fresh — Kool & the Gang
8. Things Can Only Get Better — Howard Jones
9. Don't You (Forget About Me) — Simple Minds
10. Suddenly — Billy Ocean

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Addicted to Love — Robert Palmer
7. Nasty — Janet Jackson
8. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
9. Something About You — Level 42
10. Bad Boy — Miami Sound Machine

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. La Bamba — Los Lobos
7. Looking for a New Love — Jody Watley
8. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For — U2
9. Don't Dream It's Over — Crowded House
10. You Keep Me Hangin' On — Kim Wilde

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. New Sensation — INXS
7. Circle in the Sand — Belinda Carlisle
8. Dirty Diana — Michael Jackson
9. Make It Real — Jermaine Jackson
10. The Flame — Cheap Trick

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. If You Don't Know Me by Now — Simply Red
7. Express Yourself — Madonna
8. Miss You Much — Janet Jackson
9. Buffalo Stance — Neneh Cherry
10. Patience — Guns N' Roses

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

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

1980

1. 🏆 Funkytown — Lipps Inc.
2. Coming Up — Paul McCartney and Wings
3. Biggest Part of Me — Ambrosia
4. Against the Wind — Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
5. Little Jeannie — Elton John
6. Steal Away — Robbie Dupree
7. The Rose — Bette Midler
8. Lost in Love — Air Supply
9. Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer — Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
10. Cars — Gary Numan

1981

1. 🏆 Bette Davis Eyes — Kim Carnes
2. Stars on 45 — Stars on 45
3. Being with You — Smokey Robinson
4. Sukiyaki — A Taste of Honey
5. Jessie's Girl — Rick Springfield
6. Kiss on My List — Daryl Hall & John Oates
7. America — Neil Diamond
8. Take It on the Run — REO Speedwagon
9. The One That You Love — Air Supply
10. I Love You — Climax Blues Band

1982

1. 🏆 Ebony and Ivory — Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
2. Don't Talk to Strangers — Rick Springfield
3. I've Never Been to Me — Charlene
4. Always on My Mind — Willie Nelson
5. Rosanna — Toto
6. Heat of the Moment — Asia
7. Don't You Want Me — The Human League
8. The Other Woman — Ray Parker Jr.
9. Harden My Heart — Quarterflash
10. 867-5309/Jenny — Tommy Tutone

1983

1. 🏆 Flashdance... What a Feeling — Irene Cara
2. Every Breath You Take — The Police
3. Electric Dreams — P.P. Arnold
4. My Love — Lionel Richie
5. Time (Clock of the Heart) — Culture Club
6. She Blinded Me with Science — Thomas Dolby
7. Little Red Corvette — Prince
8. Come on Eileen — Dexys Midnight Runners
9. Billie Jean — Michael Jackson
10. Beat It — Michael Jackson

1984

1. 🏆 Let's Hear It for the Boy — Deniece Williams
2. Time After Time — Cyndi Lauper
3. The Reflex — Duran Duran
4. Dancing in the Dark — Bruce Springsteen
5. Oh Sherrie — Steve Perry
6. Self Control — Laura Branigan
7. Borderline — Madonna
8. Sister Christian — Night Ranger
9. Jump (for My Love) — The Pointer Sisters
10. Hard Habit to Break — Chicago

1985

1. 🏆 Everybody Wants to Rule the World — Tears for Fears
2. Heaven — Bryan Adams
3. Sussudio — Phil Collins
4. Everything She Wants — Wham!
5. Axel F — Harold Faltermeyer
6. Suddenly — Billy Ocean
7. Don't You (Forget About Me) — Simple Minds
8. Things Can Only Get Better — Howard Jones
9. Fresh — Kool & the Gang
10. Angel — Madonna

1986

1. 🏆 Live to Tell — Madonna
2. On My Own — Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald
3. Greatest Love of All — Whitney Houston
4. West End Girls — Pet Shop Boys
5. Holding Back the Years — Simply Red
6. Bad Boy — Miami Sound Machine
7. Something About You — Level 42
8. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
9. Nasty — Janet Jackson
10. Addicted to Love — Robert Palmer

1987

1. 🏆 With or Without You — U2
2. Always — Atlantic Starr
3. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) — Whitney Houston
4. Head to Toe — Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
5. The Lady in Red — Chris de Burgh
6. You Keep Me Hangin' On — Kim Wilde
7. Don't Dream It's Over — Crowded House
8. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For — U2
9. Looking for a New Love — Jody Watley
10. La Bamba — Los Lobos

1988

1. 🏆 One More Try — George Michael
2. Together Forever — Rick Astley
3. Foolish Beat — Debbie Gibson
4. Everything Your Heart Desires — Daryl Hall & John Oates
5. Nothin' But a Good Time — Poison
6. The Flame — Cheap Trick
7. Make It Real — Jermaine Jackson
8. Dirty Diana — Michael Jackson
9. Circle in the Sand — Belinda Carlisle
10. New Sensation — INXS

1989

1. 🏆 Rock On — Michael Damian
2. I'll Be There for You — Bon Jovi
3. Forever Your Girl — Paula Abdul
4. Every Little Step — Bobby Brown
5. Soldier of Love — Donny Osmond
6. Patience — Guns N' Roses
7. Buffalo Stance — Neneh Cherry
8. Miss You Much — Janet Jackson
9. Express Yourself — Madonna
10. If You Don't Know Me by Now — Simply Red

🎬 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 — 34th Tony Awards (CBS)

The 34th Annual Tony Awards were broadcast live from the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City, honoring achievements in Broadway productions.

📺 Where to Watch 34th Tony Awards →

1981 — Little House on the Prairie (NBC)

The episode 'To See The Light (1)' from Season 7 aired as a repeat. In this episode, Mary's husband, Adam, regains his sight after an accident, but her happiness is tempered by the fear that she may lose him now that he can see.

📺 Where to Watch Little House on the Prairie →

1982 — Teachers Only (NBC)

The episode 'The Once And Future Teacher' from Season 1 aired. Consumed by paperwork and committee assignments, Diana considers leaving the teaching profession.

📺 Where to Watch Teachers Only →

1983 — Buffalo Bill (NBC)

The episode 'Buffalo Beat' from Season 1 aired. Bill Bittinger, the egocentric talk show host, is enraged when he gets a beautiful female research assistant.

📺 Where to Watch Buffalo Bill →

1984 — Dallas (CBS)

The episode 'End Game' from Season 7 aired. This episode was part of the dramatic conclusion to the season, dealing with the ongoing power struggles and family betrayals within the Ewing family.

📺 Where to Watch Dallas →

1985 — Miami Vice (NBC)

The episode 'Evan' from Season 1 aired. This episode was notable for its music rights issues and was part of the show's groundbreaking first season, known for its distinctive style and music.

📺 Where to Watch Miami Vice →

1986 — 1986 (NBC)

This news magazine television series, anchored by Roger Mudd and Connie Chung, premiered on June 10, 1986. It aimed to provide in-depth reporting on current events and cultural trends.

📺 Where to Watch 1986 →

1987 — Married... with Children (Fox)

The episode 'Thinnergy' from Season 1 aired. This early episode showcased the dysfunctional Bundy family dynamics, with Al trying to lose weight to fit into his old high school football uniform.

📺 Where to Watch Married... with Children →

1988 — NBC News Special: Of Macho and Men (NBC)

This documentary explored the concept of masculinity in American society, featuring interviews and segments on various aspects of male identity and behavior.

📺 Where to Watch NBC News Special: Of Macho and Men →

1989 — Cheers (NBC)

The episode 'What's Up, Doc?' from Season 7 aired. This episode featured the usual witty banter and character-driven humor that made Cheers a beloved sitcom, focusing on the relationships and antics of the bar's patrons and staff.

📺 Where to Watch Cheers →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic 'Where's the Beef?' commercial featured three elderly women examining a hamburger with a comically small patty and a large bun. The catchphrase quickly became a cultural phenomenon, questioning the substance behind exaggerated claims.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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