This Week in the 80s: June 9–15

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 June 9-15 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from June 9 to 18. 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 9, 1980: Comedian Richard Pryor suffers severe burns from freebasing cocaine.
• June 9, 1980: Soyuz T-2 returns to Earth.
• June 15, 1980: Jack Nicklaus wins his 4th U.S. Open title.

1981

• June 9, 1981: United Auto Workers vote to rejoin the AFL-CIO after a 13-year absence.
• June 11, 1981: A 6.8 earthquake strikes Iran's Kerman province, killing 1,027 people.
• June 12, 1981: Major League Baseball players begin a strike.
• June 13, 1981: Marcus Sarjeant fires blank shots at Queen Elizabeth II during the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

1982

• June 12, 1982: A rally against nuclear weapons draws 750,000 people to New York City's Central Park.

1983

• June 13, 1983: Pioneer 10 becomes the first man-made object to leave the Solar System.
• June 18, 1983: Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space on the Space Shuttle Challenger (this is outside the requested range, but significant).

1984

• June 4, 1984: Bruce Springsteen releases his album Born in the U.S.A.
• June 8, 1984: An F5 tornado nearly destroys Barneveld, Wisconsin, killing nine people.
• June 8, 1984: Ghostbusters and Gremlins are released.

1985

• June 9, 1985: Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA championship, defeating the Boston Celtics.
• June 13, 1985: Police defuse a Unabomber bomb sent to Boeing in Auburn, Washington.
• June 14, 1985: TWA Flight 847 is hijacked by a Hezbollah fringe group; U.S. Navy Petty Officer Robert Stethem is killed.

1986

• June 9, 1986: The Rogers Commission releases its report on the Challenger disaster.
• June 14, 1986: The Mindbender roller coaster at Galaxyland in West Edmonton Mall derails, killing three riders.

1987

• June 12, 1987: President Ronald Reagan delivers his "Tear Down This Wall" speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, challenging Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to dismantle the Berlin Wall.
• June 12, 1987: President Reagan delivers his 'Tear Down This Wall' speech in Berlin.

1988

• June 1, 1988: The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, banning intermediate-range missiles in the United States and the Soviet Union, comes into effect.
• June 12, 1988: Rusty Wallace wins the last NASCAR Winston Cup Series Budweiser 400 auto race at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California.
• June 14, 1988: A small wildfire is started by a lightning strike in Montana, United States, near the boundary for Yellowstone National Park. The Storm Creek fire expands into the park, then merges with dozens of other drought-aggravated fires.

1989

• June 9, 1989: George Beadle, American geneticist and Nobel Prize recipient, died of Alzheimer's disease.
• June 10, 1989: United States Air Force Captain Jacquelyn S. Parker became the first female pilot to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.
• June 12, 1989: The Corcoran Gallery of Art canceled Robert Mapplethorpe's photography exhibition due to sexually explicit content.
• June 13, 1989: The Detroit Pistons won the 1989 NBA Finals, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 0.
• June 14, 1989: Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan was made an honorary knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath by Queen Elizabeth II.
• June 14, 1989: The first Titan IV rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

🎵 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. LITTLE JEANNIE — Elton John
9. IT'S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME — Billy Joel
10. CALL ME — Blondie

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. JESSIE'S GIRL — Rick Springfield
7. YOU MAKE MY DREAMS — Daryl Hall and John Oates
8. AMERICA — Neil Diamond
9. THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE — Air Supply
10. BEING WITH YOU — Smokey Robinson

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. IT'S GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE — Denise Williams
7. HURTS SO GOOD — John Cougar
8. LET IT WHIP — The Dazz Band
9. CRIMSON AND CLOVER — Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
10. HEAT OF THE MOMENT — Asia

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. AFFAIR OF THE HEART — Rick Springfield
7. DON'T LET IT END — Styx
8. ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME — Naked Eyes
9. SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE — Thomas Dolby
10. BEAT IT — Michael Jackson

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Jump (FOR MY LOVE) — The Pointer Sisters
7. SELF CONTROL — Laura Branigan
8. BREAKDANCE — Irene Cara
9. HELLO — Lionel Richie
10. THE HEART OF ROCK 'N ROLL — Huey Lewis & The News

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. SOMETHING ABOUT YOU — Level 42
7. ALL I NEED IS A MIRACLE — Mike + The Mechanics
8. NO ONE IS TO BLAME — Howard Jones
9. A DIFFERENT CORNER — George Michael
10. GREATEST LOVE OF ALL — Whitney Houston

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. JUST TO SEE HER — Smokey Robinson
7. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU — U2
8. DIAMONDS — Herb Alpert
9. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE — Bon Jovi
10. THE LADY IN RED — Chris DeBurgh

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. ALPHABET ST. — Prince
7. THE FLAME — Cheap Trick
8. THE VALLEY ROAD — Bruce Hornsby & The Range
9. CIRCLE IN THE SAND — Belinda Carlisle
10. EVERYTHING YOUR HEART DESIRES — Daryl Hall & John Oates

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Where Are You Now? — Jimmy Harnen, Synch
7. Close My Eyes Forever — Lita Ford, Ozzy Osbourne
8. Soldier Of Love — Donny Osmond
9. Satisfied — Richard Marx
10. Patience — Guns N' Roses

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

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

1980

1. 🏆 FUNKY TOWN — Lipps, Inc.
2. COMING UP / COMING UP (Live At Glasgow) — Paul McCartney and Wings
3. BIGGEST PART OF ME — Ambrosia
4. THE ROSE — Bette Midler
5. AGAINST THE WIND — Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
6. CALL ME — Blondie
7. IT'S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME — Billy Joel
8. LITTLE JEANNIE — Elton John
9. CARS — Gary Numan
10. STEAL AWAY — Robbie Dupree

1981

1. 🏆 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
2. BETTE DAVIS EYES — Kim Carnes
3. SUKIYAKI — A Taste Of Honey
4. A WOMAN NEEDS LOVE (Just Like You Do) — Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio
5. ALL THOSE YEARS AGO — George Harrison
6. BEING WITH YOU — Smokey Robinson
7. THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE — Air Supply
8. AMERICA — Neil Diamond
9. YOU MAKE MY DREAMS — Daryl Hall and John Oates
10. JESSIE'S GIRL — Rick Springfield

1982

1. 🏆 EBONY AND IVORY — Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder
2. DON'T YOU WANT ME — The Human League
3. ROSANNA — Toto
4. THE OTHER WOMAN — Ray Parker Jr.
5. ALWAYS ON MY MIND — Willie Nelson
6. HEAT OF THE MOMENT — Asia
7. CRIMSON AND CLOVER — Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
8. LET IT WHIP — The Dazz Band
9. HURTS SO GOOD — John Cougar
10. IT'S GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE — Denise Williams

1983

1. 🏆 FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING — Irene Cara
2. LET'S DANCE — David Bowie
3. TIME (Clock Of the Heart) — Culture Club
4. OVERKILL — Men At Work
5. MY LOVE — Lionel Richie
6. BEAT IT — Michael Jackson
7. SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE — Thomas Dolby
8. ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME — Naked Eyes
9. DON'T LET IT END — Styx
10. AFFAIR OF THE HEART — Rick Springfield

1984

1. 🏆 TIME AFTER TIME — Cyndi Lauper
2. LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY — Deniece Williams
3. OH, SHERRIE — Steve Perry
4. THE REFLEX — Duran Duran
5. SISTER CHRISTIAN — Night Ranger
6. THE HEART OF ROCK 'N ROLL — Huey Lewis & The News
7. HELLO — Lionel Richie
8. BREAKDANCE — Irene Cara
9. SELF CONTROL — Laura Branigan
10. Jump (FOR MY LOVE) — The Pointer Sisters

1986

1. 🏆 ON MY OWN — Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald
2. LIVE TO TELL — Madonna
3. I CAN'T WAIT — Nu Shooz
4. THERE'LL BE SAD SONGS — Billy Ocean
5. CRUSH ON YOU — The Jets
6. GREATEST LOVE OF ALL — Whitney Houston
7. A DIFFERENT CORNER — George Michael
8. NO ONE IS TO BLAME — Howard Jones
9. ALL I NEED IS A MIRACLE — Mike + The Mechanics
10. SOMETHING ABOUT YOU — Level 42

1987

1. 🏆 ALWAYS — Atlantic Starr
2. YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON — Kim Wilde
3. HEAD TO TOE — Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
4. IN TOO DEEP — Genesis
5. I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME) — Whitney Houston
6. THE LADY IN RED — Chris DeBurgh
7. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE — Bon Jovi
8. DIAMONDS — Herb Alpert
9. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU — U2
10. JUST TO SEE HER — Smokey Robinson

1988

1. 🏆 TOGETHER FOREVER — Rick Astley
2. ONE MORE TRY — George Michael
3. FOOLISH BEAT — Debbie Gibson
4. DIRTY DIANA — Michael Jackson
5. MAKE IT REAL — The Jets
6. EVERYTHING YOUR HEART DESIRES — Daryl Hall & John Oates
7. CIRCLE IN THE SAND — Belinda Carlisle
8. THE VALLEY ROAD — Bruce Hornsby & The Range
9. THE FLAME — Cheap Trick
10. ALPHABET ST. — Prince

1989

1. 🏆 Wind Beneath My Wings (From "Beaches") — Bette Midler
2. I'll Be Loving You (Forever) — New Kids On The Block
3. Every Little Step — Bobby Brown
4. Rock On (From "Dream A Little Dream") — Michael Damian
5. Buffalo Stance — Neneh Cherry
6. Patience — Guns N' Roses
7. Satisfied — Richard Marx
8. Soldier Of Love — Donny Osmond
9. Close My Eyes Forever — Lita Ford, Ozzy Osbourne
10. Where Are You Now? — Jimmy Harnen, Synch

🎬 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 — WKRP In Cincinnati (CBS)

When Johnny thinks he's heard God's voice talking to him, everyone, including Johnny, thinks he's going insane. (Repeat program, originally aired 12/31/1979) Season 2, episode 13.

📺 Where to Watch WKRP In Cincinnati →

1981 — The Defense Of The United States, Part 1 (CBS)

The first installment in a five-part CBS News report on the advent of the nuclear age and its possible effect on people's lives, including an evaluation of the chances of survival in the event of a nuclear war.

📺 Where to Watch The Defense Of The United States, Part 1 →

1982 — The Greatest American Hero (ABC)

American pilots who were brainwashed years ago in Vietnam are activated to bomb an important meeting consisting of the top scientific minds in the country. Ralph and Bill must stop the planes before they reach their target. (Repeat program, originally aired 1/27/1982) Season 2, episode 11.

📺 Where to Watch The Greatest American Hero →

1983 — The Fall Guy (ABC)

Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman, moonlights as a bounty hunter to make ends meet. (Returning series, likely airing reruns in June).

📺 Where to Watch The Fall Guy →

1984 — Monday Night Baseball (ABC)

A major primetime sports broadcast featuring professional baseball games.

📺 Where to Watch Monday Night Baseball →

1985 — Monday Night Baseball (ABC)

A major primetime sports broadcast featuring professional baseball games, likely airing during the summer season.

📺 Where to Watch Monday Night Baseball →

1986 — Miami Vice (NBC)

A groundbreaking police drama known for its distinctive style and music, likely airing reruns during the summer season.

📺 Where to Watch Miami Vice →

1987 — MacGyver (ABC)

A resourceful secret agent who solves problems using everyday objects, likely airing reruns during the summer season.

📺 Where to Watch MacGyver →

1988 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

A highly popular family sitcom, likely airing reruns during the summer due to the writers' strike.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1989 — Highway to Heaven (NBC)

A new episode titled 'The Source' was airing during this week. The show features an angel sent to Earth to help people.

📺 Where to Watch Highway to Heaven →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Apple (1984)

This iconic commercial, directed by Ridley Scott, introduced the Apple Macintosh personal computer during Super Bowl XVIII. It depicted a dystopian future reminiscent of George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four," with Apple positioned as the liberator from conformity.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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