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This Week in the 80s: June 23–29

GenX Dude

GenX Dude

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This Week in the 80s: June 23–29

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 23-29 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from June 23 to July 2. 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 23: The David Letterman Show premieres on NBC.
  • June 23: A significant heat wave begins in the United States.
  • June 29: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that living organisms can be patented.

1981

  • June 5: The AIDS epidemic officially begins as the CDC reports cases of a rare pneumonia in gay men in Los Angeles.
  • June 23: Major upsets occur in the first round of the Wimbledon Championships.
  • June 29: A bomb attack on the Islamic Republican Party headquarters in Tehran kills 72 officials.

1982

  • June 23: The Basketball Clubs World Cup final is held in Barcelona, with FC Barcelona defeating CA Monte Líbano.
  • June 29: News reports indicate the PLO has only a few days to accept Israel's offer of safe passage out of Beirut.
  • June 21: John Hinckley Jr. is found not guilty by reason of insanity in the shooting of President Ronald Reagan.

1983

  • June 23: The U.S. Supreme Court rules in INS v. Chadha that the legislative veto is unconstitutional.
  • June 23: Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa meets Pope John Paul II during the papal visit to Poland.
  • June 29: A section of the Mianus River Bridge on the Connecticut Turnpike collapses, killing three people.

1984

  • June 29: A major overhaul of the Federal bankruptcy system is agreed to by House and Senate conferees.
  • June 29: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off the Born in the U.S.A. Tour in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

1985

  • June 23: Air India Flight 182 is bombed over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 329 people on board.
  • June 23: A bomb explodes at Narita International Airport in Japan, killing two baggage handlers, believed to be connected to the Air India bombing.
  • June 27: Historic Route 66 is officially decertified, removing it from the United States Highway System.

1986

  • June 23: Three bombs explode in Durban, South Africa, one causing a large oil spill.
  • June 23: LISTSERV Email Management Software is created, marking a significant development in early internet communication.
  • June 29: Richard Branson, aboard Virgin Atlantic Challenger II, achieves the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by powerboat.

1987

  • June 27: Whitney Houston's album 'Whitney' debuts at No. 1 on the US album chart, making her the first woman to achieve this feat.
  • June 29: Developments in Europe are discussed in a hearing before the US House Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East.

1988

  • June 23: NASA scientist James Hansen testifies before the U.S. Senate, warning about the dangers of global warming.
  • June 23: The Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat begin their NBA expansion draft.
  • June 29: The U.S. Supreme Court, in Morrison v. Olson, upholds the independent counsel law.

1989

  • June 23: Tim Burton's film "Batman" is released in theaters.
  • June 29: The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Texas v. Johnson that burning the American flag is a form of protected speech.
  • June 29: Fidel Castro frees 26 political prisoners, who are picked up by Rev. Jesse Jackson.

🎵 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

  1. SHE’S OUT OF MY LIFE — Michael Jackson
  2. CUPID / I’VE LOVED YOU FOR A LONG TIME (Medley) — The Spinners
  3. BIGGEST PART OF ME — Ambrosia
  4. STEAL AWAY — Robbie Dupree
  5. LITTLE JEANNIE — Elton John

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. ELVIRA — The Oak Ridge Boys
  2. JESSIE’S GIRL — Rick Springfield
  3. AMERICA — Neil Diamond
  4. YOU MAKE MY DREAMS — Daryl Hall and John Oates
  5. THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE — Air Supply

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. THE OTHER WOMAN — Ray Parker Jr.
  2. LOVE’S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD ON ME — Juice Newton
  3. LET IT WHIP — The Dazz Band
  4. CRIMSON AND CLOVER — Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
  5. HURTS SO GOOD — John Cougar

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. TOO SHY — Kajagoogoo
  2. AFFAIR OF THE HEART — Rick Springfield
  3. NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO — Sergio Mendes
  4. DON'T LET IT END — Styx
  5. FAMILY MAN — Daryl Hall & John Oates

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. EYES WITHOUT A FACE — Billy Idol
  2. OH, SHERRIE — Steve Perry
  3. WHEN DOVES CRY — Prince
  4. JUMP (FOR MY LOVE) — Pointer Sisters
  5. THE HEART OF ROCK 'N' ROLL — Huey Lewis & The News

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. IN MY HOUSE — Mary Jane Girls
  2. THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER — Howard Jones
  3. WOULD I LIE TO YOU? — Eurythmics
  4. EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD — Tears For Fears
  5. THE SEARCH IS OVER — Survivor

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. SLEDGEHAMMER — Peter Gabriel
  2. NASTY — Janet Jackson
  3. INVISIBLE TOUCH — Genesis
  4. A DIFFERENT CORNER — George Michael
  5. WHO’S JOHNNY — El DeBarge

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE — Bon Jovi
  2. JUST TO SEE HER — Smokey Robinson
  3. DIAMONDS — Herb Alpert
  4. SHAKEDOWN — Bob Seger
  5. SONGBIRD — Kenny G

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME — Def Leppard
  2. MERCEDES BOY — Pebbles
  3. ALPHABET ST. — Prince
  4. ONE MORE TRY — George Michael
  5. THE VALLEY ROAD — Bruce Hornsby & The Range

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. CRY — Waterfront
  2. MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY — Natalie Cole
  3. EVERY LITTLE STEP — Bobby Brown
  4. THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL — Donna Summer
  5. WIND BENEATH MY WINGS — Bette Midler

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

1980

  1. 🏆 COMING UP / COMING UP (Live At Glasgow) — Paul McCartney and Wings
  2. FUNKY TOWN — Lipps, Inc.
  3. THE ROSE — Bette Midler
  4. IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME — Billy Joel
  5. AGAINST THE WIND — Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
  6. LITTLE JEANNIE — Elton John
  7. STEAL AWAY — Robbie Dupree
  8. BIGGEST PART OF ME — Ambrosia
  9. CUPID / I’VE LOVED YOU FOR A LONG TIME (Medley) — The Spinners
  10. SHE’S OUT OF MY LIFE — Michael Jackson

1981

  1. 🏆 BETTE DAVIS EYES — Kim Carnes
  2. 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
  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. THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE — Air Supply
  7. YOU MAKE MY DREAMS — Daryl Hall and John Oates
  8. AMERICA — Neil Diamond
  9. JESSIE’S GIRL — Rick Springfield
  10. ELVIRA — The Oak Ridge Boys

1982

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

1983

  1. 🏆 FLASHDANCE... WHAT A FEELING — Irene Cara
  2. TIME (CLOCK OF THE HEART) — Culture Club
  3. ELECTRIC AVENUE — Eddy Grant
  4. EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE — The Police
  5. LET'S DANCE — David Bowie
  6. FAMILY MAN — Daryl Hall & John Oates
  7. DON'T LET IT END — Styx
  8. NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO — Sergio Mendes
  9. AFFAIR OF THE HEART — Rick Springfield
  10. TOO SHY — Kajagoogoo

1984

  1. 🏆 THE REFLEX — Duran Duran
  2. TIME AFTER TIME — Cyndi Lauper
  3. LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY — Deniece Williams
  4. DANCING IN THE DARK — Bruce Springsteen
  5. SELF CONTROL — Laura Branigan
  6. THE HEART OF ROCK 'N' ROLL — Huey Lewis & The News
  7. JUMP (FOR MY LOVE) — Pointer Sisters
  8. WHEN DOVES CRY — Prince
  9. OH, SHERRIE — Steve Perry
  10. EYES WITHOUT A FACE — Billy Idol

1985

  1. 🏆 HEAVEN — Bryan Adams
  2. SUSSUDIO — Phil Collins
  3. A VIEW TO A KILL — Duran Duran
  4. RASPBERRY BERET — Prince & The Revolution
  5. ANGEL — Madonna
  6. THE SEARCH IS OVER — Survivor
  7. EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD — Tears For Fears
  8. WOULD I LIE TO YOU? — Eurythmics
  9. THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER — Howard Jones
  10. IN MY HOUSE — Mary Jane Girls

1986

  1. 🏆 ON MY OWN — Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald
  2. THERE’LL BE SAD SONGS — Billy Ocean
  3. CRUSH ON YOU — The Jets
  4. HOLDING BACK THE YEARS — Simply Red
  5. NO ONE IS TO BLAME — Howard Jones
  6. WHO’S JOHNNY — El DeBarge
  7. A DIFFERENT CORNER — George Michael
  8. INVISIBLE TOUCH — Genesis
  9. NASTY — Janet Jackson
  10. SLEDGEHAMMER — Peter Gabriel

1987

  1. 🏆 I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME) — Whitney Houston
  2. HEAD TO TOE — Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
  3. IN TOO DEEP — Genesis
  4. ALONE — Heart
  5. ALWAYS — Atlantic Starr
  6. SONGBIRD — Kenny G
  7. SHAKEDOWN — Bob Seger
  8. DIAMONDS — Herb Alpert
  9. JUST TO SEE HER — Smokey Robinson
  10. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE — Bon Jovi

1988

  1. 🏆 FOOLISH BEAT — Debbie Gibson
  2. DIRTY DIANA — Michael Jackson
  3. TOGETHER FOREVER — Rick Astley
  4. MAKE IT REAL — The Jets
  5. THE FLAME — Cheap Trick
  6. THE VALLEY ROAD — Bruce Hornsby & The Range
  7. ONE MORE TRY — George Michael
  8. ALPHABET ST. — Prince
  9. MERCEDES BOY — Pebbles
  10. POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME — Def Leppard

1989

  1. 🏆 SATISFIED — Richard Marx
  2. I'LL BE LOVING YOU (FOREVER) — New Kids On The Block
  3. BUFFALO STANCE — Neneh Cherry
  4. BABY DON'T FORGET MY NUMBER — Milli Vanilli
  5. GOOD THING — Fine Young Cannibals
  6. WIND BENEATH MY WINGS — Bette Midler
  7. THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL — Donna Summer
  8. EVERY LITTLE STEP — Bobby Brown
  9. MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY — Natalie Cole
  10. CRY — Waterfront

🎬 Box Office #1 This Week

The biggest movie in America during this week, for each year of the decade.

YearFilmWeekend GrossWatch Now
1980Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes BackStream →
1981Superman IIStream →
1982E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialStream →
1983Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the JediStream →
1984GhostbustersStream →
1985Pale RiderStream →
1986The Karate Kid Part IIStream →
1987DragnetStream →
1988Who Framed Roger RabbitStream →
1989BatmanStream →

📺 Primetime TV Spotlight

What America was watching in primetime this week across the decade.

1980 — WKRP In Cincinnati (CBS)

Arthur Carlson hires former Cincinnati Reds' manager Sparky Anderson to host WKRP's new sports show.

📺 Where to Watch WKRP In Cincinnati →

1981 — Flo (CBS)

Buddy, who runs the gas station next to the Yellow Rose, tells Flo that the bathrooms in her saloon are on his land and she'll have to pay for them, so Flo calls on the law of the West for justice. (Last show of the series.)

📺 Where to Watch Flo →

1982 — M*A*S*H (CBS)

Potter sends for Sidney Freedman when he loses confidence in his surgical abilities; Winchester loses patience with his bunkmates' sloppiness.

📺 Where to Watch M*A*S*H →

1983 — Magnum, P.I. (CBS)

Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living in Hawaii, solves cases with the help of his friends T.C. and Rick, and the watchful eye of Higgins.

📺 Where to Watch Magnum, P.I. →

1984 — Hotel (ABC)

Set in the luxurious St. Gregory Hotel in San Francisco, the series followed the lives of the staff and guests, often dealing with dramatic personal and professional issues.

📺 Where to Watch Hotel →

1985 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The Huxtable family navigates everyday life in Brooklyn, New York, with humor and warmth. During this summer week, the show was likely airing reruns of its highly popular first season.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1986 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The Huxtable family continues to navigate life with humor and warmth. During this summer week, the show was likely airing reruns of its popular second season.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1987 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The Huxtable family continues to entertain with their humorous take on family life. During this summer week, the show was likely airing reruns of its popular third season.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1988 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

Still a top-rated show, The Cosby Show was likely airing reruns of its fourth season during this summer week, continuing to be a family favorite.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1989 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The Huxtable family continued to be a television staple. During this summer week, the show was likely airing reruns of its fifth season.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

This iconic commercial featured three elderly women examining a comically small hamburger patty, with one exclaiming, "Where's the beef?" The phrase became a national catchphrase, humorously highlighting the perceived lack of meat in competitors' burgers.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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