This Week in the 80s: July 28–August 3

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 July 28 - August 3 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from July 28 to August 6. 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

• July 30: Republic of Vanuatu granted independence.
• July 30: Israel's parliament votes for Jerusalem reunification and annexes former Jordanian territory in East Jerusalem.
• August 1: The premium cable network Cinemax was inaugurated in the U.S.

1981

• July 28: Microsoft buys rights to MS-DOS.
• July 28: Sandra Day O'Connor nominated as the first woman to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• July 29: Prince Charles marries Diana Spencer in British royal wedding.

1982

• July 28: The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) agrees to a ceasefire in Lebanon.
• July 30: The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonates two bombs in London, killing 11 soldiers and wounding 51 people.
• August 1: The United States and the Soviet Union begin Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) in Geneva.

1983

• July 28: The Sri Lankan government begins a series of pogroms against the Tamil minority, which will last for a week and kill several hundred people.
• August 1: The United States and Honduras begin joint military exercises in Honduras.
• August 3: The U.S. Senate confirms the nomination of Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.

1984

• July 28: The 1984 Summer Olympics open in Los Angeles, California.
• August 1: Australian banks are deregulated.

1985

• July 28: The first mobile phone call in the UK is made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.
• August 1: The United States and the Soviet Union begin arms control talks in Geneva.
• August 3: The first Farm Aid concert is held in Champaign, Illinois.

1986

• July 23: Prince Andrew, Duke of York, marries Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey.
• August 6: Sydney experiences a record 328 millimeters of rain in one day.
• August 6: Janine Haines becomes the first woman to lead a political party in Australia, succeeding Don Chipp as leader of the Australian Democrats.

1987

• July 31: Four hundred pilgrims are killed in clashes between demonstrating Iranian pilgrims and Saudi Arabian security forces in Mecca.
• July 31: Docklands Light Railway in London, the first driverless railway in Great Britain, is formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
• July 31: An F4-rated tornado devastates eastern Edmonton, Alberta, killing 27 people and injuring hundreds.

1988

• July 3: The USS Vincennes shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people on board.
• July 28: The United States and the Soviet Union begin a new round of arms control talks in Geneva.
• August 1: The United States and Canada sign a free trade agreement.
• August 7, 1988: The 1988 Writers Guild of America strike ends.

1989

• July 28: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is overwhelmingly elected President of Iran.
• July 31: Hezbollah announces it has hanged U.S. Marine Lt. Col. William R. Higgins in retaliation for Israel's kidnapping of Hezbollah leader Abdel Karim Obeid.
• July 31: Nintendo releases the Game Boy portable video game system in North America.
• July 31, 1989: Nintendo releases the Game Boy in North America.

🎵 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. Sailing — Christopher Cross
7. Emotional Rescue — The Rolling Stones
8. Tired of Toein The Line — Rocky Burnette
9. Coming Up — Paul McCartney
10. Take Your Time (Do It Right) Part 1 — S.O.S. Band

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Queen of Hearts — Juice Newton
7. Hearts — Marty Balin
8. Boy From New York City — The Manhattan Transfer
9. Bette Davis Eyes — Kim Carnes
10. Slow Hand — The Pointer Sisters

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Keep the Fire Burnin’ — REO Speedwagon
7. Only the Lonely — The Motels
8. Even the Nights Are Better — Air Supply
9. Don’t You Want Me — The Human League
10. Hard to Say I’m Sorry — Chicago

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Our House — Madness
7. Stand Back — Stevie Nicks
8. She Works Hard For The Money — Donna Summer
9. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ — Michael Jackson
10. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) — Eurythmics

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. I Can Dream About You — Dan Hartman
7. Breakin’… There’s No Stopping Us — Ollie & Jerry
8. Stuck on You — Lionel Richie
9. Sad Songs (Say So Much) — Elton John
10. Infatuation — Rod Stewart

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. WHO’S HOLDING DONNA NOW — DeBarge
7. GET IT ON (BANG A GONG) — The Power Station
8. SENTIMENTAL STREET — Night Ranger
9. POWER OF LOVE — Huey Lewis & The News
10. NEVER SURRENDER — Corey Hart

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. OPPORTUNITIES — Pet Shop Boys
7. WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE OUR CLOTHES OFF — Jermaine Stewart
8. NASTY — Janet Jackson
9. LOVE TOUCH — Rod Stewart
10. MAD ABOUT YOU — Belinda Carlisle

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Wot’s It To Ya — Robbie Nevil
7. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) — Whitney Houston
8. Luka — Suzanne Vega
9. Cross My Broken Heart — The Jets
10. Heart and Soul — T’Pau

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. I Don't Want To Go On With You Like That — Elton John
7. Rush Hour — Jane Wiedlin
8. 1-2-3 — Gloria Estefan
9. New Sensation — INXS
10. Sign Your Name — Terence Trent D'Arby

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. If You Don’t Know Me By Now — Simply Red
7. Cold Hearted — Paula Abdul
8. I Like It — Dino
9. Lay Your Hands On Me — Bon Jovi
10. Once Bitten Twice Shy — Great White

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

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

1980

1. 🏆 Magic — Olivia Newton-John
2. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me — Billy Joel
3. Little Jeannie — Elton John
4. Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time — The Spinners
5. Shining Star — The Manhattans
6. Take Your Time (Do It Right) Part 1 — S.O.S. Band
7. Coming Up — Paul McCartney
8. Tired of Toein The Line — Rocky Burnette
9. Emotional Rescue — The Rolling Stones
10. Sailing — Christopher Cross

1981

1. 🏆 Jessie's Girl — Rick Springfield
2. The One That You Love — Air Supply
3. Theme From "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It Or Not) — Joey Scarbury
4. I Don't Need You — Kenny Rogers
5. Elvira — The Oak Ridge Boys
6. Slow Hand — The Pointer Sisters
7. Bette Davis Eyes — Kim Carnes
8. Boy From New York City — The Manhattan Transfer
9. Hearts — Marty Balin
10. Queen of Hearts — Juice Newton

1982

1. 🏆 Eye of the Tiger — Survivor
2. Rosanna — Toto
3. Hurts So Good — John Cougar
4. Hold Me — Fleetwood Mac
5. Abracadabra — The Steve Miller Band
6. Hard to Say I’m Sorry — Chicago
7. Don’t You Want Me — The Human League
8. Even the Nights Are Better — Air Supply
9. Only the Lonely — The Motels
10. Keep the Fire Burnin’ — REO Speedwagon

1983

1. 🏆 Every Breath You Take — The Police
2. Electric Avenue — Eddy Grant
3. Flashdance…What A Feeling — Irene Cara
4. Never Gonna Let You Go — Sergio Mendes
5. Is There Something I Should Know — Duran Duran
6. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) — Eurythmics
7. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ — Michael Jackson
8. She Works Hard For The Money — Donna Summer
9. Stand Back — Stevie Nicks
10. Our House — Madness

1984

1. 🏆 When Doves Cry — Prince
2. Ghostbusters — Ray Parker Jr.
3. State of Shock — The Jacksons with Mick Jagger
4. Dancing in the Dark — Bruce Springsteen
5. What’s Love Got to Do With It — Tina Turner
6. Infatuation — Rod Stewart
7. Sad Songs (Say So Much) — Elton John
8. Stuck on You — Lionel Richie
9. Breakin’… There’s No Stopping Us — Ollie & Jerry
10. I Can Dream About You — Dan Hartman

1985

1. 🏆 SHOUT — Tears For Fears
2. EVERYTIME YOU GO AWAY — Paul Young
3. IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY SET THEM FREE — Sting
4. YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE — Whitney Houston
5. GLORY DAYS — Bruce Springsteen
6. NEVER SURRENDER — Corey Hart
7. POWER OF LOVE — Huey Lewis & The News
8. SENTIMENTAL STREET — Night Ranger
9. GET IT ON (BANG A GONG) — The Power Station
10. WHO’S HOLDING DONNA NOW — DeBarge

1986

1. 🏆 GLORY OF LOVE — Peter Cetera
2. SLEDGEHAMMER — Peter Gabriel
3. DANGER ZONE — Kenny Loggins
4. PAPA DON’T PREACH — Madonna
5. INVISIBLE TOUCH — Genesis
6. MAD ABOUT YOU — Belinda Carlisle
7. LOVE TOUCH — Rod Stewart
8. NASTY — Janet Jackson
9. WE DON’T HAVE TO TAKE OUR CLOTHES OFF — Jermaine Stewart
10. OPPORTUNITIES — Pet Shop Boys

1987

1. 🏆 Shakedown — Bob Seger
2. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For — U2
3. Alone — Heart
4. I Want Your Sex — George Michael
5. Rhythm Is Gonna Get You — Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
6. Heart and Soul — T’Pau
7. Cross My Broken Heart — The Jets
8. Luka — Suzanne Vega
9. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) — Whitney Houston
10. Wot’s It To Ya — Robbie Nevil

1988

1. 🏆 Roll With It — Steve Winwood
2. Hold On To The Nights — Richard Marx
3. Hands To Heaven — Breathe
4. Pour Some Sugar On Me — Def Leppard
5. Make Me Lose Control — Eric Carmen
6. Sign Your Name — Terence Trent D'Arby
7. New Sensation — INXS
8. 1-2-3 — Gloria Estefan
9. Rush Hour — Jane Wiedlin
10. I Don't Want To Go On With You Like That — Elton John

1989

1. 🏆 Batdance — Prince
2. On Our Own — Bobby Brown
3. So Alive — Love And Rockets
4. Right Here Waiting — Richard Marx
5. Toy Soldiers — Martika
6. Once Bitten Twice Shy — Great White
7. Lay Your Hands On Me — Bon Jovi
8. I Like It — Dino
9. Cold Hearted — Paula Abdul
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 — The Tim Conway Show (CBS)

A variety show featuring comedy sketches and musical performances.

📺 Where to Watch The Tim Conway Show →

1981 — It's a Living (ABC)

A sitcom about waitresses working at a restaurant atop a Los Angeles high-rise hotel. The show was part of ABC's summer programming in 1981.

📺 Where to Watch It's a Living →

1982 — Code Red (ABC)

A drama about a Los Angeles firefighter family. The show aired during ABC's summer programming in 1982.

📺 Where to Watch Code Red →

1983 — The A-Team (NBC)

A group of ex-United States Army Special Forces soldiers who were wrongly convicted of a crime work as soldiers of fortune while on the run from the military.

📺 Where to Watch The A-Team →

1984 — Summer Sunday U.S.A. (NBC)

A summer anthology series featuring entertainment and news segments during NBC's 1984 summer programming.

📺 Where to Watch Summer Sunday U.S.A. →

1985 — Dalton's Code of Vengeance (NBC)

A crime drama miniseries about a protagonist seeking revenge for his family's murder. The miniseries aired in August 1985.

📺 Where to Watch Dalton's Code of Vengeance →

1986 — A Current Affair (Syndicated)

A newsmagazine that premiered on July 28, 1986, focusing on tabloid journalism, celebrity gossip, and true crime.

📺 Where to Watch A Current Affair →

1987 — MacGyver (ABC)

A resourceful secret agent who solves problems with everyday objects. Reruns were likely airing during the summer week.

📺 Where to Watch MacGyver →

1988 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

A sitcom about an upper-middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York. Reruns were likely airing during the summer week.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1989 — CBS Summer Playhouse (Curse of the Corn People) (CBS)

An anthology series showcasing unsold television pilots. On August 1, 1989, the episode "Curse of the Corn People" aired, featuring a group of friends making a horror movie in Kansas.

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The "Where's the Beef?" campaign for Wendy's fast-food restaurants became a pop culture phenomenon in 1984. It featured three elderly women examining a competitor's hamburger, with one exclaiming, "Where's the beef?" to highlight Wendy's larger patties.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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