This Week in the 80s: August 4–10

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 August 4-10 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from August 4 to 13. 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

• August 4, 1980: Zimbabwe is admitted to the United Nations.
• August 3, 1980: The 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow conclude.
• August 1980: A heatwave across the United States causes numerous deaths.

1981

• August 12, 1981: The IBM Personal Computer is introduced.
• August 10, 1981: Major League Baseball players' strike ends.
• August 7, 1981: President Reagan begins his first vacation at his ranch in California.

1982

• August 1, 1982: The United Nations Security Council adopts Resolution 516, calling for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
• August 4, 1982: The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) begins to evacuate Beirut.
• August 1982: Typhoon Bess hits Japan, causing widespread damage and deaths.

1983

• August 14, 1983: The United States and Mexico sign an agreement on environmental cooperation.
• August 15, 1983: Hurricane Alicia forms in the Gulf of Mexico, later striking Texas.

1984

• July 28, 1984: The 1984 Summer Olympics open in Los Angeles.
• August 23, 1984: President Reagan accepts the Republican nomination for re-election.
• August 1984: The Soviet Union announces it will boycott the 1984 Summer Paralympics.

1985

1986

• August 16, 1986: The United States Senate approves the Tax Reform Act of 1986.
• November 1986: The first case of mad cow disease is identified in the UK.

1987

• August 3, 1987: The Iran-Contra affair hearings conclude.
• August 1987: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 2,700 for the first time.

1988

• August 20, 1988: The Iran-Iraq War ends with a ceasefire.

1989

🎵 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. Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time — The Spinners
7. The Rose — Bette Midler
8. Fame — Irene Cara
9. Upside Down — Diana Ross
10. Sailing — Christopher Cross

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Who's Crying Now — Journey
7. Queen of Hearts — Juice Newton
8. Slow Hand — The Pointer Sisters
9. Endless Love — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
10. Urgent — Foreigner

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Hold Me — Fleetwood Mac
7. Rosanna — Toto
8. Vacation — The Go-Go's
9. Wired for Sound — Cliff Richard
10. Keep the Fire Burnin' — REO Speedwagon

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. The Safety Dance — Men Without Hats
7. China Girl — David Bowie
8. Is There Something I Should Know? — Duran Duran
9. Stand Back — Stevie Nicks
10. Maniac — Michael Sembello

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E.
7. Infatuation — Rod Stewart
8. I Can Dream About You — Dan Hartman
9. If Ever You're in My Arms Again — Peabo Bryson
10. Missing You — John Waite

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Never Surrender — Corey Hart
7. Glory Days — Bruce Springsteen
8. You Give Good Love — Whitney Houston
9. Don't Lose My Number — Phil Collins
10. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) — Tina Turner

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Love Touch — Rod Stewart
7. Danger Zone — Kenny Loggins
8. Venus — Bananarama
9. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
10. Mad About You — Belinda Carlisle

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Only in My Dreams — Debbie Gibson
7. Don't Mean Nothing — Richard Marx
8. Luka — Suzanne Vega
9. I Want Your Sex — George Michael
10. Heart and Soul — T'Pau

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. If It Isn't Love — New Edition
7. I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love — Chicago
8. Sweet Child o' Mine — Guns N' Roses
9. Perfect World — Huey Lewis and the News
10. Just Got Paid — Johnny Kemp

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Cherish — Madonna
7. Pop Singer — John Cougar Mellencamp
8. Once Bitten, Twice Shy — Great White
9. Hangin' Tough — New Kids on the Block
10. Don't Wanna Lose You — Gloria Estefan

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

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

1980

1. 🏆 Magic — Olivia Newton-John
2. Coming Up — Paul McCartney and Wings
3. It's Still Rock and Roll to Me — Billy Joel
4. Emotional Rescue — The Rolling Stones
5. Take Your Time (Do It Right) — The S.O.S. Band
6. Sailing — Christopher Cross
7. Upside Down — Diana Ross
8. Fame — Irene Cara
9. The Rose — Bette Midler
10. Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time — The Spinners

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. Lady (You Bring Me Up) — Commodores
5. I Don't Need You — Kenny Rogers
6. Urgent — Foreigner
7. Endless Love — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
8. Slow Hand — The Pointer Sisters
9. Queen of Hearts — Juice Newton
10. Who's Crying Now — Journey

1982

1. 🏆 Eye of the Tiger — Survivor
2. Abracadabra — Steve Miller Band
3. Hard to Say I'm Sorry — Chicago
4. Even the Nights Are Better — Air Supply
5. Hurts So Good — John Cougar
6. Keep the Fire Burnin' — REO Speedwagon
7. Wired for Sound — Cliff Richard
8. Vacation — The Go-Go's
9. Rosanna — Toto
10. Hold Me — Fleetwood Mac

1983

1. 🏆 Every Breath You Take — The Police
2. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) — Eurythmics
3. She Works Hard for the Money — Donna Summer
4. Tell Her About It — Billy Joel
5. Flashdance... What a Feeling — Irene Cara
6. Maniac — Michael Sembello
7. Stand Back — Stevie Nicks
8. Is There Something I Should Know? — Duran Duran
9. China Girl — David Bowie
10. The Safety Dance — Men Without Hats

1984

1. 🏆 Ghostbusters — Ray Parker Jr.
2. When Doves Cry — Prince
3. What's Love Got to Do with It — Tina Turner
4. Stuck on You — Lionel Richie
5. State of Shock — The Jacksons & Mick Jagger
6. Missing You — John Waite
7. If Ever You're in My Arms Again — Peabo Bryson
8. I Can Dream About You — Dan Hartman
9. Infatuation — Rod Stewart
10. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E.

1985

1. 🏆 Shout — Tears for Fears
2. The Power of Love — Huey Lewis and the News
3. St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) — John Parr
4. Money for Nothing — Dire Straits
5. Summer of '69 — Bryan Adams
6. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) — Tina Turner
7. Don't Lose My Number — Phil Collins
8. You Give Good Love — Whitney Houston
9. Glory Days — Bruce Springsteen
10. Never Surrender — Corey Hart

1986

1. 🏆 Sledgehammer — Peter Gabriel
2. Glory of Love — Peter Cetera
3. Papa Don't Preach — Madonna
4. Higher Love — Steve Winwood
5. Invisible Touch — Genesis
6. Mad About You — Belinda Carlisle
7. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
8. Venus — Bananarama
9. Danger Zone — Kenny Loggins
10. Love Touch — Rod Stewart

1987

1. 🏆 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For — U2
2. Alone — Heart
3. Who's That Girl — Madonna
4. La Bamba — Los Lobos
5. Didn't We Almost Have It All — Whitney Houston
6. Heart and Soul — T'Pau
7. I Want Your Sex — George Michael
8. Luka — Suzanne Vega
9. Don't Mean Nothing — Richard Marx
10. Only in My Dreams — Debbie Gibson

1988

1. 🏆 Roll With It — Steve Winwood
2. Hands to Heaven — Breathe
3. Make Me Lose Control — Eric Carmen
4. Simply Irresistible — Robert Palmer
5. The Flame — Cheap Trick
6. Just Got Paid — Johnny Kemp
7. Perfect World — Huey Lewis and the News
8. Sweet Child o' Mine — Guns N' Roses
9. I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love — Chicago
10. If It Isn't Love — New Edition

1989

1. 🏆 Right Here Waiting — Richard Marx
2. Batdance — Prince
3. Toy Soldiers — Martika
4. Cold Hearted — Paula Abdul
5. On Our Own — Bobby Brown
6. Don't Wanna Lose You — Gloria Estefan
7. Hangin' Tough — New Kids on the Block
8. Once Bitten, Twice Shy — Great White
9. Pop Singer — John Cougar Mellencamp
10. Cherish — Madonna

🎬 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 Jeffersons (CBS)

A popular sitcom about an African-American couple who move into a luxury apartment building.

📺 Where to Watch The Jeffersons →

1981 — M*A*S*H (CBS)

A comedy-drama series about a team of doctors and support staff stationed at a 'Mobile Army Surgical Hospital' during the Korean War.

📺 Where to Watch M*A*S*H →

1982 — Magnum, P.I. (CBS)

A private investigator living in Hawaii solves crimes with the help of his friends.

📺 Where to Watch Magnum, P.I. →

1983 — Cheers (NBC)

A group of regulars gather at a Boston bar where everybody knows your name.

📺 Where to Watch Cheers →

1984 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

A popular sitcom about an affluent African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1985 — Miami Vice (NBC)

Two undercover detectives tackle drug trafficking, murder, and other crimes in Miami.

📺 Where to Watch Miami Vice →

1986 — The Golden Girls (NBC)

Four older women share a home in Miami, dealing with life's challenges and joys.

📺 Where to Watch The Golden Girls →

1987 — L.A. Law (NBC)

A drama series about the lives and cases of attorneys at a Los Angeles law firm.

📺 Where to Watch L.A. Law →

1988 — Who's the Boss? (ABC)

A former baseball player works as a live-in housekeeper for a divorced advertising executive.

📺 Where to Watch Who's the Boss? →

1989 — Seinfeld (NBC)

A sitcom about a stand-up comedian and his eccentric friends and acquaintances in New York City.

📺 Where to Watch Seinfeld →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic 'Where's the Beef?' commercial featuring three elderly women examining a tiny hamburger patty.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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