This Week in the 80s: August 11–17

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 August 11 to 20. 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 12: Democratic National Convention opens in New York City, officially nominating President Jimmy Carter for re-election.
• August 14: Lech Wałęsa leads a strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland, marking the beginning of the Solidarity movement.
• August 15: The first season of the popular TV show "Dallas" concludes with the "Who Shot J.R.?" cliffhanger.

1981

• August 12: IBM introduces its first personal computer, the IBM PC.
• August 14: The Solidarity trade union is officially recognized in Poland.
• August 15: MTV (Music Television) officially launches in the United States.
• August 12, 1981: The IBM Personal Computer is released.

1982

• August 12: Mexico announces it is unable to make its foreign debt payments, triggering the Latin American debt crisis.
• August 13: The first compact discs (CDs) are produced in Germany.
• August 17: The first mass-produced compact discs are manufactured in Hanover, West Germany.

1983

• August 12: The U.S. government announces that it will deploy Pershing II missiles in West Germany, leading to widespread protests.
• August 14: Pakistan's President Zia-ul-Haq announces a plan for a gradual return to democracy.
• August 17: The first publicly available internet domain name, symbolics.com, is registered.

1984

• August 11: President Ronald Reagan jokes during a radio address that he has "signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."
• August 12: The 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles conclude.
• August 14: The Republican National Convention opens in Dallas, Texas, where Ronald Reagan is renominated for president.

1985

• August 12: Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashes into Mount Takamagahara, killing 520 of 524 people on board, making it the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history.
• August 15: Michael Jackson buys the ATV Music Publishing catalog, outbidding Paul McCartney.
• August 17: The first "Farm Aid" concert is held in Champaign, Illinois, to raise money for family farmers.

1986

• August 11: The U.S. House of Representatives votes to approve a sweeping tax reform bill.
• August 14: The U.S. Senate approves the largest overhaul of the nation's tax system in 75 years.
• August 17: The Soviet Union announces a unilateral moratorium on nuclear weapons testing.

1987

• August 11: President Ronald Reagan delivers a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, famously urging Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall!"
• August 14: The Iran-Contra affair hearings conclude.
• August 17: Rudolf Hess, Hitler's former deputy, dies in Spandau Prison, West Berlin, at age 93.

1988

• August 11: Al-Qaeda is formed by Osama bin Laden.
• August 12: The film "The Last Temptation of Christ" is released, sparking protests from religious groups.
• August 17: Pakistani President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and U.S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel are killed in a plane crash.

1989

• August 12: The first flight of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber takes place.
• August 14: The first episode of "Saved by the Bell" airs on NBC.
• August 17: The Polish Round Table Agreement is signed, leading to the first semi-free elections in Poland since World War II.

🎵 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. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me — Billy Joel
7. Shining Star — The Manhattans
8. Little Jeannie — Elton John
9. Fame — Irene Cara
10. Upside Down — Diana Ross

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Queen Of Hearts — Juice Newton
7. Who's Crying Now — Journey
8. Urgent — Foreigner
9. Slow Hand — The Pointer Sisters
10. The One That You Love — Air Supply

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Rosanna — Toto
7. Don't You Want Me — The Human League
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. Puttin' On The Ritz — Taco
7. Stand Back — Stevie Nicks
8. Is There Something I Should Know? — Duran Duran
9. Let My Love Open The Door — Pete Townshend
10. Manic Monday — The Bangles

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E.
7. Lights Out — Peter Wolf
8. I Can Dream About You — Dan Hartman
9. If Ever You're In My Arms Again — Peabo Bryson
10. State Of Shock — The Jacksons & Mick Jagger

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Glory Days — Bruce Springsteen
7. Freedom — Wham!
8. You Give Good Love — Whitney Houston
9. Summer Of '69 — Bryan Adams
10. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) — Tina Turner

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Walk This Way — Run-DMC ft. Aerosmith
7. Danger Zone — Kenny Loggins
8. Mad About You — Belinda Carlisle
9. Venus — Bananarama
10. Glory Of Love — Peter Cetera

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Can't We Try — Dan Hill & Vonda Shepard
7. Didn't We Almost Have It All — Whitney Houston
8. Don't Mean Nothing — Richard Marx
9. Luka — Suzanne Vega
10. Alone — Heart

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love — Chicago
7. The Flame — Cheap Trick
8. Just Got Paid — Johnny Kemp
9. Perfect World — Huey Lewis And The News
10. Sweet Child O' Mine — Guns N' Roses

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Shower Me With Your Love — Surface
7. Cherish — Madonna
8. If You Don't Know Me By Now — Simply Red
9. Once Bitten, Twice Shy — Great White
10. Hangin' Tough — New Kids On The Block

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

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

1980

1. 🏆 Magic — Olivia Newton-John
2. Sailing — Christopher Cross
3. Coming Up — Paul McCartney and Wings
4. Emotional Rescue — The Rolling Stones
5. Take Your Time (Do It Right) — The S.O.S. Band
6. Upside Down — Diana Ross
7. Fame — Irene Cara
8. Little Jeannie — Elton John
9. Shining Star — The Manhattans
10. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me — Billy Joel

1981

1. 🏆 Jessie's Girl — Rick Springfield
2. Endless Love — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
3. Lady (You Bring Me Up) — Commodores
4. Theme From "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It Or Not) — Joey Scarbury
5. I Don't Need You — Kenny Rogers
6. The One That You Love — Air Supply
7. Slow Hand — The Pointer Sisters
8. Urgent — Foreigner
9. Who's Crying Now — Journey
10. Queen Of Hearts — Juice Newton

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. Don't You Want Me — The Human League
10. Rosanna — Toto

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. Flashdance...What A Feeling — Irene Cara
5. Tell Her About It — Billy Joel
6. Manic Monday — The Bangles
7. Let My Love Open The Door — Pete Townshend
8. Is There Something I Should Know? — Duran Duran
9. Stand Back — Stevie Nicks
10. Puttin' On The Ritz — Taco

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. Missing You — John Waite
6. State Of Shock — The Jacksons & Mick Jagger
7. If Ever You're In My Arms Again — Peabo Bryson
8. I Can Dream About You — Dan Hartman
9. Lights Out — Peter Wolf
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. Don't Lose My Number — Phil Collins
6. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) — Tina Turner
7. Summer Of '69 — Bryan Adams
8. You Give Good Love — Whitney Houston
9. Freedom — Wham!
10. Glory Days — Bruce Springsteen

1986

1. 🏆 Papa Don't Preach — Madonna
2. Higher Love — Steve Winwood
3. Sledgehammer — Peter Gabriel
4. Invisible Touch — Genesis
5. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
6. Glory Of Love — Peter Cetera
7. Venus — Bananarama
8. Mad About You — Belinda Carlisle
9. Danger Zone — Kenny Loggins
10. Walk This Way — Run-DMC ft. Aerosmith

1987

1. 🏆 I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For — U2
2. La Bamba — Los Lobos
3. Who's That Girl — Madonna
4. Heart And Soul — T'Pau
5. I Want Your Sex — George Michael
6. Alone — Heart
7. Luka — Suzanne Vega
8. Don't Mean Nothing — Richard Marx
9. Didn't We Almost Have It All — Whitney Houston
10. Can't We Try — Dan Hill & Vonda Shepard

1988

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

1989

1. 🏆 Right Here Waiting — Richard Marx
2. Batdance — Prince
3. On Our Own — Bobby Brown
4. Cold Hearted — Paula Abdul
5. Toy Soldiers — Martika
6. Hangin' Tough — New Kids On The Block
7. Once Bitten, Twice Shy — Great White
8. If You Don't Know Me By Now — Simply Red
9. Cherish — Madonna
10. Shower Me With Your Love — Surface

🎬 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 — Dallas (CBS)

The first season of the popular TV show "Dallas" concludes with the "Who Shot J.R.?" cliffhanger, leaving viewers in suspense.

📺 Where to Watch Dallas →

1981 — The Greatest American Hero (ABC)

The show was in its first season, following the adventures of Ralph Hinkley, a teacher who receives a superhero suit from aliens.

📺 Where to Watch The Greatest American Hero →

1982 — Dynasty (ABC)

The show was in its second season, continuing the dramatic saga of the wealthy Carrington family and their rivalries.

📺 Where to Watch Dynasty →

1983 — Magnum, P.I. (CBS)

The series was in its fourth season, with Thomas Magnum continuing his private investigations in Hawaii.

📺 Where to Watch Magnum, P.I. →

1984 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The groundbreaking sitcom was in its first season, introducing the Huxtable family and becoming an instant hit.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1985 — Miami Vice (NBC)

The stylish police drama was in its second season, known for its fashion, music, and depiction of Miami's drug scene.

📺 Where to Watch Miami Vice →

1986 — Cheers (NBC)

The beloved sitcom was in its fifth season, continuing the humorous interactions among the patrons and staff of a Boston bar.

📺 Where to Watch Cheers →

1987 — Family Ties (NBC)

The popular sitcom was in its sixth season, exploring the generational and political differences within the Keaton family.

📺 Where to Watch Family Ties →

1988 — The Golden Girls (NBC)

The iconic sitcom was in its fourth season, following the lives of four older women sharing a home in Miami.

📺 Where to Watch The Golden Girls →

1989 — Roseanne (ABC)

The hit sitcom was in its second season, depicting the working-class Conner family with humor and realism.

📺 Where to Watch Roseanne →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic "Where's the Beef?" commercial featured three elderly women examining a tiny hamburger patty, with one famously exclaiming the catchphrase. It became a cultural phenomenon, questioning the meat content of rival fast-food burgers.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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