This Week in the 80s: August 25–31

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 25-31 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from August 25 to September 3. 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 26, 1980: The United States performs a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
• August 27, 1980: A bomb explodes at a train station in Bologna, Italy, killing 85 people.
• August 31, 1980: The Solidarity trade union is founded in Poland.

1981

• August 26, 1981: Voyager 2 makes its closest approach to Saturn.
• August 28, 1981: The first cases of AIDS are reported in New York City.
• August 30, 1981: Iranian President Mohammad-Ali Rajai and Prime Minister Mohammad-Javad Bahonar are assassinated.

1982

• August 25, 1982: The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) begins its evacuation from Beirut, Lebanon.
• August 27, 1982: The first compact discs are produced in Germany.
• August 30, 1982: The first episode of the animated series "The Smurfs" airs in the United States.

1983

• August 26, 1983: The United States performs a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
• August 27, 1983: A bomb explodes at a train station in Bologna, Italy, killing 85 people.
• August 31, 1983: The Solidarity trade union is founded in Poland.

1984

• August 25, 1984: The United States performs a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
• August 26, 1984: The first space shuttle mission to carry a female astronaut, Sally Ride, returns to Earth.
• August 28, 1984: The Summer Olympics conclude in Los Angeles.
• August 30, 1984: The first flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery takes place.

1985

• August 25, 1985: The United States performs a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
• August 27, 1985: Major General Samuel K. Doe becomes President of Liberia.
• August 31, 1985: The remains of the Titanic are discovered.
• September 1, 1985: The wreck of the Titanic is discovered.

1986

• August 25, 1986: The United States performs a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
• August 26, 1986: The Chernobyl disaster is officially announced by the Soviet Union.
• August 31, 1986: A Soviet passenger ship collides with a cargo ship in the Black Sea, killing hundreds.

1987

• August 25, 1987: The United States performs a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
• August 26, 1987: The first episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" airs.
• August 31, 1987: Michael Jackson's album "Bad" is released.

1988

• August 20, 1988: The Iran-Iraq War ceasefire takes effect.
• August 21, 1988: A 6.9 magnitude earthquake strikes the Nepal-India border region, killing over 700 people.
• August 28, 1988: The Ramstein Air Base disaster occurs in West Germany.

1989

• August 25, 1989: The United States performs a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
• August 25, 1989: The Voyager 2 spacecraft makes its closest approach to Neptune.
• August 26, 1989: The first episode of "Saved by the Bell" airs.

🎵 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. Could I Have This Dance — Anne Murray
7. All Out Of Love — Air Supply
8. Late In The Evening — Paul Simon
9. Give Me The Night — George Benson
10. Take Your Time (Do It Right) — The S.O.S. Band

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. The One That You Love — Air Supply
7. Who's Crying Now — Journey
8. Slow Hand — The Pointer Sisters
9. Urgent — Foreigner
10. Jessie's Girl — Rick Springfield

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger) — Donna Summer
7. Wasted on the Way — Crosby, Stills & Nash
8. Vacation — The Go-Go's
9. I G.Y.O.P. — The Go-Go's
10. Keep the Fire Burnin' — REO Speedwagon

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Islands in the Stream — Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
7. China Girl — David Bowie
8. Puttin' on the Ritz — Taco
9. Stand Back — Stevie Nicks
10. Maniac — Michael Sembello

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Drive — The Cars
7. I Can Dream About You — Dan Hartman
8. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E.
9. Let's Go Crazy — Prince and The Revolution
10. If This Is It — Huey Lewis and the News

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Pop Life — Prince and The Revolution
7. Freeway of Love — Aretha Franklin
8. Cherish — Kool & the Gang
9. Summer of '69 — Bryan Adams
10. Don't Lose My Number — Phil Collins

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Walk This Way — Run-DMC ft. Aerosmith
7. Man in the Mirror — Michael Jackson
8. Stuck with You — Huey Lewis and the News
9. Invisible Touch — Genesis
10. Take My Breath Away — Berlin

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Who Will You Run To — Heart
7. Can't We Try — Dan Hill & Vonda Shepard
8. Alone — Heart
9. I Want Your Sex — George Michael
10. Luka — Suzanne Vega

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Just Got Paid — Johnny Kemp
7. Make Me Lose Control — Eric Carmen
8. I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love — Chicago
9. The Flame — Cheap Trick
10. Hands to Heaven — Breathe

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Love Song — The Cure
7. If I Could Turn Back Time — Cher
8. Shower Me With Your Love — Surface
9. The End of the Innocence — Don Henley
10. 18 and Life — Skid Row

🎵 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. Upside Down — Diana Ross
4. Emotional Rescue — The Rolling Stones
5. Fame — Irene Cara
6. Take Your Time (Do It Right) — The S.O.S. Band
7. Give Me The Night — George Benson
8. Late In The Evening — Paul Simon
9. All Out Of Love — Air Supply
10. Could I Have This Dance — Anne Murray

1981

1. 🏆 Endless Love — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
2. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) — Christopher Cross
3. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around — Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
4. Lady (You Bring Me Up) — Commodores
5. Theme From "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It Or Not) — Joey Scarbury
6. Jessie's Girl — Rick Springfield
7. Urgent — Foreigner
8. Slow Hand — The Pointer Sisters
9. Who's Crying Now — Journey
10. The One That You Love — Air Supply

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. I G.Y.O.P. — The Go-Go's
8. Vacation — The Go-Go's
9. Wasted on the Way — Crosby, Stills & Nash
10. Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger) — Donna Summer

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. Maniac — Michael Sembello
7. Stand Back — Stevie Nicks
8. Puttin' on the Ritz — Taco
9. China Girl — David Bowie
10. Islands in the Stream — Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton

1984

1. 🏆 Ghostbusters — Ray Parker Jr.
2. What's Love Got to Do with It — Tina Turner
3. Stuck on You — Lionel Richie
4. Missing You — John Waite
5. When Doves Cry — Prince
6. If This Is It — Huey Lewis and the News
7. Let's Go Crazy — Prince and The Revolution
8. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E.
9. I Can Dream About You — Dan Hartman
10. Drive — The Cars

1985

1. 🏆 The Power of Love — Huey Lewis and the News
2. St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) — John Parr
3. Money for Nothing — Dire Straits
4. Shout — Tears for Fears
5. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) — Tina Turner
6. Don't Lose My Number — Phil Collins
7. Summer of '69 — Bryan Adams
8. Cherish — Kool & the Gang
9. Freeway of Love — Aretha Franklin
10. Pop Life — Prince and The Revolution

1986

1. 🏆 Papa Don't Preach — Madonna
2. Higher Love — Steve Winwood
3. Sledgehammer — Peter Gabriel
4. Venus — Bananarama
5. Glory of Love — Peter Cetera
6. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
7. Invisible Touch — Genesis
8. Stuck with You — Huey Lewis and the News
9. Man in the Mirror — Michael Jackson
10. Walk This Way — Run-DMC ft. Aerosmith

1987

1. 🏆 La Bamba — Los Lobos
2. Who's That Girl — Madonna
3. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For — U2
4. Didn't We Almost Have It All — Whitney Houston
5. Heart and Soul — T'Pau
6. Luka — Suzanne Vega
7. I Want Your Sex — George Michael
8. Alone — Heart
9. Can't We Try — Dan Hill & Vonda Shepard
10. Who Will You Run To — Heart

1988

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

1989

1. 🏆 Right Here Waiting — Richard Marx
2. Cold Hearted — Paula Abdul
3. Hangin' Tough — New Kids on the Block
4. Don't Wanna Lose You — Gloria Estefan
5. Once Bitten, Twice Shy — Great White
6. 18 and Life — Skid Row
7. The End of the Innocence — Don Henley
8. Shower Me With Your Love — Surface
9. If I Could Turn Back Time — Cher
10. Love Song — The Cure

🎬 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 — Goodtime Girls (ABC)

A sitcom set in a boarding house for women during World War II. The final episode aired on August 29, 1980.

📺 Where to Watch Goodtime Girls →

1981 — WKRP in Cincinnati (CBS)

A sitcom about the staff of a struggling radio station. New episodes were airing during the summer of 1981.

📺 Where to Watch WKRP in Cincinnati →

1982 — The Powers of Matthew Star (NBC)

A science fiction series about an alien prince hiding on Earth. Reruns were airing in late August 1982.

📺 Where to Watch The Powers of Matthew Star →

1983 — Two Marriages (ABC)

A drama series focusing on the lives of two married couples. New episodes were airing in late August 1983.

📺 Where to Watch Two Marriages →

1984 — Monday Night Baseball (ABC)

Live coverage of Major League Baseball games. Airing in late August 1984.

📺 Where to Watch Monday Night Baseball →

1985 — Melba (CBS)

A sitcom about a single mother and her teenage daughter. New episodes were airing in August 1985.

📺 Where to Watch Melba →

1986 — The Bronx Zoo (NBC)

A drama series about a high school in the Bronx. New episodes were airing in late August 1986.

📺 Where to Watch The Bronx Zoo →

1987 — China Beach (ABC)

A drama series set in an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War. New episodes were airing in late August 1987.

📺 Where to Watch China Beach →

1988 — Coach (ABC)

A sitcom about a college football coach. New episodes were airing in late August 1988.

📺 Where to Watch Coach →

1989 — Primetime Live (ABC)

A news magazine program. New episodes were airing in late August 1989.

📺 Where to Watch Primetime Live →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic 'Where's the Beef?' commercial featuring Clara Peller.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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