Music

This Week in the 80s: April 21-27

Charles Bosworth

Charles Bosworth

— 7 min read
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This Week in the 80s: April 21-27 — New Coke, Chernobyl, and the Billboard Top 10

Welcome back to the 1980s. This week across the decade, the world watched in horror as the Chernobyl disaster unfolded, millions of Americans revolted against a sweeter Coca-Cola, and a raunchy teen comedy called Porky's shocked Hollywood by dominating the box office.

On the radio, Blondie, Prince, and Madonna were defining the sound of a generation, while Dallas and The Cosby Show fought for the soul of primetime television.

Here is exactly what was happening this week in the 1980s.

The News That Shaped the Decade

The final week of April delivered some of the most consequential news events of the entire decade, ranging from marketing blunders to global catastrophes.

The "New Coke" Disaster (April 23, 1985)
In what is widely considered the greatest marketing blunder in corporate history, The Coca-Cola Company announced it was changing its 99-year-old secret formula. "New Coke" was sweeter, designed to combat the rising threat of the Pepsi Challenge. The public backlash was immediate and ferocious. Consumers hoarded old bottles, organized protests, and flooded the company with angry letters. Within 79 days, Coca-Cola was forced to bring back the original formula as "Coca-Cola Classic."

The Chernobyl Disaster (April 26, 1986)
At 1:23 AM on a Saturday morning, Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Soviet Union exploded during a botched safety test. The blast blew the 1,000-ton roof off the reactor, releasing 400 times more radioactive material into the atmosphere than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It remains the worst nuclear disaster in human history, forcing the permanent evacuation of the nearby city of Pripyat.

The Falklands War Escalates (April 1982)
Following Argentina's invasion of the British-controlled Falkland Islands earlier in the month, late April saw the British naval task force arrive in the South Atlantic. On April 25, British forces recaptured South Georgia island, marking the first major military engagement of the brief but bloody conflict that would define Margaret Thatcher's premiership.

The Soundtrack of Spring

If you turned on the radio during the last week of April in the 1980s, you were listening to the evolution of pop music in real-time. The decade started with the remnants of disco and new wave, transitioned into the era of the mega-ballad, and ended with the undisputed Queen of Pop pushing boundaries.

Tip: You can listen to all of these songs on our official Relive The 80s Spotify Playlist (link at the bottom of this post).

Here are the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 songs for this week, year by year.

1980

10. Sexy Eyes – Dr. Hook
9. You May Be Right – Billy Joel
8. I Can't Tell You Why – The Eagles
7. Fire Lake – Bob Seger
6. Lost in Love – Air Supply
5. Special Lady – Ray, Goodman and Brown

1981

10. Don't Stand So Close to Me – The Police
9. The Best of Times – Styx
8. Woman – John Lennon
7. While You See a Chance – Steve Winwood
6. Rapture – Blondie
5. Angel of the Morning – Juice Newton

1982

10. 867-5309/Jenny – Tommy Tutone
9. '65 Love Affair – Paul Davis
8. Key Largo – Bertie Higgins
7. Do You Believe in Love – Huey Lewis and the News
6. Ebony and Ivory – Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder
5. Don't Talk to Strangers – Rick Springfield

1983

10. She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby
9. Let's Dance – David Bowie
8. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) – Journey
7. One on One – Daryl Hall & John Oates
6. Der Kommissar – After The Fire
5. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson

1984

10. To All the Girls I've Loved Before – Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson
9. Automatic – The Pointer Sisters
8. They Don't Know – Tracey Ullman
7. You Might Think – The Cars
6. Love Somebody – Rick Springfield
5. Miss Me Blind – Culture Club

1985

10. All She Wants to Do Is Dance – Don Henley
9. I'm on Fire – Bruce Springsteen
8. Some Like It Hot – The Power Station
7. Obsession – Animotion
6. One Night in Bangkok – Murray Head
5. Don't You Forget About Me – Simple Minds

1986

10. Take Me Home – Phil Collins
9. Your Love – The Outfield
8. What Have You Done for Me Lately – Janet Jackson
7. Rock Me Amadeus – Falco
6. Harlem Shuffle – Rolling Stones
5. Why Can't This Be Love – Van Halen

1987

10. With or Without You – U2
9. Midnight Blue – Lou Gramm
8. The Finer Things – Steve Winwood
7. La Isla Bonita – Madonna
6. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship
5. (I Just) Died in Your Arms – Cutting Crew

1988

10. Prove Your Love – Taylor Dayne
9. Pink Cadillac – Natalie Cole
8. Anything for You – Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
7. I Saw Him Standing There – Tiffany
6. Angel – Aerosmith
5. Girlfriend – Pebbles

1989

10. Second Chance – .38 Special
9. Eternal Flame – The Bangles
8. Girl You Know It's True – Milli Vanilli
7. Heaven Help Me – Deon Estus
6. Stand – R.E.M.
5. I'll Be There for You – Bon Jovi

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