Top 10 Things to Miss About the 80s'

Crazy About the '80s

By Annie Tisdale
QuailBellMagazine.com

You might think a person born in the 80's wouldn’t remember much about those years and you’d probably be right. The majority of this article could’ve easily consisted of all my favorite toys. I know I certainly wasn’t concerned with Reagan, the Cold War, or economics at the time. But somehow, certain elements of that bold (and sometimes tacky) decade were imprinted on my psyche.

So, here’s my countdown to the top 10 things to miss about the 80's:

10. Big hair

If you thought the 70's were a hairy decade, the 80's would like to delicately remind you that they did it bigger and better. Hair was teased, permed, and crimped to defy gravity. Oh! And the hair spray…tons of hair spray.  On MTV, almost every musician rocked a bird’s nest. It was the glam thing to do. Believe it.

9.  MTV

Speaking of MTV, this music television network got its start in the 80's. It was fresh, it was new, and they actually played music videos! Then came the reality TV shows and the rest is history.

8.  Puppets

The 80's was the age of the puppet and I’m not just saying that because I was a kid at the time. There really were a lot of puppets. Most of them were thanks to Jim Henson. From The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and Sesame Street to Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, there were just a lot of puppets. Cute puppets, crazy puppets, scary puppets, sexy puppets—it was all there. They were in TV shows like "ALF" and movies like E.T. To think so much joy could be had from a toy with a guy's hand up its…hmm. Maybe on second thought, I don’t miss ‘em too much.

7.  Shoulder pads

During a time when women were entering the work force more than ever, there was a need to compete with the imposing male figures in the boardroom. Higher high heels to make you taller and broader shoulders were enough to make any woman as intimidating as a linebacker. And if shoulder pads in your jacket didn’t help you break through the glass ceiling, you could always rip them out and use them to stuff your bra. Versatile!

6.  Molly Ringwald

Ah! Molly Ringwald. Princess of the brat pack and star of several John Hughes teen movies, such as The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles. What happened to her anyway? Isn't she an author now? (Google, people.)

5. The Boombox

This immense radio was a status symbol in the ‘hood and a must-have at block parties (parodied here by The Lonely Island). On several occasions I remember seeing young men sauntering along with the box propped up precariously on one shoulder, blasting hip hop. You could’ve heard them coming a mile away. Looking back, though, it was a really foolish thing to do since the radios were sort of expensive. The Boombox was always one banana peel slip away from destruction.

4.  Reading Rainbow

It was a show, for kids, about books. You know, those things made of paper and when you open them they’re full of words and sometimes pictures? Yeah, those were the days…

3. Teddy Ruxpin

Before Tickle Me Elmo and Furbies, there was Teddy Ruxpin, the animatronic talking teddy bear. Mr. Ruxpin wasn’t just the best selling toy for two years, but he also got his own cartoon and all sorts of merchandise. I never owned one because I always thought they were a little unnerving, but I did have a lunch box bearing his image.

2.  Saxophones

Another odd fad of the 80s was the use of the saxophone in almost every theme song ("The Cosby Show," "Growing Pains," "Charles in Charge" to name a few). The favorite instruments of the age were synthesizers, electric guitar, and the sax, which was used to jazz up a few musical interludes. I suppose a sax solo is a better choice than the flute when you’re trying to make something sound cool. In the end, the former two still enjoy some form of popularity, but the saxophone has faded from prominence.

1.  Michael Jackson

What would any 80's nostalgia list be without Michael? Nothing. That's what. I just need one word to explain myself: Thriller.

Where does the need to reminisce over the 80's stem from? I suppose it’s because the 80's saw a resurgence of hope. The bright neon colors and daring fashion, plus the extra spending money from a growing economy were a big contrast to the Technicolor turmoil of the 60's and 70's. In truth, I don’t know. All I know is that I’m still crazy for the 80's.