Why Are You An Eighties Fan?

This is one page of many, check out the intro at Why I Love The 80s where you can add your own memories as well.

This page currently edited by: stingr22. Past editor: Junior


I was born in late 76 so I had my kid years in the 80s. My god I am too young to feel this nostalgic but it was the best decade ever. Me and my husband discuss the 80s all the time. We are convinced the 80s had the best movies ever (Back to the Future, Stand by Me, any John Hughes movie, Karate Kid, Ghostbusters and like a kajillion more I could go on and on) the best music. 80's music was fun and happy and I listen to my 80s CDs when I want to be put in a good mood. The best tv shows (Alf, Family Ties, Different Strokes, Silver Spoons, Facts of Life, 21 Jump Street, Cosby Show, Punky Brewester Mr. Belvedare, Kids Incorporated, Afterschool Specials, Smurfs.... and god even Growing Pains was good it's first few years). The 80s also had the best toys. The toys were awesome. I know they are bringing back most of the 80s toys but it is not the same and the modern version of Strawberry Shortcake dolls suck. The 80s gave us the best cartoons. They were aimed for kids then and not just all violence and fighting. Remember the Muppet Babies? There were cool stores in the 80's that don't exist anymore. Anyone remember Childrens Palace toy stores? They were way better than Toys R Us. And Hills Department stores. School supplies were even cooler then. Remember trapper keepers? I remember getting a brand new one before school started every year. Sure the clothes and fashions from the 80s were a little extreme but I am willing to let that slide. I don't know maybe everyone thinks the decade they grew up in was the best but the 80s just seemed so fun to me and the world seemed a little more innocent back then. I was a teen in the 90's and some of the music was cool then but that's about it. Overall that decade seems mostly to be about grunge music, flannel shirts and slacker stereotypes. And I don't even know where to begin on the decade we are living in right now. YIKES. We all need to go back to a a time where DeLoreans and Strawberry Shortcake cereal were readily available.
From: Stacy

Well, I was born in 1982, I remember that I was a toddler that day, I saw the show "Dukes of Hazzard" and many other 80s shows until I was 7 in 1989. I loved watching these tv shows every afternoons, mornings, nights during my baby/kid years! I can remember these shows since I was younger. I remember that my first game was nintendo with white and grey gun as "Duck hunt" and "Super Mario" and the other one was "CandyLand", too. I really miss these shows that I haven't seen these shows for years since these shows transfered to the different network so I remember these shows were on NBC and CBS that time I was a young girl at my home where I grew up, it was a blast growing up in the 80's since I was born. Oh, I remember my favorite cartoon was my first is : "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" that I always watch often and other cartoon shows, too when I was a kid. I'm proud to be a 80's kid and born in 1982, too! I thank to my parents delivered me of my birth on March 9th, 1982! :)
From: Alice Hochhausler

I wasn't alive in the 80s, but I have been inspired by my mom who lived in the 80s. Our favorite music is different - she likes techno, like Depeche Mode. I like hair bands like Guns n' Roses, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, and many others. But, even as an 11 year old, I love the 80s!
From: cassandra

I was born in 1974, and I was 14-15 in 1989. I remember those years as the best years of my life! One year ago, I saw a VH1 show called "Bands Reunited" with "A Flock of seagulls"...god! The nostalgia invaded me and I felt something weird but nice! The 80s were the best time of my life. The music, the clothes, the shows, just everything. I am glad to know that I am not the only one who feels the same as me!
From: Pablo

I was born in 1988, but I still love the eighties1 The movies, the music, and the fashion - pretty much everything EXCEPT A Flock Of Seagulls hair styles! John hughes is a god. I want to Save Ferris and join the Breakfast Club! If I could, I would definitely invent a time machine (DeLorean anyone?!?) go back to the premiere of all my favorite movies. I would go to the concerts and pretty much live in the eighties! It was a decade where the best of the best happened - movies, music, world events!!! I loooovvveee the eighties and LONG LIVE THE BREAKFAST CLUB!!!
From: Holly

Okay...Where do I begin? I FREAKING LOVE the 80s with all of my heart! I was born in 1980, the year that the beauty began! I live my life 80s style. I rock out to 80s music all the time, and I sport 80s fashion everywhere I go. I started the revival of that trend, people. Get it right...sike!!! "If you think you're cool, you got to get with this...Teen Witch. I love and breath the beauty of the 80s. I tell everyone that if you are not breathing and living the 80's, you are not living at all. I love HuggaBunch and Strawberry Shortcake. Miniskirts with long shirts, big belts, and leggings. Hello, everyone has finally caught up with the style for life. "Out of the blue, I was falling in love with you"...Debbie Gibson. "Running just as fast as we can" ...Tiffany "GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN...GO CYNDI! TO SUM IT UP, I LOVE THE 80s AND EVERYONE THAT LOVES THEM TOO!!! MOST OF ALL, I LOVE THE INNOCENCE AND THE VIBRANCE THAT IT CARRIES OVER THE YEARS. I WILL NEVER FORGET SUCH AMAZING MEMORIES THAT IT BROUGHT AND I PROMISE TO NEVER LET GO OF MY 80s LOVE!
From: Heatherlee...aka...The Rockstar of the 80's

I'm born in 1966 (so old!) so the eighties have been the top of my life (from 14 to 24). In Italy (where I live) everything was fine for young and we've had the same TV spectacles of UK and USA... only a little bit later (2 or 3 years.. you know the translation) Magnum p.i., the dukes of hazzard (only hazzard in Italy), Supercar and all the others. Music was melodic but if you wanted too there was Hevy metal and punk too... and even the rap went out during the 80s. Where were you when Limahl was singing the never ending story? and when Spandau Ballet were singing true? (all of my life is inside there) Didn't you sing "Born in USA" as loud as you could with the boss and all your friends? Haven't you been "alive and kicking?" and didn't you tell to a girl "gimme one more night?" Well I did all of that and I'VE BEEN ALIVE! and "THAT'S LIFE" as somebody from Van Halen used to sing (who?). Love to all of you
From: Davide

Being born in 1969, I was the perfect age in the 80s to really enjoy it. I remember when Reagan was voted in (much to my parents dismay), I remember the Iran-Contra Affair, I remember Apartheid. I saw all the great New Wave and punk bands (back when they were relatively unknown)....The Clash, The Ramones, Dead Kennedy's, DOA, TSOL, PIL, JFA, Psych Furs, Thomas Dolby, English Beat, Violent Femmes, Red Hot Chili Pepper (opening for X),Bad Brains, Butthole Surfers (first tour), Iggy Pop, etc, etc....I could keep going on and on. I spent many weekends at underground clubs watching great acts, hung out with skaters, partying. The 80's were great years to be a teenager and young adult in. I feel so sad for my kids...this decade blows for teens. Everything is pre-packaged and unoriginal. No feeling, no fury, no depth. Sad.
From: dria

I was born in 1993, but boy do I feel like a part of the eighties! I love all the music, the colorfulness of it all, the hairspray addiction, Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, oh... Anyway, my favorite eighties movies are Pretty in Pink and the Breakfast Club. Heck, even when I was little, and when I woke up at the crack of dawn, what would I watch? Thundercats, Captain Planet, Jem (yeah even Jem!), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! I remember when my Barbie had big hair and an acid wash jacket, inherited from my now 19- years- old cousin. My first store- bought Barbie wore a Day- Glo spandex pink dress cinched in at the waist with a transparent black belt and neon pink heels, her hair was streaked with pink and she wore bright blue eyeshadow....I hope I still have her, otherwise now I'm gonna go turn my old Barbies into eighties girls and play with em. And how old am I? Thirteen?
From: Kitty

I love the 80s myself, for one thing I was born in 1987, and I just love the grittiness of some of the movies, if not that than I just love the colorful visuals, Though generally a lot of my family members would like the 60s & 70s, I prefer the 80s though I just like the movies better. Like that one guy said , I do hope myself that the 2010s will be more similiar to the 80s. It's kind of like how, the 00s{The Current decade} was a throwback to the 70s in many ways, & in many respects I hope that's the same for the 10s similiarity to the 80s. I'm also a creative-person so the films of the 80s have a huge creative influence on me.
From: Luke

Someone mentioned "Where's the Beef?" commercials. How can you not remember those?! And don't forget the tag line for those women finally getting back into the work force "I can bring home the bacon, and fry it up in a pan...and never ever let you forget you're a man"...barf-o-rama. Then there were the Hertz rent-a-car commercials with OJ Simpson running through an airport jumping over luggage and dodging other travelers. Does anyone remember shoulder pads? Women used to wear shoulder pads with everything. They all looked like linebackers. And day-glo colors hit (unfortunately). Nobody looks good in day-glo. Nobody. lol
From: dria

I love the 80s for its awesome music, and fashion (besides the sholder pads). My favorite song of all time is "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins. Even now it is the best song to listen to, sing to, and definitely dance to. And how good was Michael Jackson in the 80s? He was the best. The best thing about 80s fashion is definitely the spots and stripes. It is good to see now that the 80s fashion is back into today's fashion.
From: Kasey Wool

I don't mean to sound like I'm hosing everybody here, but I was fortunate enough to have been born in 1968, JUST BEFORE the 70s, and PERFECTLY MOVING into the 80s as both a middle-schooler AND A teenager. The memories I have to share are far too numerous to list on this message board (I see there are almost 55 pages already----TOTALLY AWESOME, MAN!) I have such an open memory, dating clear back to kid's TV from the mid-late 70's, that eventually moved INTO the 80's, like The Big Blue Marble [remember Saturday morning TV anyone?] and all the ABC after-school specials...and Sesame Street (which I never watched anyway). AND.....I also QUITE recall the VERY day AND time MTV was born....yes....that was August 6, 1981---with the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star", the very first music video EVER PLAYED ON CABLE. AND....I quaintly remember when CABLE came along too, about 1978, because my folks made a big deal about us getting something called "cable", whatever the heck THAT was. Sheesh, we already had this controller box with about 13 stations already. Whatever the heck was this "cable' thing??? Well, turns out, the upgraded Cable was the coolest invention since the Commodore computer. The upgraded version was introduced about 1981, sometime just before MTV came along, because MTV was on station 15, in my area, and the older, previous cable box only allowed 13 stations...you get the idea. AND.... this was also the time we heard about HBO and Showtime. Yep, that's also about the time HBO was a new cable TV invention. Again...I could go on and on about the awesome music, movies, etc. that came from the AWESOME, PACKED 80's. But there is WAAAAY too much. The greatest thing I appreciate about being very much alive during the MEGA-80'S was growing up in high school (and Jr. High), and reminiscing through my old year books, looking back at the hot styles, fashions, music ---EVERYTHING, that was all the 1980's. I consider myself an 80s guru, being fortunate enough to have been born BEFORE 1970. And the FACT that more and more dance clubs around the region (so I've heard anyway) have been hosting 'Mega-80's' Dance party nights, and that the 1980's has been voted "Best decade of the century for Movies, Music, Fashion, and Events" WOW. That's incredible. Does anybody remember that little sideshow (mostly Sat. morning) promotional Puerto Rican band from 1985, that also featured (a VERY YOUNG then-14 year-old Ricky Martin)---called 'MENUDO'? Well I certainly do! Because I was in LOVE with both Robby Rosa, and Charlie Mendez. Both hot guys went on to small time Daytime soap careers for a short while, but then somewhere disappeared. Only Ricky Martin seemed to stay in the spotlight, only to make his own name, some many years later. I don't really have many favorites from this decade, far as music or movies or anything. I loved it all. I lived it all, during Jr. high and High school, then into College. The ENTIRE awesome decade. I lived through all the awesome inventions we have enjoyed, including the microwave oven--which reared just before 1980, in 1977. It's been totally awesome to attend Dance night clubs today and see 80's allnighter parties going on at least once per month. Funnest thing is seeing about 70% of the crowds all younger kids (college age) who have grown up listening to their parents' 80s music (These parents obviously graduated before the mid-80s). And watching these young kids break a strut on the dance floor. Then the next coolest thing is to see all the rest of us older 80iers, some into our early 40s now, cutting the dance floor again, to our old club favorites, just like being back in the old high school dance again. WONDERFUL AWESOME Hoorah to the Mega-80s YOU'RE AWESOME!!!!
From: Peanut

The 80s Rock!!! Love Cyndi Lauper because "girls just wanna have fun". keep bringing the fasion back like the Rolling Stone I just cant get no satisfaction.Inspiration > dance,dance,dance "flashdance". Long live the 80s we have to stay strong for what we love because "love is a battle field".
From: I love 80s

You know that Nissan used to be Datsun. You know what a Fiero or a Pacer is.
From: Kim

I wasn't alive in the 80s. I was born in 1995 and I have grown up (still growing up) listening to 80s techno and love it! Look at me now, 11 and in love with the 80s because my mom. It's kind of strange I still like techno but mostly love 80s hair bands and rock bands like GNR, DEF LEPPARD, MOTLEY CRUE, etc. My mom still loves techno like DURAN DURAN, DEPECHE MODE, INXS, ETC. But I still LOVE THE 80s!
From: Cassandra

VHS, MSDOS, BBS, Atari 2600, Cable TV, The K-cars (yuck), Walkman, Early MTV, Saturday Morning Cartoons, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Indiana Jones, ET, All the great music (Cars, Cheap Trick, Meatloaf), Women's hair, $1.15 gas, Bartles and James, Count Chocula, GI Joe with Kung Fu Grip (tm), Rubick's Cube, Members Only jacket, Straight leg jeans, Safe enough to walk to/go inside a school, Living in a respected and powerful country. Bring back the 80's - PLEASE!!!
From: Norman Conquest

Wow,I turned 12 in 1980 and 21 in 1989, so these were truly my wonder years. We just thought we were so cool didn't we? My kids look at my old pictures and laugh their headsoff. But my wife (their mom) and I know that we really had it going on and how lucky we were to have come of age in those totally awesome 80s!
From: Bill Hartman

I was born in 1968 and came of age in the 80s. Bon Jovi , Cinderella , Motley Crue , U2 (The Joshua Tree), MADONNA (Like A Virgin), Van Halen (1984), Def Leopard and Quiet Riot. Big hair, shoulder pads!!! Leggings, leg warmers, jellies, schools you can go in and not worry about being shot. Rubix Cube , Cabbage Patch Kids, and last but not least... We were a country that was to be feared with a leader that lead us. I'm talking about Ronald Reagan.
From: Melisa Wilson

I am 24 now and remember loving the Smurfs!
From: alyssa

This is one page of many, check out the intro at Why I Love The 80s where you can add your own memories as well.