Welcome to 80's City

In a time when “Wii” was just something little kids said on the swing, “Playstations” were filled with crayons and coloring books and talking about your “X-box” could probably land you time out, youth around the country still found a way to enjoy themselves without having to actually set foot outside.  Thanks largely to original Nintendo, Sega Genesis and Gameboy, the handheld phenomenon, the 1980’s saw kids spend a lot more time hanging out with not just their real friends but their virtual friends as well, including the likes of the Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, and Zelda.  From classic arcade games that haven’t changed to the humble beginnings of the biggest game franchises the industry, here’s a look at some lasting titles that originated in the 80’s.

1. Pac-Man – Take a slice out of a cheese wheel and you have arguably the most iconic symbol of the 80’s.  Still available in most arcades and bars around the country, game play is brilliantly simple enough for both  society’s youngest minds and inebriated young adults to master.  First released in the middle of 1980, Pac-Man finally set the date soon after, with Ms. Pac-Man completing (in a Jerry Maguire sense of the word) the popular couple in 1981.
2. Super Mario Brothers – What’s the solution to an evil lizard’s tyrannical rule? Why Italian plumbers, of course. With levels, power-ups and villains reminiscent of a 1970’s music festival, America’s young people quickly became addicted to Super Mario Brothers, much like the organic substances creators may have been under the influence of.  Subsequent years have seen successful spin-offs, such as Mario Kart, Mario 64, Mario Party, Super Mario Galaxy and The Incredible Luigi– guess which one’s made up?… poor little green guy. [Read more →]

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The 1980’s saw three presidents, though Jimmy Carter was only around for his final year in the Oval Office and George H.W. Bush barely got into the White House before the 90’s clock came calling.  The 80’s were dominated by the policies of one president in particular, the two-termed 40^th President of the United States Ronald Reagan, who held nation’s highest position from 1981-1989.  The growth and economic expansion we experienced throughout the 80’s, especially by comparison the “shrinkage” we’ve seen in recent years, is just another reason why the 80’s were the most awesome 10 years in world history, leaving the 1990’s with impossibly big shoes to fill (though speaking of shrinkage, between Seinfeld, presidential sex scandals and pogs, the 90’s did post a valiant effort).  While the prosperity America came to enjoy may have not been completely a result of Reagan’s efforts, probably influenced by the cyclical nature of global markets as well, why look a gift horse in the mouth?  Here are the pillars of “Reaganomics,” as the president’s economic platform came to be known, that at least did not get in the way of, if not set the stage for financial upturn:

1. Reduce government spending – This one makes enough sense.  After all, less spending leads to less borrowing from foreign sources and ultimately lower national debt.
2. Reduce income and capital gains marginal taxes – Lowering taxes on income and capital gains, means the government gets less money, but it also means the working American keeps more money, particularly those in higher tax brackets.  This results in more discretionary income, ultimately stimulating more financial transactions and boosting GDP. [Read more →]

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Once you get past the unintentional comedy that naturally stems from the decade’s outlandish outfits and hairstyles, the 1980’s actually gave us a lot of crack-up comedies and memorable funnymen we can’t stop quoting today.  Here’s a look at the decade’s best:

1. Caddyshack (1980) – Kicking off the decade in khakis and golf shoes, Caddyshack’s combined comedy team of Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield and Bill Murray made one of the hardest sports to watch on TV erupt with laughter on the big screen.
2. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) – Before they went to Vegas, Europe or even had the family over for Christmas, the Griswold’s just went on vacation.  On their cross country trek to Wally World, amid dead relative hood ornaments and scantily-clad hotel swimmers, the Griswold family comes together in their first of many adventures to follow.
3. Revenge of the Nerds (1984) – “Clap your hands everybody, everybody clap your hands, it’s Lambda Lambda Lambda and Omega Mu”…  Banning together to form their own fraternity, collegiate nerds try to stand up to the jock fraternity Alpha Beta and their constant torture, while fighting an uphill battle against the opposite sex as well, in an beer-guzzling battle of brains over brawn. [Read more →]

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From big hair to man-makeup, the 80’s will forever live in infamy as a decade that changed the face of music, characterized by all night parties up and down the Sunset Strip.   Of course, who could help but cut loose with the one of a kind jams rocking 24/7 on the radio.  Often imitated but never replaced, the 80’s were a time of big ballads and synthesizers, giving us tunes one can’t help but hum throughout the workday.  Here’s a look at three classics that shaped a generation:

Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Poison) – While people under 25 might know lead singer Bret Michaels from his quest for love on VH1, the slightly older crowd best remembers him for strutting his headband behind a microphone (and perhaps an on-screen appearance with Pam Anderson you won’t find on IMDb).  This 1980’s power ballad foreshadows Michaels’ love search as it explores the difficulty with relationships and finding the right special someone.

Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) – Most people think Thriller when they recount MJ’s greatest achievements, this track from the Thriller album is arguably Jackson’s crowning song.  Many fans mistake the song as homage to tennis great Billie Jean King, as Jackson was an avid fan of the sport, but the song actually recounts his encounters with groupies, which makes sense if you look at the lyrics.  Not only was this a great beat in its own right, but many of today’s artists have cited the song as inspiration for their more current work. [Read more →]

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Now a full two decades past the 80’s unfortunate end, we can truly get a sense of great 1980’s movie moments and where their authentic place in time.  Here is a look at the most influentially iconic movies of the time period and the moments we will never forget.

1. E.T. (1982) – There are quite simply very few gestures in the history of cinema more easily recognizable than E.T.’s finger to finger touch, accompanied by the simple phrase “E.T. phone home.”  The glowing image of the floating bike silhouette against the bright full moon  is one of the most often alluded to images in the movie industry and still serves as part of the logo for film production company Amblin Entertainment.  Heck, everything from this movie is memorable.  Shockingly, Skittles passed up a chance to be E.T.’s favorite candy snack, instead Reece’s Pieces famously stepped in and secured its spot in the minds of millions of viewers. [Read more →]

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