The Big Hair Era of the 80s has come and gone. But there are 7 iconic items from this unforgettable time period that live on and continue to provide enjoyment to the youth of today as they did for the youth of the 1980s.
The Sounds of the 80s
“Girls just wanna have fun”…that was the iconic slogan of the 1980s and one of the many songs looping on personal walkways (hand-held cassette deck players) everywhere. The music scene was fun, loud, colorful and electronic. Cindy Lauper, Madonna, Billy Joel, Foreigner, Wham, and the Eurythmics ruled the airwaves. Lest we forget a stroll down Michael Jackson’s Thriller-lane, where the spooky dancers came out to play. These artists and their music have aged like fine wine and continue to be spotlighted during Halloween, 80s theme parties, karaoke spots, nightclubs, and dedicated Spotify stations. The word on the streets is the 80s is the go-to choice for Uber drivers across the board. Who knew; the sounds of this era seem to appease the ear of the young and old.
1. The Music of the 80s is Still as Popular today as it was back then
In 1981, Grandmaster Flash introduced the world to DJ record scratching and mixing. The golden years of rap music were in full effect. Breaking dancing was the new dance craze, and house music and techno was born.
Get Transported Back to Weekend Scene of the 80s
Funk n’ Soul, Old Skool
Playtime of the 80s
The 80s gave birth to MTV, Cabbage Patch Kids, Beanie Babies, and the puzzle craze, Rubik’s Cube. Still today the Rubik’s Cube is one of the most popular puzzle games in the world! After waning over the years it made a resurgence in the 2000s, and now has found its way into world-wide competitions known as speedcubing. Here cubers solve puzzles in record time. Netflix’s 2020 film puts a spotlight on this exciting, new sport making it clear: the youth of 80s without a doubt have passed the Rubik’s cube torch to the youth of today. Generation Z, the OGs of Generation X have a message for you: “You’re welcome!”
2. The Rubik’s Cube
Video Games
Board games, Risk, Game of Life, Trivial Pursuits, and Battleship all made their entry during this time period. The 80s is also when video games first hit the market, played on the Atari console. Some of the greatest video games of this era were epic Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Elite. One video franchise of this era is still going strong today with 200 tiles under its belt. Its Nintendo’s loveable Italian plumbers the Super Mario Brothers.
3. Super Mario Brothers
During the 80s Nintendo also gave birth to another well-loved blockbuster, Tetris. In 2023, Apple TV illuminated the story behind the iconic colored brick cult classic game.
4. Tetris
Last on our list, and still thrilling gamers for over 40 years: The Legends of Zelda. Its latest installment released in 2023 The Legend of Zelda: Kingdom of Tear, sold 10 million copies worldwide in 3 days, making it the fastest-selling game of the series.
5. The Legend of Zelda
The Fashion of the 80s
We love the music from the 80s, but the clothes…come on, let’s face it, the over-the-top loud neon-colored frilly styles of this era are O-V-E-R, and that is not a bad thing. You won’t see youth of today caught dead in the plastic jellies sandals, parachute pants (think 1990s MC Hammer-styled baggy pants) or those horribly tacky stirrup-leggings of this era but surprising there are two clothing items from the 80s that have found their way into modern closets.
6. Legwarmers
Legwarmers: they’re back! And we are not pulling your leg! 2023 is the year for the warm and fuzzy goodness of the 80s to make its grand reentry into modern pop culture. #legwarmers has over 300 million views on Tiktok, thanks to icons like Billie Eilish, Kylie Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and Dupa Lipa who all were spotted draped in these leg fetish relics of the past but with a fresh, chic and modern twist.
7. Velour Tracksuits
Velour tracksuits had their run in the early 2000s but thanks to the Juicy Couture and Paris Hilton, they are experiencing a comeback. In 2022, Paris Hilton released her own collection of soft, retro, athleisure beauties. Juicy Couture, an OG in the industry, introduced its latest kickbutt tracksuit collection to shoppers by asking one simple but fitting question, “Track is back? We never left, babe. Suit up with timeless tops and bottoms in velour, terry, and more.”
