Kallee Buske: 80 Reasons the 80's were Great

In actuality, I am a 90's child and I thoroughly enjoy being one - don't get me wrong. But I often feel like I was born in the wrong time because when it comes down to it, I am pretty sure that I am an 80's child at heart. I grew up watching lots of 80's movies and TV shows. I love all the 80's music. And I don't totally hate the fashion either to be honest. There are so many reasons the 80's were cool. Need proof? Okay, here are 80 reasons the 80's were great. Don't need proof? You are getting it anyway.

FASHION

1. Bright Colored Clothes

Let's be real. Everyone wants to wear bright green pants and

blue tops.

2. The Preppy Look

No commentary necessary

3. Jean & Leather Jackets

Jean jackets and leather jackets are the greatest.There is simply no other
argument. Basically the main reason I wanted a leather jacket was because of
Mike from Growing Pains. I feel no shame about that. I think the only reason
anyone ever buys a leather jacket is because of Mike from Growing Pains
whether people know it or not.

4. Big Hairstyles

I am pretty sure I could be okay with this look coming
back

5. Chunky Jewelry

If you are going to wear jewelry might as well make sure people
see it, right? This style is stuff you can see a mile away so
mission accomplished.

6. Thick Framed Glasses

No explanation required

MOVIES

7. Back to the Future Trilogy

Honestly, if you have seen Back to the Future after it came out and haven't
cried because you won't ever get the chance to anticipate the next one then I
am not sure you actually saw it. I am pretty confident the greatest thing to
come out of the 80's was this masterpiece of a trilogy.

8. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Who doesn't want a life like Ferris Bueller's? I still watch this
movie every year before school starts and daydream about
ditching class just once for a day like this. However, with tuition
prices I can't justify it anymore so instead I have Ferris Bueller
moments instead of Ferris Bueller days. I fan-girled a lot when
in Chicago this past summer (it takes place there).

9. Adventures in Babysitting

Chris gets into a ridiculous amount of trouble which is probably
a part of why I love this movie. I am pretty sure this the kind of
trouble my roommate thinks I am destined to get into.
But seriously if you did not love this movie
or the very least love George Newbern's character I don't
think you were even actually watching it.

10. Gremlins

I steered clear of this movie for the first 10 years of my existence

because I vividly remember the moment I first encountered the

VHS tape my family owns of this film. I was like 4 and the cover

was unfortunately not sweet little Gizmo. It was like the most

terrifying gremlin ever. But since then I have gotten over that

trauma and fell in love with this movie. I consider it to be like my 3rd

favorite Christmas movie and before you judge me, yes I do consider it

to be a Christmas movie. I wish I could watch this movie in a big

movie theater and get totally freaked out the entire time. *Sigh*

A girl can dream, can't she?

11. The Breakfast Club

I just got this movie from my roommate for Christmas and
I honestly was stoked. This movie isn't the best movie to come
out of the 80's in my humble opinion but there is no doubt it is
and always will be a classic 80's movie.

12. E.T.

Okay, don't freak out but I am not the biggest fan of E.T. I am just not. Maybe that
has to do with the fact that I haven't seen it since elementary school and in those
days if anything was sad I automatically hated it. And there is no doubt
that E.T. is a sad movie. But once again it is an unforgettable film and it
will always make you catch the feels.

13. Ghostbusters

Once again, classic 80's

14. Dirty Dancing

Confession: I have yet to see this movie. I am glad I am not saying this in
front of anyone for fear of being slapped or stared at funny. Still, despite not having
seen it I know this movie is also very well known and loved.

15. Pretty in Pink

The 80's were truly dominated by John Hughes. This movie was no exception.
This movie gave hope to the world because it broke the friend-zone. You are a
hero Duckie. I mean really, "may I admire you again today?" What a line!

16. Footloose

Who doesn't love this movie? The remake they did a few years back is a total
disgrace compared to this gem. Nothing can beat Kevin Bacon.

17. Say Anything

This movie is one of the many 80's movies that completely destroyed my
average relationship goals. Now thanks to this movie and others I have even
more completely unrealistic romantic dreams. But at least Lloyd is always
there for us and standing with a boombox outside our windows.

18. Better Off Dead

Who didn't feel terrible for Lane? This movie is definitely a reminder
that life isn't SO bad.

19. Pee-wee's Big Adventure

There's a lotta things about him you don't know anything about. Things you
wouldn't understand. Things you couldn't understand. Things you shouldn't
understand. But one thing we all understand is that we love Pee Wee.

20. The Money Pit

This movie warned us against fixer-uppers. And we have steered clear since then.
Thanks for the warning Tom. At least this home renovation was filled with laughter
on our end.

21. National Lampoon's Vacation Movies

Who doesn't love watching this family's antics every Christmas?
And who isn't thankful that their dad isn't quite as crazy as Clark was when
they finally got to Wally World?

22. Short Circuit

Johnny Five became the love of our lives after this movie. How could the world
be great without him?

23. Rain Man

This movie was simply great

24. Batman

There have been like a dozen Batman movies but this one was definitely
my favorite. I mean, honestly Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson were in it!

25. Clue

I have seen this movie probably ten times. I am not joking on this one. I love
the dark humor, cast, constantly changing direction, and various endings. This
was definitely a win for the 80's.

26. Can't Buy Me Love

Once again, this movie gave us unrealistic relationship goals
but it was still way worth it. Plus, look at young Patrick Dempsey.

27. The Land Before Time Movies

Not only did the 80's give us romantic goals it also gave us childhood memories.
Who didn't grow up with these dinos?

28. Kiki's Delivery Service

Jiji (voiced by the one and only Phil Hartman) was the star of this unforgettable
movie

TV SHOWS

29. The Smurfs

Another childhood treasure

30. Ducktales

Along with this

31. Growing Pains

This show was simply the best

32. Family Ties

Yet another family sit-com that will always be a reminder of how good the
80's were

33. The Facts of Life

This show alone made all girls wish they had gone to a boarding school to have
Miss Garrett as our housemother and these ladies as our roommates

34. Gimme a Break!

This is simply a classic 80's TV show

35. America's Funniest Home Videos

This show, which makes us laugh at things we totally shouldn't, got its start
during this glorious decade so you can thank the 80's that you get to watch
people running into trees and flying off of trampolines.

36. Charles in Charge

Let's be honest we all wanted Charles in charge of us after we saw this show

37. Saved By the Bell

Any day gets 10x better when Saved By the Bell is a part of it. There is no
arguing with it. Any day I have morning class cancelled and most weekend mornings
I grab some breakfast, climb into bed, and put on an episode of this awesome show.

38. Kate & Allie

This show was definitely one of the many reasons the 80's were great - except
the last season. That was ridiculous.

39. Saturday Night Live

This has been on for forever but the very best of it occurred during this decade

40. Cheers

This show rocked because sometimes you really do want to go where everyone
knows your name and is glad you came

41. Press Your Luck

To date, this is still one of the best game shows ever. I still look for it every time
I am watching someone else's cable TV.

42. Knight Rider

Although, I must admit that I enjoyed the 2008 Knight Rider reboot more than
the original it would not even exist without this first version of the series and a
world without KITT would be much less enjoyable

43. ALF

Although this show made us never want ALF to crash into our garage, we also
grew to love him despite his love of eating cats and making messes all the time

44. Mork & Mindy

To continue down the alien theme, we all loved Mork too. We loved him not just
for his sweetness but also for his purely hilarious antics.

45. Three's Company

Jack Tripper made the whole show himself but the rest of the cast added
greatly to the story as well

46. Murder, She Wrote

This was a mysterious crime show that showed one doesn't have
to be young and spry to wrap up a crime and take down the
criminals

47. Dallas

Dallas is a timeless drama. It lasted 14 seasons for a reason.

48. Dukes of Hazzard

This show is timeless for its own reasons

49. Commercials

I mean, just look at the link. Commercials were so terrible yet so great in the 80's.

MUSIC

50. "Jessie's Girl"
Rick Springfield's song made guys want Jessie's girl and girls want to be Jessie's girl

51. "Don't You (Forget About Me)"

This song served as the theme song for The Breakfast Club and so it is therefore synonymous with it, which of course makes it a classic

52. "I Love Rock n' Roll"
This memorable Joan Jett song made us all want to put a dime in the jukebox

53. "Beat It"

Who doesn't love a little (or a lot) of Michael Jackson? And this song is definitely one of his best.

54. "Bad"
This one was another MJ hit

55. "Hungry Like The Wolf"
And who isn't a fan of Duran Duran?

56. "Don't Stop Believin'"
I am pretty sure 95% of Americans have heard this one a plethora of times and a majority of them know the lyrics by heart

57. "Eye of the Tiger"
This one's track record is probably not too far off from the previous song's track record

58. "Billie Jean"
Yet another memorable MJ song

59. "Kokomo"
I first heard this one sang by Kermit the Frog. If Kermit sang it, you know it must be good.

60. "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"
Nothing's gonna stop this song from being great. The only thing that could make it better would be bonding it to Mannequin in some way, which totally happens in this music video.

61. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"

Few songs make me want to dance around the room like this one and I don't think I am the only one

62. "You Spin Me 'Round (Like a Record)"
This song as great as the video is crazy (and the video is really crazy, just look at it)

63. "867-5309 / Jenny"
Even those who never knew Jenny forever remember her number better than their best friend's number

64. "The Power of Love"
This video that brings together two wonderful things (music and Back to the Future) only deepens my great love for this timeless song

65. "La Bamba"
The movie and Ritchie Valens version of the Mexican folk song are both amazing. But be warned, the movie will not make you want to party like the song will. In fact, it will probably make you want to cry.

66. "Thriller"
Now I think just about everyone is very familiar with this gem too. Most are as well acquainted with the dance moves too. Kids for generations to come will be hearing this one at every dance ever held. (At the very least, it was played at every dance I ever went to in high school)

67. Michael Jackson

This man was the legendary king of pop and a star in the music industry in
the 80's with hits like "Bad", "Billie Jean", Thriller", and "Beat It"

68. Aerosmith

Aerosmith has had its own share of hits too like "Dream On", "I Don't Want to
Miss a Thing", "Crazy", "Sweet Emotion", "Walk this Way", and "Cryin'".
They got their start in the 1970's but kept going strong throughout the 80's.

69. Queen

This band also got its start in the 70's then went on to dominate in the 80's too.
They had hits like "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Will Rock You", "We are the
Champions", "Another One Bites the Dust", "Somebody to Love", "Crazy
Little Thing Called Love", and "Killer Queen".

70. Bon Jovi

"Livin' on a Prayer", "Wanted Dead or Alive", "Runaway", and "You Give Love a
Bad Name" - enough said

71. Duran Duran

With "Hungry Like the Wolf", "Girls on Film" and "Rio" these guys won't soon
be forgotten

72. Rush

Hits like "YYZ", "Tom Sawyer", Spirit of Radio", "Limelight",
and "Xanadu" plus having amazing concerts til this day make
this Canadian band more than memorable