Look out Vice cops on the move

Opening credits for “Miami Vice”, 1984. This detective series was typical of bland cop show storylines, specializing in lurid prostitution and drug-trafficking crime. However, the story wasn’t the selling point of Miami Vice. Shot in Miami, primarily in South Beach during the mid 80s, the show is credited with creating a surge of interest for restoring the art deco buildings of the neighborhood. Miami Vice was saturated with color and featured so much of the music of the 80s. In a way, it appealed to the new MTV generation with color, music, and spectacle.

Where are the rulers of the world?

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, by Tears for Fears, 1984. If this is true, why do we end up with crappy leaders like George W Bush, John McCain, and Barack Obama? Wouldn’t you think there would be better choices? Is is that everybody wants to rule the world, but they’re too lazy to work to make it happen? Or is it that no one wants to put their past actions and words under the ridiculous scrutiny of the media? What does it take to want to become ruler of the world? Is it simply a self-aggrandizing excess of ego? Can’t we have a ruler who is a visionary leader? Not in this election cycle!

Why listen to this message?

Bronski Beat, 1984, singing “Why”. Jimmy Sommerville sings about gay-bashing and persecution, and it becomes a giant dance hit around the world. Here we are 24 years later, with gay marriage legal in many countries. I’m sure Jimmy is happy with the progress, but still fighting. Go Jimmy!

Banananananananarama Hey Hey

Three hot girls boxing, riding motorcycles, and singing nonsense music – Hot Damn! Bananarama in 1984 with their popular cover version of “Na Na Hey Hey”. After you hear it, it’s stuck in your head for much longer than it deserves to be.

Michael Jordan at the 1984 Olympics

Once upon a time in Los Angeles, way back in 1984, there was a basketball player on the American Olympics team. Michael Jordan. Gee, whatever happened to that guy?

wild weirdness from Nina Hagen

“Smack Jack” from Nina Hagen, 1984. This was such fun weirdness to listen and try to sing as fast as Nina. Good times!

the Vice-Presidential nominee swimsuit competition

Here we have Sarah Palin in 1984, known then as Sarah Heath, as a contestant in the Miss Alaska pageant.  A political science major with aspirations to be a television broadcaster. Some people make their dreams come true, while others just complain about them.

If only we can find that video of Joe Biden in a pink swimsuit and heels…

It’s 1984 – Have an Apple

Brilliant! This video from January 1984 features Steve Jobs introducing the Apple Macintosh for the first time. The reaction is stunning. In 24 short years, the technology has developed so quickly that we take it all for granted. But look what a marvel it was.

Liquid Sky 1980s fashion

scenes from Liquid Sky, the brilliant 1984 cult film that is a triumph of style