I am an 80s kid and I’m proud of it. I believe the 80s is the greatest decade of all. I was in high school when the shoulder pads, spiked hair, leather clothing, bright colored shirts, acid washed jeans, colorful head gears and sperry topsiders were REALLY the IN thing. In between hairsprays, gels, eyeliners, plastic bangles, and striped socks, I was trying my best to fit in while going through adolescence. To find yourself stuck in the middle of all the psychedelic frenzy at such a vulnerable age can really mess you up. Add to that attending a very special science high school where students felt more like “guinea pigs" of Philippines education system rather than the "cream of the crop" of the Filipino youth.
Just the same, it is a decade that I cherish the most. I still find comfort in the wonderful memories I collected in those years that I sometimes find myself feeling stuck in that era. My love and appreciation for music today I owe to the music of the 80s. I always have a song that I associate to memorable moments, unforgettable events, or special people from those years I consider my wonder years. I remember singing in the rain to Housemartin’s “Happy Hour” along with more than half of my crazy batchmates with mud on our shoes , dirt and rain on our faces. It was such a milestone in our high school life that we printed the lyrics of the song on the first few pages of our High School yearbook, even If I now don’t clearly remember what triggered us to start singing,
In third year, I remember my group mates and me dancing to Rico Mambo in our printed balloon skirts and pastel colored blouses. With our hands on our side, palms and fingers stretched out, we swayed our bodies sideways in an almost robotic manner. The boys sung Robin Gibb’s Boys Do Fall In Love in acid washed jeans and light colored blazers, one hand holding their dark sunglasses on one side, while moving one knee in a rhythmic motion.. Woooh-hooh.. bo-bo-bo-boys fall in love.
So what was great (or not) about the 80s?
Just the same, it is a decade that I cherish the most. I still find comfort in the wonderful memories I collected in those years that I sometimes find myself feeling stuck in that era. My love and appreciation for music today I owe to the music of the 80s. I always have a song that I associate to memorable moments, unforgettable events, or special people from those years I consider my wonder years. I remember singing in the rain to Housemartin’s “Happy Hour” along with more than half of my crazy batchmates with mud on our shoes , dirt and rain on our faces. It was such a milestone in our high school life that we printed the lyrics of the song on the first few pages of our High School yearbook, even If I now don’t clearly remember what triggered us to start singing,
In third year, I remember my group mates and me dancing to Rico Mambo in our printed balloon skirts and pastel colored blouses. With our hands on our side, palms and fingers stretched out, we swayed our bodies sideways in an almost robotic manner. The boys sung Robin Gibb’s Boys Do Fall In Love in acid washed jeans and light colored blazers, one hand holding their dark sunglasses on one side, while moving one knee in a rhythmic motion.. Woooh-hooh.. bo-bo-bo-boys fall in love.
So what was great (or not) about the 80s?
In the 80s:
- Actors like Molly Ringwald and Ralph Macchio were considered really cute
- Wearing print on print was not baduy at all
- Pins were worn outside shirts and were clothing accessories
- We got by with just two types of footwear -- espadrilles and white sneakers
- Striped socks were in
- Even skinny and sexy celebrities wore large baggy clothes
- Egg whites had a different purpose
- We had our own “80s language” – erpmeys pre!
- Eyeliners came in different colors
- Shirts with the word USED printed in large fonts were considered fashionable
- Punks were fun people
- Kylie Minogue was General Patronage
- Actors like Molly Ringwald and Ralph Macchio were considered really cute
- Wearing print on print was not baduy at all
- Pins were worn outside shirts and were clothing accessories
- We got by with just two types of footwear -- espadrilles and white sneakers
- Striped socks were in
- Even skinny and sexy celebrities wore large baggy clothes
- Egg whites had a different purpose
- We had our own “80s language” – erpmeys pre!
- Eyeliners came in different colors
- Shirts with the word USED printed in large fonts were considered fashionable
- Punks were fun people
- Kylie Minogue was General Patronage
- Madonna seemed happier
- Prince was just called Prince and not T.A.F.K.A.P. (what the..?)
- Michael Jackson was cute in his original color
- Jet Pangan did not look like John Lapus
- Jet Pangan did not look like John Lapus
- Bruce Springsteen's butt was sexy
- and we didn't care if George Michael or Boy George was gay
If I were to sum up my life in one 80s song, it’s "Different Seasons” by Johnny Hates. There is a place deep in your mind one that your heart won't leave behind. Memories are cold empty of laughs and all that remains are photographs. And if I could summarize my life in the 80s in one 80s fad, the the teased and Aquanet-sprayed hair wins, hands down. Trust me, I have photographs to support my claim.
The funky music, the loud fashion…. The victims we know them so well…. so well…
photo from : http://www.katfm.com/planet80s/index.cfm
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