I admit to being old enough to remember the 80s the first time around. It started with me being 5 and ended with me being 15 so the 80s did hang over my entire childhood. The first time around things like rah-rah skirts, leopard print and leggings seemed harmless enough. I remember my cooler (she seemed so cool to me) cousin being into Adam and the ants and playing me records when we’d go around to visit. I even recall listening to Blonde and other such bands at hers as she was approaching her 20s by the end of the 80s so spanned that nostalgic period of music. I have tried to forget her brief foray into Wham and Duran Duran.
The 80s were a decade where in the UK (I don’t know about the rest of the world) a great many things converged from music, fashion to politics and created a melting pot not really applicable to today. So, why the current and frequent obsession with this decade? Fashion and music does seem to be stuck on a repeat tape loop when it comes to the 80s. I guess I wouldn’t really mind if the fashion was that good the first time around. Things like rah-rah skirts and day glo colours or leggings with short jean skirts really isn’t something anyone can have any excuse for wearing. Yes, I do have a big issue when it comes to rah-rah skirts and yes, it did involve a crucial childhood bad experience with a particular lilac one with purple piping (shudders).
I guess, if it was only a retro thing once it would be more excusable in some ways. I am not sure it would when we are talking about the fashion disaster that is that decade. Don’t get me wrong here though. On writing this I want to make it clear that the music is fine by me, although I do still yearn constantly for ‘new’. Maybe that is it really what I am so muttery about when it comes to this rehashing of the 80s. I love the new. I like to see different not reprocessed and spewed back out in a weaker worse format. From music to fashion and beyond, there is no need to beat to death every last essence from any period in the past. It’s done to most, although seemingly more to the 80s for some reason. So, leave the 80s alone as it’s not done that much to you (apart form rah-rah skirts). If you want to do something different actually do something different, don’t just change a guitar riff, add a rap track or add another layer to a rah-rah skirt (maybe I need some rah-rah skirt counselling).
