What were some of the fads, songs, foods, clothing style, news items of 1985-89?

Question

Any solid specific things that were unique to that time frame that is no longer is relevant.

Answer 1

Let's see:

I think it was the mid-to-late-'80's where the "messy" hairstyle became popular.  You know, where you use mousse, gel, and/or spray to make it look like your hair is perpetually messed up...

The clothing item I remember from that era is parachute pants.  Can't get 'em anymore...

The two biggest news bits I remember from that era are:  (1) The Space Shuttle Challenger blowing up about 75 seconds after launch, with schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe aboard, and (2) The fall of the Berlin Wall, which basically signaled the end of the Soviet Union as a communist state.

If you're talking songs, there is a whole genre of '80's music.  It would be easier to name bands than to name songs, so here is a list of '80's bands:

a-ha

ABC

A Flock of Seagulls

The B-52's

Bananarama

The Bangles

Blondie

Bow Wow Wow

The Cars (sort of -- they're also classic rock)

The Clash

Corey Hart

Crowded House

Depeche Mode

Dire Straits (also classic rock, did "Money for Nothing")

Duran Duran

The Dream Academy

The Eurythmics

Falco

The Fixx

Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Gary Numan

George Michael

Harold Faltermeyer (wrote Axel F from Beverly Hills Cop)

Howard Jones

The Human League

INXS

Jan Hammer (wrote the Miami Vice Theme

Katrina and the Waves

Level 42

Men at Work

Mike + the Mechanics

The Motels

Mr. Mister

Nena

Oingo Boingo

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark (OMD)

The Pet Shop Boys

Peter Gabriel

The Power Station

Prince (and the Revolution)

Quarterflash

Rick Springfield (soap-opera star turned musician)

Roxette

Roxy Music

Scandal

Simple Minds

Spandau Ballet

Taco

Talking Heads

Tears for Fears

Thomas Dolby

Thompson Twins

Til Tuesday

Tom Tom Club

U2

Violent Femmes

Wang Chung

Wham! (George Michael lead singer)

XTC