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Here’s a reality check nobody asked for: the beginning of the ‘80s is as far away in time as is the year 2068. Yeah, time flies when we’re doom-scrolling cat memes.

So, why not celebrate it with a trip down memory lane with the help of Totally Awesome 80s, an Instagram page that shares all things ‘80s (with a little bit of ‘70s and ‘90s sprinkled in between).

So, Totally Awesome 80s is an Instagram page (Facebook as well) dedicated to celebrating one of the most iconic decades of the last century—the awesome '80s, mixed in with a little bit of the '70s and the '90s.

The page was created back in mid 2018 and has since then posted nearly 8,000 bits of content and amassed a following of 325,000 people.

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James016
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went for Ulysses 31 and Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors when I was a kid.

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It’s hard to explain what made the '80s such an iconic time period.

On an objective level, it was the decade that gave the world MTV and CNN, some of the first instances of personal home computing with IBM and Apple, and the first mobile phone, Motorola DynaTAC 8000X.

It was also a decade of great tragedy with the NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and the explosion of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Reactor #4.

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But the thing folks talk about the most is the sound of the '80s—its music scene.

Many consider the nostalgia that '80s music creates to be the strongest out there with numerous artists coming back to cover popular songs and sounds from the decade.

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Tiffany Marie
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9 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fern Gully was my start. I was little. I thought his voice was fantastic.

D Wall
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see you shiver with antica…………………………………….pation! Oh no! Meatloaf again! (audience…) No s**t, Sherlock!

Winnie the Moo
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I first saw him when I was a kid as the evil cardinal in The Three Musketeers. Creeped me right the f*ck out!

Susan Robinson
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Feel bad for anyone who only knows him from his character in Criminal Minds, Billy Flynn 😳

Firefly
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oscar with Sylvester Stallone and Marisa Tomei. Hilarious movie.

JP
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOVE this movie. It's based on a play; that's why all the action takes place in a single location.

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Naomie Moore
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every Friday and Saturday night! And the theatre we went to still lat us bring all the props. One time I sent my brother for the rice. They were out. He bought pinto beans instead.

Sam Cook
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Home Alone 2: Lost In New York was mine, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. I randomly had a dream about his character Darkness from Legend some months ago. Still one of the strangest dreams I've ever had, and it inspired me to watch the movie for the first time. Love it.

kkathleen517
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Home Alone 2 and It come to mind. Although, I have to say Mr.Skarsgard kicked his butt playing PennyWise. He was BORN to play that part ok? Seriously, I can't get over how incredible he was in the new It.

Hannah Marshall
Community Member
9 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rocky Horror, Annie and The Three Musketeers!! (For reference, I was born in 1994)

Jeffrey Diehl
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Premium
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rocky Horror, Clue, Kinsey, Wild Thorneberrys, Duckman, The Three Musketeers, Will Shakespeare (Written by John Mortimer (Rumpole of the Bailey))

Philly Bob Squires
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rocky Horror as I used to be a projectionist in the theater that ran it on Friday and Saturday nights! But I liked him in Annie as well!

Greg Patzkowsky
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rocky Horror first, then Clue, Home Alone 2, Hunt for Red October... He's a great!

Beanna van de Bukshout
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Roseanne. I think he ripped off the Connors and became surprisingly the short term love interest of badass (and gay) Nancy

Courtney Christelle
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First from Home Alone, then it ruined it for me when I found out he was also Pennywise.

brittany
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hexxus from Ferngully for me! please dont ask me to explain being attracted to literal polluted air. it just works

Joanne Earle
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His song 'I do the rock' was the first I heard of him, then he was Bill Sykes in a 1982 TV movie of Oliver Twist

Riley Quinn
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). In the late 70's, you'd find me, in costume with props, at the midnight showing on Saturdays. It was a hellava time, but then the theatres started clamping down on what we could bring in. I understood, but the era was over for me.

Dodo (they/them)
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Muppet's Treasure Island. And Fern Gully, but I didn't realise that was him until I was older.

TheBlueBitterfly
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rocky Horror, Legend, Clue, but first and foremost, The Worst Witch!

The Other Guest
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Three Men in a Boat was the first thing I saw him in, but I associate him (naturally) with Rocky Horror and Clue.

Brandy Gray
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My first thought is Rocky Horror but it's followed closely with Legend

Auntriarch
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I forget which Hercule Poirot he was in, one of the archeological ones

Griffy
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rocky Horror, Home Alone 2, and IT. Unfortunately he has not aged well. I wish him the best.

Slim 864 GVG
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

RH and Clue of course! Plus, They all float on the Red October!

Emily Barnes
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never watched Rocky Horror but I still recognize him from that

Nimitz
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I for one will never forget Congo. Some guy: "How much does the plan fuel cost?" Tim Curry: "Fifithty thousand dollars." Fifth-ith-ty. I will remember that line reading till the day I die.

Isabella
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or they are not American, as he never was worldwide popular.

Fran
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spanish here, I've seen all the movies they've mentioned, except it, know and love Tim in ALL of them. Perhaps people might not know his name, but I assure you, nobody can forget HIM. Besides, are you trying to say that Clue, HA2, it, Legend, RH and the rest were only shown in the states......🤦

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assdog
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I named one of my cats Georgie because of how he looks like TC when he smiles/wants food.

Phobrek
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blue Money! Jk... The Shout! Jk.... Rocky Horror Legend Clue It etc.

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One commenter speculated that the '80s was a careless and fun decade. Considering modern day stresses imposed upon new generations, looking back to a decade whose fashion and music sound carefree, it becomes a nice escape for the younger generations.

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ninjaTrashPandaBoom
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Taking a break from riding all over the place eating Ding Dongs that came wrapped in aluminum foil, drinking Tang and battling tanks on Atari 2600 before taking off on another adventure!

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Tucker Cahooter
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I show my age by confessing that I knew the names of all the songs these lines came from straight away

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There’s also the idea of having parents who listen a lot to '80s music, instilling an interesting sense of nostalgia for their kids as well, even if they didn’t live through it.

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Others speculated that it could just be history doing its cyclical thing again. Those who grew up in the '80s are now becoming primary producers of pop culture. Considering all the '80s franchise reboots, Stranger Things and the like, they all come from people who grew up in that era for the people who grew up in that era.

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This idea of revivals is further supported by another commenter, who explained that the '70s saw a huge '50s revival with the TV show Happy Days and the movie Grease. Then there was a '60s revival in the '80s with The Doors, The Who, and the like filling entire stadiums. Apply the paradigm far enough and you might just be able to explain why “old” things are hip again.

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Poppy
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a photo of my mum who was very visibly pregnant with me smoking a cigarette.

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But that’s just music. Think of the remaining part of pop culture that happened back in the '80s: the Master System, NES. and Atari 7800 all came out in the early part of the decade; Polaroid reached peak popularity during this time; shows like Full House, The Transformers and Duck Tales were huge back then; movies like Back To The Future debuted during the '80s. The list goes on.

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ninjaTrashPandaBoom
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your momma is so stupid/fat/lazy...[insert random offensive insult here]...battle it out, everyone laughs, and we all play dodgeball or G.I. Joe until the street lights came on.

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martin734
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember watching Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet on one of these in our English literature class. Olivia Hussey was hot!

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Well, that’s that. If you enjoyed this article, we have plenty more where that came from. Well, not there per se, but the '80s! And you can always check out the Instagram page.

And if you don’t feel like going back in time any more, then why not stay in the present and share your takes and stories in the comment section below!

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Mandy
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or a girl and her bike! I loved my bike...the whole neighborhood had bikes and we were outside all day and everyday we could!

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SCamp
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When it’s a school day but Frankie’s vig’s due and he may need some persuasion

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Tiggy Darling
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Time Magazine: "The Red Brick Road is supposed to lead travellers from Quadling Country to the great Emerald City. However, in the movie, the road is shown ending up at…Munchkin City Hall."

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GoGo LaTata
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I watched Sesame Street before there even was an Elmo... And Oscar was orange!

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#40

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SarCaustic
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The hole in the ozone layer thanks you for your contribution, hair spray.

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beautiful plumage
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

anyone else try to find adult content no matter how scrambled the picture was? you got super excited when you thought you sorta kinda saw something.

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a Honda ATC 90. Fun as hell but basically banned after too many people kept dying on them.

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martin734
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For those who don't know, the yellow plug carried the video signal and the red and white plugs carried the stereo audio, red for right and white for left.

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