04.12.06
1984 was a pivotal year
Every decade or so a year takes on particular importance. I think 1984 was one of those years. It was filled with expecations due to George Orwell’s book of the same title, but things took place in 1984 across the breadth of politics, nature, music, etc. At this point I think that 1984 took on more importance than any year since, but it will take some hindsight to be certain. 2001 is probably a candidate, though not for flying cars and vacations on the moon like we hoped back in the 60’s. I’m not sure if there is any particular event that makes 1984 a standout year, but when you see it all together it becomes a bigger year than many since.
Music
* Synchonicity by the Police
* The Police split up
* Thriller by Micheal Jackson (love him or hate him, it was a big album)
* New Wave music gained traction
* Band Aid
* Count Basie dies.
* Madonna comes on strong
In general, there may have been more variety in music than any year prior. Everything from Prince, Madonna and INXS to Wham, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and the Police.
Movies/Entertainment:
* Ghostbusters
* Footloose
* Gremlins
* The Karate Kid
* Cosby Show premieres
* Amadeus
* Miami Vice
*”Where’s the beef” commercial
Other Events:
* Indhira Gandhi, India’s Prime Minister was assasinated
* Bernhard Goetz - the subway vigilante
* David, the boy in the bubble died.
* Soviets boycott U.S. Summer Olympics
* Apple Macintosh Commercial
* Apple Macintosh becomes available.
* GNU project started by Richard Stallman
* AIDS falls into the public view/concern
* Toxic gas leak in India from Union Carbide plant kills 2000 and injures 150,000
* Bell System decision handed down, “Great Bell Breakup”
* Regan re-elected for second term
* Joe W. Kittinger solo baloon flight across the Atlantic
* Ethiopian famine began sometime in 1984ish.
* Iran/Iraq war escalated with “tanker war” - attacking commercial shipping.
* Gary Hart scandal in 1984
* Iran-contra affair bridged across 1984.
* Miss America Contest Vanessa Williams Scandal.
If you were alive in 1984, you can probably remember some things that were pertinent to your interests too. I think you would miss a lot of jokes if you didn’t know some of the events that went on in 1984. I wonder how much of Billy Joel’s song “We didn’t start the fire” is from ‘84?