Kids these days just don't appreciate their history!

Attending an 80s night a bar I regularly cavort, I've begun to feel more and more ill at ease as my peers dance wildly and sing along to the song from St. Elmo's Fire like it's another song in the Grease Medley. Pourquoi? I know that butchered t-shirts and ass-shaping leggings are cool with the kids these days. Even big earrings. And I know, back in the day when all of this was cool the first time around, I wasn't old enough to wear blue eyeshadow, let alone go to a store by myself. Still, I was a child of the 80s and sometimes I feel like no one understands me.

I won't even preface this with anecdotes about oblivious friends, who pride themselves on their alleged knowledge of popular culture.... Suffice to say, all those kids watching Grey's Anatomy are oblivious its historical underpinnings.

They're forgiven for not knowing that Dr. Meredith Gray's fake-mommy (dad's new wife, recently killed off) was played by Mare Winningham. Mare was an original Brat Pack member and loser-of-V-Card-to-Rob-Lowe in one of THE definining films of that era. But Patrick Dempsey? People have no idea that before McDreamy was making love to Meredith, Ronald Miller was trying to buy some love from Cindi Mancini. And that is just plain wrong.

And so, I humbly offer these links as a mere starting point, a by no means comprehensive sampling of some of my favourite windows into the decade. But, if you're going to crimp your hair and pretend to know who the Bangles are, please take a second to inform yourself.

Crash Course on the Brat Pack
Fame
Belinda Carlisle
Live Aid
Say Anything
The Wonder Years (watch online!)

I will keep adding to this compendium. Feel free to contribute...