Why 1985 is a strangely appropriate choice for new series
Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things has shifted the action to 1985 for its latest series, a setting that couldn’t be more appropriate in terms of Stranger’s underlying appeal as a promoter of 1980s nostalgia.
The year 1985 is right up there in era-defining events and pieces of pop-culture.
It was a 12-month period in which CDs were first introduced, Coca-Cola’s New Coke spectacularly failed, and terrorism came to New Zealand when French agents blew up Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior. But here are the nine slices of cinema, music and TV that I believe make 1985 the greatest year in entertainment.
Back to the Future
With a heady mix of smart, attractive leads (Michael J Fox, Lea Thompson, the DeLorean car), science-fiction and metaphysical conundrums, this was a first-rate comedy with a cracking soundtrack.
The original Robert Zemeckis-directed, Steven Spielberg-backed film was the biggest box office hit of 1985, and has inspired everything from the pop band McFly to new Netflix movie See You Yesterday.
The Breakfast Club
I’m a firm believer that John Hughes’ high-school drama is a touchstone of 80s pop culture ‘‘from the neon-sign opening titles, to the derivative angst of the dialogue’’.
The cast are still feted wherever and whenever they pop-up (Judd Nelson in Empire, Molly Ringwald in Riverdale), Pitch Perfect helped reintroduce it to Millennials and that Simple Minds’ anthem has (as its title hoped) never been forgotten.
Brothers in Arms
It was the album that helped Dire Straits find a whole new audience. A collection of wellcrafted catchy tunes that were accompanied by videos specifically designed for heavy rotation on MTV (Money for Nothing even featured a computer animated Sting opining, ‘‘I want my MTV’’).
Money was the fifth-biggest selling single of the year in New Zealand, and the album was No 3. A record-breaking tour to our shores followed.
Calvin and Hobbes
Although we were somewhat slower to catch on to its charms, Bill Watterson’s adventures of a 6-year-old boy and his stuffed tiger became a must-read in newspapers during its decadelong run. It captured perfectly the freedom of childhood and was also beautifully poignant.
The Goonies
Perhaps the closest 1985 forebear to Stranger Things (it even shares a cast member in Sean Astin), this Steven Spielberg-produced actionadventure was a rollicking tale about a group of disparate children who band together in a search of the pirate treasure that could help them stay in their beloved seaside town. Other members of the cast who became future stars include Avengers: Endgame’s Josh Brolin and 1980s teen heartthrob Corey Feldman.
Live Aid
In truth, Bob Geldof’s trans-Atlantic music fundraiser to end African famine has never really been forgotten by anyone old enough to have seen it.
While an older generation may claim Woodstock was more influential, this was a gathering of stars playing to a truly global audience that will struggle to ever be repeated.
MacGyver
This was a groundbreaking action series featuring a character who relied on his problem-solving skills, rather than a talking car. As portrayed by the then little-known Richard Dean Anderson, our Phoenix Foundation-backed hero was the thinking woman’s James Bond, even if we only discovered right at the end that his first name was Angus.
Moonlighting
The show that introduced the world to Bruce Willis and helped them rediscover Cybill Shepherd also brought the screwball comedy tradition into the 1980s and was one of the first TV programmes to successfully mix comedy and drama. Central to its success was the will-they, won’t-they tension – a decade before Friends’ Ross and Rachel.
Songs From The Big Chair
Few had heard of Tears for Fears before they struck gold with their second release. By the end of 1985, they had two singles in our year’s top 10 (Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World) and the eighth-biggest album.