Have you ever watched one of the movies you loved as a kid and been shocked by how well it held up, in story, “look,” or entertainment factor? While recently re-watching both Pretty In Pink (1986, dir. Howard Deutch) and Earth Girls Are Easy (1988, dir. Julien Temple), I was struck by one major factor: the production design. Both films combine the bold pizazz of ’80s Memphis-Milano style with the hues and clean lines of ’50s/’60s Modern design.
Friday Video Pick: “Talk Talk” by Talk Talk
Yes, the title of this week’s video pick and of the band itself are the same… I remember seeing the name of this song in print and being struck by the repetition of the juxtaposed band and track. And soon I was equally struck by the song. Like Missing Persons’ “Give,” this Talk Talk video features metallic accents, strategic lighting, and a dynamic song with pumping energy from start to finish.
Mid-Week Match-Up: Radballs!
If you were waiting for the perfect ’80s-inspired gameplay for your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, you’re in luck. Introducing Radballs, an app by Glow Play that awesomely combines the style of the past with the technology of the present. Radballs cleverly builds on the puzzle-rific tradition set by gaming favorites like Tetris and Bejeweled, then cranks it up another level by adding cheeky graphics in ’80s motifs and a synth-based soundtrack featuring acts like OK Go and Com Truise. Enjoy our match-ups featuring Radballs promotional screen shots and ’80s textile design.
Can you spot the ’80s in the Vogue September Issue?
The Fall fashion season in upon us! A true highlight of this idea-rich time of the year is the Vogue September issue. Many read it from cover to cover. So did Mirror80, and we were struck by the ’80s references on the pages, especially in some of the ads. While each ’80s motif may not have been intentional, here are a few of our favorites nonetheless, along with the flashback fun they evoke.
Friday Video Pick: “Run to You” by Bryan Adams
What better way to usher in Fall than by watching a four-minute Bryan Adams video featuring “Face of the Eighties” Lysette Anthony running through Autumn foliage?! Yes, it’s “Run to You,” a video that may seem simple by today’s standards, but in 1985 was nominated for MTV Video Music Awards in five different categories!
Mid-Week Match-Up: ’80s Campus Movies
Fall is in the air, and we’ve taken the lead from a plethora of ’80s comedies that sent audiences back to school. Yes, it’s time to revisit college! This week’s match-up is courtesy of three college campus comedies: Revenge of the Nerds (1984), Back to School (1986), and Campus Man (1987).
’80s-Inspired Fall Fashion Finds
Mirror80 wishes you a Happy Labor Day! As you’re gearing up for a short work week, enjoy these Fall fashion finds, many of them ’80s-influenced.
Friday Video Picks: “Sister Christian” and “When You Close Your Eyes” by Night Ranger
I won’t deny that it was the Old Navy back-to-school commercial to the tune of “Sister Christian” that reminded me it was time to revisit the music videos of Night Ranger. But it doesn’t matter how I got here… Let Night Ranger usher in your back-to-school season with these two classic videos!
Mid-Week Match-Up: ’80s Music Video Whiteouts
Ever notice how ’80s music videos–especially those from the earlier part of the decade–featured band members performing in front of a stark white background? Why plain white? Perhaps it was the low cost, the futuristic look, or the chic simplicity of a musician putting it all out there with no distractions. But there was room for variation… Check out the many shades of white featured above in our mid-week match-up.
Katy Perry Rocks ’80s-Themed Christian Dior Fashion at the VMAs
At last night’s MTV Video Music Awards, Katy Perry wowed audiences with three different ensembles. Our favorite? The 1980s Memphis-Milano-inspired outfit pictured above. Mirror80 has blogged about this geometric wonder, a showpiece of Christian Dior’s Fall-Winter Haute Couture Collection.
