The best decade?

This is a subject under debate on the BBC website at the moment following a poll topped by the ’80s. It’s kind of an odd thing to argue about because surely all decades have their high and low points. Having said that I can see the appeal of the ’80s, especially for people who were teenagers at the time, it was a good time to be young.

On the radio last night, I heard someone from a ’60s band dismissing the 1980s and saying the decade wasn’t a patch on the ’60s. I’m too young to be able to make a real comparison, but I do think we had more freedom as ’80s teenagers. Not just to dress like idiots, but in terms of choices and opportunities. I suppose that may be because I’m female and lucky enough to be part of the first generation to reap the benefits of the women’s movement. So, yes, for me the ’80s were good. However . . .

. . . if I had a favourite decade, it would be the 1990s. It was a good time. The Berlin Wall had come down, perestroika and glasnost had swept through the Soviet Union and us human beings seemed to finally be getting somewhere. Of course, that all changed in the ’00s, but it was nice while it lasted.

Updated to add: The ’60s chap was from the band The Scaffold – I found it somewhat ironic that a man who gave us Lily the Pink should criticise ’80s music. I mean, it’s an ok song, I liked it as a little girl, but it’s hardly U2.

Currently listening to: Rain. Yes, more of the bloody stuff!



I appreciate you dropping by,
Please leave a comment, don’t be shy