Just think,this time 20 years ago...


***Michael Jackson was riding high with his 'Thriller' album.

***Prince was filming the 'Purple Rain' movie.

***Madonna was enjoying a hit with "Holiday" from her debut album.


MJ was already on top at this point,while Prince and Madonna were both on their way to superstardom.


what are YOUR memories of December 1983?

I didn't like any of the above at that time.

Cloudbuster said:

Amazingly enough,I didn't like Madonna at this point.It was all about Prince and MJ to me...lol...NOBODY came close.

What a difference twenty years makes,huh?

DavidEye said:

Cloudbuster said:

What were you listening to back then? The Bee Gees' 'Stayin Alive' movie soundtrack?

DavidEye said:

No. I didn't get into the Bee Gees until I was nearly 13 at the end of '87 when they made a successful comeback everywhere but the US. I was mostly listening to UK chart fodder. I think The Beatles were the only redeeming thing in my music collection at that time.

Wasn't it great!

jbchavez said:

Hey Joe,long time no see!! How ya been doing?

Cloudbuster said:

I got into them in 1977,when my mother bought the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack.What took YOU so long?

Doing fine. Thanks.

DavidEye said:

I was three when Saturday Night Fever was released.

And they were dormant for most of the eighties.

DavidEye said:

I recall the omnipresent zippered jackets, Spandau Ballet, David Bowie, Run-DMC, Gap Band, Atlantic Starr, etc.

I dug "Lady Cab Driver," but really didn't care for Prince per se.

Thriller was kinda played out to me. It had been out for a year before the videos dropped.

Come to think of it, prior to Purple Rain, the Police were my undisputed favorite. The run of singles off that LP was incredible. "Every Breath You Take," "King of Pain," "Wrapped Around Your Finger" and "Synchronicity II."

jbchavez said:

When I go to Chicago,I'm gonna take you and Stymie out to lunch

DavidEye said:

I completely agree...I had already seen Prince on the 1999 tour by this time and was excited about Purple Rain. I also was a mini MJ fanatic. Boy times do change.

That was an amazing time. I don't think MJ, Madonna or especially Prince get enough props for those years.

There certainly hasn't been three acts as big as they were (at that time) since.

.
[This message was edited Wed Dec 10 9:23:49 PST 2003 by Marrk]

Well I had to share a room with my sister and we argued over which poster was going on the door Prince - Purple Rain poster or Micheal Jackson- Human Nature poster -

Uhh I think December 1983 is still within my range of early life amnesia - I don't think I remember much of anything before 1984! (only my actual 3rd birthday)

I was 8 years old and I loved 1999 and ;I think by this time I had heard of Madonna. But I did'nt by 'MADONNA' until early '84. I had THRILLER and I think I played out 3 copies by this point.

I was probably dancing like Jennifer Beals (or her body double) from FLASHDANCE in the front porch while my parents shook their heads and the neighbors saying...'that kid is GAY!' LOL...

I thought Michael Jackson was a girl.

I was totally hot for Madonna.

And I don't think I knew who Prince was until "When Doves Cry".

My memories are going potty in my diaper and dancing along to the "Fraggle Rock" theme song in my playpen.

shoot, i had my glitter glove and my red thriller jacket! i was in mj heaven! and i was about 6 years old...depending on the exact date, i could've been 5. it would only be a short time before i fell madly in love with that strange character called prince. and madonna...i wasn't ready for her until like a virgin.

CinisterCee said:

Same here, although, I can't really remember anything
from before 1988. The first 10 years of my life are
just a blur to me.

DavidEye said:

Hmmm, I guess sucking a breast.
Good ol' days.

Wow, December 1983. I was 4 at the time and I was a huge MJ fan. There was no one above or below Mike for me. I found out who Prince was that month and I thought he was a weirdo. I became a fan after When Doves Cry came out. I didn't know who Madonna was until a couple of months later when I saw her Borderline video. I thought she was alright but nothing to run home about. Man how time flies.

I remember decorating the Christmas tree with my kid brother (we hadn't adopted my sister yet). I was wearing my Jabba the Hutt pajamas and I hadn't developed my lazy eye yet. Ahhh, bliss!

DavidEye said:

prince came into town with his girls:

vanity 6

he also brought some fellas:

morris day and the time


mtv was new and all the rave

flocking sea gulls

and talking heads rocked the tube


the police and george m

funked up the cable along with

herbie hancock


prince ruled with 1999

and little red corvette


that was my memories of

the early to mid 80's


the 80's kicked all ass

ok.. 1983/84

MJ: he was the first I really liked! He had all the Magic & Skill.. every appearance was fresh,new & creative! When you thought of MJ you thought of quality. NOT what he has become after the Pepsi Burn. I remember in the early 80's when he had the 3 videos off Thriller playing all the time I really thought in my head " finally my age group has a guy everyone is talking about and he is young! I can't wait to see what he is going to do in 10,20 years from now!" I swear to god I thought that every project was going to be good and I had NO clue he would become what he has became as early as 1987!! who knew??

Prince: I first became a fan of his at my first girlfriend's birthday party in I think 5th grade! It was the first time I heard his full albums and the singles with b-sides! before that I just heard the hits at the roller skating ring! BUT as soon as I heard that full album wow I was really hooked! I remember the exact moment I changed from a MJ fan to really a Prince Fan.. The American Music Awards when Prince was acting odd,barely talking,and that live performance was amazing!! I just played that Purple Rain Album to death! I really really wanted to see the movie in the theater but my parents wouldn't let me see a "R rated" film. I was sooo pissed because that year they had soo many cool films that everyone was talking about in JR Highschool (Bevery Hills Cop, Purple Rain,Nightmare on Elm Street & Friday the 13th part 4) didn't see any of them

Madonna: seriously I NEVER liked her back then. I ws just a MTV Kid and would watch every video and like it to a point.. I like Top 40 the sameway. But with Madonna I never liked her. I thought she was ok, some of her early songs BUT after she just kept playing with the media and tryng to push buttons over and over. I didn't care at all. (so she really got a few songs I liked off her first album, a couple off the second & then if a video was good I would sit there and watch it. But I didn't care either way)


* Isn't it funny that these 3 Artist are the "Playbook" for everything in modern day music & the world of MTV.

I could actually put about 85% of it on Prince! Because the other 2 started to copy him while 1984 was still happening and then on!

It is NOT said loudly .. but Prince really is the Tree Trunk & Roots to modern day music since MTV was invented.. From style,to hype,to buzz,to the actual music,production style,ect.. EVERYONE else is the Branches.

The thing was Prince wasn't into being a "pop star" he was a musican! Case & Point: Prince could have Toured Purple Rain for 2+ years & also a full worldwide tour! BUT.. He didnt he did a american tour and a few dates but nothing huge around the world .. and went directly into the Record Studio and started recording new music!! new look!! He challenged the new fans to create TASTE and not just repeat "purple rain inc" everytime out of the gate!

But yes 1984 was a great time! That is when the 3 "Young Guns"/Next Generations got a push & The Record Industry put money behind everything to promote on MTV in a quality way!

I was already getting sick of "Thriller" by December of that year.

I had a huge crush on Madonna for quite a while at that point (and had pictures of her all over my locker). My favorite song at this point was "Burning Up".

I was into Prince at this point, but not a raving, drooling maniac yet. A girl in my carpool had "1999", and we used to blare that tape evertime it was her mom's turn to drive. Of course, we thought "Let's Pretend We're Married" was the best, 'cuz it had a dirty word in it!

They're all around the same age--45, right?