Ever think being born in the 90s was a mistake? Me too.

The music, the movies, the flamboyant hair and clothing, the 80’s was a magical time. A decade I’m pretty sure I should’ve been born in and I suffer the consequences of being born in the wrong decade every day.

Every day.

Let’s start with the clothes.

I just don’t enjoy the “you look so retro” comments when I go out with my wild curls and acid wash denim jacket. I have always looked like this, I am not trying to be trendy. When I was thirteen and in my school’s musical production of "Footloose" all the other girls took hours to get ready because they all had to get their hair teased. Not me. I walked in there with my natural curls and the hair ladies went “perfect!”

Also, unlike most ladies who’s go-to Halloween costume is a cat, mine is Madonna. I already have the lace hair wrap and jelly bracelets, and I look damn good in them.

Speaking of Madonna, let’s move over to music.

The true test of being an 80s child is knowing all the words to every Madonna song (Pat Benatar and Prince are also signs). Nothing is harder than saying your favorite genre of music is classic rock. It is painful.

This article was inspired by the fact that I spent a good twenty minutes crying because I can’t go see Aerosmith in May.

I will argue until the end of time that 80s music (and 70s because they blend a bit) is the best music. It is very universal, most people will at least know any classic rock song and some of the words. We all get hyped up when we hear an AC/DC song, we all sing along to “Sweet Child of Mine.”

Overall, I believe that the 80s were a peak time of self-expression using art. Whenever I’m feeling a little down, I turn on "The Breakfast Club" or listen to “Purple Rain.” The nostalgia I have for a decade I wasn’t alive for truly shows all the emotion and outgoing personalities that made the 80s so timeless.

Being the decade right after some major political movements, art was appreciated more than ever (sound familiar?), self-expression was more important than ever, and it seemed like most people were listening. Why else would John Hughes’ movies or Queen’s music be so transcendent today?

I was raised an 80s baby in the 2000s by an actual 80s baby, and it will always be the coolest thing about me.

Totally righteous man.