The 80s are back... in pog form!

February 20, 2007 1:52 PM

80's Filter: I need a phrase to put on a shirt for an 80's party on Saturday night!

The wife and I just got a late invite to an 80's party and due to my schedule, I don't have time to put together any sort of outfit. I figure I can have a shirt printed and pick it up, pin my pants, hit my hair with some Flock of Seagulls and call it an outfit. But what to put on the shirt?

"Where's the beef?", "Frankie says relax", uh... "Just say No"? "Mondale '84"?

posted by unixrat to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (49 answers total)

Perhaps a little late-80s, but: Monkey Business Crew?
posted by kmennie at 1:56 PM on February 20, 2007

This is your brain on drugs.
posted by acoutu at 1:57 PM on February 20, 2007

CHOOSE
LIFE

Just like that.
posted by veronica sawyer at 2:02 PM on February 20, 2007

"Party Hardy"?

"Fight for your right to party"?

"Eat my shorts"? (Or if you want to get more complex, try to redo one of the endless range of bootleg Bart Simpson t-shirts, like the Rasta Bart?)

"CHOOSE LIFE" (in that huge block print font, remember the Wham! video? Same designer and style as "FRANKIE SAY RELAX")?

"Don't Worry, Be Happy"?

_{I feel old now...}
posted by Smilla's Sense of Snark at 2:05 PM on February 20, 2007

"Nobody puts Baby in a corner"
posted by nomis at 2:14 PM on February 20, 2007

Pick from the list of Dieter quotes from Sprockets on SNL. I know it didn't start airing until 1989, but there's some gold there. All the "Touch the monkey" stuff would work.
posted by onhazier at 2:18 PM on February 20, 2007

Best answer: "Mondale For President"
posted by peewinkle at 2:19 PM on February 20, 2007

"I want my MTV."
posted by Ike_Arumba at 2:21 PM on February 20, 2007

1.21 gigawatts!
posted by jozxyqk at 2:23 PM on February 20, 2007

Best answer: 867-5309
Avoid the Noid.
Save Ferris.
Let's Get Physical.

Nothing says 80's more than Cooper Black for that summer camp t-shirt look too.
posted by phirleh at 2:24 PM on February 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

Tubular
Totally Rad
Gag Me With A Greasy Spoon
[Something or Other] To the Max!
posted by Pater Aletheias at 2:25 PM on February 20, 2007

these are all good, to which one might add something from Moon Unit Zappa's 'Valley Girl' monologue.

anything Mr. Bill-related could work, too.

christ am i really that old?
posted by lonefrontranger at 2:26 PM on February 20, 2007

Pac Man Fever
posted by Kloryne at 2:26 PM on February 20, 2007

"I'm With Stupid ------->"
posted by natness at 2:26 PM on February 20, 2007

i pity the fool.
posted by fair_game at 2:28 PM on February 20, 2007

I shot J.R.
I'm Gumby, dammit!
I want you to know that I'd be more than willing ... to meet Abu Nidal on equal terms anywhere in the world.
posted by Fat Guy at 2:29 PM on February 20, 2007

Just Say No
posted by Kloryne at 2:31 PM on February 20, 2007

Oh wow -- how 'bout I read the question? Sorry.
posted by Kloryne at 2:32 PM on February 20, 2007

Go at throttle up.
posted by Fat Guy at 2:35 PM on February 20, 2007

Voodoo Economics
posted by mr_crash_davis at 2:35 PM on February 20, 2007

"Die Yuppie Scum"
posted by furiousthought at 2:35 PM on February 20, 2007

Whoever dies with the most toys wins.
posted by Skot at 2:39 PM on February 20, 2007

remember the Wham! video?

Yup, jitterbug!
posted by ericb at 2:41 PM on February 20, 2007

too sexy for my shirt
posted by ouke at 2:44 PM on February 20, 2007

Narly
posted by Relly70 at 2:45 PM on February 20, 2007

You look marvelous!

Parental unit.

I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.
posted by ericb at 2:49 PM on February 20, 2007

Cowabunga!
posted by Carbolic at 2:50 PM on February 20, 2007

If you want to add some perspective:
I've got your beef right here.
posted by asuprenant at 2:52 PM on February 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

"wanna see a picture of a guy with elephantitis of the nuts?"
"does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?"
posted by drjimmy11 at 2:52 PM on February 20, 2007

My car has a flux capacitor.

"I am your density."
posted by Kloryne at 2:55 PM on February 20, 2007

Nothing says '80s like the D.A.R.E. logo.
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 3:03 PM on February 20, 2007

Hulkamania!

Hasselhoff saved my life.

Yo sucka.

Well, la-de frickin' dah!

Shut your big yapper!

Master of my domain.

Saved by the Bell.

Pump you up, girlie man.

Say hi to you Mom for me.

Bow to your sensei!

I ♥ Ducky.

I can't believe I gave my panties to a geek!

I'm in the math club.

Yo Adrian!

Be sure to drink your Ovaltine.

No More Yankie my Wankie.

ET Phone Home.
posted by ericb at 3:06 PM on February 20, 2007

It's got to be CHOOSE LIFE
posted by pompomtom at 3:07 PM on February 20, 2007

(or maybe "Free Nelson Mandela"...)
posted by pompomtom at 3:07 PM on February 20, 2007

also "sweep the leg, Johnny"
posted by fair_game at 3:16 PM on February 20, 2007

Or "Wax on, wax off!"
posted by Smilla's Sense of Snark at 3:21 PM on February 20, 2007

We begin bombing in five minutes.
posted by box at 3:35 PM on February 20, 2007

You, my friend, are looking for www.80stees.com
posted by grateful at 4:06 PM on February 20, 2007

KNIGHT RIDER.
posted by kindall at 4:47 PM on February 20, 2007

Greed is Good.

Which should really be "Greed, for want of a better word, is good" but it's usually misquoted.
posted by Asparagirl at 7:39 PM on February 20, 2007

Back off man, I'm a scientist.
posted by milquetoast at 9:04 PM on February 20, 2007

Baby on Board.
posted by brujita at 11:18 PM on February 20, 2007

FRANKIE
SAYS
RELAX

in big-ass capitals.
posted by Aquaman at 12:13 AM on February 21, 2007

I know that's one of your original examples, but sometimes the first take is the one!
posted by Aquaman at 12:15 AM on February 21, 2007

CHOOSE LIFE ftw

but a picture of Arnold with WHACHUTALKINABOUTWILLIS would be my choice for an original effort.

ah, here's one.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 1:43 AM on February 21, 2007

Response by poster: After thinking it over, I've decided to go with this:

Mondale-Ferraro '84

on one side and...

Mondale - The People's Choice!

..on the back. In red, white, and blue Cooper Black. Pictures when the shirt comes in! Thanks all.

(PS - I live in Minnesota, which makes the Mondale thing a little funnier than other places)
posted by unixrat at 12:13 PM on February 21, 2007

Well, excuuuuuse meeeeeee!
posted by Thorzdad at 12:28 PM on February 21, 2007

shazbot!
posted by grateful at 5:54 PM on February 21, 2007

Word to your mother.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:34 PM on February 22, 2007