It won’t be long before the unofficial start to summer begins. If you’re tired of turning over your MP3 player to Lady Gaga, let your kids get a taste of what a 1980’s summer sounded like. Yes, there was a time when iPods didn’t exist, and you actually had to—gasp!—fast-forward the tape player on your boom box to find your favorite song. Here’s that walk down memory lane:

“Cruel Summer” by Bananarama

If you felt abandoned by those so-called friends who left you on your own (mine were at sleepaway camp—the bums!), then go wallow in your misery with this tune.

“Boys of Summer” by Don Henley

Didn’t you aspire to be the girl in the song in her convertible with the radio blaring, making all the boys crazy-jealous? Or maybe you were that devoted guy who proclaimed his love “would still be strong” even after the other boys had packed up and headed home.

“Circle in the Sand” by Belinda Carlisle

I don’t know about you, but hearing this song always made me feel like the hot summer sun was beating down on my Coppertone-slathered skin. No matter if I was nursing a broken heart or it was the summer of love, it fit my mood just right.

“Vacation” by The Go-Go’s

Speaking of Belinda and heartbreak, this song couldn’t help but cheer you up. And who can forget that kitschy waterskiing video?

“Rain in the Summertime” by The Alarm

Maybe your kids won’t pay such close attention to the lyrics other than the refrain. My 6-year-old loves this song, and has no idea what the band is singing about. Do you? Watch the video here.