ELO's 1981 song "Ticket To The Moon" lyrics said:

"Remember the good old 1980s?

When things were so uncomplicated?

I wish I could go back there again

And everything could be the same."

At the time, it was a bizarre and crazy idea that the 1980's would be better than the future.

The idea that the future would be MUCH better has always been a given - at least for me but I think much of society felt that way back then.