BestOfDate

May 16, 1973

May 16, 1973, was a Wednesday. It was 51 years, 5 months, and 15 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

Birthdays

Born on May 16, 1973

People who were born on this exact date:

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on May 16, 1973:

  • United States: "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" by Stevie Wonder
  • United Kingdom: "See My Baby Jive" by Wizzard

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 16, 1973

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree - Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando
  • You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder
  • Little Willy - The Sweet
  • The Cisco Kid - War
  • Drift Away - Dobie Gray
Play the top songs from 1973
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1973. Take a trip back to the days of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Deep Purple, the Doobie Brothers and Elton John.
The Poseidon Adventure

Top movie

The movie "The Poseidon Adventure" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date was 18,796 days ago. Approximately 627 months have passed. It was the 136th day of 1973, in week 20. The decade was the seventies. People born on this day are currently 51 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. We have gone through approximately 209 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to May 16, 1973

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Wednesday, May 16, 1973. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Taurus. It is "Hump Day", so many are beginning to think about the weekend ahead.

The summer of 1973 has finally arrived. The weather has warmed up, and the evenings are brighter than usual. The school year is nearly finished. In America, the song "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" by Stevie Wonder is at the top of the singles charts, while "See My Baby Jive" by Wizzard is the number-one song in the UK. Richard Nixon is the President of the United States, and the movie The Poseidon Adventure is at the top of the box office.

Edward Heath is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In fashion, the hippie look from the 1960s is still popular. Clothing items such as tie dye shirts, bell-bottoms, midi skirts, gauchos and Mexican blouses are being worn by women. Meanwhile, men are wearing dark satin shirts, ethnic-looking tunics, bell bottom jeans, tweed sports jackets and turtlenecks. It's 1973, so radio stations are playing songs from artists such as The Rolling Stones, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Sweet, Elton John, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Marvin Gaye and Jim Croce.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Bruce Lee, J. R. R. Tolkien, Gram Parsons, and Oskar Schindler would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Here's Lucy", "The Brady Bunch", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", and "The Two Ronnies". Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Pong".

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Captain Kangaroo", "Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines", "The Adventures of Black Beauty", and "Lassie's Rescue Rangers". Popular toys at the moment include Troll doll, Frisbee, Nerf Balls, and the Rock Flowers dolls.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 16, 1973, will have the star sign Taurus.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1973 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 5.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 16, 1973 falls under the Beaver.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of May will have the birthstone Emerald.
  • Birth flower (May): The Lily of the Valley and the Hawthorn.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 16, 1973.

  • The kung fu craze.

    The kung fu craze

    Following the success of the Hong Kong martial arts film "Five Fingers of Death" in March of 1973, multiple kung fu movies went on to reach the top of the US box office that year.
  • 1973-74 stock market crash.

    1973-74 stock market crash

    Between January 1973 and December 1974, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost over 45% of its value. The UK stock market fared even worse, with the FT 30 dropping by over 70%.
  • Hitchhiking is declining.

    Hitchhiking is declining

    Although hitchhiking is still pretty common, it is beginning to decline due to people's falling trust in strangers, lower air travel prices, an increase in highways, and more affordable cars.
  • The US military is withdrawing from the Vietnam War.

    The US military is withdrawing from the Vietnam War

    During 1973, the war in Vietnam was still ongoing. However, by this stage, the US was steadily withdrawing its military from the country. Between 1972 and 1973, the number of US troops in Vietnam fell from 24,200 to 50. Although a peace agreement was signed at the start of 1973, it was quickly broken by both sides.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1973?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1973?

    The best NBA players in 1973 were Dave Cowens, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Spencer Haywood, Nate Archibald and Jerry West.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1973, the best soccer players were Johan Cruyff, Dino Zoff, Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, Billy Bremner, Kazimierz Deyna, Eusébio, Gianni Rivera, Gunter Netzer and Ralf Edström.
  • The Sting.

    The Sting

    "The Sting" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1973.
  • Roberta Flack - "Killing Me Softly with His Song"

    Roberta Flack - "Killing Me Softly with His Song"

    "Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Roberta Flack won a Grammy for 1973's Song of the Year.
  • 1973 in movies.

    1973 in movies

    Movies released in 1973 included The Sting, The Exorcist, American Graffiti, Papillon, The Way We Were, Charlotte's Web, Magnum Force, Last Tango in Paris, Live and Let Die, Robin Hood, Paper Moon, The Wicker Man, The Legend of Hell House and Badlands.
  • John Sirica.

    John Sirica

    John Sirica was named Time Person of the Year in 1973. Sirica was the judge who ordered US President Richard Nixon to hand over the Watergate-related recordings.
  • 1973 in music.

    1973 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1973 were dominated by Marvin Gaye, Carly Simon, Dawn & Tony Orlando, Eddie Kendricks, Elton John, Roberta Flack, Paul McCartney and Wings, Clint Holmes, Billy Preston, Cher, Jim Croce and Diana Ross.
  • Music cassette tapes are becoming popular.

    Music cassette tapes are becoming popular

    Audio cassettes started becoming widespread from about 1972 onward. Although they lacked the sound quality of vinyl records, they were far more convenient and portable.
  • Color TV surpasses black-and-white.

    Color TV surpasses black-and-white

    Sales of color TV sets were beginning to surpass sales of the older black-and-white models. By this stage, almost all of the popular daytime networks were broadcasting in color.
  • Have a nice day!

    Have a nice day!

    The smiley face and phrases such as "Have a nice day!" and "Have a happy day!" were being plastered onto t-shirts, mugs, and badges.
  • Wallpaper.

    Wallpaper

    Wallpaper was extremely common in people's homes throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It wasn't until the mid-late 1980s that "modernism" started to creep in.
  • Office workers are using typewriters.

    Office workers are using typewriters

    Although personal computers began to emerge during the 1970s, typewriters were still the norm for most office workers.
  • The Volkswagen Beetle.

    The Volkswagen Beetle

    The Volkswagen Beetle was one of the most common cars on the road. Sales of the vehicle increased following the release of the 1968 film The Love Bug (and its subsequent spin-offs).
  • The Hippie movement.

    The Hippie movement

    The hippie counterculture reached its peak during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The movement, which sprung up in opposition to the Vietnam War, was centered around peace, psychedelic music, sexual liberation, bright colors, and drugs such as LSD and marijuana.
  • Lava lamps are all the rage.

    Lava lamps are all the rage

    Sales of lava lamps increased in the late 1960s. It wasn't until the second half of the 1970s that they started to go out of fashion.
  • The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity.

    The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity

    The afro hairstyle took off during the 1960s and early 1970s. Public figures such as Angela Davis, Pam Grier, Jimi Hendrix, and the Jackson 5 were among those who sported the style.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on May 16, 1973.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to May 16, 1973.

  • April 20, 1973: American serial killer Edmund Kemper hands himself into authorities.
  • April 28, 1973:
    • Bobby Charlton plays his final game for Manchester United.
    • Pink Floyd's record-breaking album "The Dark Side of the Moon" hits #1 on the US Billboard chart.
  • April 30, 1973: Watergate scandal: President Richard Nixon announces that White House Counsel John Dean has been fired and that Attorney General Richard Kleindienst has resigned.
  • May 5, 1973: FA Cup Final 1973: Sunderland defeat Leeds United after a goal from Ian Porterfield helps them secure a 1-0 victory.
  • May 10, 1973:
    • The New York Knicks win the 1973 NBA Finals after they defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1.
    • NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain plays his final game.
  • This date: May 16, 1973
  • May 22, 1973: Lord Lambton resigns from the British government over a 'call girl' scandal.
  • May 30, 1973: Football: Ajax win the European Cup after defeating Juventus 1-0.
  • June 15, 1973: Marvin Gaye releases the song "Let's Get It On".

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on May 16, 1973

TV audiences were watching the following shows on May 16, 1973:

TV shows from May 1973.

The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man
Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones
Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H
The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show
Ghost Story
Ghost Story
The Waltons
The Waltons
Maude
Maude
The Rookies
The Rookies
Emergency!
Emergency!
Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs

Cars in 1973

1974 saw the introduction of cars such as the Ford Mustang (second generation), the Mitsubishi Lancer, the Toyota Starlet, the Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna, the Buick Regal, and the Volkswagen Passat.

Cars in 1973.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on May 16, 1973

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1973:

Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Lassie's Rescue Rangers
Lassie's Rescue Rangers
The Adventures of Black Beauty
The Adventures of Black Beauty

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan
The Electric Company
The Electric Company
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Archie's TV Funnies
Archie's TV Funnies
All in the Family
All in the Family
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1973

Toys and games that were popular in 1973:

Baby Alive (doll)
Baby Alive (doll)
Shrinky Dinks
Shrinky Dinks
Magnavox Odyssey
Magnavox Odyssey
Kenner SSP Racers
Kenner SSP Racers
Big Jim (action figure)
Big Jim (action figure)
Uno (card game)
Uno (card game)
The Rock Flowers dolls
The Rock Flowers dolls
Weebles
Weebles
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
Nerf Balls
Nerf Balls
Frisbee
Frisbee
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in May 1973.

Pong 1972
Pong

Were you born on May 16, 1973?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1973.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out May 16, 1979, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 16.

Liberace

Liberace

American pianist Deceased
Born on May 16, 1919
He turned 54 on this day in 1973.

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan

Actor
Born on May 16, 1953
He turned 20 on this day in 1973.

Krist Novoselic

Krist Novoselic

Nirvana
Born on May 16, 1965
He turned 8 on this day in 1973.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson

Singer
Born on May 16, 1966
She turned 7 on this day in 1973.

David Boreanaz

David Boreanaz

Actor
Born on May 16, 1969
He turned 4 on this day in 1973.

Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson

TV presenter
Born on May 16, 1969
He turned 4 on this day in 1973.

Melanie Lynskey

Melanie Lynskey

Actress
Born on May 16, 1977
She was born exactly 4 years after this date.

Chris Watts

Chris Watts

Murderer
Born on May 16, 1985
He was born exactly 12 years after this date.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox

American actress
Born on May 16, 1986
She was born exactly 13 years after this date.

Omos

Omos

Wrestler
Born on May 16, 1994
He was born exactly 21 years after this date.

USA

US President

Richard Nixon was the President of the United States on May 16, 1973.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Edward Heath was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Liam Cosgrave was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on May 16, 1973 was most likely conceived around August 23, 1972.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 16, 1973 is close to February 6, 1974.

Submit a comment

Have something to say about this date? Was it your birthday? Or perhaps you have a memory of it?

All comments are moderated. Our system may automatically edit comments to correct misspellings and grammar. We may also remove or redact personal information.

How old was I?

Enter your date of birth below to find out how old you were on May 16, 1973.
This information is not transmitted to our server.

Stats for May 16, 1973

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 16, 1973:

  • 18,796 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,685 weeks have passed.
  • 1,623,978,000 seconds have passed since May 16, 1973.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,894,641,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 837,972,648,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 270,663,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 139,662,108 steps. That's roughly 62,072 miles.
  • 19,487,736 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1973?

Search

It looks like you have reached the end. Try searching for another date.

Random

Random dates

Check out some of these random dates.