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May 16, 1980

May 16, 1980, was a Friday. It was 43 years, 11 months, and 4 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on May 16, 1980:

  • The Los Angeles Lakers win the 1980 NBA Finals after they defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2.
  • The teen drama film "Fame" is released.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on May 16, 1980:

  • United States: "Call Me" by Blondie
  • United Kingdom: "What's Another Year" by Johnny Logan

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 16, 1980

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Call Me - Blondie
  • Ride Like The Wind - Christopher Cross
  • Lost In Love - Air Supply
  • With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston & Syreeta
  • Another Brick In The Wall (Part II) - Pink Floyd
Play the top songs from 1980
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1980. Take a trip back to the days of Kool & The Gang, ABBA, Air Supply, Blondie and Queen.
Friday the 13th

Top movie

The movie "Friday the 13th" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date was 16,045 days ago. Approximately 535 months have passed. It was the 137th day of 1980, in week 20. The decade was the eighties. People born on this day are currently 43 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 1980 had 366 days because it was a leap year. We have gone through approximately 178 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to May 16, 1980

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Friday, May 16, 1980. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Taurus. People have "that Friday feeling" and are excited for the weekend.

The summer of 1980 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 "Call Me" by Blondie is at the top of the singles charts, while "What's Another Year" by Johnny Logan is the number-one song in the UK. Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Friday the 13th is at the top of the box office.

Margaret Thatcher is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Because it's 1980, the radio stations are being dominated by artists such as Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, John Lennon, Lipps Inc, Diana Ross, Blondie and Kenny Rogers. In fashion, women are wearing jelly shoes, turtleneck sweaters, loose high-waist pants, crop tops, and puffer jackets lined with fur. Meanwhile, men have been ditching the disco look of the 1970s in favor of athletic clothing such as tracksuits and sports jerseys. The "preppy" look has also been making a comeback.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Ian Curtis, Dorothy Stratten, Steve McQueen, and John Lennon would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Happy Days", "Three's Company", "The Incredible Hulk", and "Trapper John, M.D.". Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Breakout", "Lunar Lander", "Asteroids", and "Galaxian".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The Bugs Bunny Show", "The Muppet Show", "Casper and the Angels", and "The New Adventures of Flash Gordon". Popular toys at the moment include Dungeons & Dragons, Speak & Spell, Screwball Scramble, and Strawberry Shortcake dolls.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 16, 1980.

  • Fame is showing at movie theaters.

    Fame is showing at movie theaters

    The teen drama film "Fame" was playing at movie theaters at this time.
  • 1980 in music.

    1980 in music

    Popular music artists in 1980 included Blondie, Pink Floyd, Billy Joel, Olivia Newton-John, Michael Jackson, Captain & Tennille, Queen, Paul McCartney and Lipps Inc.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1980?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1980?

    The best NBA players in 1980 were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, George Gervin and Paul Westphal.
  • Early 1980s fashion.

    Early 1980s fashion

    The early 1980s saw a minimalist approach to fashion, with some trends carrying over from the late 1970s. Sweaters, fur-lined puffer jackets, tunics, ripped jeans, leotards, velour tracksuits, tube tops, knee-length skirts, high-waisted pants, and embroidered jeans were all popular. The colors during the early 1980s were subdued, quiet, and basic. Varying shades of brown, tan, and orange were in fashion.
  • 1980 in movies.

    1980 in movies

    Movies released in 1980 included The Empire Strikes Back, 9 to 5, Friday the 13th, Stir Crazy, Airplane!, Any Which Way You Can, Caddyshack, Private Benjamin, Coal Miner's Daughter, Smokey and the Bandit II, The Blue Lagoon, The Blues Brothers, The Shining and The Fog.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1980, the best soccer players were Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bernd Schuster, Michel Platini, Wilfried Van Moer, Jan Ceulemans, Horst Hrubesch, Herbert Prohaska, Hansi Müller, Liam Brady, Manfred Kaltz and Erwin Vandenbergh.
  • Ordinary People.

    Ordinary People

    The film "Ordinary People" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1980.
  • Ronald Reagan.

    Ronald Reagan

    Ronald Reagan was named the Time Person of the Year in 1980 after he defeated incumbent President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 United States presidential election.
  • Christopher Cross - "Sailing"

    Christopher Cross - "Sailing"

    The song "Sailing" by Christopher Cross won a Grammy for 1980's Song of the Year.
  • Computers are replacing typewriters.

    Computers are replacing typewriters

    Desktop computers were beginning to replace typewriters in offices.
  • TV remotes.

    TV remotes

    Although TV remotes existed, many homes didn't have one. Infrared technology was still relatively new.
  • The Atari 2600.

    The Atari 2600

    The Atari 2600 was the dominant video game system.
  • The Iran hostage crisis.

    The Iran hostage crisis

    The Iran hostage crisis was ongoing. Between November 4th, 1979, and January 20th, 1981, 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Iran. The hostages were taken into captivity after a group of Iranian college students stormed the US embassy in Tehran.
  • The Atlanta murders of 1979–1981.

    The Atlanta murders of 1979–1981

    During this time, the Atlanta murders of 1979–1981 were taking place. At least 28 children and young adults were murdered before Wayne Williams was eventually arrested and convicted.
  • The Walkman.

    The Walkman

    In the late 1970s and 1980s, portable cassette players such as the "Sony Walkman" were becoming more common.
  • 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.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on May 16, 1980.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to May 16, 1980.

  • April 24, 1980: Operation Eagle Claw: U.S. President Jimmy Carter aborts an attempt to rescue 52 hostages in Iran.
  • April 25, 1980: Dan-Air Flight 1008 crashes in Tenerife, killing 146 people.
  • April 26, 1980: 14-year-old Laureen Rahn goes missing from her apartment in Manchester, New Hampshire.
  • April 29, 1980: English film director Alfred Hitchcock passes away at the age of 80.
  • April 30, 1980: Six Iranian-born terrorists take over the Iranian embassy in London.
  • May 4, 1980: Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito dies.
  • May 9, 1980: Friday the 13th (1980) is released.
  • May 10, 1980: FA Cup 1980: West Ham win the FA Cup after a goal from Trevor Brooking helps them secure 1-0 victory over Arsenal.
  • May 14, 1980: 4 white police officers are found not guilty of killing a black insurance executive called Arthur McDuffie. Their acquittal sets off riots in Miami.
  • This date: May 16, 1980
  • May 18, 1980:
    • The eruption of Mount St. Helens occurs.
    • Joy Division singer Ian Curtis hangs himself.
  • May 21, 1980: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is released.
  • May 23, 1980:
    • The Shining (1980) is released in cinemas.
    • NBA player Terry Furlow dies in a car accident in Linndale, Ohio.
  • May 25, 1980: 13-year-old Philippe Pignot goes missing in La Morte in southeastern France.
  • May 26, 1980: 2,000 people are killed in South Korea when military forces clash with pro-democracy protesters.
  • May 27, 1980: American mobster Henry Hill agrees to become an informant.
  • May 28, 1980: Football: Nottingham Forest win the European Cup after defeating Hamburg 1-0.
  • June 1, 1980: CNN is launched.
  • June 3, 1980: A bomb explodes in the museum at the base of the Statue of Liberty.
  • June 9, 1980: Comedian Richard Pryor is badly burned while trying to freebase cocaine.
  • June 10, 1980: The President of United Airlines, Percy Woods, is injured by a bomb sent by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 16, 1980, will have the star sign Taurus.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1980 was the year of the Monkey (Yang Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 3.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 16, 1980 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.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on May 16, 1980

TV audiences were watching the following shows on May 16, 1980:

TV shows from May 1980.

Knots Landing
Knots Landing
Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place
Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D.
Hart to Hart
Hart to Hart
The Facts of Life
The Facts of Life
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
Taxi
Taxi
Dallas
Dallas
The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
The Love Boat
The Love Boat
Chips
Chips

Cars in 1980

1980 saw the introduction of cars such as the Audi Coupé, the Dodge Mirada, the North American variant of the Ford Escort, the Fiat Panda, the Nissan Leopard, and the Lincoln Town Car.

Cars in 1980.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on May 16, 1980

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1980:

Cockleshell Bay
Cockleshell Bay
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
Casper and the Angels
Casper and the Angels

Rickety Rocket
Rickety Rocket
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Mork & Mindy
Mork & Mindy
Battle of the Planets
Battle of the Planets
The All New Popeye Hour
The All New Popeye Hour
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
Happy Days
Happy Days
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1980

Toys and games that were popular in 1980:

Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube
Strawberry Shortcake dolls
Strawberry Shortcake dolls
The Big Wheel (tricycle)
The Big Wheel (tricycle)
Intellivision (games console)
Intellivision (games console)
The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
Screwball Scramble
Screwball Scramble
Cabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Kids
Speak & Spell
Speak & Spell
Simon (memory game)
Simon (memory game)
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Water Ring Toss
Water Ring Toss
The Atari 2600
The Atari 2600
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in May 1980.

Galaxian 1980
Galaxian
Asteroids 1979
Asteroids
Lunar Lander 1979
Lunar Lander
Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders
Breakout 1976
Breakout

Were you born on May 16, 1980?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1980.

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, 1986, 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 61 on this day in 1980.

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan

Actor
Born on May 16, 1953
He turned 27 on this day in 1980.

Krist Novoselic

Krist Novoselic

Nirvana
Born on May 16, 1965
He turned 15 on this day in 1980.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson

Singer
Born on May 16, 1966
She turned 14 on this day in 1980.

David Boreanaz

David Boreanaz

Actor
Born on May 16, 1969
He turned 11 on this day in 1980.

Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson

TV presenter
Born on May 16, 1969
He turned 11 on this day in 1980.

Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling

Actress
Born on May 16, 1973
She turned 7 on this day in 1980.

Wee Man

Wee Man

Stunt performer
Born on May 16, 1973
He turned 7 on this day in 1980.

Melanie Lynskey

Melanie Lynskey

Actress
Born on May 16, 1977
She turned 3 on this day in 1980.

Chris Watts

Chris Watts

Murderer
Born on May 16, 1985
He was born exactly 5 years after this date.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox

American actress
Born on May 16, 1986
She was born exactly 6 years after this date.

Omos

Omos

Wrestler
Born on May 16, 1994
He was born exactly 14 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on May 16, 1980.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Charles Haughey was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on May 16, 1980 was most likely conceived around August 24, 1979.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 16, 1980 is close to February 6, 1981.

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Stats for May 16, 1980

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 16, 1980:

  • 16,045 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,292 weeks have passed.
  • 1,386,288,000 seconds have passed since May 16, 1980.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,617,336,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 715,324,608,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 231,048,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 119,220,768 steps. That's roughly 52,987 miles.
  • 16,635,456 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1980?

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