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January 31, 1981

January 31, 1981, was a Saturday. It was 43 years, 1 month, and 19 days ago. The zodiac sign for this date is Aquarius.

Birthdays

Born on January 31, 1981

People who were born on this exact date:

Song charts

Popular songs

On January 31, 1981, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "The Tide Is High" by Blondie
  • United Kingdom: "Imagine" by John Lennon

The music charts on January 31, 1981

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • The Tide Is High - Blondie
  • (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
  • Celebration - Kool & The Gang
  • I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt
  • Every Woman In The World - Air Supply
Play the top singles from 1981
A Spotify playlist of songs from 1981. Let us take you back to the peak days of Kim Wilde, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins and The Police.
Stir Crazy

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Stir Crazy".

Facts

This date occurred 15,753 days ago. Approximately 525 months have passed. It was the 31st day of 1981, in week 05. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on January 31, 1981, are now 43 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 175 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to January 31, 1981

Let's go back to the eighties.

The date is January 31, 1981, and it's a Saturday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Aquarius. The work week is over and Saturday has finally come, so people are spending time with their kids, going to bars, shopping, playing video games, and watching sports.

In America, the song "The Tide Is High" by Blondie is at the top of the singles charts, while "Imagine" by John Lennon is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie Stir Crazy is at the top of the box office. Margaret Thatcher is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Quincy, M.E.", "The Facts of Life", "Hart to Hart", and "Knots Landing". 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. Because it's 1981, the radio stations are being dominated by artists such as Kim Carnes, Soft Cell, Phil Collins, John Lennon, Stars On 45, Diana Ross and Olivia Newton-John.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Bob Marley, Terry Fox, Adam Walsh, and Bill Shankly would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Lunar Lander", "Galaxian", "Pac-Man", and "Missile Command". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "The Bugs Bunny Show", "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids", and "Battle of the Planets".

Children are playing with toys such as Lego Technic, Simon (memory game), the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine, and Intellivision (games console).

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 31, 1981.

  • The Iran hostage crisis comes to an end.

    The Iran hostage crisis comes to an end

    On January 20th, 1981, 52 American diplomats and citizens were released by Iran after spending 444 days in captivity.
  • 1981 in music.

    1981 in music

    Popular music artists in 1981 included Kim Carnes, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Rick Springfield, Kool & the Gang, Hall & Oates, Eddie Rabbitt, Dolly Parton and REO Speedwagon.
  • The Rubik's Cube.

    The Rubik's Cube

    The Rubik's Cube became a craze in 1981 and 1982. The toy was so popular that books on how to solve it regularly made it into the top ten selling books list.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1981?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1981?

    The best NBA players in 1981 were Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin and Dennis Johnson.
  • 1981 in movies.

    1981 in movies

    Movies released in 1981 included Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Superman II, Arthur, Stripes, The Cannonball Run, Chariots of Fire, For Your Eyes Only, The Four Seasons, Escape from New York, The Evil Dead, Mad Max 2, An American Werewolf in London and Time Bandits.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1981, the best soccer players were Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Paul Breitner, Bernd Schuster, Michel Platini, Oleg Blokhin, Dino Zoff, Ramaz Shengelia, Alexsandr Chivadze, Liam Brady and John Wark.
  • Chariots of Fire.

    Chariots of Fire

    "Chariots of Fire" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1981.
  • Lech Walesa.

    Lech Walesa

    The architect of the Gdansk Agreement, Lech Walesa, was named Time Person of the Year in 1981.
  • Kim Carnes - "Bette Davis Eyes"

    Kim Carnes - "Bette Davis Eyes"

    "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes won a Grammy for 1981's Song of the Year.
  • Iran-Iraq War.

    Iran-Iraq War

    Between September 1980 and August 1988, an armed conflict was being fought between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iraqi Republic.
  • 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.
  • 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 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 January 31, 1981.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around January 31, 1981.

  • January 2, 1981: Serial killer Peter Sutcliffe (The Yorkshire Ripper) is arrested.
  • January 8, 1981: UFO case: An unidentified flying object leaves physical evidence in a field outside of Trans-en-Provence in France.
  • January 16, 1981: Irish civil rights leader Bernadette McAliskey is wounded after loyalist gunmen break into her home in Tyrone and shoot her.
  • January 19, 1981:
    • Iran hostage crisis: Iran and the United States reach a deal to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity.
    • 22-year-old American photographer Francesca Woodman commits suicide.
    • Boxing legend Muhammad Ali talks a suicidal man down off a ledge in Los Angeles.
  • January 20, 1981:
    • Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States.
    • Iran releases 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity.
  • January 21, 1981: The first production car of the DMC DeLorean is completed.
  • January 25, 1981: Super Bowl XV: The Oakland Raiders defeat the Philadelphia Eagles at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • This date: January 31, 1981
  • February 8, 1981: Karaiskakis Stadium disaster: 21 soccer fans are trampled to death during a game between Olympiacos and AEK Athens in Greece.
  • February 13, 1981: Over 20KM of sewer lines and streets are destroyed in Louisville, Kentucky after hexane vapors from a processing plant cause a series of explosions.
  • February 14, 1981: 48 people are killed after a fire breaks out at the Stardust nightclub in Dublin, Ireland.
  • February 23, 1981: Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio Tejero attempts a coup d'etat in Spain.
  • February 24, 1981: The engagement of Prince Charles and Lady Diana is announced.
  • March 1, 1981: IRA member Bobby Sands begins his hunger strike in prison in Northern Ireland.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 31, 1981, will have the star sign Aquarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1981 was the year of the Rooster (Yin Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 31, 1981 falls under the Otter.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of January will have the birthstone Garnet.
  • Birth flower (January): The Carnation and the Snowdrop.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in January 1981

In January 1981, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from January 1981.

Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
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
Soap
Soap
Eight Is Enough
Eight Is Enough
Three's Company
Three's Company
Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E.
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley
Barney Miller
Barney Miller
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
Happy Days
Happy Days
Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H
The Waltons
The Waltons
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies

Cars in 1981

1981 saw the introduction of cars such as the Chevrolet Cavalier, the DMC DeLorean, the Honda City, the Nissan Maxima, the BMW 5 Series (E28), and the Chevrolet Camaro (third generation).

Cars in 1981.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in January 1981

If you were a kid on January 31, 1981, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

Thundarr the Barbarian
Thundarr the Barbarian
Cockleshell Bay
Cockleshell Bay
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon

Mork & Mindy
Mork & Mindy
Battle of the Planets
Battle of the Planets
The All New Popeye Hour
The All New Popeye Hour
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
Happy Days
Happy Days
Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Toys

Toys in 1981

If you were a child on this date, then you may have had some of the following toys:

Space Lego
Space Lego
Fischer Price cassette player
Fischer Price cassette player
Monchhichi / Chicaboo
Monchhichi / Chicaboo
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
Star Wars action figures
Star Wars action figures
Lego Technic
Lego Technic
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Magna Doodle
Magna Doodle
Big Jim (action figure)
Big Jim (action figure)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite
Operation
Operation
The Easy-Bake Oven
The Easy-Bake Oven
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in January 1981.

Missile Command 1980
Missile Command
Pac-Man 1980
Pac-Man
Galaxian 1980
Galaxian
Asteroids 1979
Asteroids
Lunar Lander 1979
Lunar Lander
Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders
Breakout 1976
Breakout

Were you born on January 31, 1981?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1981.

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 January 31, 1987, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on January 31.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson

Baseball player Deceased
Born on January 31, 1919
He was not alive on this date.

Giant Gonzalez

Giant Gonzalez

Wrestler Deceased
Born on January 31, 1966
He turned 15 on this day in 1981.

Josh Richards

Josh Richards

TikTok user
Born on January 31, 2002
He was born exactly 21 years after this date.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on January 31, 1981.

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 January 31, 1981 was most likely conceived around May 10, 1980.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 31, 1981 is close to October 24, 1981.

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Stats for January 31, 1981

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 31, 1981:

  • 15,753 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,250 weeks have passed.
  • 1,361,059,200 seconds have passed since January 31, 1981.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,587,902,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 702,306,547,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 226,843,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 117,051,091 steps. That's roughly 52,023 miles!
  • Since this date, 16,332,710 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1981?

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