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August 20, 1971

August 20, 1971, was a Friday. It was 53 years, 3 months, and 5 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Leo.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on August 20, 1971:

  • United States: "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" by The Bee Gees
  • United Kingdom: "Get It On" by T. Rex

The Billboard Hot 100 on August 20, 1971

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - Bee Gees
  • Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight
  • Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
  • Draggin' The Line - Tommy James
  • You've Got A Friend - James Taylor
Play the top songs from 1971
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1971. Take a trip back to the days of John Lennon, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin and Bill Withers.
The Andromeda Strain

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "The Andromeda Strain".

Facts

This date was 19,456 days ago. Approximately 649 months have passed. It was the 232nd day of 1971, in week 33. The decade was the seventies. People born on this day are currently 53 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 216 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to August 20, 1971

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Friday, August 20, 1971. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Leo. People have "that Friday feeling" and are excited for the weekend.

The summer of 1971 is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner. In America, the song "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" by The Bee Gees is at the top of the singles charts, while "Get It On" by T. Rex is the number-one song in the UK. Richard Nixon is the President of the United States, and the movie The Andromeda Strain 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 1971, so radio stations are playing songs from artists such as George Harrison, John Lennon, Rod Stewart, Lynn Anderson, The Rolling Stones, Three Dog Night, Carole King and The Osmonds.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as J. Edgar Hoover, Jackie Robinson, Janet Munro, and Harry S. Truman would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Columbo", "Here's Lucy", "Room 222", and "The Odd Couple". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The Bugs Bunny Show", "The Banana Splits", "Sesame Street", and "Josie and the Pussycats".

Popular toys at the moment include Motorific (slot car toys), Clackers, Crissy (doll), and the Rock Flowers dolls.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 20, 1971, will have the star sign Leo.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1971 was the year of the Pig (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 20, 1971 falls under the Salmon.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of August will have the birthstone Peridot.
  • Birth flower (August): The Gladiolus and the Poppy.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on August 20, 1971.

  • 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.
  • Bell-bottoms.

    Bell-bottoms

    Bell-bottoms (flares) were in fashion.
  • The Vietnam War is still ongoing.

    The Vietnam War is still ongoing

    During 1971, the war in Vietnam was still ongoing. However, the US was beginning to wind down its presence in the country. Between 1970 and 1971, the number of US troops in Vietnam fell from 334,600 to 156,800.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1971?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1971?

    The best NBA players in 1971 were Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), John Havlicek, Billy Cunningham, Jerry West and Dave Bing.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1971, the best soccer players were Johan Cruyff, Sandro Mazzola, George Best, Günter Netzer, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Josip Skoblar, Martin Chivers, Piet Keizer, Bobby Moore and Ferenc Bene.
  • The French Connection.

    The French Connection

    "The French Connection" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1971.
  • James Taylor & Carole King - "You've Got a Friend"

    James Taylor & Carole King - "You've Got a Friend"

    "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor & Carole King won a Grammy for 1971's Song of the Year.
  • 1971 in movies.

    1971 in movies

    Movies released in 1971 included Fiddler on the Roof, The French Connection, Dirty Harry, Diamonds Are Forever, Billy Jack, Summer of '42, The Last Picture Show, Carnal Knowledge, A Clockwork Orange, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Harold and Maude, Klute and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
  • Richard Nixon.

    Richard Nixon

    US President Richard Nixon was named Time Person of the Year in 1971.
  • 1971 in music.

    1971 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1971 were dominated by the likes of Dawn, Three Dog Night, Rod Stewart, The Bee Gees, Carole King, Melanie, The Osmonds, The Temptations, The Raiders, Isaac Hayes, Donny Osmond and Cher.
  • 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.
  • Color TV.

    Color TV

    Although color television was rising in popularity, black-and-white TV sets were still the most popular.
  • The push-button telephone.

    The push-button telephone

    Push-button telephones were beginning to replace the older rotary-style landlines.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on August 20, 1971.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to August 20, 1971.

  • July 30, 1971: 162 people are killed when All Nippon Airways Flight 58 collides with a Japanese fighter jet.
  • July 31, 1971: Donny Osmond releases his single "Go Away Little Girl".
  • August 1, 1971: The first episode of the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour is aired on CBS.
  • August 9, 1971: Internment: British government forces arrest hundreds of Irish nationalists and detain them without trial.
  • August 14, 1971: Soccer: Kevin Keegan makes his debut for Liverpool.
  • This date: August 20, 1971
  • August 21, 1971: 6 people are left dead following an escape attempt and riot at San Quentin State Prison in California.
  • August 22, 1971: "The Camden 28" are arrested while attempting to sabotage the Vietnam War draft process in Camden, New Jersey.
  • September 3, 1971: Qatar becomes an independent state following an agreement with the United Kingdom.
  • September 4, 1971: 111 people die when Alaska Airlines Flight 1866 crashes in Alaska.
  • September 9, 1971:
    • The Attica Prison riot begins in New York.
    • English musician John Lennon releases his album "Imagine".
  • September 13, 1971: A revolt at Attica Prison in New York comes to an end after the prison is stormed by state police and the National Guard.
  • September 15, 1971: The first ever Greenpeace ship sets sail.
  • September 17, 1971: The first episode of the action comedy series "The Persuaders!" is aired on television.
  • September 18, 1971: Golf: The United States wins the 1971 Ryder Cup at the Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on August 20, 1971

People in August 1971 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from August 1971.

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
All in the Family
All in the Family
Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Flip Wilson Show
The Flip Wilson Show
McCloud
McCloud
Nanny and the Professor
Nanny and the Professor
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
Medical Center
Medical Center

Cars in 1971

1971 saw the introduction of cars such as the Buick Centurion, the Subaru Leone, the AMC Matador, the Morris Marina, the Alpine A310, and the Pontiac Grand Safari.

Cars in 1971.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on August 20, 1971

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1971:

All in the Family
All in the Family
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Groovie Goolies
Groovie Goolies

Josie and the Pussycats
Josie and the Pussycats
Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Clangers
The Clangers
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines
Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines
Cattanooga Cats
Cattanooga Cats
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1971

Toys and games that were popular in 1971:

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
Crissy (doll)
Crissy (doll)
Clackers
Clackers
Battleship (game)
Battleship (game)
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite
Twister mat
Twister mat
Suzy Homemaker
Suzy Homemaker

Were you born on August 20, 1971?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1971.

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 August 20, 1977, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on August 20.

Ron Paul

Ron Paul

US politician
Born on August 20, 1935
He turned 36 on this day in 1971.

Slobodan Milošević

Slobodan Milošević

Yugoslav and Serbian politician Deceased
Born on August 20, 1941
He turned 30 on this day in 1971.

Robert Plant

Robert Plant

Musician
Born on August 20, 1948
He turned 23 on this day in 1971.

Phil Lynott

Phil Lynott

Irish musician Deceased
Born on August 20, 1949
He turned 22 on this day in 1971.

Dimebag Darrell

Dimebag Darrell

Musician Deceased
Born on August 20, 1966
He turned 5 on this day in 1971.

Fred Durst

Fred Durst

Singer
Born on August 20, 1970
He turned 1 on this day in 1971.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato

Singer
Born on August 20, 1992
She was born exactly 21 years after this date.

USA

US President

Richard Nixon was the President of the United States on August 20, 1971.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Edward Heath was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Jack Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on August 20, 1971 was most likely conceived around November 27, 1970.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 20, 1971 is close to May 12, 1972.

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Stats for August 20, 1971

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 20, 1971:

  • 19,456 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,779 weeks have passed.
  • 1,681,002,000 seconds have passed since August 20, 1971.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,961,169,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 867,397,032,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 280,167,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 144,566,172 steps. That's roughly 64,252 miles.
  • 20,172,024 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1971?

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