BestOfDate

January 31, 1980

January 31, 1980, was a Thursday. It was 44 years, 9 months, and 10 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Aquarius.

Song charts

Popular songs

On January 31, 1980, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson
  • United Kingdom: "Too Much Too Young" by Specials

The music charts on January 31, 1980

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Rock With You - Michael Jackson
  • Do That To Me One More Time - Captain & Tennille
  • Coward Of The County - Kenny Rogers
  • Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
  • Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson
Play the top singles 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.
Kramer vs. Kramer

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Kramer vs. Kramer".

Facts

This date occurred 16,355 days ago. Approximately 545 months have passed. It was the 31st day of 1980, in week 05. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on January 31, 1980, are now 44 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 1980 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. 182 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to January 31, 1980

Let's go back to the eighties.

The date is January 31, 1980, and it's a Thursday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Aquarius. In America, the song "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson is at the top of the singles charts, while "Too Much Too Young" by Specials is the number-one song in the UK.

Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Kramer vs. Kramer 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 "The Two Ronnies", "Barnaby Jones", "The Incredible Hulk", and "WKRP in Cincinnati".

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 Alfred Hitchcock, Ian Curtis, Dorothy Stratten, and Steve McQueen would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Breakout", "Space Invaders", "Lunar Lander", and "Asteroids". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Sesame Street", "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids", "The Muppet Show", and "Diff'rent Strokes". Children are playing with toys such as Lite-Brite, the Atari 2600, Speak & Spell, and Screwball Scramble.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 31, 1980, will have the star sign Aquarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1980 was the year of the Monkey (Yang Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 5.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 31, 1980 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.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 31, 1980.

  • 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 January 31, 1980.

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, 1980.

  • January 3, 1980: Animal rights activist Joy Adamson is murdered in Kenya.
  • January 20, 1980: Super Bowl XIV: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Los Angeles Rams by 31-19 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
  • January 21, 1980: 128 people are killed when Iran Air Flight 291 crashes in the Alborz Mountains.
  • January 27, 1980: Six US diplomats escape Iran while posing as Canadians. In 2012, the story is made into a movie called Argo.
  • January 30, 1980: The Rubik's Cube makes its international debut.
  • This date: January 31, 1980
  • February 1, 1980: UB40 release their debut single "Food for Thought".
  • February 6, 1980: The trial of serial killer John Wayne Gacy begins in Cook County, Illinois.
  • February 9, 1980: Serial killer Ted Bundy marries Carole Ann Boone during his trial for the murder of 12-year-old Kimberly Leach.
  • February 10, 1980: Ted Bundy is sentenced to death for the third time after he is found guilty of the murder of 12-year-old Kimberly Leach.
  • February 13, 1980: American actor David Janssen passes away after a heart attack.
  • February 19, 1980: AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott dies of acute alcohol poisoning.
  • February 21, 1980: The World Wrestling Federation is incorporated.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in January 1980

In January 1980, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from January 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

Cartoons and children's TV shows in January 1980

If you were a kid on January 31, 1980, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

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
Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Toys

Toys in 1980

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

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 January 1980.

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

Were you born on January 31, 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 January 31, 1986, 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 14 on this day in 1980.

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake

Singer
Born on January 31, 1981
He was born exactly one year after this date.

Gemma Collins

Gemma Collins

English media personality
Born on January 31, 1981
She was born exactly one year after this date.

Josh Richards

Josh Richards

TikTok user
Born on January 31, 2002
He was born exactly 22 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on January 31, 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 January 31, 1980 was most likely conceived around May 10, 1979.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 31, 1980 is close to October 23, 1980.

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Stats for January 31, 1980

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 31, 1980:

  • 16,355 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,336 weeks have passed.
  • 1,413,072,000 seconds have passed since January 31, 1980.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,648,584,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 729,145,152,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 235,512,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 121,524,192 steps. That's roughly 54,011 miles.
  • 16,956,864 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1980?

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