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May 17, 1981

May 17, 1981, was a Sunday. It was 43 years, 5 months, and 28 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on May 17, 1981:

  • United States: "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes
  • United Kingdom: "Stand And Deliver" by Adam & Ants

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 17, 1981

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
  • Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington, Jr. (With Bill Withers)
  • Being With You - Smokey Robinson
  • Angel Of The Morning - Juice Newton
  • Morning Train (Nine To Five) - Sheena Easton
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.
Happy Birthday to Me

Top movie

The movie "Happy Birthday to Me" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 15,887 days ago. Approximately 530 months have passed. It was the 137th day of 1981, in week 20. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on May 17, 1981, are now 43 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. We have gone through approximately 177 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to May 17, 1981

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is May 17, 1981, and it's a Sunday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Taurus. People are currently enjoying their weekend. However, because it's a Sunday, some are dreading the week ahead.

The summer of 1981 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 "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes is at the top of the singles charts, while "Stand And Deliver" by Adam & Ants is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie Happy Birthday to Me 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 "Charlie's Angels", "Chips", "Dallas", and "Archie Bunker's Place". 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 Terry Fox, Adam Walsh, Bill Shankly, and William Holden would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Breakout", "Space Invaders", "Pac-Man", and "Missile Command".

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Captain Kangaroo", "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", "Battle of the Planets", and "Mork & Mindy". Children are playing with toys such as Lite-Brite, the Atari 2600, Simon (memory game), and Screwball Scramble.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 17, 1981, will have the star sign Taurus.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1981 was the year of the Rooster (Yin Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 5.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 17, 1981 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 17, 1981.

  • 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 May 17, 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 May 17, 1981.

  • April 27, 1981: The first PC with a computer mouse is released by Xerox.
  • May 1, 1981: The horror movie Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981) is released.
  • May 5, 1981: Provisional IRA member Bobby Sands dies while on hunger strike in prison.
  • May 11, 1981: Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley dies from cancer at the age of 38.
  • May 12, 1981: Provisional IRA hunger striker Francis Hughes dies in prison.
  • May 13, 1981: A man attempts to assassinate Pope John Paul II.
  • May 14, 1981:
    • FA Cup Final 1981: Tottenham Hotspur defeat Manchester City 3-2 in a replay.
    • The Boston Celtics win the 1981 NBA Finals after they defeat the Houston Rockets 4-2.
  • May 15, 1981: American serial killer Lemuel Smith murders a female correctional officer by the name of Donna Payant.
  • This date: May 17, 1981
  • May 21, 1981: The state funeral of reggae singer Bob Marley takes place in Jamaica.
  • May 22, 1981: Peter Sutcliffe is found guilty of being the Yorkshire Ripper.
  • May 24, 1981: Ecuadorian President Jaime Roldós Aguilera and his wife, Martha Bucaram, are killed in a plane crash.
  • May 27, 1981: Football: Liverpool win the European Cup after defeating Real Madrid 1-0.
  • May 30, 1981: Bangladeshi president Ziaur Rahman is assassinated by a group of army officers in Chittagong.
  • June 4, 1981: The final episode of The Waltons is aired on television.
  • June 5, 1981: News of AIDS begins to spread, as the CDC issues a report about a rare case of "pneumonia" that has been found in five homosexual men.
  • June 7, 1981: Israel carries out an airstrike on an Iraqi nuclear reactor.
  • June 9, 1981: Soccer: Ron Atkinson becomes the new manager of Manchester United.
  • June 10, 1981: IRA member Joe Doherty and seven other prisoners escape from Crumlin Road Jail in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  • June 12, 1981: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is released in theaters.
  • June 13, 1981: A 17-year-old man is arrested after he fires six blank cartridges at Queen Elizabeth in London.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on May 17, 1981

People in May 1981 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from May 1981.

The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Dynasty
Dynasty
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

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 May 1981

Children and teenagers were watching the following cartoons and TV series:

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

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
Happy Days
Happy Days
Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Toys

Toys in 1981

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

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)
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in May 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 May 17, 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 May 17, 1987, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 17.

Dennis Hopper

Dennis Hopper

Actor Deceased
Born on May 17, 1936
He turned 45 on this day in 1981.

Bill Paxton

Bill Paxton

Actor Deceased
Born on May 17, 1955
He turned 26 on this day in 1981.

Bob Saget

Bob Saget

Comedian / Actor Deceased
Born on May 17, 1956
He turned 25 on this day in 1981.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxer
Born on May 17, 1956
He turned 25 on this day in 1981.

Enya

Enya

Irish singer
Born on May 17, 1961
She turned 20 on this day in 1981.

Tahj Mowry

Tahj Mowry

Actor
Born on May 17, 1986
He was born exactly 5 years after this date.

Charlotte Crosby

Charlotte Crosby

English TV personality
Born on May 17, 1990
She was born exactly 9 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on May 17:

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on May 17, 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 May 17, 1981 was most likely conceived around August 24, 1980.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 17, 1981 is close to February 7, 1982.

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Stats for May 17, 1981

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 17, 1981:

  • 15,887 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,269 weeks have passed.
  • 1,372,640,400 seconds have passed since May 17, 1981.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,601,413,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 708,282,446,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 228,773,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 118,047,074 steps. That's roughly 52,465 miles.
  • 16,471,685 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1981?

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