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August 9, 1981

August 9, 1981, was a Sunday. It was 43 years, 2 months, and 27 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Leo.

Song charts

Music charts

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on August 9, 1981:

  • United States: "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield
  • United Kingdom: "Green Door" by Shakin' Stevens

The Billboard Hot 100 on August 9, 1981

These were the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
  • Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
  • Theme From "Greatest American Hero" (Believe It or Not) - Joey Scarbury
  • I Don't Need You - Kenny Rogers
  • Elvira - The Oak Ridge Boys
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.
Raiders of the Lost Ark

Top movie at the box office

The movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was at the top of the box office on August 9, 1981.

Facts

This date occurred 15,794 days ago. Approximately 526 months have passed. It was the 221st day of 1981, in week 32. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on August 9, 1981, are now 43 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. The Earth has experienced 175 seasons of weather since then.

Take me back to August 9, 1981

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

The date is August 9, 1981, and it's a Sunday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Leo. People are currently enjoying their weekend. However, because it's a Sunday, some are dreading the week ahead.

The summer of 1981 is in full swing. The weather is warm, and the evenings are brighter than usual. Most schools and colleges are now finished until August or September. In America, the song "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield is at the top of the singles charts, while "Green Door" by Shakin' Stevens is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark 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 "Columbo", "The Two Ronnies", "WKRP in Cincinnati", and "The Dukes of Hazzard". 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 Bill Shankly, William Holden, Natalie Wood, and John Belushi would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Breakout", "Galaxian", "Pac-Man", and "Missile Command".

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Sesame Street", "Schoolhouse Rock!", "Happy Days", and "Mork & Mindy". Children are playing with toys such as Dungeons & Dragons, Cabbage Patch Kids, the Big Wheel (tricycle), and Space Lego.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 9, 1981, will have the star sign Leo.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1981 was the year of the Rooster (Yin Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 9.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 9, 1981 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 9, 1981.

  • The AIDS epidemic begins.

    The AIDS epidemic begins

    The AIDS epidemic officially began in the middle of 1981, after the CDC reported that an unusual type of pneumonia had been discovered in five homosexual men in Los Angeles.
  • 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 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 August 9, 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 August 9, 1981.

  • July 10, 1981:
    • The Fox and the Hound (1981) is released.
    • The film Escape from New York (1981) is released.
    • Ken McElroy is murdered in Skidmore, Missouri.
  • July 17, 1981:
    • The movie Arthur (1981) is released in cinemas.
    • Soft Cell release their version of the song "Tainted Love".
    • 114 people are killed after two walkways collapse during a tea dance at the Hyatt Regency Kansas City hotel.
  • July 18, 1981: Over 100 people are injured after a hunger strike demonstration turns violent in Dublin, Ireland.
  • July 27, 1981: The infamous murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh occurs in Hollywood, Florida.
  • July 29, 1981: Prince Charles and Lady Diana are married in London, England.
  • July 30, 1981: Thousands of people take part in several hunger demonstrations across Poland.
  • August 1, 1981:
    • The music channel MTV is launched.
    • Diana Ross and Lionel Richie release the song "Endless Love".
  • August 3, 1981: 13,000 air traffic controllers go on strike in the United States.
  • August 7, 1981: The daily afternoon newspaper "The Washington Star" ceases all operations and files for bankruptcy.
  • This date: August 9, 1981
  • August 10, 1981: The remains of missing 6-year-old boy Adam Walsh are found in a drainage canal in rural Indian River County, Florida.
  • August 12, 1981: The operating system "MS DOS" is released.
  • August 16, 1981: Thin Lizzy headline at Slane.
  • August 19, 1981: Gulf of Sidra incident: Two Libyan fighter jets are shot down by US forces off the Libyan coast.
  • August 21, 1981: The horror comedy film "An American Werewolf in London" is released in movie theaters.
  • August 22, 1981: 110 people die after Far Eastern Air Transport Flight 103 disintegrates over Taiwan.
  • August 24, 1981: Mark Chapman is sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the murder of Beatles singer John Lennon.
  • September 6, 1981: Linebacker Lawrence Taylor makes his NFL debut for the New York Giants.
  • September 8, 1981: The first episode of British sitcom "Only Fools and Horses" is aired.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in August 1981

The following TV shows were popular in August 1981:

TV shows from August 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 August 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 August 1981.

Donkey Kong 1981
Donkey Kong
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 August 9, 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 August 9, 1987, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on August 9.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston

Singer Deceased
Born on August 9, 1963
She turned 18 on this day in 1981.

Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson

Actress
Born on August 9, 1968
She turned 13 on this day in 1981.

Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick

Actress
Born on August 9, 1985
She was born exactly 4 years after this date.

King Von

King Von

Rapper Deceased
Born on August 9, 1994
He was born exactly 13 years after this date.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on August 9, 1981.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Garret FitzGerald was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on August 9, 1981 was most likely conceived around November 16, 1980.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 9, 1981 is close to May 2, 1982.

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Stats for August 9, 1981

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 9, 1981:

  • 15,794 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,256 weeks have passed.
  • 1,364,605,200 seconds have passed since August 9, 1981.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,592,039,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 704,136,283,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 227,434,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 117,356,047 steps. That's roughly 52,158 miles.
  • 16,375,262 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1981?

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