BestOfDate

December 8, 1981

December 8, 1981, was a Tuesday. It was 42 years, 3 months, and 21 days ago. The zodiac sign for this date is Sagittarius.

Song charts

Music charts

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 8, 1981:

  • United States: "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John
  • United Kingdom: "Don't You Want Me" by Human League

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 8, 1981

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

  • Physical - Olivia Newton-John
  • Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
  • Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
  • Oh No - Commodores
  • Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) - Air Supply
Play the top songs 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 December 8, 1981.

Facts

This date was 15,452 days ago. Approximately 515 months have passed. It was the 342nd day of 1981, in week 50. The decade was the eighties. There were only 23 days left in the year. People born on this day are currently 42 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. The Earth has experienced 172 seasons of weather since then.

Take me back to December 8, 1981

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

It is Tuesday, December 8, 1981. Anyone born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. The Christmas season of 1981 has begun.

In America, the song "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John is at the top of the singles charts, while "Don't You Want Me" by Human League 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.

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 John Belushi, Ayn Rand, Peter Maivia, and Grace Kelly would all still be alive.

On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "M*A*S*H", "Barney Miller", "Three's Company", and "The Facts of Life". Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Breakout", "Space Invaders", "Lunar Lander", and "Pac-Man". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The All New Popeye Hour", "Diff'rent Strokes", "Thundarr the Barbarian", and "The Smurfs".

Popular toys at the moment include Operation, the Big Wheel (tricycle), Monchhichi / Chicaboo, and Space Lego.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 8, 1981.

  • Christmas 1981 has begun.

    Christmas 1981 has begun

    The Christmas holiday season of 1981 had just begun. Retailers were starting to play festive music, and decorations were beginning to spring up.
  • 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 December 8, 1981.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to December 8, 1981.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV shows in 1981

The following TV shows were popular in December 1981:

TV shows from December 1981.

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero
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
Three's Company
Three's Company
Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E.
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 Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
Columbo
Columbo

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

Kids TV shows on December 8, 1981

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1981:

Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
The Smurfs
The Smurfs

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
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1981

Toys and games that were popular in 1981:

Fisher-Price Little People (Farm)
Fisher-Price Little People (Farm)
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 December 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 December 8, 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 December 8, 1987, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 8.

Sammy Davis, Jr

Sammy Davis, Jr

Entertainer Deceased
Born on December 8, 1925
He turned 56 on this day in 1981.

Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison

Singer Deceased
Born on December 8, 1943
He was not alive on this date.

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger

Actress
Born on December 8, 1953
She turned 28 on this day in 1981.

Ann Coulter

Ann Coulter

American media pundit
Born on December 8, 1961
She turned 20 on this day in 1981.

Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher

Actress
Born on December 8, 1964
She turned 17 on this day in 1981.

Sinéad O'Connor

Sinéad O'Connor

Singer Deceased
Born on December 8, 1966
She turned 15 on this day in 1981.

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj

Rapper
Born on December 8, 1982
She was born exactly one year after this date.

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling

Soccer player
Born on December 8, 1994
He was born exactly 13 years after this date.

Reece James

Reece James

Soccer player
Born on December 8, 1999
He was born exactly 18 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on December 8:

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on December 8, 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.

Write a comment about this date

Have something to say about this date? Was it your birthday? Or perhaps you have a memory of it?

All comments are moderated. We may edit comments to correct misspellings and grammar. We may also remove or redact personal information.

How old was I?

Enter your date of birth below to find out how old you were on December 8, 1981.
This information is not transmitted to our server.

Stats for December 8, 1981

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 8, 1981:

Search

It looks like you have reached the end. Try searching for another date.

Random

Random dates

Check out some of these random dates.


« Previous Day
December 7, 1981
Next Day »
December 9, 1981

© 2014-2024 BestOfDate.com