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May 17, 1983

May 17, 1983, was a Tuesday. It was 41 years, 5 months, and 19 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, 1983:

  • United States: "Beat It" by Michael Jackson
  • United Kingdom: "True" by Spandau Ballet

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 17, 1983

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Beat It - Michael Jackson
  • Let's Dance - David Bowie
  • Jeopardy - Greg Kihn Band
  • Overkill - Men At Work
  • She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
Play the top singles from 1983
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1983. Take a trip back to the days of Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, the Police, Elton John and Phil Collins.
Blue Thunder

Top movie

The movie "Blue Thunder" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 15,148 days ago. Approximately 505 months have passed. It was the 137th day of 1983, in week 20. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on May 17, 1983, are now 41 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. We have gone through approximately 168 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to May 17, 1983

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is May 17, 1983, and it's a Tuesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Taurus. The summer of 1983 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 "Beat It" by Michael Jackson is at the top of the singles charts, while "True" by Spandau Ballet is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie Blue Thunder 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 Jeffersons", "Quincy, M.E.", "Dynasty", and "Cheers". 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 1983, the radio stations are being dominated by artists such as Culture Club, Michael Jackson, Irene Cara, David Bowie and The Police.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Jobriath, Marvin Gaye, Andy Kaufman, and Truman Capote would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Lunar Lander", "Asteroids", "Galaxian", and "Missile Command". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Captain Kangaroo", "Schoolhouse Rock!", "Happy Days", and "The All New Popeye Hour".

Children are playing with toys such as Dungeons & Dragons, Water Ring Toss, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Masters of the Universe (figures).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 17, 1983, will have the star sign Taurus.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1983 was the year of the .
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 7.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 17, 1983 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, 1983.

  • 1983 in music.

    1983 in music

    Popular music artists in 1983 included The Police, Michael Jackson, Irene Cara, Men at Work, Bonnie Tyler, Hall & Oates, Michael Sembello, Eurythmics, Culture Club and Dexys Midnight Runners.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1983?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1983?

    The best NBA players in 1983 were Moses Malone, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Sidney Moncrief and Julius Erving.
  • 1983 in movies.

    1983 in movies

    Movies released in 1983 included Return of the Jedi, Terms of Endearment, Flashdance, Trading Places, National Lampoon's Vacation, WarGames, Scarface, Octopussy, Sudden Impact, Staying Alive, Mr. Mom and Risky Business.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1983, the best soccer players were Michel Platini, Kenny Dalglish, Allan Simonsen, Gordon Strachan, Felix Magath, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Rinat Dasayev, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Jesper Olsen, Bryan Robson and Fernando Gomes.
  • Terms of Endearment.

    Terms of Endearment

    "Terms of Endearment" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1983.
  • Time Person of the Year: 1983.

    Time Person of the Year: 1983

    Ronald Reagan and Yuri Andropov were both named Time Person of the Year in 1983.
  • The Police - "Every Breath You Take"

    The Police - "Every Breath You Take"

    "Every Breath You Take" by The Police went on to win a Grammy for 1983's Song of the Year.
  • The Commodore 64.

    The Commodore 64

    The Commodore 64 was dominating the home computer market.
  • Leg warmers.

    Leg warmers

    Wearing leg warmers was a popular fad during this period. The trend was popularized by movies such as Fame and Flashdance.
  • VCRs are becoming popular.

    VCRs are becoming popular

    VCRs started to become a popular household item during the first half of the 1980s. However, they were still very costly. This device gave people the ability to play VCR tapes and record TV programs and movies.
  • 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 May 17, 1983.

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, 1983.

  • April 18, 1983:
    • The 1983 United States embassy bombing in Beirut kills 63 people.
    • The Disney Channel launches as a premium channel.
  • April 26, 1983: Soviet leader Yuri Andropov invites American schoolgirl Samantha Smith to visit the USSR after reading her letter in which she expressed her worries about nuclear war.
  • April 28, 1983: It is reported that Adolf Hitler's personal diaries have been discovered.
  • April 30, 1983: Soccer: Liverpool win the First Division title after rivals Manchester United draw 1-1 with Norwich.
  • May 1, 1983: The final episode of the police drama "CHiPs" is aired on NBC.
  • May 6, 1983: The recently-discovered "Hitler's diaries" are revealed to be a hoax.
  • May 7, 1983: Mirella Gregori (15) goes missing in Rome, Italy.
  • May 16, 1983: Motown 25: 47 million people tune in to watch Michael Jackson reuniting with his brothers for an NBC special.
  • This date: May 17, 1983
  • May 20, 1983: English rock band The Police release their single "Every Breath You Take".
  • May 25, 1983:
    • Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) is released.
    • Football: Hamburg win the European Cup after defeating Juventus 1-0.
  • May 26, 1983: Manchester United win the FA Cup final after they beat Brighton 4-0 in a replay.
  • May 31, 1983: The Philadelphia 76ers win the 1983 NBA Finals after they defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0.
  • June 1, 1983: Ann Gotlib (12) goes missing from the Bashford Manor Mall in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • June 3, 1983: The movie Psycho II (1983) is released in cinemas.
  • June 8, 1983: The comedy film Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, is released in cinemas.
  • June 11, 1983: Serial killer Henry Lee Lucas is arrested.
  • June 13, 1983: Cindy Paulson escapes from serial killer Robert Hansen.

Early 1980s fashion

Photographs of early 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Early 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on May 17, 1983

People in May 1983 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from May 1983.

The A-Team
The A-Team
'Allo 'Allo!
'Allo 'Allo!
Cheers
Cheers
Knight Rider
Knight Rider
Family Ties
Family Ties
Cagney & Lacey
Cagney & Lacey
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Dynasty
Dynasty
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
Knots Landing
Knots Landing

Cars in 1983

1983 saw the introduction of cars such as the BMW M6, the Dodge Charger (1981), the Chrysler E-Class, the Ford Fiesta Mk2, the Renault 25, and the Honda Civic (third generation).

Cars in 1983.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in May 1983

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

Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock
Inspector Gadget
Inspector Gadget
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds

Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Postman Pat
Postman Pat
The Smurfs
The Smurfs
Cockleshell Bay
Cockleshell Bay
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
The All New Popeye Hour
The All New Popeye Hour
Happy Days
Happy Days
Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Toys

Toys in 1983

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

My Little Pony (figures)
My Little Pony (figures)
The Commodore 64
The Commodore 64
Masters of the Universe (figures)
Masters of the Universe (figures)
The Lego train set
The Lego train set
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)
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in May 1983.

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

Were you born on May 17, 1983?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1983.

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, 1989, 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 47 on this day in 1983.

Bill Paxton

Bill Paxton

Actor Deceased
Born on May 17, 1955
He turned 28 on this day in 1983.

Bob Saget

Bob Saget

Comedian / Actor Deceased
Born on May 17, 1956
He turned 27 on this day in 1983.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxer
Born on May 17, 1956
He turned 27 on this day in 1983.

Enya

Enya

Irish singer
Born on May 17, 1961
She turned 22 on this day in 1983.

Tahj Mowry

Tahj Mowry

Actor
Born on May 17, 1986
He was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Charlotte Crosby

Charlotte Crosby

English TV personality
Born on May 17, 1990
She was born exactly 7 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, 1983.

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 May 17, 1983 was most likely conceived around August 24, 1982.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 17, 1983 is close to February 7, 1984.

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Stats for May 17, 1983

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 17, 1983:

  • 15,148 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,164 weeks have passed.
  • 1,308,790,800 seconds have passed since May 17, 1983.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,526,922,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 675,336,052,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 218,131,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 112,556,009 steps. That's roughly 50,025 miles.
  • 15,705,490 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1983?

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