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December 31, 1987 New Year's Eve

December 31, 1987, was a Thursday. It was 36 years, 10 months, and 23 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

Song charts

Popular songs

On December 31, 1987, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Faith" by George Michael
  • United Kingdom: "Always On My Mind" by Pet Shop Boys

The music charts on December 31, 1987

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Faith - George Michael
  • So Emotional - Whitney Houston
  • Is This Love - Whitesnake
  • Got My Mind Set On You - George Harrison
  • Shake Your Love - Debbie Gibson
Play the top singles from 1987
A Spotify playlist of songs from 1987. Let us bring you back to the days of Whitney Houston, U2, Rick Astley and Def Leppard!
Three Men and a Baby

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Three Men and a Baby".

Facts

New Year's Eve 1987 occurred 13,477 days ago. Approximately 449 months have passed. It was the 365th day of 1987, in week 53. The decade was the eighties. It was the last day of the year. People who were born on December 31, 1987, are now 36 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 150 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to December 31, 1987

Let's go back to the eighties.

The date is December 31, 1987, and it's a Thursday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Capricorn. It's New Year's Eve, and everyone is wondering what the year 1988 will bring.

In America, the song "Faith" by George Michael is at the top of the singles charts, while "Always On My Mind" by Pet Shop Boys is the number-one song in the UK. Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie Three Men and a Baby 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", "Knots Landing", "Cagney & Lacey", and "The Cosby Show". In fashion, women are wearing sweater dresses, short skirts, small shoulder pads, animal print, long full wool coats, and bulky sweaters. Meanwhile, men are wearing tracksuits, sweatshirts, Nike Air Jordan shoes, and denim. Because it's 1987, the radio stations are being dominated by the likes of Los Lobos, Rick Astley, Whitney Houston, the Pet Shop Boys, Bon Jovi, U2 and Madonna.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Heather O'Rourke, Andy Gibb, Judith Barsi, and Anne Ramsey would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Mario Bros.", "Punch-Out!!", "Metroid", and "Platoon". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Snorks", "Pound Puppies", "BraveStarr", and "DuckTales".

Children are playing with toys such as Fisher-Price Little People (Farm), Transformers, Fluppy Dogs, and Hot Looks (fashion model dolls).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 31, 1987, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1987 was the year of the Rabbit (Yin Fire).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 5.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 31, 1987 falls under the Goose.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of December will have the birthstones Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise.
  • Birth flower (December): The Narcissus and the Holly.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 31, 1987.

  • The Scrunchie is becoming fashionable.

    The Scrunchie is becoming fashionable

    A new elastic hair tie called the "scrunchie" became fashionable in the late 1980s.
  • 1987 in music.

    1987 in music

    Popular music artists in 1987 included The Bangles, Heart, Gregory Abbott, Whitney Houston, Starship, Robbie Nevil, Whitesnake, Bruce Hornsby and the Range, Bob Seger, U2, Los Lobos and Bon Jovi.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1987?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1987?

    The best NBA players in 1987 were Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Akeem Olajuwon, Kevin McHale and Larry Bird.
  • Late 1980s fashion.

    Late 1980s fashion

    The mini skirt became extremely popular. Shoulder pads became increasingly smaller. Popular clothing included reversible inside-out coats, bright-colored shoes with thin heels, berets, lacy gloves, rugby sweatshirts, sweater dresses, jumpsuits, capri leggings, bike shorts, and skirts worn with leggings. Colors included neon hues, plum, gold, and bright wines.
  • 1987 in movies.

    1987 in movies

    Movies released in 1987 included Beverly Hills Cop II, Fatal Attraction, The Untouchables, Three Men and a Baby, Lethal Weapon, Predator, RoboCop, Dirty Dancing, Hellraiser, Spaceballs, The Untouchables, The Princess Bride and Full Metal Jacket.
  • Best soccer players in the world.

    Best soccer players in the world

    In 1987, the best soccer players were Ruud Gullit, Diego Maradona, Paulo Futre, Emilio Butragueño, Míchel, Gary Lineker, John Barnes, Marco van Basten, Gianluca Vialli and Bryan Robson.
  • The Last Emperor.

    The Last Emperor

    "The Last Emperor" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1987.
  • Mikhail Gorbachev.

    Mikhail Gorbachev

    Mikhail Gorbachev was named Time Person of the Year in 1987 after he oversaw a number of political reforms in the Soviet Union.
  • Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram - "Somewhere Out There"

    Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram - "Somewhere Out There"

    "Somewhere Out There" by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram would go on to win a Grammy for 1987's Song of the Year.
  • People are buying waterbeds.

    People are buying waterbeds

    Waterbeds became a huge fad during the late 1980s. Although they were invented in the 1970s, they didn't reach their heyday until the 1980s. In 1986 and 1987, nearly a quarter of all beds sold were filled with water.
  • VCRs have become a common household item.

    VCRs have become a common household item

    VCRs became a common household item in the mid-1980s. By that stage, prices had started to drop. This device gave people the ability to play VCR tapes and record TV programs and movies.
  • The Nintendo Entertainment System.

    The Nintendo Entertainment System

    During the second half of the 1980s, the Nintendo Entertainment System became one of the most popular video game consoles in the world. Releases for the NES included Duck Hunt, The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario Bros.
  • The Commodore 64.

    The Commodore 64

    The Commodore 64 was dominating the home computer market.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 31, 1987.

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 December 31, 1987.

  • December 1, 1987: American novelist James Baldwin passes away.
  • December 2, 1987: The song "It Must Have Been Love" is released by Roxette.
  • December 4, 1987: Pop star Madonna files for divorce from actor Sean Penn after two years of marriage.
  • December 8, 1987: US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev announce that will be reducing the size of their nuclear arsenals.
  • December 9, 1987: Palestine: The First Intifada begins in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
  • December 11, 1987: The American drama film "Wall Street" is released in movie theaters.
  • December 16, 1987:
    • Soccer: Steve Bruce signs for Manchester United.
    • Pop star Madonna reverses her decision to divorce actor Sean Penn by withdrawing her divorce papers.
  • December 18, 1987: Final Fantasy is released on the NES.
  • December 20, 1987: 4,000 people are killed when the ferry "Doña Paz" sinks in the Philippines.
  • December 23, 1987: Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) is released.
  • December 29, 1987: Kylie Minogue releases the single "I Should Be So Lucky".
  • This date: December 31, 1987
  • January 5, 1988: Former NBA player Pete Maravich dies from an undetected heart defect at the age of 40.
  • January 10, 1988: NFL legend Walter Payton plays his final game.
  • January 16, 1988: Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer murders 14-year-old James Edward Doxtator.
  • January 17, 1988:
    • The first episode of Australian soap opera Home and Away is aired.
    • "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" premieres on the Disney Channel.

Late 1980s fashion

Photographs of late 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Late 1980s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in December 1987

In December 1987, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from December 1987.

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Full House
Full House
My Two Dads
My Two Dads
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street
Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Matlock
Matlock
MacGyver
MacGyver
The Equalizer
The Equalizer
The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls
Moonlighting
Moonlighting
Charles in Charge
Charles in Charge
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote

Cars in 1987

1987 saw the introduction of cars such as the BMW 5 Series, the Cadillac Brougham, the Chevrolet Corsica, the Dodge Dynasty, the Mazda Étude, and the Mercury Tracer.

Cars in 1987.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in December 1987

If you were a kid on December 31, 1987, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Fireman Sam
Fireman Sam
Full House
Full House

DuckTales
DuckTales
BraveStarr
BraveStarr
Adventures of the Little Koala
Adventures of the Little Koala
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street
Married... with Children
Married... with Children
Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace
ALF
ALF
The New Adventures of Jonny Quest
The New Adventures of Jonny Quest
Toys

Toys in 1987

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

Koosh Ball
Koosh Ball
Boglins (hand puppets)
Boglins (hand puppets)
Jenga
Jenga
Micro Machines
Micro Machines
Hot Looks (fashion model dolls)
Hot Looks (fashion model dolls)
Popples
Popples
Fluppy Dogs
Fluppy Dogs
Laser Tag
Laser Tag
The Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System
Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian Families
Mr Frosty
Mr Frosty
Garbage Pail Kids (trading cards)
Garbage Pail Kids (trading cards)
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 1987.

Final Fantasy 1987
Final Fantasy
Mega Man 1987
Mega Man
Maniac Mansion
 1987
Maniac Mansion
Platoon 1987
Platoon
Top Gun 1987
Top Gun
Street Fighter 1987
Street Fighter
Metroid 1987
Metroid
Punch-Out!! 1987
Punch-Out!!
Double Dragon 1987
Double Dragon
Contra 1987
Contra
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link 1987
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Paperboy 1986
Paperboy

Were you born on December 31, 1987?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1987.

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 31, 1993, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 31.

Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins

Actor
Born on December 31, 1937
He turned 50 on this day in 1987.

Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson

Soccer manager
Born on December 31, 1941
He turned 46 on this day in 1987.

John Denver

John Denver

American singer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1943
He turned 44 on this day in 1987.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer

Actor
Born on December 31, 1959
He turned 28 on this day in 1987.

John Allen Muhammad

John Allen Muhammad

Convicted murderer Deceased
Born on December 31, 1960
He turned 27 on this day in 1987.

Psy

Psy

South Korean singer
Born on December 31, 1977
He turned 10 on this day in 1987.

Donald Trump Jr.

Donald Trump Jr.

American businessman
Born on December 31, 1977
He turned 10 on this day in 1987.

Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer

Actress
Born on December 31, 1998
She was born exactly 11 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on December 31:

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on December 31, 1987.

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 December 31, 1987 was most likely conceived around April 9, 1987.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 31, 1987 is close to September 22, 1988.

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Stats for December 31, 1987

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 31, 1987:

  • 13,477 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,925 weeks have passed.
  • 1,164,412,800 seconds have passed since December 31, 1987.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,358,481,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 600,837,004,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 194,068,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 100,139,501 steps. That's roughly 44,506 miles.
  • 13,972,954 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1987?

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