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September 17, 1988

September 17, 1988, was a Saturday. It was 36 years, 1 month, and 15 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Virgo.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on September 17, 1988:

  • United States: "Sweet Child O'mine" by Guns n' Roses
  • United Kingdom: "A Groovy Kind Of Love" by Phil Collins

The Billboard Hot 100 on September 17, 1988

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
  • Simply Irresistible - Robert Palmer
  • Perfect World - Huey Lewis & The News
  • Don't Worry, Be Happy (From "Cocktail") - Bobby McFerrin
  • I'll Always Love You - Taylor Dayne
Play the top singles from 1988
A Spotify playlist of songs from 1988. Let us bring you back to the days of Tracy Chapman, George Michael, Guns N' Roses and Phil Collins!
A Fish Called Wanda

Top movie

The movie "A Fish Called Wanda" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 13,195 days ago. Approximately 440 months have passed. It was the 261st day of 1988, in week 37. The decade was the eighties. People who were born on September 17, 1988, are now 36 years old and belong to the Millennial generation. 1988 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. We have gone through approximately 147 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to September 17, 1988

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is September 17, 1988, and it's a Saturday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Virgo. The work week is over and Saturday has finally come, so people are spending time with their kids, going to bars, shopping, playing video games, and watching sports.

Schools and colleges are starting again, and fall has officially arrived. As a result, temperatures are beginning to cool, and trees are starting to shed their leaves. The earthy smells of autumn have started to fill the air. In America, the song "Sweet Child O'mine" by Guns n' Roses is at the top of the singles charts, while "A Groovy Kind Of Love" by Phil Collins is the number-one song in the UK.

Ronald Reagan is the President of the United States, and the movie A Fish Called Wanda 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 "Last of the Summer Wine", "Magnum, P.I.", "Murder, She Wrote", and "Full House".

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. It's 1988, so the airwaves are being dominated by music artists such as Phil Collins, Bobby McFerrin, the Pet Shop Boys, Belinda Carlisle and Rick Astley. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Roy Orbison, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ruhollah Khomeini, and Mel Blanc would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar", "Paperboy", "Metroid", and "Platoon". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The Cosby Show", "The Flintstone Kids", "21 Jump Street", and "BraveStarr". Children are playing with toys such as the Big Wheel (tricycle), Fluppy Dogs, Micro Machines, and the Ghostbusters Proton Pack.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on September 17, 1988, will have the star sign Virgo.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1988 was the year of the Dragon (Yang Earth).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 7.
  • Native American Zodiac: September 17, 1988 falls under the Bear.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of September will have the birthstone Sapphire.
  • Birth flower (September): The Aster and the Morning Glory.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on September 17, 1988.

  • Gangsta rap is becoming a thing.

    Gangsta rap is becoming a thing

    West Coast gangsta pap was beginning to take off. On August 8th, 1988, N.W.A released their iconic album "Straight Outta Compton."
  • 1988 in music.

    1988 in music

    Popular music artists in 1988 included George Michael, INXS, George Harrison, Rick Astley, Guns N' Roses, Whitney Houston, Belinda Carlisle, Tiffany and Breathe.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1988?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1988?

    The best NBA players in 1988 were Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Akeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Larry Bird.
  • 1988 in movies.

    1988 in movies

    Movies released in 1988 included Rain Man, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Coming to America, Big, Twins, Crocodile Dundee II, Die Hard, Beetlejuice, The Land Before Time and Bloodsport.
  • Best soccer players in the world.

    Best soccer players in the world

    In 1988, the best soccer players were Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Diego Maradona, Frank Rijkaard, Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko, Ronald Koeman, Lothar Matthäus, Gianluca Vialli, Franco Baresi, Jürgen Klinsmann and Oleksandr Zavarov.
  • Rain Man.

    Rain Man

    "Rain Man" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1988.
  • The Endangered Earth.

    The Endangered Earth

    "The Endangered Earth" was named Time Person of the Year in 1988. The piece highlighted humanity's carelessness towards nature, pollution, and the depletion of the ozone layer.
  • Bobby McFerrin - "Don't Worry, Be Happy"

    Bobby McFerrin - "Don't Worry, Be Happy"

    The song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin won a Grammy for 1988's Song of the Year.
  • The Scrunchie is becoming fashionable.

    The Scrunchie is becoming fashionable

    A new elastic hair tie called the "scrunchie" became fashionable in the late 1980s.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 September 17, 1988.

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 September 17, 1988.

  • August 18, 1988: Soccer: Striker Ian Rush rejoins Liverpool after an unsuccessful season at Italian side Juventus.
  • August 20, 1988:
    • Ballygawley bus bombing: A roadside bomb attack by the Provisional IRA kills eight British soldiers in Ballygawley, Northern Ireland.
    • Iran-Iraq War: Hostilities between Iran and Iraq come to an end for the first time in seven years after a ceasefire is agreed.
  • August 28, 1988: Ramstein Air Show Disaster: 75 people are killed at an air show in Germany when three Italian jets collide.
  • September 7, 1988: "Need You Tonight/Mediate" by INXS wins Video of the Year at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards.
  • September 8, 1988: Yellowstone National Park is closed due to fires.
  • September 10, 1988: 15-year-old Lee Boxell goes missing in Sutton, London.
  • This date: September 17, 1988
  • September 20, 1988: 19-year-old Tara Calico goes missing in Belen, New Mexico.
  • September 23, 1988: Dead Ringers (1988) is released.
  • September 30, 1988: Actress Robin Givens tells 20/20 host Barbara Walters that being married to heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is "pure hell".
  • October 1, 1988: Roald Dahl's book "Matilda" is published.
  • October 7, 1988: Actress Robin Givens files for divorce from boxing champion Mike Tyson.
  • October 11, 1988: World Championship Wrestling (WCW) is founded.
  • October 14, 1988: The Accused (1988) is released.

Late 1980s fashion

Photographs of late 1980s fashion and hairstyles.

Late 1980s fashion

Television shows

TV series on September 17, 1988

People in September 1988 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from September 1988.

In the Heat of the Night
In the Heat of the Night
The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years
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

Cars in 1988

1988 saw the introduction of cars such as the Buick Reatta, the Ford Probe, the Opel Vectra, the Honda Concerto, the Audi V8, and the Volkswagen Passat B3.

Cars in 1988.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in September 1988

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

Garfield and Friends
Garfield and Friends
Denver, the Last Dinosaur
Denver, the Last Dinosaur
Count Duckula
Count Duckula

The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years
The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The World of David the Gnome
The World of David the Gnome
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Fireman Sam
Fireman Sam
Full House
Full House
DuckTales
DuckTales
BraveStarr
BraveStarr
Toys

Toys in 1988

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

The Ghostbusters Proton Pack
The Ghostbusters Proton Pack
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
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in September 1988.

Final Fantasy 1987
Final Fantasy
Mega Man 1987
Mega Man
Maniac Mansion
 1987
Maniac Mansion
Platoon 1987
Platoon
Top Gun 1987
Top Gun
Metroid 1987
Metroid
Double Dragon 1987
Double Dragon
Paperboy 1986
Paperboy
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 1985
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Tetris 1984
Tetris
Duck Hunt 1984
Duck Hunt
Missile Command 1980
Missile Command

Were you born on September 17, 1988?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1988.

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 September 17, 1994, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Hank Williams

Hank Williams

Singer Deceased
Born on September 17, 1923
He was not alive on this date.

John Ritter

John Ritter

Actor Deceased
Born on September 17, 1948
He turned 40 on this day in 1988.

Keith Flint

Keith Flint

The Prodigy member Deceased
Born on September 17, 1969
He turned 19 on this day in 1988.

Patrick Mahomes II

Patrick Mahomes II

NFL player
Born on September 17, 1995
He was born exactly 7 years after this date.

USA

US President

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States on September 17, 1988.

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 September 17, 1988 was most likely conceived around December 26, 1987.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on September 17, 1988 is close to June 10, 1989.

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Stats for September 17, 1988

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about September 17, 1988:

  • 13,195 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,885 weeks have passed.
  • 1,140,051,600 seconds have passed since September 17, 1988.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,330,060,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 588,266,625,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 190,008,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 98,044,438 steps. That's roughly 43,575 miles.
  • 13,680,619 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1988?

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