BestOfDate

August 16, 1996

August 16, 1996, was a Friday. It was 28 years, 3 months, and 5 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Leo.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on August 16, 1996:

  • United States: "Macarena" by Los Del Rio
  • United Kingdom: "Wannabe" by Spice Girls

The Billboard Hot 100 on August 16, 1996

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix) - Los Del Rio
  • You're Makin' Me High/Let It Flow - Toni Braxton
  • How Do U Want It/California Love - 2Pac Featuring K-Ci And JoJo
  • Twisted - Keith Sweat
  • Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman
Play the top songs from 1996
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1996. Take a trip back to the days of the Spice Girls, the Backstreet Boys, Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion and the Fugees.
Tin Cup

Top movie

The movie "Tin Cup" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date was 10,324 days ago. Approximately 344 months have passed. It was the 229th day of 1996, in week 33. The decade was the nineties. People born on this day are currently 28 years old and belong to the Gen-Z generation. 1996 had 366 days because it was a leap year. We have gone through approximately 115 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to August 16, 1996

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Friday, August 16, 1996. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Leo. People have "that Friday feeling" and are excited for the weekend.

The summer of 1996 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 "Macarena" by Los Del Rio is at the top of the singles charts, while "Wannabe" by Spice Girls is the number-one song in the UK. Bill Clinton is the President of the United States, and the movie Tin Cup is at the top of the box office.

John Major is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. A new form of communication called "text messaging" is starting to become more widespread. However, it can only be done if both the sender and the receiver are on the same cell network. Meanwhile, a global system called "the Internet" is also starting to take off. Each day, more and more people are learning how to send emails and browse "websites" on the World Wide Web by connecting their IBM computers to noisy dial-up modems.

In fashion, "grunge" clothing has fallen out of favor, and women are beginning to wear form-fitting outfits such as slip dresses and pencil skirts. Movies such as Clueless and The Craft have popularized the "sexy schoolgirl" look. The CD is quickly becoming the dominant format for music, and people are buying portable players such as the "Discman". Consequently, sales of cassette tapes are continuing to decline. It's 1996, so radio stations are being dominated by the likes of Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Céline Dion, Oasis, Mark Morrison, Spice Girls, Los Del Rio, 2Pac and Coolio.

Everyone and their grandmother is buying a new "virtual pet" called the Tamagotchi. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Agnieszka Kotlarska, Tupac Shakur, Yaki Kadafi, and Tiny Tim would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Only Fools and Horses", "Step by Step", "The Nanny", and "Star Trek: Voyager".

Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Destruction Derby", "Twisted Metal", "Alien Trilogy", and "Ridge Racer Revolution". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Dink, the Little Dinosaur", "Pinky and the Brain", "Wishbone", and "Little Bear". Popular toys at the moment include Screwball Scramble, Polly Pocket, Yo-yo, and the PlayStation (PS1).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 16, 1996, will have the star sign Leo.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1996 was the year of the Rat (Yang Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 22.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 16, 1996 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 16, 1996.

  • The Nokia 9000 Communicator.

    The Nokia 9000 Communicator

    The Nokia 9000 Communicator was released on April 15th, 1996. It was one of the first smartphones on the market. The phone had 8MB of memory and came equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard.
  • Matilda is released.

    Matilda is released

    The fantasy comedy film "Matilda" would have been playing in movie theaters at this time.
  • The Tamagotchi.

    The Tamagotchi

    Back in 1996, it seemed like everyone had a handheld digital pet called the Tamagotchi. The egg-shaped device contained a pixelated creature that the owner had to feed and play minigames with. It also left behind digital droppings that needed to be cleaned up on a regular basis.
  • 1996 in music.

    1996 in music

    Popular music artists in 1996 included Los del Río, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, 2Pac, LL Cool J, Soundgarden, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Alanis Morissette, Everything but the Girl, Joan Osborne, Mary J. Blige, SWV, Toni Braxton, Eric Clapton, Blackstreet, R. Kelly, Metallica and Van Halen.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1996?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1996?

    In 1996, the best NBA players were Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, David Robinson, Penny Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, Grant Hill, Hakeem Olajuwon, Gary Payton, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Juwan Howard, Shaquille O'Neal, Mitch Richmond and Reggie Miller.
  • David Ho.

    David Ho

    A scientist named David Ho was named Time Person of the Year in 1996 because of his pioneering contributions to HIV/AIDS research.
  • Gillian Anderson.

    Gillian Anderson

    The X-Files actress Gillian Anderson (Agent Scully) was named FHM's sexiest woman in 1996.
  • 1996 in movies.

    1996 in movies

    1996 saw the release of movies such as Independence Day, Twister, Mission: Impossible, The Rock, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 101 Dalmatians, Ransom, Eraser, The Nutty Professor, Jerry Maguire, Scream, The Cable Guy, Mars Attacks! and The Craft.
  • Best football players in 1996.

    Best football players in 1996

    In 1996, the best soccer players were Matthias Sammer, Ronaldo, Alan Shearer, Alessandro Del Piero, Jürgen Klinsmann, Davor Šuker, Eric Cantona, Marcel Desailly, Youri Djorkaeff, Karel Poborský and Nwankwo Kanu.
  • The English Patient.

    The English Patient

    "The English Patient" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1996.
  • Eric Clapton - "Change the World"

    Eric Clapton - "Change the World"

    The song "Change the World" by Eric Clapton went on to win a Grammy for 1996's Song of the Year.
  • Sony PlayStation.

    Sony PlayStation

    The Sony PlayStation (PS1) was released in September 1995. It was one of the best-selling video game consoles of the 1990s.
  • CDs have become the dominant music format.

    CDs have become the dominant music format

    By this stage, the CD had become the dominant music format. Consequently, sales of CD players and the "Discman" continued to increase. Meanwhile, people were beginning to replace their cassette players.
  • First Chechen War.

    First Chechen War

    The First Chechen War was raging between Russia and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
  • Mid-1990s fashion.

    Mid-1990s fashion

    During the mid-1990s, female clothing began to become more form-fitting as those badly-shaped "mom jeans" began to disappear. Grunge fashion started to decline, and popular outfits began to include tartan minikilts, hot pants, slip dresses, and knee-highs.
  • The Internet is growing.

    The Internet is growing

    A new global, interconnected network called the Internet was beginning to grow. However, it was still a novelty.
  • Kids are reading Goosebumps.

    Kids are reading Goosebumps

    Kids were reading Goosebumps, which was a series of children's horror books that were written by author R. L. Stine. The original series included books such as "Monster Blood", "Say Cheese and Die!" and "The Barking Ghost".
  • VCRs are common household items.

    VCRs are common household items

    Everyone was using VCRs to watch tapes of movies and TV shows. The device also gave people the ability to record programs and films onto a blank tape.
  • People are using pagers to communicate.

    People are using pagers to communicate

    Pagers achieved mainstream popularity during the 1990s. These small devices allowed the owner to receive messages. More often than not, the message was a short memo or a phone number that they were supposed to call back.
  • Wallpaper is beginning to go out of style.

    Wallpaper is beginning to go out of style

    By the 1990s, "modernism" was starting to heavily influence interior design trends. As a result, sales of wallpaper started to decline. Instead of using decorative wallpaper, people were beginning to opt for minimalist, painted walls.
  • The Scrunchie.

    The Scrunchie

    People are wearing an elastic hair tie called the "scrunchie".
  • The Game Boy.

    The Game Boy

    A hand-held game console called the "Game Boy" was all the rage. The console boasted games such as Super Mario Land, Tetris, Donkey Kong, Kirby's Dream Land, and a number of Pokémon releases.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on August 16, 1996.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to August 16, 1996.

  • July 19, 1996:
    • Muhammad Ali lights the flame at the 1996 Olympics.
    • The Saguenay flood of 1996 begins in Quebec, Canada.
  • July 22, 1996: The first episode of "The Daily Show" is aired.
  • July 27, 1996: A bomb explodes during a concert at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • July 29, 1996: English singer Robbie Williams releases his debut solo single "Freedom".
  • July 30, 1996: Soccer: Alan Shearer joins Newcastle United for £15 million.
  • July 31, 1996: Rapper Seagram is killed in a drive-by shooting at the age of 26.
  • August 1, 1996: American author George R. R. Martin publishes his novel "A Game of Thrones".
  • August 2, 1996: The fantasy film "Matilda", starring Danny DeVito and Mara Wilson, is released in movie theaters.
  • August 6, 1996: Punk band "The Ramones" play their final show.
  • August 14, 1996: Soccer: French midfielder Patrick Vieira joins Arsenal.
  • August 15, 1996: The Nokia 9000 Communicator is released.
  • This date: August 16, 1996
  • August 17, 1996: The first episode of Kenan & Kel is aired.
  • August 23, 1996:
    • Irish crime: 25-year-old Fiona Pender goes missing from Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
    • al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden declares war against the United States because of its presence in Saudi Arabia.
  • August 25, 1996: The Steve Harvey Show is broadcasted for the first time.
  • August 26, 1996: The first episode of the family drama series "7th Heaven" is aired on the WB Television Network.
  • August 27, 1996: Polish fashion model Agnieszka Kotlarska is stabbed to death by a stalker in Wroclaw, Poland.
  • August 28, 1996: The divorce of Lady Diana and Prince Charles is finalized.
  • August 31, 1996:
    • The game "Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall" is released for the PC.
    • The game Crash Bandicoot is released on the PlayStation.
    • The video game "Die Hard Trilogy" is released.
  • September 2, 1996: The Fugees release their song "Ready or Not".
  • September 4, 1996: "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins wins Video of the Year at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards.
  • September 7, 1996:
    • Boxing: Mike Tyson defeats Bruce Seldon by a 1st-round knockout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
    • Rap star Tupac Shakur (2Pac) is shot four times in Las Vegas.
  • September 8, 1996: The first episode of "Blue's Clues" is aired.
  • September 9, 1996: The mobile phone "Nokia 8110" is announced.
  • September 13, 1996:
    • The first episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" is aired.
    • Rapper Tupac Shakur (2Pac) dies six days after being shot in Las Vegas.
  • September 15, 1996:
    • The song "Time to Say Goodbye" is released by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.
    • Serial killer Ottis Toole dies from liver cirrhosis in prison.

Mid-1990s fashion

Photographs of mid-1990s fashion and hairstyles.

Mid-1990s fashion

Television shows

TV series on August 16, 1996

TV audiences were watching the following shows on August 16, 1996:

TV shows from August 1996.

3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
JAG
JAG
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Father Ted
Father Ted
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Friends
Friends
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
ER
ER
Party of Five
Party of Five
Ellen
Ellen
Babylon 5
Babylon 5

Cars in 1996

1996 saw the introduction of cars such as the Citroën Saxo, the Cadillac Catera, the Audi A3, the Honda Logo, the Volvo S70, and the Pontiac Montana.

Cars in 1996.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on August 16, 1996

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1996:

Dexter's Laboratory
Dexter's Laboratory
Moesha
Moesha
Little Bear
Little Bear

Goosebumps
Goosebumps
Wishbone
Wishbone
Brotherly Love
Brotherly Love
Hang Time
Hang Time
Pinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain
Timon & Pumbaa
Timon & Pumbaa
In the House
In the House
Johnny Bravo
Johnny Bravo
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1996

Toys and games that were popular in 1996:

Tickle Me Elmo
Tickle Me Elmo
The Tamagotchi
The Tamagotchi
12" talking Buzz Lightyear Action Figure
12" talking Buzz Lightyear Action Figure
Tyco Rebound RC Car
Tyco Rebound RC Car
Street Sharks Action Figures
Street Sharks Action Figures
The PlayStation (PS1)
The PlayStation (PS1)
The Sega Saturn
The Sega Saturn
Styrofoam plane gliders
Styrofoam plane gliders
Sky Dancers
Sky Dancers
Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle
Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle
Dear Diary
Dear Diary
Casio Secret Sender 6000
Casio Secret Sender 6000
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in August 1996.

Fade to Black 1996
Fade to Black
Quake 1996
Quake
Ridge Racer Revolution 1996
Ridge Racer Revolution
Resident Evil 1996
Resident Evil
Alien Trilogy 1996
Alien Trilogy
Duke Nukem 3D 1996
Duke Nukem 3D
Virtua Fighter 2 1996
Virtua Fighter 2
FIFA Soccer 96 1995
FIFA Soccer 96
Twisted Metal 1995
Twisted Metal
Phantasmagoria 1995
Phantasmagoria
Destruction Derby 1995
Destruction Derby
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island 1995
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

Were you born on August 16, 1996?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1996.

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 16, 2002, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on August 16.

Vincent Curatola

Vincent Curatola

Actor
Born on August 16, 1953
He turned 43 on this day in 1996.

James Cameron

James Cameron

Movie director
Born on August 16, 1954
He turned 42 on this day in 1996.

Madonna

Madonna

Singer
Born on August 16, 1958
She turned 38 on this day in 1996.

Steve Carell

Steve Carell

Actor
Born on August 16, 1962
He turned 34 on this day in 1996.

Shawn Pyfrom

Shawn Pyfrom

Actor
Born on August 16, 1986
He turned 10 on this day in 1996.

USA

US President

Bill Clinton was the President of the United States on August 16, 1996.

UK

UK Prime Minister

John Major was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

John Bruton was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on August 16, 1996 was most likely conceived around November 24, 1995.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 16, 1996 is close to May 9, 1997.

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Stats for August 16, 1996

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 16, 1996:

  • 10,324 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,474 weeks have passed.
  • 891,997,200 seconds have passed since August 16, 1996.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,040,663,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 460,270,555,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 148,666,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 76,711,759 steps. That's roughly 34,094 miles.
  • 10,703,966 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1996?

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