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April 1, 1997 April Fools' Day

April 1, 1997, was a Tuesday. It was 27 years, 7 months, and 20 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Aries.

On This Day

On this day

What happened on April 1, 1997?

  • The first episode of Pokemon is aired.
Song charts

Music charts

Songs that were on top of the charts in the USA and the United Kingdom on April 1, 1997:

  • United States: "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" by Puff Daddy
  • United Kingdom: "Block Rockin' Beats" by Chemical Brothers

The Billboard Hot 100 on April 1, 1997

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

  • Can't Nobody Hold Me Down - Puff Daddy (Featuring Mase)
  • Wannabe - Spice Girls
  • Foolish Games/You Were Meant For Me - Jewel
  • In My Bed - Dru Hill
  • Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
Play the top singles from 1997
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1997. Take a trip back to the days of the Backstreet Boys, Hanson, Dario G, The Prodigy and Daft Punk.
Return of the Jedi SE

Top movie at the box office

The movie "Return of the Jedi SE" was at the top of the box office on April 1, 1997.

Facts

This date occurred 10,096 days ago. Approximately 337 months have passed. It was the 91st day of 1997, in week 14. The decade was the nineties. People who were born on April 1, 1997, are now 27 years old and belong to the Gen-Z generation. The Earth has experienced 112 seasons of weather since then.

Comments

Discussion about this date:

PDavis

I remember when Pokémon started to become popular. I was maybe 10 or 11 at the time. Everyone in our school was constantly talking about it and playing with the trading card game.
Posted on Apr 1, 2022 06:38

mechamind

Still remember the host switcheroo with Alex Trebek on Wheel of Fortune and Pat Sajak on Jeopardy!. I bet if there is an afterlife the former would be impressed by what the Jimmys did on their late night shows 25 years later.
Posted on Apr 5, 2022 23:17

Wayoshi

A former coworker mine who lived in Japan at the time still remembers watching the first episode of Pokemon in Japanese, and it's hard to believe the anime is still airing to this day as it may very well outlive all of us at this point.
Posted on Aug 8, 2022 02:15

masdog13

Seems like yesterday that the Pokémon anime premiered outside of Japan. And given recent leaks and the storyline, who knows if it will be continuing in a few weeks time or if it will be joining Arthur in the land of retirement.
Posted on Nov 12, 2022 00:51

kattahj

I still remember when Pokemon was starting to take off about two years after this date as my school had to ban the trading cards and GameBoys on campus.
Posted on Jan 20, 2023 00:53


Submit a comment

Take me back to April 1, 1997

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

The date is April 1, 1997, and it's a Tuesday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Aries. It is April Fools' Day, which means that people are playing practical jokes on one another.

The summer of 1997 is drawing closer, and temperatures have started to rise. In America, the song "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" by Puff Daddy is at the top of the singles charts, while "Block Rockin' Beats" by Chemical Brothers is the number-one song in the UK. Bill Clinton is the President of the United States, and the movie Return of the Jedi SE is at the top of the box office.

John Major is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Melrose Place", "Frasier", "Ellen", and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". 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. 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. In fashion, bright and metallic colors are all the rage—a big change from the darker "grunge" colors of the early 1990s. Women are wearing maxi skirts, bell bottoms, knee boots, crop tops, tube tops, slip dresses, maxi coats, and platform shoes. Meanwhile, a lot of men have ditched their grunge and skater clothes in favor of a "dress casual" look. They are also beginning to cut their hair shorter.

It's 1997, so radio stations are being dominated by the likes of Toni Braxton, the Spice Girls, Puff Daddy, No Doubt, Hanson and Elton John. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Jeff Buckley, Gianni Versace, Princess Diana, and Dodi Fayed would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Nights into Dreams", "Super Mario 64", "Command & Conquer: Red Alert", and "Diablo".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Roseanne", "Home Improvement", "Timon & Pumbaa", and "Wishbone". Children are playing with toys such as Screwball Scramble, the PlayStation (PS1), Tyco Rebound RC Car, and the Nintendo 64.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on April 1, 1997, will have the star sign Aries.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1997 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 4.
  • Native American Zodiac: April 1, 1997 falls under the Falcon.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of April will have the birthstone Diamond.
  • Birth flower (April): The Daisy and the Sweet Pea.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on April 1, 1997.

  • The first episode of Pokémon is aired.

    The first episode of Pokémon is aired

    The first episode of the anime TV series Pokémon aired on April 1st, 1997.
  • Teletubbies.

    Teletubbies

    A new children's TV series called "Teletubbies" made its debut in March 1997.
  • Shawn Colvin - "Sunny Came Home"

    Shawn Colvin - "Sunny Came Home"

    The song "Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin went on to win a Grammy for 1997's Record of the Year.
  • 1997 in music.

    1997 in music

    Popular music artists in 1997 included the Spice Girls, Jewel, Puff Daddy, Monica, Mark Morrison, Hanson, Meredith Brooks, Backstreet Boys, LeAnn Rimes, Usher, Elton John, and Boyz II Men.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1997?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1997?

    In 1997, the best NBA players were Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, Grant Hill, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Hardaway, Scottie Pippen, Glen Rice, Patrick Ewing, Gary Payton, Mitch Richmond, Anthony Mason, Vin Baker, Shaquille O'Neal, John Stockton and Penny Hardaway.
  • Andrew Grove.

    Andrew Grove

    The chairman and CEO of Intel, Andrew Grove, was named Time Person of the Year in 1997.
  • Late 1990s Fashion.

    Late 1990s Fashion

    Popular clothing items included pleather pants, high-waisted miniskirts, and halter tops. Metallic clothing became more prominent. Cargo pants and other military-inspired clothing also started to become more popular. Preppy looks became widespread among young men as brands such as "Old Navy" and "Abercrombie & Fitch" became more and more popular. The rave scene also inspired the comeback of more colors.
  • The Nintendo 64.

    The Nintendo 64

    The Nintendo 64 was competing with Sony's PlayStation console. Popular games included Mario Kart 64, GoldenEye 007, and Yoshi's Story.
  • 1997 in movies.

    1997 in movies

    Movies released in 1997 included Titanic, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Men in Black, Tomorrow Never Dies, Air Force One, Liar Liar, As Good as It Gets, The Fifth Element, The Full Monty, Starship Troopers, Good Will Hunting and Alien: Resurrection.
  • Teri Hatcher.

    Teri Hatcher

    American actress Teri Hatcher was listed as FHM's sexiest woman in 1997.
  • Best football players in 1997.

    Best football players in 1997

    In 1997, the best soccer players were Ronaldo, Predrag Mijatović, Zinedine Zidane, Dennis Bergkamp, Roberto Carlos, Andreas Möller, Raúl, Peter Schmeichel, Jürgen Kohler, Matthias Sammer and Christian Vieri.
  • Dancing baby.

    Dancing baby

    In 1997, a 3D animation of a dancing baby became one of the first viral videos. Over the course of the year, the animation appeared in commercials and sitcoms such as Ally McBeal.
  • Titanic.

    Titanic

    James Cameron's film "Titanic" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1997.
  • The Internet is still a novelty.

    The Internet is still a novelty

    Although the Internet existed, it was still something of a novelty in the late 1990s. Many people had to visit their local library just to "surf the web". Social media wasn't a thing yet, and most sites consisted of gaudy, static web pages.
  • 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.
  • 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".

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on April 1, 1997.

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 April 1, 1997.

  • March 3, 1997: Savage Garden release their song "Truly Madly Deeply".
  • March 5, 1997: North Korea and South Korea meet for first time in 25 years for peace talks.
  • March 6, 1997: Irish politics: Michael Lowry resigns as leader of Fine Gael.
  • March 9, 1997: Rapper The Notorious B.I.G. is shot and killed in Los Angeles.
  • March 10, 1997:
    • NBA star Dennis Rodman appears on WCW Monday Nitro.
    • The PalmPilot is released.
  • March 13, 1997: A series of UFOs are seen over Phoenix, Arizona.
  • March 15, 1997: David Beckham and Victoria Adams (Posh Spice) are introduced to each other at a game between Chelsea and Manchester United.
  • March 20, 1997: The game "Tekken 3" is released on the PlayStation.
  • March 21, 1997:
    • The comedy film "Liar Liar", starring Jim Carrey, is released in movie theaters.
    • The biographical film "Selena", starring Jennifer Lopez, is released in movie theaters.
  • March 22, 1997: The comet Hale-Bopp reaches its closest point to earth.
  • March 23, 1997: WrestleMania 13: The Undertaker defeats Sycho Sid in a "no disqualification match" at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois.
  • March 25, 1997: The album "Life After Death" by rapper The Notorious B.I.G. is released 16 days after his murder in Los Angeles.
  • March 26, 1997: 39 "Heaven's Gate" cult members commit suicide in San Diego, California.
  • March 28, 1997: The Spice Girls release their book "Girl Power!".
  • March 31, 1997: The first episode of the children's TV series "Teletubbies" is aired.
  • This date: April 1, 1997
  • April 11, 1997: The film Anaconda, starring Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube, is released in movie theaters.
  • April 13, 1997: Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament.
  • April 15, 1997: Hanson release their song "MMMBop".
  • April 19, 1997: The animated TV series "The Angry Beavers" debuts on Nickelodeon.
  • April 28, 1997: Foo Fighters release their single "Monkey Wrench".
  • May 1, 1997:
    • UK politics: The Conservative Party suffer a huge defeat at the hands of the Labour Party in the 1997 United Kingdom general election.
    • The Tamagotchi is released outside of Japan.

Late 1990s fashion

Photographs of late 1990s fashion and hairstyles.

Late 1990s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in April 1997

Television shows that people were watching in April 1997:

TV shows from April 1997.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
King of the Hill
King of the Hill
Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond
7th Heaven
7th Heaven
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

Cars in 1997

1997 saw the introduction of cars such as the Saab 9-5, the Toyota Avensis, the Toyota Prius, the Lincoln Navigator, the Honda Accord, and the Chevrolet Corvette (C5).

Cars in 1997.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in April 1997

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

Pokemon
Pokemon
Teletubbies
Teletubbies
Daria
Daria

KaBlam!
KaBlam!
Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold!
Arthur
Arthur
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Bruno the Kid
Bruno the Kid
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm
Clueless
Clueless
Blue's Clues
Blue's Clues
Toys

Toys in 1997

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

The Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game
Bop It
Bop It
Car City Carpet
Car City Carpet
The Nintendo 64
The Nintendo 64
Tickle Me Elmo
Tickle Me Elmo
The Tamagotchi
The Tamagotchi
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
Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle
Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in April 1997.

Theme Hospital 1997
Theme Hospital
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 1997
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Tekken 3 1997
Tekken 3
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter 1997
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Final Fantasy VII 1997
Final Fantasy VII
Soul Blade 1997
Soul Blade
Diablo 1996
Diablo
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! 1996
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
FIFA 97 1996
FIFA 97
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain 1996
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 1996
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Tomb Raider 1996
Tomb Raider

Were you born on April 1, 1997?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1997.

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 April 1, 2003, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on April 1.

Otto von Bismarck

Otto von Bismarck

President of Prussia Deceased
Born on April 1, 1815
He was not alive on this date.

Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle

Singer
Born on April 1, 1961
She turned 36 on this day in 1997.

Phillip Schofield

Phillip Schofield

TV presenter
Born on April 1, 1962
He turned 35 on this day in 1997.

Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow

TV host
Born on April 1, 1973
She turned 24 on this day in 1997.

Randy Orton

Randy Orton

Wrestler
Born on April 1, 1980
He turned 17 on this day in 1997.

Sean Taylor

Sean Taylor

American football player Deceased
Born on April 1, 1983
He turned 14 on this day in 1997.

Jonny May

Jonny May

Rugby player
Born on April 1, 1990
He turned 7 on this day in 1997.

Logan Paul

Logan Paul

Youtuber
Born on April 1, 1995
He turned 2 on this day in 1997.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on April 1:

USA

US President

Bill Clinton was the President of the United States on April 1, 1997.

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 April 1, 1997 was most likely conceived around July 9, 1996.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on April 1, 1997 is close to December 23, 1997.

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Stats for April 1, 1997

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about April 1, 1997:

  • 10,096 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,442 weeks have passed.
  • 872,298,000 seconds have passed since April 1, 1997.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,017,681,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 450,105,768,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 145,383,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 75,017,628 steps. That's roughly 33,341 miles.
  • 10,467,576 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1997?

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