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January 1, 1997 New Year's Day

January 1, 1997, was a Wednesday. It was 27 years, 10 months, and 23 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

Song charts

Music charts

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

  • United States: "Un-break My Heart" by Toni Braxton
  • United Kingdom: "2 Become 1" by Spice Girls

The Billboard Hot 100 on January 1, 1997

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

  • Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
  • I Believe I Can Fly (From "Space Jam") - R. Kelly
  • Don't Let Go (Love) - En Vogue
  • No Diggity - BLACKstreet (Featuring Dr. Dre)
  • Nobody - Keith Sweat Featuring Athena Cage
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.
Michael

Top movie at the box office

The movie "Michael" was at the top of the box office on January 1, 1997.

Facts

New Year's Day 1997 occurred 10,189 days ago. Approximately 340 months have passed. It was the 1st day of 1997, in week 01. The decade was the nineties. People who were born on January 1, 1997, are now 27 years old and belong to the Gen-Z generation. The Earth has experienced 113 seasons of weather since then.

Take me back to January 1, 1997

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

The date is January 1, 1997, and it's a Wednesday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Capricorn. It's New Year's Day, the official start of the year 1997. A lot of people are relaxing at home. Some are nursing hangovers from the night before.

In America, the song "Un-break My Heart" by Toni Braxton is at the top of the singles charts, while "2 Become 1" by Spice Girls is the number-one song in the UK. Bill Clinton is the President of the United States, and the movie Michael 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 "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", "Party of Five", and "Star Trek: Voyager". 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 The Notorious B.I.G, Jeff Buckley, Gianni Versace, and Princess Diana would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Duke Nukem 3D", "Quake", "Die Hard Trilogy", and "Nights into Dreams". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Sweet Valley High", "Friends", "Wishbone", and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch".

Children are playing with toys such as Fisher-Price Great Adventures Castle, Tickle Me Elmo, the Nintendo 64, and Car City Carpet.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 1, 1997, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1997 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 1, 1997 falls under the Goose.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of January will have the birthstone Garnet.
  • Birth flower (January): The Carnation and the Snowdrop.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 1, 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.
  • The murder of JonBenét Ramsey.

    The murder of JonBenét Ramsey

    On Christmas Day in 1996, six-year-old American child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was murdered at her family's home in Boulder, Colorado. The case generated nationwide interest.
  • Scream is playing at movie theaters.

    Scream is playing at movie theaters

    Between December 1996 and January 1997, people were going to their local movie theater to watch a new slasher film called "Scream". The movie proved to be a huge success, as it grossed $173 million at the box office and revitalized the horror genre.
  • Mars Attacks!

    Mars Attacks!

    The comic sci-fi movie "Mars Attacks!" was playing in movie theaters at this time.
  • 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 January 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 January 1, 1997.

  • December 5, 1996: Jordan Belfort's brokerage house "Stratton Oakmont" goes out of business after it is expelled by the NASD.
  • December 13, 1996: The movie Mars Attacks! (1996) is released.
  • December 14, 1996: 66 people are left injured after a freighter ship slams into the Riverwalk shopping mall in New Orleans.
  • December 16, 1996: It is reported that Boeing will be merging with aerospace manufacturing corporation McDonnell Douglas in a $13.3 billion deal.
  • December 17, 1996: The Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement takes 72 hostages in the Japanese Embassy in Lima, Peru.
  • December 20, 1996:
    • The movie Scream (1996) is released.
    • American astronomer Carl Sagan dies from cancer at the age of 62.
  • December 22, 1996: Soccer: Goalkeeper Peter Shilton plays his 1000th game.
  • December 23, 1996: French movie producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier is murdered in Ireland.
  • December 24, 1996: German footballer Matthias Sammer wins the 1996 Ballon d'Or.
  • December 25, 1996: The murder of six year old JonBenet Ramsey shocks America.
  • December 26, 1996:
    • David Spencer (13) and Patrick Warren (11) go missing in Solihull, England.
    • Islamic hijackers seize control of Air France Flight 8969.
  • December 27, 1996: Patrick Warren (11) and David Spencer (13) go missing in Solihull, England.
  • December 30, 1996: Actor Jack Nance passes away from a subdural hematoma.
  • This date: January 1, 1997
  • January 8, 1997: Football: Kevin Keegan announces that he is stepping down as manager of Newcastle United.
  • January 16, 1997: Bill Cosby's son, Ennis Cosby, is shot and killed during an attempted robbery.
  • January 17, 1997: The NBA suspends Dennis Rodman for at least 11 games for kicking cameraman Eugene Amos.
  • January 20, 1997: Autumn Jackson is arrested by federal authorities on suspicion of trying to extort money from comedian Bill Cosby.
  • January 26, 1997: Super Bowl XXXI: The Green Bay Packers defeat the New England Patriots by 35-21 at the Louisiana Superdome.
  • January 31, 1997: The game Final Fantasy VII is released.

Late 1990s fashion

Photographs of late 1990s fashion and hairstyles.

Late 1990s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in January 1997

Television shows that people were watching in January 1997:

TV shows from January 1997.

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
ER
ER
Party of Five
Party of Five

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 January 1997

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

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
Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series
7th Heaven
7th Heaven
Kenan & Kel
Kenan & Kel
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 January 1997.

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
Wipeout 2097 1996
Wipeout 2097
Super Mario 64 1996
Super Mario 64
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall 1996
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
Crash Bandicoot 1996
Crash Bandicoot
Nights into Dreams 1996
Nights into Dreams
Die Hard Trilogy 1996
Die Hard Trilogy

Were you born on January 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 January 1, 2003, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

J. Edgar Hoover

J. Edgar Hoover

The first Director of the FBI Deceased
Born on January 1, 1895
He was not alive on this date.

Grandmaster Flash

Grandmaster Flash

Hip Hop DJ
Born on January 1, 1958
He turned 39 on this day in 1997.

Verne Troyer

Verne Troyer

Actor Deceased
Born on January 1, 1969
He turned 28 on this day in 1997.

Ice Spice

Ice Spice

Rapper
Born on January 1, 2000
She was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on January 1:

USA

US President

Bill Clinton was the President of the United States on January 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 January 1, 1997 was most likely conceived around April 10, 1996.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 1, 1997 is close to September 24, 1997.

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Stats for January 1, 1997

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 1, 1997:

  • 10,189 days have passed since this date.
  • 1,455 weeks have passed.
  • 880,329,600 seconds have passed since January 1, 1997.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,027,051,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 454,250,073,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 146,721,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 75,708,346 steps. That's roughly 33,648 miles.
  • 10,563,955 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1997?

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