Eligibility Year: October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006
Trivia:
The Dixie Chicks were the big winners of the night, taking home five awards including Album of the Year for Taking the Long Way.
Not Ready to Make Nice, also by the Dixie Chicks, won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year, making a strong political statement.
Mary J. Blige was another notable winner, bagging three awards including Best R&B Album for The Breakthrough.
Justin Timberlake snagged two awards, including Best Dance Recording for the hit SexyBack.
The iconic Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic earned Tony Bennett two Grammys, and it was a unique collaborative project featuring various artists across genres.
The Best New Artist category had an unusual mix of genres represented, with British soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae and American rapper Lupe Fiasco among the nominees. Carrie Underwood took home the prize.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers also had a successful night, winning four awards, including Best Rock Album for Stadium Arcadium.
Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie featuring Wyclef Jean was a notable snub, not winning any awards despite its massive commercial success.
John Mayer won Best Pop Vocal Album for Continuum, further solidifying his status as a pop and blues sensation.
Rick Rubin won Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, partly for his work on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Stadium Arcadium.
2007 Grammy Winners
Album of the Year: Taking the Long Way – Dixie Chicks
Record of the Year: Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks
Song of the Year: Not Ready to Make Nice – Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Dan Wilson (Dixie Chicks)
New Artist: Carrie Underwood
Female R&B Vocal Performance: Be Without You – Mary J. Blige
Pop Vocal Album: Continuum – John Mayer
Pop Collaboration With Vocals: For Once in My Life – Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder
Country Album: Taking the Long Way – Dixie Chicks
Rap Album: Release Therapy – Ludacris
Rock Album: Stadium Arcadium – Red Hot Chili Peppers
R&B Album: The Breakthrough – Mary J. Blige
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Rick Rubin
Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Duets: an American Classic – Tony Bennett
Female Pop Vocal Performance: Ain’t No Other Man – Christina Aguilera
Male Pop Vocal Performance: Waiting on the World to Change – John Mayer
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: My Humps – Black Eyed Peas
Pop Instrumental Performance: Mornin’ – George Benson (& Al Jarreau)
Pop Instrumental Album: Fingerprints – Peter Frampton
Rock Instrumental Performance: The Wizard Turns On … – the Flaming Lips
Rock Song: Dani California – Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers);
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Someday Baby – Bob Dylan
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: Dani California – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hard Rock Performance: Woman – Wolfmother
Metal Performance: Eyes of the Insane – Slayer
Alternative Music Album: St. Elsewhere – Gnarls Barkley
Dance Recording: Sexy Back – Justin Timberlake and Timbaland
Electronic/Dance Album: Confessions on a Dance Floor – Madonna
Rap Solo Performance: What You Know – T.I
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Ridin – Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone
Rap/Sung Collaboration: My Love – Justin Timberlake featuring T.I
Rap Song: Money Maker – Christopher Bridges and Pharrell Williams (Ludacris featuring Pharrell)
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Family Affair – (Sly and the Family Stone), John Legend, Joss Stone With Van Hunt
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: God Bless the Child – George Benson and Al Jarreau featuring Jill Scott
R&B Song: Be Without You – Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox and Jason Perry (Mary J. Blige)
Contemporary R&B Album: B’Day – Beyonce
Traditional Blues Album: Risin’ With the Blues – Ike Turner
Contemporary Blues Album: After the Rain – Irma Thomas
Female Country Vocal Performance: Jesus, Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood
Male Country Vocal Performance: The Reason Why – Vince Gill
Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks
Country Collaboration With Vocals: Who Says You Can’t Go Home – Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles
Country Instrumental Performance: Whiskey Before Breakfast – Bryan Sutton and Doc Watson
Country Song: Jesus, Take the Wheel – Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson (Carrie Underwood)
Bluegrass Album: Instrumentals – Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
Contemporary Jazz Album: The Hidden Land – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Jazz Instrumental Solo: Some Skunk Funk – Michael Brecker
Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: The Ultimate Adventure – Chick Corea
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Some Skunk Funk – Randy Brecker With Michael Brecker, Jim Beard, Will Lee, Peter Erskine, Marcio
Jazz Vocal Album: Turned to Blue – Nancy Wilson
Instrumental Composition: A Prayer for Peace – John Williams, composer (John Williams), from “Munich — Soundtrack.”
Instrumental Arrangement: Three Ghouls – Chick Corea, arranger (Chick Corea), from “The Ultimate Adventure.”
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): For Once in My Life – Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder), from “Duets: an American Classic.”
Gospel Performance: Victory – Yolanda Adams
Gospel Song: Imagine Me – Kirk Franklin (Kirk Franklin)
Rock or Rap Gospel Album: Turn Around – Jonny Lang
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Wherever You Are – Third Day
Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Glory Train – Randy Travis
Traditional Gospel Album: Alive in South Africa – Israel and New Breed
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: Hero – Kirk Franklin
Short Form Music Video: Here It Goes Again – OK Go
Long Form Music Video: Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
Producer of the Year, Classical: Elaine Martone
Classical Album: Mahler: Symphony No. 7 – Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor, Andreas Neubronner, producer (San Francisco Symphony)
Orchestral Performance: Mahler: Symphony No. 7 – Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
Opera Recording: Golijov: Ainadamar: Fountain of Tears – Robert Spano, conductor, Kelley O’Connor and Dawn Upshaw; Valerie Gross and Sid McLauchlan, producers (Women of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
Choral Performance: Part: Da Pacem – Paul Hillier, conductor (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir)
Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Walk the Line – Joaquin Phoenix and Various Artists
Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Memoirs of a Geisha – John Williams, composer
Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Our Town (From Cars) – Randy Newman (James Taylor)
Musical Show Album: Jersey Boys
Musical Album for Children: Catch That Train – Dan Zanes and Friends
Comedy Album: The Carnegie Hall Performance – Lewis Black
New Age Album: Amarantine – Enya
Traditional Folk Album: We Shall Overcome – the Seeger Sessions – Bruce Springsteen
Contemporary Folk/Americana Album: Modern Times – Bob Dylan
Latin Pop Album (tie): Adentro – Arjona Limon Y Sal – Julieta Venegas
Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album: Amar Es Combatir – Mana
Tropical Latin Album: Directo Al Corazon – Gilberto Santa Rosa
Mexican/Mexican-American Album: Historias De Mi Tierra – Pepe Aguilar
Tejano Album: Sigue El Taconazo – Chente Barrera
Norteno Album: Historias Que Contar – Los Tigres Del Norte
Banda Album: Mas Alla Del Sol – Joan Sebastian
Latin Jazz Album: Simpatico – the Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project
Native American Music Album: Dance With the Wind – Mary Youngblood
Hawaiian Music Album: Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar — Live From Maui – Various Artists
Reggae Album: Love Is My Religion – Ziggy Marley
Traditional World Music Album: Blessed – Soweto Gospel Choir
Contemporary World Music Album: Wonder Wheel – the Klezmatics
Polka Album: Polka in Paradise – Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra
Spoken Word Album for Children: Blah Blah Blah: Stories About Clams, Swamp Monsters, Pirates and Dogs – Bill Harley
Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books and Story Telling). (Tie): Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis (Jimmy Carter) – Jimmy Carter. “With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together (Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee) – Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee
Recording Package: 10,000 Days – Adam Jones, art director (Tool)
Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: Stadium Arcadium – Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith and Matt Taylor, art directors (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Album Notes: If You Got to Ask, You Ain’t Got It!” Dan Morgenstern, album notes writer (Fats Waller)
Historical Album: Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry 1891-1922.
Engineered Album, Classical: Elgar: Enigma Variations; Britten: the Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Four Sea Interludes – Michael Bishop, engineer (Paavo Jarvi and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
Engineered Album, Non-Classical: At War With the Mystics – the Flaming Lips and Dave Fridmann, engineers (The Flaming Lips)
Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: Talk (Thin White Duke Mix) – Jacques Lu Cont, remixer (Coldplay)
December 31, 2005 – January 13 2006: Don’t Forget About Us – Mariah Carey January 14 – January 20: Laffy Taffy – D4L January 21 – February 3: Grillz – Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali and Gipp February 4 – March 10: Check on It – Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug March 11 – March 17: You’re Beautiful – James Blunt March 18 – March 31: So Sick – Ne-Yo April 1 – April 7: Temperature – Sean Paul April 8 – May 12: Bad Day – Daniel Powter May 13 – June 2: SOS – Rihanna June 3 – June 16: Ridin’ – Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone June 17 – June 30: Hips Don’t Lie – Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean July 1 – July 7: Do I Make You Proud – Taylor Hicks July 8 -August 18: Promiscuous – Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland August 19 – September 8: London Bridge – Fergie September 9 – October 27th: SexyBack – Justin Timberlake October 28 – November 10th: Money Maker – Ludacris featuring Pharrell December 2 – December 15: I Wanna Love You – Akon featuring Snoop Dogg December 30, 2006 – February 23, 2007: Irreplacable – Beyonce
(Data is compiled from various charts including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
World Changing Events: Facebook became open to any over age 13
Twitter.com was launched
The Top Song was Irreplaceable by Beyonce
The Movies to Watch include Dreamgirls, Mission: Impossible III, The da Vinci Code, and Happy Feet
The Most Famous Person in America was probably
Notable books include: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne and Wisdom of Our Fathers by Tim Russert
Price of Hershey Kisses, 14 oz in 2006: $2.50 I Can’t Believe It’s not butter, 15 oz, $2.29
The Funny Guys were: Jim Gaffigan & Demetri Martin The Controversial Funny Guy: Stephen Colbert
The Chicken Noodle Soup dance was popular during late 2006, Crank That (Soulja Boy) by Soulja Boy Tell’em outlasted it.
#TBT: Throwback Thursday is the trend of posting older, nostalgic photos on Thursdays under the hashtag #ThrowbackThursday or #TBT. An old concept, it reached mainstream Pop Culture this year.
Created in 2000, Blu-Ray discs were made available in 2006. They can contain up to 5 times more information than a DVD.
The Message: Founded in 1856, Western Union didn’t stop sending telegrams until 2006.
Top Ten Baby Names of 2006: Emily, Emma, Madison, Isabella, Ava, Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Ethan, Matthew
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols: Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, Christina Milian, Keira Knightly, Katherine Heigl, Gisele Bündchen, Stacy Keibler, Eva Longoria, Lindsay Lohan, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Kristen Bell
Hollywood Hunks and Leading Men: Channing Tatum, Hugh Laurie, David Beckham, Justin Timberlake, Antonio Sabàto, Jr., Johnny Depp
Time Magazine’s Man of the Year: ‘You’ (all worldwide web users)
Miss America: Jennifer Berry (Tulsa, OK)
Miss USA: Tara Conner (Kentucky)
The Scandals: Mark Foley, Republican from Florida, was a member of the United States Congress who sent sexually explicit emails to an underage page.
Duke University lacrosse team scandal took place when some members allegedly took advantage of a dancer/stripper. The stripper, we found out later, made up the story.
Terrell Owens supposedly tried to kill himself by taking 35 painkillers.
Zinedine Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi during the World Cup Final
Celebrity Death: Steve Irwin, TV’s Crocodile Hunter, was killed by a freak stingray accident. He was a hero to millions of children. Stingray injuries are almost never fatal. When Steve Irwin died from a stingray attack in 2006, it was only the second recorded stingray-related death in Australia since 1945.
Pop Culture Facts & History: Russ Heller set a record for listening to Starship’s We Built This City. Russ listened to the song consecutively for 24 hours, reaching 324 listens.
M&Ms created an ad campaign offering 2 million dark chocolate M&Ms for the one who returns “The Scream”, a painting that was stolen in 2004, in Norway. Just days after the campaign, the painting was found by the Norwegian Police.
NASCAR’s Allstate 400 had 36 cars start the race, a NASCAR record.
Skiing is one of the fastest non-motorized sports on land. Skiers can ski faster than a car and this was proven by Simone Origone in 2006 that set a world speed skiing record at 156.2 miles per hour compared to the speed of road cars at 120 miles per hour.
The song Year 3000 was originally released in 2003 by the English pop-punk band Busted, and was covered by the Jonas Brothers in 2006 for their first album.
The first Youtuber was Peter Oakley, known as Geriatric1927, he was the most subscribed youtube account in 2006. On his channel, he talked about his life experiences, such as growing up in the UK during WW2 and experiencing the British inter-war school system. He passed away in 2014 at the age of 86.
In 2006, Katie Melua gave a concert at 303 meters below sea level in one of the legs of the “Troll A” oil rig, earning a Guinness record for “deepest underwater concert”.
After the sale of Pixar to Disney in 2006 Steve Jobs became the largest individual shareholder of Disney with 7% ownership.
iTunes billionth song was downloaded in February 2006. It was Speed of Sound by Coldplay.
We only have 8 planets in the solar system instead of 9, because in 2006 a panel of 424 astronomers in a meeting of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Prague has demoted and reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet.
Russian cosmonaut hit a golf ball in space for an estimated 2.2 billion yard drive, during a spacewalk.
Corn Pops debuted in 1950 as ‘Corn Pops’. Name changed twice in 1951 to ‘Sugar Corn Pops’ then ‘Sugar Pops’. In 1978 it changed back to ‘Sugar Corn Pops’ then finally back to original ‘Corn Pops’ in 1984. In 2006 it became to ‘Pops’ and then back to ‘Corn Pops’ a few months later.
Western Union sent their last telegram in 2006.
Bambi and Bambi II hold the record for the longest gap in between movie sequels, the first being released in 1942, the second being released 64 years later in 2006.
Disney quietly cut ties with McDonald’s in 2006 so as not to be associated with childhood obesity. The last Kid’s Meal toys were Cars and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
Earning just $462 million at the box office, the 2006 movie Cars earned $10 billion in merchandise sales over the next 5 years.
There is controversy over the first words of Neil Armstrong on the moon: Armstrong said: “That’s one small step for a man…”. “It’s just that people just didn’t hear the ‘a’,” he told the press. In 2006, Peter Shann Ford found evidence that the missing “a” had been spoken after all. #goodluckmrgorsky
William Shatner auctioned off a kidney stone. The $25,000 it fetched was given to Habitat For Humanity.
The first female space tourist was Iranian Anousheh Ansari. She paid $20,000,000 to get onto the International Space Station.
Lambda Lambda Lambda, the fictional fraternity from Revenge of the Nerds, ended up being formed as a real fraternity at the University of Connecticut in 2006
Kongō Gumi was a Japanese construction company that was the world’s oldest continuously ongoing independent company, operating for 1,441 years. In 2005 it had 100 employees and annual revenue of $70m USD. In 2006 they fell on hard times and were absorbed into a larger company.
On Domino Day, November 13, 2009, a total of 4,491,863 dominos were toppled – the record as of this writing…
In October 2000, Heinz introduced colored ketchup products called EZ Squirt, which eventually included green (2000), purple (2001), mystery (pink, orange, or teal, 2002), and blue (2003). The products were discontinued in 2006.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 2006: $2,500,000
The Strange: In 1867, a jar was found in Paris containing a human rib among other artifacts, and a label claiming that they belonged to Joan of Arc. Tests conducted in 2006 revealed that they came not from Joan of Arc, but an Egyptian mummy.
In 2006, Disney traded sports broadcaster, Al Michaels, to NBC in return for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a cartoon character Universal took from Walt Disney in 1927.
Napoleon signed the Louisiana Purchase in his bathtub at the Tuileries Palace. An American hotelier in Louisiana bought the tub in 2006 and put it in a hotel in New Orleans for guests to bathe in.
Dick Cheney accidentally shot his (now ex?) friend Harry Whittington in the face. Love Mr. Cheney, or hate him, you don’t mess with this ex-Vice-President.
The Break Ups: Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards Britney Spears and Kevin Federline Paul McCartney and Heather Mills Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown
The Habits: Facebook opened to anyone over 13, with a valid e-mail address. YouTube, MySpace
2006 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame: Easy-Bake Oven, Lionel Trains
1st Appearances & 2006’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents: Wii, Elmo TMX, Dora the Explorer Dolls, Apples to Apples
East End Show : The 39 Steps (Play) Opened on September 14, 2006, and closed on September 5, 2015. Wicked (Musical) Opened on September 27, 2006
Broadway Show : Mary Poppins (Musical) Opened on November 16, 2006, and closed on March 3, 2013
Best Film Oscar Winner: Crash (Presented in 2007)
2006 Entries to The National Film Registry: Applause (released in 1929) The Big Trail (released in 1930) Blazing Saddles (released in 1974) The Curse of Quon Gwon (released in 1916/1917) Daughter of Shanghai (released in 1937) Drums of Winter (aka Uksuum Cauyai) (released in 1988) Early Abstractions (released in 1939/1956) Fargo (released in 1996) Flesh and the Devil (released in 1927) Groundhog Day (released in 1993) Halloween (released in 1978) In the Street (released in 1948) The Last Command (released in 1928) Notorious (released in 1946) Red Dust (released in 1932) Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania (released in 1971/1972) Rocky (released in 1976) sex, lies, and videotape (released in 1989) Siege (released in 1940) St. Louis Blues (released in 1929) The T.A.M.I. Show (released in 1964) Tess of the Storm Country (released in 1914) Think of Me First as a Person (released in 1960/1975) A Time Out of War (released in 1954) Traffic in Souls (released in 1913)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo) 1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest 2. Night at the Museum 3. Cars 4. X-Men: The Last Stand 5. The Da Vinci Code 6. Superman Returns 7. Happy Feet 8. Ice Age: The Meltdown 9. Casino Royale 10. The Pursuit of Happiness
2006 Most Popular TV shows: 1. American Idol Results (Fox) 2. Dancing With the Stars (Fall, ABC) 3. CSI (CBS) 4. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) 5. House (Fox) 6. Sunday Night Football (NBC) 7. Desperate Housewives (ABC) 8. CSI: Miami (CBS) 9. Deal or No Deal (NBC) 10. Survivor: Cook Islands (CBS)
2006 Billboard Number One Songs: December 30, 2005 – January 13, 2006: Don’t Forget About Us – Mariah Carey
January 14 – January 20: Laffy Taffy – D4L
January 21 – February 3: Grillz – Nelly Featuring Paul Wall, Ali, and Gipp
February 4 – March 10: Check on It – Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug
March 11 – March 17: You’re Beautiful – James Blunt
December 30, 2006 – February 23, 2007: Irreplaceable – Beyonce
Sports: World Series Champions: St. Louis Cardinals Super Bowl XL Champions: Pittsburgh Steelers NBA Champions: Miami Heat Stanley Cup Champs: Carolina Hurricanes U.S. Open Golf Geoff Ogilvy U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Roger Federer/ Maria Sharapova Wimbledon (Men/Women): Roger Federer/Amelie Mauresmo NCAA Football Champions: Florida NCAA Basketball Champions: Florida Kentucky Derby: Barbaro World Cup (Soccer): Italy Sports Honorable Mention: Shaun White, snowboarder
Popular and Best-selling Books From 2006: Angels Fall – Nora Roberts At Risk by Patricia Cornwell The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge Black Swan Green by David Mitchell The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Cell by Stephen King The Children’s Hospital by Chris Adrian Cross by James Patterson Culture Warrior by Bill O’Reilly The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Dear John by Nicholas Sparks Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper Don’t Make a Black Woman Take off Her Earrings by Tyler Perry Fiasco by Thomas E. Ricks The 5th Horseman by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro For Laci by Sharon Rocha For One More Day by Mitch Albom Fun Home by Alison Bechdel Godless: The Church of Liberalism by Ann Coulter Gone by Jonathan Kellerman Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris The Hostage by W.E.B. Griffin The House by Danielle Steel The Husband by Dean Koontz I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron In Persuasion Nation by George Saunders The Innocent Man by John Grisham Judge and Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross Lisey’s Story by Stephen King Marley & Me by John Grogan Mary, Mary by James Patterson Next by Michael Crichton Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen The Road by Cormac McCarthy “S” is For Silence by Sue Grafton The Secret by Rhonda Byrne State of Denial by Bob Woodward Teacher Man by Frank McCourt Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich Twilight: New Moon by Stephenie Meyer Twilight of the Superheroes of Deborah Eisenberg Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higging Clark Wisdom of Our Fathers by Tim Russert
Held at: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Host: Jon Stewart
Eligibility Year: 2005
Trivia:
The ceremony was originally scheduled for February but was pushed back to March due to the 2006 Winter Olympics taking place in Turin, Italy.
Ang Lee won Best Director for Brokeback Mountain, although the film lost out on Best Picture to Crash, a controversial decision that still sparks debates.
Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix both received nominations for their roles in Walk the Line. Witherspoon won Best Actress, making her one of the youngest actresses to win the award.
Memoirs of a Geisha surprisingly took home three Oscars but didn’t win any of the major awards.
George Clooney won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Syriana, marking his first Oscar win.
Philip Seymour Hoffman won Best Actor for his transformative role in Capote, setting the stage for future biopic winners.
The Best Animated Feature went to Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, beating out Corpse Bride and Howl’s Moving Castle.
Jon Stewart, primarily known for his television show The Daily Show, made his Oscars hosting debut, and his performance was met with mixed reviews.
The Academy also honored Robert Altman with an Honorary Award, celebrated for his distinct vision and contributions to cinema.
It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp from the film Hustle & Flow won Best Original Song, marking a significant win for hip-hop in the Academy Awards.
Dolly Parton, a multi-genre icon, was also nominated in the Best Original Song category for Travelin’ Thru from Transamerica, highlighting the diversity in musical genres recognized by the Oscars that year.
2006 Oscar Nominees and Winners
Best Picture:
Crash – Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman, producers (WINNER)
Brokeback Mountain – Diana Ossana and James Schamus, producers
Capote – Caroline Baron, William Vince and Michael Ohoven, producers
Good Night, and Good Luck – Grant Heslov, producer
Munich – Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg and Barry Mendel, producers
Best Director:
Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain (WINNER)
Bennett Miller – Capote
Paul Haggis – Crash
George Clooney – Good Night, and Good Luck
Steven Spielberg – Munich
Best Actor:
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Capote as Truman Capote (WINNER)
Terrence Howard – Hustle & Flow as DJay
Heath Ledger – Brokeback Mountain as Ennis Del Mar
Joaquin Phoenix – Walk the Line as Johnny Cash
David Strathairn – Good Night, and Good Luck as Edward R. Murrow
Best Actress:
Reese Witherspoon – Walk the Line as June Carter Cash (WINNER)
Judi Dench – Mrs Henderson Presents as Laura Henderson
Felicity Huffman – Transamerica as Sabrina “Bree” Osbourne / Stanley Schupak
Keira Knightley – Pride & Prejudice as Elizabeth Bennet
Charlize Theron – North Country as Josey Aimes
Best Supporting Actor:
George Clooney – Syriana as Bob Barnes (WINNER)
Matt Dillon – Crash as Officer John Ryan
Paul Giamatti – Cinderella Man as Joe Gould
Jake Gyllenhaal – Brokeback Mountain as Jack Twist
William Hurt – A History of Violence as Richie Cusack
Best Supporting Actress:
Rachel Weisz – The Constant Gardener as Tessa Quayle (WINNER)
Amy Adams – Junebug as Ashley Johnsten
Catherine Keener-Capote as Nelle Harper Lee
Frances McDormand – North Country as Glory Dodge
Michelle Williams – Brokeback Mountain as Alma Beers Del Mar
Best Original Screenplay:
Crash – Paul Haggis and Robert Moresco (WINNER)
Good Night, and Good Luck – George Clooney and Grant Heslov
Match Point – Woody Allen
The Squid and the Whale – Noah Baumbach
Syriana – Stephen Gaghan
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Brokeback Mountain – Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana based on the short story by Annie Proulx (WINNER)
Capote – Dan Futterman based on the book by Gerald Clarke
The Constant Gardener – Jeffrey Caine based on the novel by John le Carré
A History of Violence – Josh Olson based on the graphic novel by John Wagner and Vince Locke
Munich – Tony Kushner and Eric Roth based on the book Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team by George Jonas
Best Animated Feature Film:
Wallace & Gromit – Nick Park and Steve Box (WINNER)
Howl’s Moving Castle – Hayao Miyazaki
Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride – Mike Johnson and Tim Burton
Best Foreign Language Film:
Tsotsi (South Africa) – Gavin Hood (WINNER)
The Beast in the Heart (Italy) – Cristina Comencini
Joyeux Noël (France) – Christian Carion
Paradise Now (The Palestinian Territories) – Hany Abu-Assad
Sophie Scholl – The Final Days (Germany) – Marc Rothemund
Best Documentary Feature:
March of the Penguins – Luc Jacquet and Yves Darondeau (WINNER)
Darwin’s Nightmare – Hubert Sauper
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room – Alex Gibney and Jason Kliot
Murderball – Henry Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro
Street Fight – Marshall Curry
Best Documentary Short Subject:
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin – Corinne Marrinan and Eric Simonson (WINNER)
The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club – Dan Krauss
God Sleeps in Rwanda – Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman
The Mushroom Club – Steven Okazaki
Best Live Action Short Film:
Six Shooter – Martin McDonagh (WINNER)
Cashback – Sean Ellis and Lene Bausager
The Last Farm – Rúnar Rúnarsson and Thor S. Sigurjónsson
Our Time Is Up – Rob Pearlstein and Pia Clemente
The Runaway (Ausreißer) – Ulrike Grote
Best Animated Short Film:
The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation – John Canemaker and Peggy Stern (WINNER)
9 – Shane Acker
Badgered – Sharon Colman
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello – Anthony Lucas
One Man Band – Andrew Jimenez and Mark Andrews
Best Original Score:
Brokeback Mountain – Gustavo Santaolalla (WINNER)
The Constant Gardener – Alberto Iglesias
Memoirs of a Geisha – John Williams
Munich – John Williams
Pride & Prejudice – Dario Marianelli
Best Original Song:
“It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle & Flow – Music and Lyrics by Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard (WINNER)
“In the Deep” from Crash – Music by Kathleen “Bird” York and Michael Becker; Lyrics by Kathleen “Bird” York
“Travelin’ Thru” from Transamerica – Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton
Best Sound Editing:
King Kong – Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn (WINNER)
Memoirs of a Geisha – Wylie Stateman
War of the Worlds – Richard King
Best Sound Mixing:
King Kong – Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges and Hammond Peek (WINNER)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Terry Porter, Dean A. Zupancic and Tony Johnson
Memoirs of a Geisha – Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Rick Kline and John Pritchett
Walk the Line – Paul Massey, D.M. Hemphill and Peter Kurland
War of the Worlds – Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ron Judkins
Best Art Direction:
Memoirs of a Geisha – Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gretchen Rau (WINNER)
Good Night, and Good Luck – Art Direction: Jim Bissell; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Art Direction: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
King Kong – Art Direction: Grant Major; Set Decoration: Dan Hennah and Simon Bright
Pride & Prejudice – Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
Best Cinematography:
Memoirs of a Geisha – Dion Beebe (WINNER)
Batman Begins – Wally Pfister
Brokeback Mountain – Rodrigo Prieto
Good Night, and Good Luck – Robert Elswit
The New World – Emmanuel Lubezki
Best Makeup:
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Howard Berger and Tami Lane (WINNER)
Cinderella Man – David LeRoy Anderson and Lance Anderson
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – Dave Elsey and Nikki Gooley
Best Costume Design:
Memoirs of a Geisha – Colleen Atwood (WINNER)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Gabriella Pescucci
Mrs Henderson Presents – Sandy Powell
Pride & Prejudice – Jacqueline Durran
Walk the Line – Arianne Phillips
Best Film Editing:
Crash – Hughes Winborne (WINNER)
Cinderella Man – Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
The Constant Gardener – Claire Simpson
Munich – Michael Kahn
Walk the Line – Michael McCusker
Best Visual Effects:
King Kong – Joe Letteri, Brian Van’t Hul, Christian Rivers and Richard Taylor (WINNER)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Dean Wright, Bill Westenhofer, Jim Berney and Scott Farrar
War of the Worlds – Dennis Muren, Pablo Helman, Randal M. Dutra and Dan Sudick
Eligibility Year: October 1, 2004 – September 30, 2005
Trivia:
2006 was the 48th edition of the Grammy Awards, and the ceremony lacked an official host, a rare occurrence in the show’s history.
U2 dominated the ceremony, winning five Grammys, including Best Rock Album and Song of the Year for Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own.
Mariah Carey, once considered a pop diva past her prime, made a powerful comeback with The Emancipation of Mimi. She went home with three Grammys, including Best Contemporary R&B Album.
Kanye West, who was no stranger to Grammy controversy, won Best Rap Album for Late Registration. However, he lost Album of the Year to U2’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, fueling the debate over whether rap albums get the recognition they deserve in major categories.
Alison Krauss & Union Station also had a strong presence, winning all three of the awards for which they were nominated.
Green Day, who had swept the Grammys the previous year with American Idiot, won Record of the Year for Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
It was a big night for R&B and soul, with John Legend winning Best New Artist and Best R&B Album for Get Lifted.
The award for Best Comedy Album was snagged by Chris Rock for Never Scared.
Kelly Clarkson made Grammy history by becoming the first American Idol alum to win a Grammy. She took home two, including Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Since U Been Gone.
2006 Grammy Winners
Record of the Year: Boulevard Of Broken Dreams – Green Day
Album of the Year: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb – U2
Song of the Year: Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own – U2
New Artist: John Legend
Female Pop Vocal Performance: Since U Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
Male Pop Vocal Performance: From The Bottom Of My Heart – Stevie Wonder
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: This Love – Maroon 5
Pop Collaboration With Vocals: Feel Good Inc – Gorillaz Featuring De La Soul
Pop Instrumental Performance: Caravan – Les Paul
Pop Instrumental Album: At This Time – Burt Bacharach
Pop Vocal Album: Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson
Dance Recording: Galvanize – The Chemical Brothers Featuring Q-Tip
Electronic/Dance Album: Push The Button – The Chemical Brothers
Traditional Pop Vocal Album: The Art Of Romance – Tony Bennett
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Devils & Dust – Bruce Springsteen
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own – U2
Hard Rock Performance: B.Y.O.B. – System Of A Down
Metal Performance: Before I Forget – Slipknot
Rock Instrumental Performance: 69 Freedom Special – Les Paul & Friends
Rock Song: City Of Blinding Lights – U2
Rock Album: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb – U2
Alternative Music Album: Get Behind Me Satan – The White Stripes
Female R&B Vocal Performance: We Belong Together – Mariah Carey
Male R&B Vocal Performance: Ordinary People – John Legend
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: So Amazing – Beyonce & Stevie Wonder
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: A House Is Not A Home – Aretha Franklin
Urban/Alternative Performance: Welcome To Jamrock – Damian Marley
R&B Song: We Belong Together – Mariah Carey
R&B Album: Get Lifted – John Legend
Contemporary R&B Album: The Emancipation of Mimi – Mariah Carey
Rap Solo Performance: Gold Digger – Kanye West
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Don’t Phunk With My Heart – The Black Eyed Peas
Rap/Sung Collaboration: Numb/Encore – Jay-Z Featuring Linkin Park
Rap Song: Diamonds From Sierra Leone – Kanye West
Rap Album: Late Registration – Kanye West
Female Country Vocal Performance: The Connection – Emmylou Harris
Male Country Vocal Performance: You’ll Think Of Me – Keith Urban
Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: Restless – Alison Krauss And Union Station
Country Collaboration With Vocals: Like We Never Loved At All – Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
Country Instrumental Performance: Unionhouse Branch – Alison Krauss & Union Station
Country Song: Bless The Broken Road – Rascal Flatts
Country Album: Lonely Runs Both Ways – Alison Krauss And Union Station
Bluegrass Album: The Company We Keep – The DelMcCoury Band
New Age Album: Silver Solstice – Paul Winter Consort
Contemporary Jazz Album: The Way Up – Pat Metheny Group
Jazz Vocal Album: Good Night, And Good Luck – Dianne Reeves
Jazz Instrumental Solo: Why Was I Born? – Sonny Rollins
Jazz Instrumental Album – Individual or Group: Beyond The Sound Barrier – Wayne Shorter Quartet
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Overtime – Dave Holland Big Band
Latin Jazz Album: Listen Here! – Eddie Palmieri
Gospel Performance: Pray – CeCe Winans
Best Gospel Song: Be Blessed – Yolanda Adams
Rock Gospel Album: Until My Heart Caves In – Audio Adrenaline
Gospel Choir or Chorus Album: One Voice – Gladys Knight, Saints Unified Voices
Latin Pop Album: Eschucha – Laua Pausini
Latin Rock/Alternative Album: Fijación Oral Vol. 1 – Shakira
Traditional Tropical Latin Album: Bebo De Cuba – Bebo Valdés
Salsa/Merengue Album: Son Del Alma – Willy Chirino
Mexican/Mexican-American Album: México En La Piel – Luis Miguel
Tejano Album: Chicanisimo – Little Joe Y La Familia
Traditional Blues Album: 80 – B.B. King & Friends
Contemporary Blues Album: Cost Of Living – Delbert McClinton
Traditional Folk Album: Fiddler’s Green – Tim O’Brien
Contemporary Folk Album: Fair & Square – John Prine
Native American Music Album: Sacred Ground – A Tribute To Mother Earth – Various Artists
Hawaiian Music Album: Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar – Vol. 1 – Various Artists (Daniel Ho, Paul Konwiser & Wayne Wong, producers)
Reggae Album: Welcome To Jamrock – Damian Marley
Traditional World Music Album: In The Heart Of The Moon – Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté
Contemporary World Music Album: Eletracústico – Gilberto Gil
Polka Album: Shake, Rattle And Polka! – Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra
Musical Album for Children: Songs From The Neighborhood – The Music Of Mister Rogers – Various Artists
Spoken Word Album for Children: Marlo Thomas & Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long – Various Artists
Spoken Word Album: Dreams From My Father (Senator Barack Obama) – Senator Barack Obama
Comedy Album: Never Scared – Chris Rock
Musical Show Album: Monty Python’s Spamalot
Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Ray – Ray Charles
Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Ray
Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Believe – Polar Express (Josh Groban, performer)
Instrumental Composition: Into The Light – Billy Childs Ensemble
Instrumental Arrangement: The Incredits – Various (Gordon Godwin, arranger)
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life? Billy Childs, Gil Goldstein & Heitor Pereira, arrangers (Chris Botti & Sting, performers)
Recording Package: The Forgotten Arm – Amiee Mann
Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: The Legend – Johnny Cash
Album Notes: The Complete Library Of Congress Recordings By Alan Lomax – John Szwed, album notes writer (Jelly Roll Morton, performer)
Historical Album: The Complete Library Of Congress Recordings By Alan Lomax Jeffrey Greenberg & Anna Lomax Wood, compilation producers; Adam Ayan & Steve Rosenthal, mastering engineers (Jelly Roll Morton, performer)
Engineered Album – Non-Classical: Back Home – Eric Clapton
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Steve Lillywhite – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (U2) , Mr. A-Z (Jason Mraz)
Surround Sound Album: Brothers In Arms – 20th Anniversary Edition – Dire Straits
Engineered Album – Classical: Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets Da-Hong Seetoo, engineer (Emerson String Quartet, performers)
Producer of the Year, Classical: Tim Handley-Adams: Shaker Loops (Marin Alsop), Bolcom: Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience (Leonard Slatkin, Christine Brewer & Joan Morris), Brahms: Sym. No. 1 (Marin Alsop & London Philharmonic Orchestra), Daugherty: Philadelphia Stories (Marin Alsop & Evelyn Glennie), Glass: Syms. Nos. 2 And 3 (Marin Alsop & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra)
Classical Album: Bolcom: Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience – Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Jerry Blackstone, William Hammer, Jason Harris, Christopher Kiver, Carole Ott & Mary Alice Stollak, choir directors; Tim Handley, producer (Christine Brewer & Joan Morris; University Of Michigan School Of Music Symphony Orchestra)
Best Orchestral Performance (Award to the Conductor and to the Orchestra): Shostakovich: Sym. No. 13 – Mariss Jansons, conductor (Sergei Aleksashkin; Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks; Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks)
Opera Recording: Shostakovich: Sym. No. 13 – Mariss Jansons, conductor (Sergei Aleksashkin; Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks; Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks)
Choral Performance: Bolcom: Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience – Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Jerry Blackstone, William Hammer, Jason Harris, Christopher Kiver, Carole Ott & Mary Alice Stollak, choir directors (Christine Brewer, Measha Brueggergosman, Ilana Davidson, Nmon Ford, Linda Hohenfeld, Joan Morris, Carmen Pelton, Marietta Simpson & Thomas Young; Michigan State University Children’s Choir, University Of Michigan Chamber Choir, University Of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University Of Michigan University Choir & University Musical Society Choral Union; University Of Michigan School Of Music Symphony Orchestra)
Chamber Music Performance: Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets – Emerson String Quartet
Small Ensemble Performance (with or without Conductor): Boulez: Le Marteau Sans Maître, Dérive 1 & 2 – Pierre Boulez, conductor; Hilary Summers; Ensemble Intercontemporain
Classical Vocal Performance: Bach: Cantatas – Thomas Quasthoff (Rainer Kussmaul; Members Of The RIAS Chamber Choir; Berlin Baroque Soloists)
Classical Contemporary Composition: Bolcom: Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience – William Bolcom (Leonard Slatkin)
Classical Crossover Album: 4 + Four – Turtle Island String Quartet & Ying Quartet
Short Form Music Video: Lose Control – Missy Elliott Featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop
Long Form Music Video: No Direction Home – Bob Dylan, Martin Scorsese, video director; Margaret Bodde, Susan Lacy, Jeff Rosen, Martin Scorsese, Nigel Sinclair & Anthony Wall, video producers
January 1, 2005 – March 4: Let Me Love You – Mario March 5 – May 6: Candy Shop – 50 Cent featuring Olivia May 7 – June 3: Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani June 4 – July 2: We Belong Together – Mariah Carey July 2 – July 8: Inside Your Heaven – Carrie Underwood July 9 – September 16: We Belong Together – Mariah Carey September 17 – November 25: Gold Deggir – Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx November 26 – December 30: Run It! – Chris Brown December 31, 2005 – January 13 2006: Don’t Forget About Us – Mariah Carey
(Data is compiled from various charts including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
The Top Song was We Belong Together by Mariah Carey
The Movies to Watch include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Walk the Line and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Most Famous Person in America was probably
Notable books include: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Price of a gallon of gas in 2005: $2.34 Tylenol Extra Strength tablets: $1.99/24
1 ounce of gold value: $513.00
The Funny Late Night Host: Jay Leno The Funny Late Late Night Host: Craig Ferguson
Charlie the Unicorn is a 2005 animated comedy short film and viral video series created by Jason Steele in Orlando, Florida.
One Red Paperclip is the story of Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald, who traded his way from a single red paperclip to a house in a series of fourteen online trades over 2005/2006.
The Conversation: Which was better? 2005’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or 1971’s Willy Wonka?
Year of the Rooster The year of the rooster is one of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle. The rooster is the tenth animal in the cycle. The years of the rooster include: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041, 2053, and 2065 The year of the rooster is associated with punctuality, honesty, and hard work. People born in the year of the rooster are said to be confident, hardworking, and have a good sense of timekeeping. They are also reliable, trustworthy, and have a strong sense of responsibility. They are known to be quite independent, and they don’t like to be told what to do. They are also known to be quite punctual and are often early for appointments. They are said to be quite successful in their careers, and they are often able to achieve great things. They are also known to be quite flamboyant and enjoy the spotlight.
Top Ten Baby Names of 2005: Emily, Emma, Madison, Abigail, Olivia, Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Ethan
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols: Gisele Bündchen, Heidi Klum, Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, Keira Knightly, Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton, Charlize Theron, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, Cate Blanchette, Marcia Cross, Salma Hayek, Reese Witherspoon, Naomi Watts, Nicole Richie, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Paris Hilton, Gwen Stefani, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sienna Miller
The Heartthrob(s): Matthew McConaughey, George Clooney, Terrence Howard, Anderson Cooper, Chris Evans, Tim McGraw, Denzel Washington, Justin Timberlake, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Christian Bale, David Beckham, Joaquin Phoenix, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Jude Law, Hugh Laurie, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt
“The Quote:” “I’m the decider” – President George W. Bush
Time Magazine’s Person of the Year: Good Samaritans, Represented by Bono, Bill Gates, and Melinda Gates
Miss America: Diedre Downs (Birmingham, AL)
Miss USA: Chelsea Cooley (North Carolina)
The Scandals: Minnesota Vikings boat cruise scandal, in which several players including Fred Smoot, Lance Johnstone, Daunte Culpepper, Mewelde Moore, Darren Sharper, Koren Robinson, Bryant McKinnie, Ralph Brown, Travis Taylor, Moe Williams, Jermaine Wiggins and Zygi Wilf allegedly performed lewd acts on a boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka.
Robert Blake, star of the 70s detective series “Baretta”, was acquitted of his wife’s murder in 2005 after a contentious 4-year legal drama. He was, however, found liable by a civil suit brought by his children.
In 2005, McDonald’s had an ad campaign saying “I’d hit it” about a double cheeseburger, not knowing the slang meant they wanted to have sex with the cheeseburger.
A woman falsely claimed she found a finger in her food at Wendy’s. The fast-food chain suffered an estimated $21 million in lost business. She later revealed, she cooked the finger at her home and then drove it to Wendy’s restaurant in San Jose, where she dropped it into the food.
Albert Gonzalez is an American computer hacker and computer criminal who is accused of masterminding the combined credit card theft and subsequent reselling of more than 170 million card and ATM numbers from 2005 to 2007: the biggest such fraud in history.
Brad Pitt left Jennifer Aniston for Angelina Jolie
December 12, 2005 – Dina and Michael Lohan officially divorced
Tom Cruise ‘Jumped The Couch” on Oprah while expressing how much he loved Katie Holmes.
Michael Schaivo successfully sued to have his brain-damaged wife Terri’s feeding tube removed.
Natalee Holloway disappeared in Aruba. (Spoiler :Joran van der Sloot did it.)
Duluth, Georgia’s ‘Runaway Bride’ Jennifer Wilbanks came clean to the FBI about her faked kidnapping story.
England’s Prince Harry went to a costume party dressed as a Nazi.
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Many people on both political sides and up and down the political power tree made mistakes.
Celebrity RIP: Mitch Hedberg died of a cocaine and heroin drug overdose. His death was formally announced on April 1, 2005, leading some to believe it was an April Fools’ Day joke.
Writer Death by Suicide: Hunter S. Thompson
US Politics: January 20, 2005 (Thursday) Second inauguration of George W. Bush
Pop Culture Facts & History: The fasted whack with a Badminton racket was by Fu Haifeng, clocking at 206 MPH.
When Halle Berry won a Worst Actor Razzie Award for her role in Catwoman, she showed up in person to collect the award. She spoke while holding her 2002 Academy Award from Monster’s Ball in one hand and the Razzie in the other.
Danni Boatwright won Survivor: Guatemala
On January 14, 2005, the Cassini spacecraft landed the Huygens probe on the surface of Saturn’s moon, Titan. It is the first probe to land on a surface in the outer solar system, the farthest any man-made spacecraft has landed.
The term “flip phone” was a Motorola trademark until 2005.
The Jeopardy! “Think!” theme was composed by the show’s creator Merv Griffin in less than a minute as a lullaby for his son. By 2005, he had made over $70 million dollars in royalties from that song, the equivalent of a Jeopardy contestant winning every game for about a decade.
Leonardo Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi was sold at a New Orleans art gallery for $10,000 in 2005 and ended up selling for $450,000,000 in 2017. It’s the most expensive painting ever sold.
In 2005, the Temple of the Jedi Order was registered in Texas. It was granted an IRS tax exemption in 2015.
There is over $45 billion on unused gift cards floating around since 2005
New Jersey made the tomato their state vegetable in 2005, justifying the decision with an 1893 ruling by the Supreme Court that although tomatoes are actually fruits, they would be legally considered vegetables.
The longest-lived domestic cat was named Creme Puff. She lived from August 3, 1967, to August 6, 2005, a span of 38 years and 3 days.
In 2005 graffiti artist David Choe was offered $60K to paint multiple murals at Facebook headquarters. He chose to take his compensation in stock which was eventually worth more than $200 million in 2020.
Eric James Torpy was convicted of shooting with intent to kill and robbery. He asked that his sentence be changed from 30 years’ imprisonment to 33 so that it would match Larry Bird’s jersey number. His request was granted.
On April 1st, 2005, NASA pulled an April Fool’s prank telling the world that they had found water on Mars.
When the results began coming in from the March 30, 2005 Powerball drawing, lottery officials suspected fraud was underway because 110 players claimed second prizes of $100,000 or $500,000. All 110 players and the jackpot winner got their numbers from fortune cookies.
Doug Heckman read the EULA before he installed some PC software. The agreement included a clause offering ‘financial compensation’ to licensees who actually read the license agreement. He emailed the company, referred to the clause and the company sent him a check for $1,000
In 2005 Manhattan was home to both the lowest-income ($9,320 household income) and the highest-income ($188,697 household income) census tract in the USA.
Sichuan pepper, commonly used in Chinese cuisine, was banned in the US until 2005.
In 2005 there were so many tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic that we ran out of names and had to start using the Greek alphabet. The last Hurricane was Epsilon (December), while the last tropical storm was Zeta (January). Countless records were broken during this season.
Gene Greytak was a real estate broker who moonlighted as an actor, but he only played and made personal appearances as Pope John Paul II. If you saw the Pope in a movie or on a sitcom before 2005, it was Gene.
Since 2005 it has been illegal to carry more than five dollars worth of pennies and nickels outside of the United States when traveling (due to people melting them down for copper).
In 2005 the Emergency Alert System mistakenly issued an immediate evacuation order for all of Connecticut. 63% of residents surveyed after the incident said they had been “a little or not at all concerned” by the vague message; 1% admitted to taking it seriously and trying to flee the state.
The term “Cyber Monday” was created and coined by Ellen Davis from the Nation Retail Federation, and Scott Silverman on November 28, 2005, after a study revealed that online retailers experienced a surge in sales the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Stephen Hawking wrote a sequel to A Brief History of Time in 2005 called A Briefer History of Time with only 176 pages. The book was updated with newly discovered topics and informs of recurring subjects throughout the book in greater detail
Ted Koppel retired from Nightline on November 22
Dan rather retired from the CBS Evening News on March 9. #Courage
Mark Felt, a 92-year-old retired FBI agent was revealed to be 1972’s “Deep Throat” who helped take down the Nixon presidency.
Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore got married on September 24.
England’s Prince Charles married long-time flame, Camilla Parker Bowles.
The Habits: Sudoku, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook opened up for High School students in September 2005. Watching Penguins and/or Grey’s Anatomy Supersized Sunglasses
Splitsville: Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston (Homewrecker: Angelina Jolie) Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey (mutual) Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger (annulled 4 months after the marriage) Jude Law and Sienna Miller (His affair with the nanny, we hear)
No Surprise Here: Mary Kay Letourneau (formerly Schmitz; January 30, 1962 – July 6, 2020) married just-turned-21 Vili Fualaau, the student she met (and had sex with) when he was 12.
Nobel Prize Winners: Chemistry – Robert Grubbs, Richard Schrock, and Yves Chauvin Economics – Robert J. Aumann, and Thomas Schelling Literature – Harold Pinter Peace – Mohamed ElBaradei Physics – Roy J. Glauber, John L. Hall, and Theodor W. Hänsch Physiology or Medicine – Robin Warren, and Barry Marshall
2005 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame: Candy Land, Cardboard box, Jack-in-the-box
1st Appearances & 2005’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents: Webkinz plush animals, Barbie as Harley Quinn Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, Destiny’s Child, and Raven-Symoné dolls
Broadway Shows: Spamalot (Musical) Opened on March 17, 2005, and closed on January 11, 2009 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Musical) Opened on May 2, 2005, and closed on January 20, 2008
East End Shows: Billy Elliot the Musical (Musical) Opened on May 11, 2005, and closed on April 9, 2016 Jersey Boys (Musical) Opened on November 6, 2005, and closed on January 15, 2017
Best Film Oscar Winner: Million Dollar Baby (Presented in 2006)
2005 Entries to The National Film Registry: Baby Face (released in 1933) The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man (released in 1975) The Cameraman (released in 1928) Commandment Keeper Church, Beaufort, South Carolina (May 1940) (released in 1940) Cool Hand Luke (released in 1967) Fast Times at Ridgemont High (released in 1982) The French Connection (released in 1971) Giant (released in 1956) H2O (released in 1929) Hands Up! (released in 1926) Hoop Dreams (released in 1994) House of Usher (released in 1960) Imitation of Life (released in 1934) Jeffries-Johnson World’s Championship Boxing Contest (released in 1910) The Making of an American (released in 1920) Miracle on 34th Street (released in 1947) Mom and Dad (released in 1944) The Music Man (released in 1962) The Power of the Press (released in 1928) A Raisin in the Sun (released in 1961) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (released in 1975) San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, April 18, (released in 1906) The Sting (released in 1973) A Time for Burning (released in 1966) Toy Story (released in 1995)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo) 1. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith 2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 4. War of the Worlds 5. King Kong 6. Wedding Crashers 7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 8. Batman Begins 9. Madagascar 10. Mr. & Mrs. Smith
2005 Most Popular TV Shows: 1. American Idol (Fox) 2. CSI (CBS) 3. Desperate Housewives (ABC) 4. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) 5. Without a Trace (CBS) 6. Dancing With the Stars (ABC) 7. Survivor: Guatemala (CBS) 8. CSI: Miami (CBS) 9. House (Fox) 10. Survivor: Panama (CBS)
2005 Billboard Number One Songs: January 1, 2005 – March 4: Let Me Love You – Mario
March 5 – May 6: Candy Shop – 50 Cent featuring Olivia
May 7 – June 3: Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani
June 4 – July 2: We Belong Together – Mariah Carey
July 2 – July 8: Inside Your Heaven – Carrie Underwood
July 9 – September 9: We Belong Together – Mariah Carey
September 10 – November 25: Gold Deggir – Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
December 30, 2005 – January 13, 2006: Don’t Forget About Us – Mariah Carey
Sports: World Series Champions: Chicago White Sox Super Bowl XXXIX Champions: New England Patriots NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs Stanley Cup Champs: none U.S. Open Golf Michael Campbell U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Roger Federer/Justine Henin-Hardenne Wimbledon (Men/Women): Roger Federer/Venus Williams NCAA Football Champions: Texas NCAA Basketball Champions: North Carolina Kentucky Derby: Giacomo
Popular and Best-selling Books From 2005: A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon A Deadly Game by Catherine Crier with Cole Thompson A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction by John Stewart Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Blood Brother by Anne Bird The Broker by John Grisham The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt Chill Factor by Sandra Brown The Closers by Michael Connelly The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich The FairTax Book by Neal Boortz and John Linder The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom 4th of July by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan Juiced by Jose Conseco Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan Lifeguard by James Patterson and Andrew Gross Light from Heaven by Jan Karon The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link Mary, Mary by James Patterson My Life So Far by Jane Fonda Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd On Bullsh*t by Harry Frankfurt Our Endangered Values by Jimmy Carter Parallel Stories by Peter Nadas Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Point Blank by Catherine Coulter Polar Shift by Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos Predator by Patricia Cornwell “S” is For Silence by Sue Grafton 1776 by David McCullough The Rising by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins Teacher Man by Frank McCourt True Believer by Nicholas Sparks The Truth (with jokes) by Al Franken Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Witness by Amber Frey The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Bobby Henderson’s (founder of Pastafarianism) Open Letter to Kansas School Board
May, 2005
I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.
Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.
It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith.
Some find that hard to believe, so it may be helpful to tell you a little more about our beliefs. We have evidence that a Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe. None of us, of course, were around to see it, but we have written accounts of it. We have several lengthy volumes explaining all details of His power. Also, you may be surprised to hear that there are over 10 million of us, and growing. We tend to be very secretive, as many people claim our beliefs are not substantiated by observable evidence.
What these people don’t understand is that He built the world to make us think the earth is older than it really is. For example, a scientist may perform a carbon-dating process on an artifact. He finds that approximately 75% of the Carbon-14 has decayed by electron emission to Nitrogen-14, and infers that this artifact is approximately 10,000 years old, as the half-life of Carbon-14 appears to be 5,730 years. But what our scientist does not realize is that every time he makes a measurement, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage. We have numerous texts that describe in detail how this can be possible and the reasons why He does this. He is of course invisible and can pass through normal matter with ease.
I’m sure you now realize how important it is that your students are taught this alternate theory. It is absolutely imperative that they realize that observable evidence is at the discretion of a Flying Spaghetti Monster. Furthermore, it is disrespectful to teach our beliefs without wearing His chosen outfit, which of course is full pirate regalia. I cannot stress the importance of this enough, and unfortunately cannot describe in detail why this must be done as I fear this letter is already becoming too long. The concise explanation is that He becomes angry if we don’t.
You may be interested to know that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of Pirates since the 1800s. For your interest, I have included a graph of the approximate number of pirates versus the average global temperature over the last 200 years. As you can see, there is a statistically significant inverse relationship between pirates and global temperature.
In conclusion, thank you for taking the time to hear our views and beliefs. I hope I was able to convey the importance of teaching this theory to your students. We will of course be able to train the teachers in this alternate theory. I am eagerly awaiting your response, and hope dearly that no legal action will need to be taken. I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism (Pastafarianism), and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence.
Sincerely Yours,
Bobby Henderson, concerned citizen.
P.S. I have included an artistic drawing of Him creating a mountain, trees, and a midget. Remember, we are all His creatures.
Million Dollar Baby stole the spotlight, winning Best Picture, Best Director for Clint Eastwood, Best Actress for Hilary Swank, and Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman. “I’m just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream. I never thought this would ever happen.” – Hilary Swank, Best Actress “There are a lot of great movies that have won the Academy Award, and a lot of great movies that haven’t. You just do the best you can.” – Clint Eastwood, Best Director
Jamie Foxx clinched Best Actor for his role in Ray, a biopic on Ray Charles. This award came in the same year Ray Charles was posthumously honored at the Grammys.
Cate Blanchett won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator, making her the first actor to win an Oscar for portraying another Oscar-winning actor. “I don’t have a sense of entitlement or that I deserve this. You’d be surprised at the lack of competition between nominees – I think a lot of it’s imposed from the outside. Can I have my champagne now?” – Cate Blanchett, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, The Aviator
Martin Scorsese was nominated for Best Director for The Aviator but lost to Clint Eastwood, adding another chapter to his long history of Oscar snubs.
The Incredibles snagged the Best Animated Feature award, beating out Shrek 2 and Shark Tale.
The Best Original Song went to Al Otro Lado del Río from The Motorcycle Diaries, making it the first song in Spanish to win in this category.
Adam Elliot’s Harvie Krumpet won for Best Animated Short Film, which follows the story of a man named Harvie, who has various unfortunate events happen to him throughout his life.
The documentary Born into Brothels, about children living in the red-light district of Calcutta, India, won Best Documentary Feature.
Thomas Newman, nominated for his score for Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, did not win, continuing his streak as one of the most-nominated composers without a win.
2005 Oscar Nominees and Winners
Best Picture: Million Dollar Baby – Clint Eastwood, Albert S. Ruddy and Tom Rosenberg, producers (WINNER) The Aviator – Michael Mann and Graham King, producers Finding Neverland – Richard N. Gladstein and Nellie Bellflower, producers Ray – Taylor Hackford, Stuart Benjamin and Howard Baldwin, producers Sideways – Michael London, producer
Best Director: Clint Eastwood – Million Dollar Baby (WINNER) Martin Scorsese – The Aviator Taylor Hackford – Ray Alexander Payne – Sideways Mike Leigh – Vera Drake
Best Actor: Jamie Foxx – Ray as Ray Charles (WINNER) Don Cheadle – Hotel Rwanda as Paul Rusesabagina Johnny Depp – Finding Neverland as J. M. Barrie Leonardo DiCaprio – The Aviator as Howard Hughes Clint Eastwood – Million Dollar Baby as Frankie Dunn
Best Actress: Hilary Swank – Million Dollar Baby as Margaret “Maggie” Fitzgerald (WINNER) Annette Bening – Being Julia as Julia Lambert Catalina Sandino Moreno – Maria Full of Grace as María Álvarez Imelda Staunton – Vera Drake as Vera Rose Drake Kate Winslet – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as Clementine Kruczynski
Best Supporting Actor: Morgan Freeman – Million Dollar Baby as Eddie “Scrap-Iron” Dupris (WINNER) Alan Alda – The Aviator as Owen Brewster Thomas Haden Church – Sideways as Jack Cole Jamie Foxx – Collateral as Max Durocher Clive Owen – Closer as Larry Gray
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett – The Aviator as Katharine Hepburn (WINNER) Laura Linney – Kinsey as Clara McMillen Virginia Madsen – Sideways as Maya Randall Sophie Okonedo – Hotel Rwanda as Tatiana Rusesabagina Natalie Portman – Closer as Alice Ayres/Jane Jones
Best Original Screenplay: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth (WINNER) The Aviator – John Logan Hotel Rwanda – Terry George and Keir Pearson The Incredibles – Brad Bird Vera Drake – Mike Leigh
Best Adapted Screenplay: Sideways – Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor based on the novel by Rex Pickett (WINNER) Before Sunset – Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke and Kim Krizan based on characters created by Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan for the film Before Sunrise Finding Neverland – David Magee based on the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee Million Dollar Baby – Paul Haggis based on stories from Rope Burns by F.X. Toole The Motorcycle Diaries – José Rivera based on the books Con el Che por America Latina by Alberto Granado and The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara
Best Animated Feature Film: The Incredibles – Brad Bird (WINNER) Shark Tale – Bill Damaschke Shrek 2 – Andrew Adamson
Best Foreign Language Film: The Sea Inside (Spain) in Spanish, Catalan and Galician – Alejandro Amenábar (WINNER) As It Is in Heaven (Sweden) in Swedish – Kay Pollak The Chorus (France) in French – Christophe Barratier Downfall (Germany) in German – Oliver Hirschbiegel Yesterday (South Africa) in Zulu – Darrell Roodt
Best Documentary – Feature: Born into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids – Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski (WINNER) The Story of the Weeping Camel – Luigi Falorni and Byambasuren Davaa Super Size Me – Morgan Spurlock Tupac: Resurrection – Lauren Lazin and Karolyn Ali Twist of Faith – Kirby Dick and Eddie Schmidt
Best Documentary – Short: Mighty Times: The Children’s March – Robert Hudson and Robert Houston (WINNER) Autism Is a World – Gerardine Wurzburg The Children of Leningradsky – Hanna Polak and Andrzej Celinski Hardwood – Hubert Davis and Erin Faith Young Sister Rose’s Passion – Oren Jacoby and Steve Kalafer
Best Live Action Short Film: Wasp – Andrea Arnold (WINNER) 7:35 in the Morning – Nacho Vigalondo Everything in This Country Must – Gary McKendry Little Terrorist – Ashvin Kumar Two Cars, One Night – Taika Waititi and Ainsley Gardiner
Best Animated Short Film: Ryan – Chris Landreth (WINNER) Birthday Boy – Sejong Park and Andrew Gregory Gopher Broke – Jeff Fowler and Tim Miller Guard Dog – Bill Plympton Lorenzo – Mike Gabriel and Baker Bloodworth
Best Original Score: Finding Neverland – Jan A. P. Kaczmarek (WINNER) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – John Williams Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – Thomas Newman The Passion of the Christ – John Debney The Village – James Newton Howard
Best Original Song: “Al otro lado del río” from The Motorcycle Diaries – Music and Lyrics by Jorge Drexler (WINNER) “Accidentally in Love” from Shrek 2 – Music by Adam Duritz, Charlie Gillingham, Jim Bogios, David Immerglück, Matt Malley and David Bryson; Lyrics by Adam Duritz and Dan Vickrey “Believe” from The Polar Express – Music and Lyrics by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri “Learn to Be Lonely” from The Phantom of the Opera – Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Charles Hart “Look to Your Path” from The Chorus – Music by Bruno Coulais; Lyrics by Christophe Barratier
Best Sound Editing: The Incredibles – Michael Silvers and Randy Thom (WINNER) The Polar Express – Randy Thom and Dennis Leonard Spider-Man 2 – Paul N. J. Ottosson
Best Sound Mixing: Ray – Scott Millan, Greg Orloff, Bob Beemer and Steve Cantamessa (WINNER) The Aviator – Tom Fleischman and Petur Hliddal The Incredibles – Randy Thom, Gary Rizzo and Doc Kane The Polar Express – Randy Thom, Tom Johnson, Dennis S. Sands and William B. Kaplan Spider-Man 2 – Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Joseph Geisinger
Best Art Direction: The Aviator – Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo (WINNER) Finding Neverland – Art Direction: Gemma Jackson; Set Decoration: Trisha Edwards Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – Art Direction: Rick Heinrichs; Set Decoration: Cheryl Carasik The Phantom of the Opera – Art Direction: Anthony Pratt; Set Decoration: Celia Bobak A Very Long Engagement – Art Direction and Set Decoration: Aline Bonetto
Best Cinematography: The Aviator – Robert Richardson (WINNER) House of Flying Daggers – Zhao Xiaoding The Passion of the Christ – Caleb Deschanel The Phantom of the Opera – John Mathieson A Very Long Engagement – Bruno Delbonnel
Best Makeup: Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – Valli O’Reilly and Bill Corso (WINNER) The Passion of the Christ – Keith VanderLaan and Christien Tinsley The Sea Inside – Jo Allen and Manolo García
Best Costume Design: The Aviator – Sandy Powell (WINNER) Finding Neverland – Alexandra Byrne Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – Colleen Atwood Ray – Sharen Davis Troy – Bob Ringwood
Best Film Editing: The Aviator – Thelma Schoonmaker (WINNER) Collateral – Jim Miller and Paul Rubell Finding Neverland – Matt Chessé Million Dollar Baby – Joel Cox Ray – Paul Hirsch
Best Visual Effects: Spider-Man 2 – John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara and John Frazier (WINNER) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – Roger Guyett, Tim Burke, John Richardson and Bill George I, Robot – John Nelson, Andrew R. Jones, Erik Nash and Joe Letteri Academy Honorary Award Sidney Lumet — In recognition of his brilliant services to screenwriters, performers and the art of the motion picture.
Eligibility Year: October 1, 2003 – September 30, 2004
Trivia and Notable Moments
The Album of the Year went to Genius Loves Company, a posthumous release by Ray Charles, featuring duets with various artists like Norah Jones and Elton John.
Ray Charles also posthumously won Record of the Year for Here We Go Again, a duet with Norah Jones. This was a poignant moment, celebrating the legendary artist.
Usher’s hit Yeah! featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, making Usher one of the big winners of the night with multiple awards.
Daughters by John Mayer won Song of the Year, with Mayer also taking home Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the song.
Green Day’s American Idiot won Best Rock Album, and the title track also earned the band a win for Record of the Year. The album was a political statement and a departure from the band’s earlier sound.
Alicia Keys won Best R&B Album for The Diary of Alicia Keys, adding another Grammy to her growing list of accolades.
Kanye West, nominated for 10 awards, took home three, including Best Rap Album for The College Dropout. His track Jesus Walks also won Best Rap Song.
Maroon 5 snagged the Best New Artist award, beating out the likes of Kanye West and Gretchen Wilson.
Los Lonely Boys by Los Lonely Boys won Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, while A Song for You by The Temptations secured the award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.
A Boot and a Shoe by Sam Phillips won Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, showcasing the behind-the-scenes technical talent in the music industry.
2005 Grammy Winners
Record of the Year: Here We Go Again – Ray Charles and Norah Jones
Album of the Year: Genius Loves Company – Ray Charles and Various Artists
Song of the Year: Daughters – John Mayer (John Mayer)
New Artist: Maroon 5
Female Pop Vocal Performance: Sunrise – Norah Jones
Male Pop Vocal Performance: Daughters – John Mayer
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: Heaven – Los Lonely Boys
Pop Collaboration With Vocals: Here We Go Again – Ray Charles and Norah Jones
Pop Instrumental Performance: 11th Commandment – Ben Harper
Pop Instrumental Album: Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar – Various Artists
Pop Vocal Album: Genius Loves Company – Ray Charles and Various Artists
Dance Recording: Toxic – Britney Spears
Electronic/Dance Album: Kish Kash – Basement Jaxx
Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Stardust: The Great American Songbook Volume III – Rod Stewart
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Code of Silence – Bruce Springsteen
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: Vertigo – U2
Hard Rock Performance: Slither – Velvet Revolver
Metal Performance: Whiplash – Motorhead
Rock Instrumental Performance: Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow – Brian Wilson
Rock Song: Vertigo – Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen (U2)
Rock Album: American Idiot – Green Day
Alternative Music Album: A Ghost Is Born – Wilco
Female R&B Vocal Performance: If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
Male R&B Vocal Performance: Call My Name – Prince
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: My Boo – Usher and Alicia Keys
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: Musicology – Prince
Urban/Alternative Performance: Cross My Mind – Jill Scott
R&B Song: You Don’t Know My Name – Alicia Keys, Harold Lilly and Kanye West (Alicia Keys)
R&B Album: The Diary of Alicia Keys – Alicia Keys
Contemporary R&B Album: Confessions – Usher
Rap Solo Performance: 99 Problems – Jay-Z
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Let’s Get It Started – The Black Eyed Peas
Rap/Sung Collaboration: Yeah! – Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris
Rap Song: Jesus Walks – C. Smith and Kanye West (Kanye West)
Rap Album: The College Dropout – Kanye West
Female Country Vocal Performance: Redneck Woman – Gretchen Wilson
Male Country Vocal Performance: Live Like You Were Dying – Tim McGraw
Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: Top of the World – Dixie Chicks
Country Collaboration With Vocals: Portland Oregon – Loretta Lynn and Jack White
Country Instrumental Performance: Earl’s Breakdown – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements and Jerry Douglas
Country Song: Live Like You Were Dying – Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman (Tim McGraw):
Country Album: Van Lear Rose – Loretta Lynn
Bluegrass Album: Brand New Strings – Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
New Age Album: Returning – Will Ackerman
Contemporary Jazz Album: Unspeakable – Bill Frisell
Jazz Vocal Album: R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) – Nancy Wilson
Jazz Instrumental Solo: Speak Like a Child – Herbie Hancock
Jazz Instrumental Album – Individual or Group: Illuminations – McCoy Tyner with Gary Bartz, Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride and Lewis Nash
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Concert in the Garden – Maria Schneider Orchestra
Latin Jazz Album: Land of the Sun – Charlie Haden
Gospel Performance: Heaven Help Us All – Ray Charles and Gladys Knight
Rock Gospel Album: Wire – Third Day
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: All Things New – Steven Curtis Chapman
Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Worship and Faith – Randy Travis
Traditional Soul Gospel Album: There Will Be a Light – Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama
Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Nothing Without You – Smokie Norful
Gospel Choir or Chorus Album: Live… This is Your House – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Latin Pop Album: Amar Sin Mentiras – Marc Anthony
Latin Rock/Alternative Album: Street Signs – Ozomatli
Traditional Tropical Latin Album: – !Ahora Si! – Israel Lopez “Cachao”
Salsa/Merengue Album: Across 110th Street – Spanish Harlem Orchestra featuring Ruben Blades
Tejano Album: Polkas, Gritos y Acordeones – David Lee Garza, Joel Guzman and Sunny Sauceda
Traditional Blues Album: Blues to the Bone – Etta James
Contemporary Blues Album: Keep It Simple – Keb’ Mo’
Traditional Folk Album: Beautiful Dreamer – The Songs of Stephen Foster – Various Artists
Contemporary Folk Album: The Revolution Starts Now – Steve Earle
Native American Music Album: Cedar Dream Songs – Bill Miller
Hawaiian Music Album: Slack Key Guitar Volume 2 – Various Artists
Reggae Album: True Love – Toots and The Maytals
Traditional World Music Album: Raise Your Spirit Higher – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Contemporary World Music Album: Egypt – Youssou N’Dour
Polka Album: Let’s Kiss: 25th Anniversary Album – Brave Combo
Musical Album for Children: cELLAbration! A Tribute to Ella Jenkins – Various Artists
Spoken Word Album for Children: The Train They Call The City of New Orleans – Tom Chapin
Spoken Word Album: My Life – Bill Clinton
Comedy Album: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America: A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction – Jon Stewart and The Cast of the Daily Show
Musical Show Album: Wicked
Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Garden State – Various Artists
Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Howard Shore, composer
Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Into the West – Annie Lennox, Howard Shore and Fran Walsh, songwriters, track from “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Instrumental Composition: Past Present and Future – Slide Hampton, composer (The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra), from “The Way – Music of Slide Hampton”
Instrumental Arrangement: Past Present and Future – Slide Hampton, arranger (The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra), from “The Way – Music of Slide Hampton”
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): Over the Rainbow – Victor Vanacore, arranger (Ray Charles & Johnny Mathis), from “Genius Loves Company”
Recording Package:): A Ghost is Born – Peter Buchanan-Smith and Dan Nadel, art directors (Wilco)
Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: Once in a Lifetime – Stefan Sagmeister, art director (Talking Heads)
Album Notes: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Woody Herman and His Orchestra and Woodchoppers (1945-1947) – Loren Schoenberg, album notes writer (Woody Herman and His Orchestra)
Historical Album: Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm and Blues, 1945-1970 – Daniel Cooper and Michael Gray, compilation producers
Engineered Album – Non-Classical: Genius Loves Company – Robert Fernandez, John Harris, Terry Howard, Pete Karam, Joel Moss, Al Schmitt and Ed Thacker, engineers
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: John Shanks
Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: It’s My Life (Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Mix) – Jacques Lu Cont, remixer (No Doubt)
Surround Sound Album: Genius Loves Company – Robert Hadley and Doug Sax, surround mastering
Engineered Album – Classical: Higdon: City Scape Concerto for Orchestra – Jack Renner, engineer (Robert Spano)
Producer of the Year, Classical: David Frost
Classical Album: Adams: On the Transmigration of Souls – Lorin Maazel, conductor John Adams and Lawrence Rock, producers
Best Orchestral Performance (Award to the Conductor and to the Orchestra): Adams: On The Transmigration Of Souls – Lorin Maazel, conductor (Brooklyn Youth Chorus & New York Choral Artists New York Philharmonic, Nonesuch Records)
Opera Recording: Mozart: Le Nozze Di Figaro – Rene Jacobs, conductor Patrizia Ciofi, Veronique Gens, Simon Keenlyside, Angelika Kirchschlager and Lorenzo Regazzo Martin Sauer, producer (Various Artists Concerto K. Joln)
Choral Performance: Berlioz: Requiem – Robert Spano, conductor Norman Mackenzie, choir director (Frank Lopardo, tenor Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra): Previn: Violin Concerto ‘Anne-Sophie’/Bernstein: Serenade – Andre Previn, conductor Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin (Boston Symphony Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra)
Chamber Music Performance: Prokofiev (ArrPletnev): Cinderella – Suite for Two Pianos/Ravel: Ma Mere L’Oye – Martha Argerich, piano and Mikhail Pletnev, piano
Small Ensemble Performance (with or without Conductor): Carlos Chavez – Complete Chamber Music, Vol2 – Jeff von der Schmidt, conductor Southwest Chamber Music
Classical Vocal Performance: Ives: Songs (The Things Our Fathers Loved the Housatonic at Stockbridge, etc) – Susan Graham, mezzo soprano
Classical Contemporary Composition: Adams: on the Transmigration of Souls – John Adams (Lorin Maazel Brooklyn Youth Chorus and New York Choral Artists New York Philharmonic)
Classical Crossover Album: LAGQ’s Guitar Heroes – Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Short Form Music Video: Vertigo – U2
Long Form Music Video: Concert for George – Various Artists
Hey Ya! by OutKast (December 13, 2003 – February 13, 2004): This vibrant and catchy track was a genre-blending phenomenon, capturing the essence of fun and danceability.
The Way You Move by OutKast featuring Sleepy Brown (February 14 – February 20): A smooth, groovy number that complemented the high energy of Hey Ya! with its soulful rhythm and catchy beats.
Slow Jamz by Twista featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx (February 21 – February 27): A perfect blend of rap and R&B, this song highlighted Twista’s rapid-fire rap style alongside Kanye’s production and Jamie Foxx’s smooth vocals.
Yeah! by Usher featuring Lil’ Jon and Ludacris (February 28 – May 21): This track was a club banger with a distinctive beat, marked by Usher’s smooth vocals, Lil Jon’s crunk sound, and Ludacris’s charismatic verse.
Burn by Usher (May 22 – July 9): A soulful R&B ballad showcased Usher’s emotive singing, dealing with the pain of a breaking relationship.
I Believe by Fantasia Barrino (July 10 – July 23): Fantasia’s powerful and inspiring performance on this track was a testament to her vocal prowess, making it a memorable and uplifting song.
Confessions Part II by Usher (July 24 – August 6): Another hit from Usher, this song delved into themes of infidelity and the complexities of relationships, marked by his expressive singing.
Slow Motion by Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim (August 7 – August 20): This track brought a smooth, laid-back sound to the charts, highlighting Juvenile’s distinctive New Orleans style.
Lean Back by The Terror Squad featuring Fat Joe and Remy Martin (August 21 – September 10): A hip-hop anthem with a catchy chorus and easygoing rhythm, making it a club staple.
Goodies by Ciara featuring Petey Pablo (September 11 – October 29): Ciara’s debut single, this song was a blend of crunk and R&B, introducing her unique dance moves and fresh sound.
My Boo by Usher and Alicia Keys (October 30 – December 11): A beautiful duet that combined the soulful voices of two R&B superstars, exploring themes of nostalgia and young love.
Drop It Like It’s Hot by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell (December 11 – December 31, 2004): Known for its minimalist production and Snoop Dogg’s laid-back rap style, this song was a smooth end to the year’s chart-toppers.
(Data is compiled from various charts, including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance,” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
The Top Song was Yeah! by Usher with Lil Jon & Ludacris
Influential Songs include Welcome To My Life by Simple Plan, Roses by Outkast, Invisible by Clay Aiken, 1985 by Bowling For Soup, and Dirt Off Your Shoulder by Jay-Z.
The Movies to Watch include The Incredibles, Shaun of the Dead, Napoleon Dynamite, Ray, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Mean Girls, and Million Dollar Baby.
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Jude Law
Notable books include America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction by John Stewart and The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.
Price of Movie DVD in 2004: $19.99 Oscar Mayer Bacon, 1 pound: $5.39 Oreo cookies, 1 pound: $2.99
The Funny Late Night Host: Jay Leno
The Conversation: Should we invest in Google? (Google’s initial public offering raised $1.67 billion)
Gisele Bündchen, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Eva Longoria, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Garner, Sarah Jessica Parker, Teri Hatcher, Uma Thurman, Beyonce, Cameron Diaz, Cate Blanchette, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Mischa Barton, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Sheryl Crow, Renee Zellweger, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson (turned 18 on June 13), Sienna Miller, Rebecca Romijn, Fergie
The Heartthrob(s):
Jude Law, George Clooney, Usher, Johnny Depp, Hugh Laurie, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake, Orlando Bloom, Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, David Beckham, Ryan Reynolds
“The Quotes”
“You’re Fired” – Donald Trump
“That’s Hot” – Paris Hilton
“Heeaauughh! – Howard Dean
“I Am A Gay American” – NJ ex-governor Jim McGreevey
Time Magazine’s Person of the Year:
George W. Bush
Miss America:
Ericka Dunlap (Orlando, FL)
Miss USA:
Shandi Finnessey (Missouri)
The Scandals:
Janet Jackson’s right breast was semi-exposed by Justin Timberlake during 2004’s Super Bowl halftime show while they sang his “Rock Your Body.” Well, most of it was exposed. The American phrase “Wardrobe Malfunction” came into the language. The scene, that was broadcast on worldwide television, showed Janet’s right breast, covered by a pasty of some sort, it was so horrifyingly graphic and sexual that PCM received a warning from Google about displaying a censored picture of the event, even though it was blurred out. If you are truly daring, you may see it here. You can see similar (and often less blurry) versions of the picture from CNN, E-online, VH1, and others via a Google search.
“I am a gay American” – James McGreevey, Democrat Governor of New Jersey, revealed that he was gay and admitted to an extramarital affair with aide Golan Cipel. The arguably criminal aspect of hiring a non-qualified lover to be in charge of NJ’s homeland security was overshadowed by the sex scandal.
During the 2004 US Presidential Campaign, CBS and Dan Rather used what were probably forged documents during a 60 Minutes Wednesday report on George W. Bush’s Vietnam-era service record. The ‘evidence’ report was written with a modern computer, not the IBM Selectric that would have been used in 1972.
Britney Spears married high school friend Jason Alexander (not the Seinfeld star!) for nearly an entire weekend. (55 hours)
Beslan School Massacre
The Beslan School Massacre in Southwestern Russia began on September 1st, 2004. Over 360 hostages, including 186 children, were killed by Islamic insurgents or Russian military personnel during the 4-day siege.
Hip Hop Death:
Old Dirty Bastard (cocaine and painkiller overdose)
Tortoise Death:
Timothy, a female tortoise who died in 2004, was the last survivor of the Crimean War, which ended in 1856.
The Odd:
Police discovered a movie theater in the Paris Catacombs. It had a giant cinema screen, seats, projection equipment, film reels, a fully stocked bar, and a complete restaurant with tables and chairs. Its power source and the identity of those responsible remain unknown.
Pop Culture Facts & History:
Ashlee Simpson was caught lip-syncing on Saturday Night Live on October 24. (To be fair, many artists lip-sync).
In 2004, Eminem dissed Michael Jackson on Just Lose it, in 2007, MJ responded by buying all of Eminem’s Publishing.
Polaroid warned the public not to “shake it like a polaroid picture.” as copying the Outkast song Hey Ya! might damage the photo. Shaking polaroids has been unnecessary since 1972, when the SX-70 eliminated the need for peel-apart film. Few cameras still use the technology.
During the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami on December 26, 2004, fishermen said they saw with their own eyes “the reality of generations of legends . . . the remains of ancient temples and hundreds of refrigerator-sized blocks, all briefly exposed before the sea swallowed them up again.”
The cover art for Prince’s 2013 single Breakfast Can Wait was Dave Chappelle dressed as “Purple Rain” era Prince holding a plate of pancakes from 2004.
Dick Van Dyke dropped out of high school during his senior year in 1944 to join the military. He went on to earn his diploma in 2004 at the age of 78.
Survivor: Vanuatu Winner: Chris Daugherty
Ken Jennings won 74 games and 2.5 Million dollars on Jeopardy!
If you try to steal the hood ornament from a Rolls Royce made after 2004, it will instantly retreat into the car’s chassis until the owner rights it. These hood ornaments, called “The Spirit of Ecstasy”, cost roughly US $4000 to replace.
Morgan Spurlock gained 25 pounds in 30 days, eating only McDonald’s food. It took him 14 months to lose the weight.
GIF files were originally not widely used online since they required royalties to be paid until the patent expired in 2003 (2004 worldwide).
Tim Berners Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web, was knighted in 2004 and should be addressed as Sir Tim Berners Lee.
More and more, American highways are being signed with a font called Clearview, approved for interim use in 2004 and claimed to be more legible than the traditional Highway Gothic font.
Mehran Karimi Nasseri was a man who lived at Terminal 1 at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport, France, for 18 years. His story was the inspiration for the 2004 film The Terminal.
Deadpool described himself as “Ryan Reynolds crossed with a shar-pei” in his 2004 comic book series, leading Reynolds to believe he was destined for the role.
After sweeping the 2004 Oscars, Peter Jackson & Elijah Wood skipped all official celebrations and attended a LOTR fan party.
The house in the suburbs that Monica & Chandler bought in the final season of Friends (2004) was filmed at a soundstage, but the view outside was a stock photo taken from the front step of the McAllister house while filming the movie Home Alone. So… Monica and Chandler bought Kevin McAllister’s house.
At $2 million per 30-second slot, the 2004 finale episode of Friends had the most expensive ad slots for a non-sports program up to that time.
William Hung lost on American Idol but won America’s collective heart with his happy nature. He sang Ricky Martin’s She Bangs.
Despite its name, Jimmy Kimmel Live! hasn’t aired live since 2004, when censors could not properly censor a swearing rant from actor Thomas Jane.
Samantha Mumba wore a Scott Henshall-designed dress (filled with diamonds) worth between 10 and 13 million dollars at the Spider-Man 2 premiere, possibly the most risque and expensive dress ever.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy in 1877 became a best-seller thanks to Oprah’s Book Club in 2004.
Blind athletes competing in the 2004 Paralympics made the same spontaneous facial expressions as sighted athletes competing in the 2004 Olympics, proving that certain facial expressions are innate to humans and not visually learned.
‘Curse of the Bambino’ – The Red Sox last won a world series in 1918, their streak as a ‘quality team’ ended when they sold Babe Ruth’s contract to the New York Yankees.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 2004: $2,300,000
The Disaster:
A Tsunami killed nearly a quarter of a million people in Indonesia and the entire South Asian area on December 26, 2004, including Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. An underwater earthquake with a guesstimated Magnitude of 9.2 caused it. It lasted nearly 10 minutes, and some waves were 100 feet tall.
The Habit:
Facebook is just for college students.
Low Carb Diets like ‘Atkins’ and ‘South Beach’
Wearing Lance Armstrong Cancer Awareness ‘Livestrong Bracelets’
Madonna, Paris Hilton, Demi Moore, and Britney Spears wore ‘Kabbalah Strings’
Nobel Prize Winners:
Chemistry – Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko, Irwin Rose Economics – Finn E. Kydland, Edward C. Prescott Literature – Elfriede Jelinek Peace – Wangari Maathai Physics – David J. Gross, H. David Politzer, Frank Wilczek Physiology or Medicine – Linda B. Buck, Richard Axel
2004 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame:
G.I. Joe, Rocking Horse, Scrabble
1st Appearances & 2004’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:
Bratz, Dancing Dora the Explorer
Best Film Oscar Winner:
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Presented in 2004)
2004 Entries to The National Film Registry:
Ben-Hur (released in 1959) The Blue Bird (released in 1918) A Bronx Morning (released in 1931) Clash of the Wolves (released in 1925) The Court Jester (released in 1956) D.O.A. (released in 1950) Daughters of the Dust (released in 1991) Duck and Cover (released in 1951) Empire (released in 1964) Enter the Dragon (released in 1973) Eraserhead (released in 1977) Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers (released in 1980) Going My Way (released in 1944) Jailhouse Rock (released in 1957) Kannapolis, N.C. (released in 1941) Lady Helen’s Escapade (released in 1909) The Nutty Professor (released in 1963) OffOn (released in 1968) Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor (released in 1936) Pups Is Pups (released in 1930) Schindler’s List (released in 1993) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (released in 1954) Swing Time (released in 1936) There It Is (released in 1928) Unforgiven (released in 1992)
1. Shrek 2 2. Spider-Man 2 3. The Passion of the Christ 4. Meet the Fockers 5. The Incredibles 6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 7. The Day After Tomorrow 8. The Bourne Supremacy 9. National Treasure 10. Polar Express
2004 Most Popular TV Shows:
1. American Idol (Fox) 2. CSI (CBS) 3. Desperate Housewives (ABC) 4. Survivor: Palau (CBS) 5. Survivor: Vanuatu (CBS) 6. CSI: Miami (CBS) 7. Without a Trace (CBS) 8. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) 9. Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) 10. Monday Night Football (ABC)
2004 Billboard Number One Songs:
December 13, 2003 – February 13, 2004: Hey Ya! – OutKast
February 14 – February 20: The Way You Move – OutKast Featuring Sleepy Brown
February 21 – February 27: Slow Jamz – Twista featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx
February 28 – May 21: Yeah! – Usher featuring Lil’ Jon and Ludacris
May 22 – July 16: Burn – Usher
July 17 July 23: I Believe – Fantasia Barrino
July 24 – August 6: Confessions Part II – Usher
August 7 – August 20: Slow Motion – Juvenile Featuring Soulja Slim
August 21 – September 10: Lean Back – The Terror Squad featuring Fat Joe and Remy Martin
September 11 – October 29: Goodies – Ciara Featuring Petey Pablo
October 30 – December 11: My Boo – Usher and Alicia Keys
December 11 – December 31: Drop It Like It’s Hot – Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell
Sports:
World Series Champions: Boston Red Sox Super Bowl XXXVIII Champions: New England Patriots NBA Champions: Detroit Pistons Stanley Cup Champs: Tampa Bay Lightning U.S. Open Golf Retief Goosen U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Roger Federer/Svetlana Kuznetsova Wimbledon (Men/Women): Roger Federer/Maria Sharapova NCAA Football Champions: Southern California NCAA Basketball Champions: Connecticut Kentucky Derby: Smarty Jones
Against All Enemies by Richard Clarke: This book provides an insider’s account of the U.S. government’s counterterrorism efforts, including critical assessments of the Bush administration’s response to the threat of terrorism.
America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart: A satirical look at American politics and democracy reflects Stewart’s trademark humor as seen on ‘The Daily Show’.
American Soldier by Tommy Franks with Malcolm McConnell: A memoir by General Tommy Franks detailing his military career and leadership in the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown: A fast-paced thriller that combines science, art, and history, revolving around a plot against the Vatican and the Catholic Church.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: Another bestseller by Brown, this novel is famous for its controversial portrayal of Christian history and a gripping mystery.
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower and The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah by Stephen King: The concluding parts of King’s epic Dark Tower series, blending elements of fantasy, horror, and Western genres.
Deliver Us from Evil by Sean Hannity: A conservative commentary criticizing the liberal approach to terrorism and moral values in America.
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris: A collection of autobiographical essays, showcasing Sedaris’ unique humor and keen observations of family life.
Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss: A witty and informative book about punctuation, aiming to make readers passionate about using it correctly.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson: A profound novel written as a letter from an elderly father to his young son, reflecting on life, faith, and history.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom: A touching narrative about the afterlife, exploring the unseen connections in our lives.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke: A novel set in 19th-century England, it combines history with magic in a story about two rival magicians.
My Life by Bill Clinton: The autobiography of the former U.S. President, covering his early life, political career, and presidency.
The 9/11 Commission Report: A comprehensive and authoritative report on the September 11 attacks detailing the events and the government’s response.
State of Fear by Michael Crichton is a techno-thriller that delves into global warming and eco-terrorism, blending scientific facts with fiction.
Against All Enemies by Richard Clarke America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction by John Stewart American Soldier by Tommy Franks with Malcolm McConnell Angels & Demons by Dan Brown Big Russ and Me by Tim Russert Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower by Stephen King The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah by Stephen King Deliver Us from Evil by Sean Hannity Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss The Epicure’s Lament by Kate Christensen The Family by Kitty Kelley The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom Gilead by Marilynne Robinson Glorious Appearing by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye Hour Game by David Baldacci Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke The Last Juror by John Grisham Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst London Bridges by James Patterson Metro Girl by Janey Evanovich My Life by Bill Clinton My Prison Without Bars by Pete Rose with Rick Hill National Commission on Terrorist Attacks: The 9/11 Commission Report Night Fall by Nelson DeMille Northern Lights by Nora Roberts Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward The Price of Loyalty by Ron Suskind “R” is for Rocket – Sue Grafton The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason Sam’s Letter to Jennifer by James Patterson Song of Susannah by Stephen King State of Fear by Michael Crichton Ten Big Ones by Janey Evanovich 3rd Degree by James Patterson and Andrew Gross Trace by Patricia Cornwell Unfit for Command by John O’Neill with Jerome Corsi Who’s Looking Out For You? by Bill O’Reilly
Delivered on July 27, 2004 at The Fleet Center, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Michelle, I love you. The other night, I think the entire country saw just how lucky I am. Malia and Sasha, you make me so proud…but don’t get any ideas, you’re still going to class tomorrow. And Joe Biden, thank you for being the best Vice President I could ever hope for.
Madam Chairwoman, delegates, I accept your nomination for President of the United States.
The first time I addressed this convention in 2004, I was a younger man; a Senate candidate from Illinois who spoke about hope – not blind optimism or wishful thinking, but hope in the face of difficulty; hope in the face of uncertainty; that dogged faith in the future which has pushed this nation forward, even when the odds are great; even when the road is long.
Eight years later, that hope has been tested – by the cost of war; by one of the worst economic crises in history; and by political gridlock that’s left us wondering whether it’s still possible to tackle the challenges of our time.
I know that campaigns can seem small, and even silly. Trivial things become big distractions. Serious issues become sound bites. And the truth gets buried under an avalanche of money and advertising. If you’re sick of hearing me approve this message, believe me – so am I.
But when all is said and done – when you pick up that ballot to vote – you will face the clearest choice of any time in a generation. Over the next few years, big decisions will be made in Washington, on jobs and the economy; taxes and deficits; energy and education; war and peace – decisions that will have a huge impact on our lives and our children’s lives for decades to come.
On every issue, the choice you face won’t be just between two candidates or two parties.
It will be a choice between two different paths for America.
A choice between two fundamentally different visions for the future.
Ours is a fight to restore the values that built the largest middle class and the strongest economy the world has ever known; the values my grandfather defended as a soldier in Patton’s Army; the values that drove my grandmother to work on a bomber assembly line while he was gone.
They knew they were part of something larger – a nation that triumphed over fascism and depression; a nation where the most innovative businesses turned out the world’s best products, and everyone shared in the pride and success – from the corner office to the factory floor. My grandparents were given the chance to go to college, buy their first home, and fulfill the basic bargain at the heart of America’s story: the promise that hard work will pay off; that responsibility will be rewarded; that everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules – from Main Street to Wall Street to Washington, DC.
I ran for President because I saw that basic bargain slipping away. I began my career helping people in the shadow of a shuttered steel mill, at a time when too many good jobs were starting to move overseas. And by 2008, we had seen nearly a decade in which families struggled with costs that kept rising but paychecks that didn’t; racking up more and more debt just to make the mortgage or pay tuition; to put gas in the car or food on the table. And when the house of cards collapsed in the Great Recession, millions of innocent Americans lost their jobs, their homes, and their life savings – a tragedy from which we are still fighting to recover.
Now, our friends at the Republican convention were more than happy to talk about everything they think is wrong with America, but they didn’t have much to say about how they’d make it right. They want your vote, but they don’t want you to know their plan. And that’s because all they have to offer is the same prescription they’ve had for the last thirty years:
“Have a surplus? Try a tax cut.”
“Deficit too high? Try another.”
“Feel a cold coming on? Take two tax cuts, roll back some regulations, and call us in the morning!”
Now, I’ve cut taxes for those who need it – middle-class families and small businesses. But I don’t believe that another round of tax breaks for millionaires will bring good jobs to our shores, or pay down our deficit. I don’t believe that firing teachers or kicking students off financial aid will grow the economy, or help us compete with the scientists and engineers coming out of China. After all that we’ve been through, I don’t believe that rolling back regulations on Wall Street will help the small businesswoman expand, or the laid-off construction worker keep his home. We’ve been there, we’ve tried that, and we’re not going back. We’re moving forward.
I won’t pretend the path I’m offering is quick or easy. I never have. You didn’t elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth. And the truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over decades. It will require common effort, shared responsibility, and the kind of bold, persistent experimentation that Franklin Roosevelt pursued during the only crisis worse than this one. And by the way – those of us who carry on his party’s legacy should remember that not every problem can be remedied with another government program or dictate from Washington.
But know this, America: Our problems can be solved. Our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And I’m asking you to choose that future. I’m asking you to rally around a set of goals for your country – goals in manufacturing, energy, education, national security, and the deficit; a real, achievable plan that will lead to new jobs, more opportunity, and rebuild this economy on a stronger foundation. That’s what we can do in the next four years, and that’s why I’m running for a second term as President of the United States.
We can choose a future where we export more products and outsource fewer jobs. After a decade that was defined by what we bought and borrowed, we’re getting back to basics, and doing what America has always done best:
We’re making things again.
I’ve met workers in Detroit and Toledo who feared they’d never build another American car. Today, they can’t build them fast enough, because we reinvented a dying auto industry that’s back on top of the world.
I’ve worked with business leaders who are bringing jobs back to America – not because our workers make less pay, but because we make better products. Because we work harder and smarter than anyone else.
I’ve signed trade agreements that are helping our companies sell more goods to millions of new customers – goods that are stamped with three proud words: Made in America.
After a decade of decline, this country created over half a million manufacturing jobs in the last two and a half years. And now you have a choice: we can give more tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, or we can start rewarding companies that open new plants and train new workers and create new jobs here, in the United States of America. We can help big factories and small businesses double their exports, and if we choose this path, we can create a million new manufacturing jobs in the next four years. You can make that happen. You can choose that future.
You can choose the path where we control more of our own energy. After thirty years of inaction, we raised fuel standards so that by the middle of the next decade, cars and trucks will go twice as far on a gallon of gas. We’ve doubled our use of renewable energy, and thousands of Americans have jobs today building wind turbines and long-lasting batteries. In the last year alone, we cut oil imports by one million barrels a day – more than any administration in recent history. And today, the United States of America is less dependent on foreign oil than at any time in nearly two decades.
Now you have a choice – between a strategy that reverses this progress, or one that builds on it. We’ve opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration in the last three years, and we’ll open more. But unlike my opponent, I will not let oil companies write this country’s energy plan, or endanger our coastlines, or collect another $4 billion in corporate welfare from our taxpayers.
We’re offering a better path – a future where we keep investing in wind and solar and clean coal; where farmers and scientists harness new biofuels to power our cars and trucks; where construction workers build homes and factories that waste less energy; where we develop a hundred year supply of natural gas that’s right beneath our feet. If you choose this path, we can cut our oil imports in half by 2020 and support more than 600,000 new jobs in natural gas alone.
And yes, my plan will continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet – because climate change is not a hoax. More droughts and floods and wildfires are not a joke. They’re a threat to our children’s future. And in this election, you can do something about it.
You can choose a future where more Americans have the chance to gain the skills they need to compete, no matter how old they are or how much money they have. Education was the gateway to opportunity for me. It was the gateway for Michelle. And now more than ever, it is the gateway to a middle-class life.
For the first time in a generation, nearly every state has answered our call to raise their standards for teaching and learning. Some of the worst schools in the country have made real gains in math and reading. Millions of students are paying less for college today because we finally took on a system that wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on banks and lenders.
And now you have a choice – we can gut education, or we can decide that in the United States of America, no child should have her dreams deferred because of a crowded classroom or a crumbling school. No family should have to set aside a college acceptance letter because they don’t have the money. No company should have to look for workers in China because they couldn’t find any with the right skills here at home.
Government has a role in this. But teachers must inspire; principals must lead; parents must instil a thirst for learning, and students, you’ve got to do the work. And together, I promise you – we can out-educate and out-compete any country on Earth. Help me recruit 100,000 math and science teachers in the next ten years, and improve early childhood education. Help give two million workers the chance to learn skills at their community college that will lead directly to a job. Help us work with colleges and universities to cut in half the growth of tuition costs over the next ten years. We can meet that goal together. You can choose that future for America.
In a world of new threats and new challenges, you can choose leadership that has been tested and proven. Four years ago, I promised to end the war in Iraq. We did. I promised to refocus on the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11. We have. We’ve blunted the Taliban’s momentum in Afghanistan, and in 2014, our longest war will be over. A new tower rises above the New York skyline, al Qaeda is on the path to defeat, and Osama bin Laden is dead.
Tonight, we pay tribute to the Americans who still serve in harm’s way. We are forever in debt to a generation whose sacrifice has made this country safer and more respected. We will never forget you. And so long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known. When you take off the uniform, we will serve you as well as you’ve served us – because no one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, or a roof over their head, or the care that they need when they come home.
Around the world, we’ve strengthened old alliances and forged new coalitions to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. We’ve reasserted our power across the Pacific and stood up to China on behalf of our workers. From Burma to Libya to South Sudan, we have advanced the rights and dignity of all human beings – men and women; Christians and Muslims and Jews.
But for all the progress we’ve made, challenges remain. Terrorist plots must be disrupted. Europe’s crisis must be contained. Our commitment to Israel’s security must not waver, and neither must our pursuit of peace. The Iranian government must face a world that stays united against its nuclear ambitions. The historic change sweeping across the Arab World must be defined not by the iron fist of a dictator or the hate of extremists, but by the hopes and aspirations of ordinary people who are reaching for the same rights that we celebrate today.
So now we face a choice. My opponent and his running mate are new to foreign policy, but from all that we’ve seen and heard, they want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly.
After all, you don’t call Russia our number one enemy – and not al Qaeda – unless you’re still stuck in a Cold War time warp. You might not be ready for diplomacy with Beijing if you can’t visit the Olympics without insulting our closest ally. My opponent said it was “tragic” to end the war in Iraq, and he won’t tell us how he’ll end the war in Afghanistan. I have, and I will. And while my opponent would spend more money on military hardware that our Joint Chiefs don’t even want, I’ll use the money we’re no longer spending on war to pay down our debt and put more people back to work – rebuilding roads and bridges; schools and runways. After two wars that have cost us thousands of lives and over a trillion dollars, it’s time to do some nation-building right here at home.
You can choose a future where we reduce our deficit without wrecking our middle class. Independent analysis shows that my plan would cut our deficits by $4 trillion. Last summer, I worked with Republicans in Congress to cut $1 trillion in spending – because those of us who believe government can be a force for good should work harder than anyone to reform it, so that it’s leaner, more efficient, and more responsive to the American people.
I want to reform the tax code so that it’s simple, fair, and asks the wealthiest households to pay higher taxes on incomes over $250,000 – the same rate we had when Bill Clinton was president; the same rate we had when our economy created nearly 23 million new jobs, the biggest surplus in history, and a lot of millionaires to boot.
Now, I’m still eager to reach an agreement based on the principles of my bipartisan debt commission. No party has a monopoly on wisdom. No democracy works without compromise. But when Governor Romney and his allies in Congress tell us we can somehow lower our deficit by spending trillions more on new tax breaks for the wealthy – well, you do the math. I refuse to go along with that. And as long as I’m President, I never will.
I refuse to ask middle class families to give up their deductions for owning a home or raising their kids just to pay for another millionaire’s tax cut. I refuse to ask students to pay more for college; or kick children out of Head Start programs, or eliminate health insurance for millions of Americans who are poor, elderly, or disabled – all so those with the most can pay less.
And I will never turn Medicare into a voucher. No American should ever have to spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies. They should retire with the care and dignity they have earned. Yes, we will reform and strengthen Medicare for the long haul, but we’ll do it by reducing the cost of health care – not by asking seniors to pay thousands of dollars more. And we will keep the promise of Social Security by taking the responsible steps to strengthen it – not by turning it over to Wall Street.
This is the choice we now face. This is what the election comes down to. Over and over, we have been told by our opponents that beggir tax cuts and fewer regulations are the only way; that since government can’t do everything, it should do almost nothing. If you can’t afford health insurance, hope that you don’t get sick. If a company releases toxic pollution into the air your children breathe, well, that’s just the price of progress. If you can’t afford to start a business or go to college, take my opponent’s advice and “borrow money from your parents.”
You know what? That’s not who we are. That’s not what this country’s about. As Americans, we believe we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights – rights that no man or government can take away. We insist on personal responsibility and we celebrate individual initiative. We’re not entitled to success. We have to earn it. We honour the strivers, the dreamers, the risk-takers who have always been the driving force behind our free enterprise system – the greatest engine of growth and prosperity the world has ever known.
But we also believe in something called citizenship – a word at the very heart of our founding, at the very essence of our democracy; the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another, and to future generations.
We believe that when a CEO pays his autoworkers enough to buy the cars that they build, the whole company does better.
We believe that when a family can no longer be tricked into signing a mortgage they can’t afford, that family is protected, but so is the value of other people’s homes, and so is the entire economy.
We believe that a little girl who’s offered an escape from poverty by a great teacher or a grant for college could become the founder of the next Google, or the scientist who cures cancer, or the President of the United States – and it’s in our power to give her that chance.
We know that churches and charities can often make more of a difference than a poverty program alone. We don’t want handouts for people who refuse to help themselves, and we don’t want bailouts for banks that break the rules. We don’t think government can solve all our problems. But we don’t think that government is the source of all our problems – any more than are welfare recipients, or corporations, or unions, or immigrants, or gays, or any other group we’re told to blame for our troubles.
Because we understand that this democracy is ours.
We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what’s in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defence.
As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. It’s about what can be done by us, together, through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government.
So you see, the election four years ago wasn’t about me. It was about you. My fellow citizens – you were the change.
You’re the reason there’s a little girl with a heart disorder in Phoenix who’ll get the surgery she needs because an insurance company can’t limit her coverage. You did that.
You’re the reason a young man in Colorado who never thought he’d be able to afford his dream of earning a medical degree is about to get that chance. You made that possible.
You’re the reason a young immigrant who grew up here and went to school here and pledged allegiance to our flag will no longer be deported from the only country she’s ever called home; why selfless soldiers won’t be kicked out of the military because of who they are or who they love; why thousands of families have finally been able to say to the loved ones who served us so bravely: “Welcome home.”
If you turn away now – if you buy into the cynicism that the change we fought for isn’t possible…well, change will not happen. If you give up on the idea that your voice can make a difference, then other voices will fill the void: lobbyists and special interests; the people with the $10 million checks who are trying to buy this election and those who are making it harder for you to vote; Washington politicians who want to decide who you can marry, or control health care choices that women should make for themselves.
Only you can make sure that doesn’t happen. Only you have the power to move us forward.
I recognize that times have changed since I first spoke to this convention. The times have changed – and so have I.
I’m no longer just a candidate. I’m the President. I know what it means to send young Americans into battle, for I have held in my arms the mothers and fathers of those who didn’t return. I’ve shared the pain of families who’ve lost their homes, and the frustration of workers who’ve lost their jobs. If the critics are right that I’ve made all my decisions based on polls, then I must not be very good at reading them. And while I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together, I’m far more mindful of my own failings, knowing exactly what Lincoln meant when he said, “I have been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.”
But as I stand here tonight, I have never been more hopeful about America. Not because I think I have all the answers. Not because I’m naive about the magnitude of our challenges.
I’m hopeful because of you.
The young woman I met at a science fair who won national recognition for her biology research while living with her family at a homeless shelter – she gives me hope.
The auto worker who won the lottery after his plant almost closed, but kept coming to work every day, and bought flags for his whole town and one of the cars that he built to surprise his wife – he gives me hope.
The family business in Warroad, Minnesota that didn’t lay off a single one of their four thousand employees during this recession, even when their competitors shut down dozens of plants, even when it meant the owners gave up some perks and pay – because they understood their biggest asset was the community and the workers who helped build that business – they give me hope.
And I think about the young sailor I met at Walter Reed hospital, still recovering from a grenade attack that would cause him to have his leg amputated above the knee. Six months ago, I would watch him walk into a White House dinner honouring those who served in Iraq, tall and twenty pounds heavier, dashing in his uniform, with a big grin on his face; sturdy on his new leg. And I remember how a few months after that I would watch him on a bicycle, racing with his fellow wounded warriors on a sparkling spring day, inspiring other heroes who had just begun the hard path he had travelled.
He gives me hope.
I don’t know what party these men and women belong to. I don’t know if they’ll vote for me. But I know that their spirit defines us. They remind me, in the words of Scripture, that ours is a “future filled with hope.”
And if you share that faith with me – if you share that hope with me – I ask you tonight for your vote.
If you reject the notion that this nation’s promise is reserved for the few, your voice must be heard in this election.
If you reject the notion that our government is forever beholden to the highest bidder, you need to stand up in this election.
If you believe that new plants and factories can dot our landscape; that new energy can power our future; that new schools can provide ladders of opportunity to this nation of dreamers; if you believe in a country where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules, then I need you to vote this November.
America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won’t promise that now. Yes, our path is harder – but it leads to a better place. Yes our road is longer – but we travel it together. We don’t turn back. We leave no one behind. We pull each other up. We draw strength from our victories, and we learn from our mistakes, but we keep our eyes fixed on that distant horizon, knowing that Providence is with us, and that we are surely blessed to be citizens of the greatest nation on Earth.
Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless these United States.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King dominated, winning all 11 nominations and tying with Ben-Hur and Titanic for the most Oscar wins by a single film.
This was the fifth time Billy Crystal hosted the Oscars, and he brought his signature humor to the ceremony.
Charlize Theron won Best Actress for her transformative role in Monster, gaining weight and wearing prosthetic teeth for the part.
Tim Robbins snagged Best Supporting Actor for his role in Mystic River, directed by Clint Eastwood.
Sofia Coppola became the third woman and the first American woman to be nominated for Best Director for Lost in Translation but ultimately lost to Peter Jackson for The Return of the King.
The Best Animated Feature went to Finding Nemo, marking Pixar’s first win.
Sean Penn won Best Actor for Mystic River, a film that also garnered Best Picture and Best Director nominations.
Annie Lennox’s song Into the West from The Return of the King won the award for Best Original Song, adding to the film’s impressive haul for the night.
Bill Murray, nominated for Best Actor for Lost in Translation, lost to Sean Penn but gained much acclaim for his dramatic role.
Brazilian film The Barbarian Invasions won Best Foreign Language Film, beating out stiff competition from Japan’s Twilight Samurai and the Czech Republic’s Želary.
Best Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, producers (WINNER) Lost in Translation – Ross Katz and Sofia Coppola, producers Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Samuel Goldwyn Jr., Peter Weir and Duncan Henderson, producers Mystic River – Robert Lorenz, Judie G. Hoyt and Clint Eastwood, producers Seabiscuit – Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Gary Ross, producers
Best Director: Peter Jackson – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (WINNER) Fernando Meirelles – City of God Sofia Coppola – Lost in Translation Peter Weir – Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Clint Eastwood – Mystic River
Best Actor: Sean Penn – Mystic River as Jimmy Markum (WINNER) Johnny Depp – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl as Captain Jack Sparrow Ben Kingsley – House of Sand and Fog as Massoud Amir Behrani Jude Law – Cold Mountain as W. P. Inman Bill Murray – Lost in Translation as Bob Harris
Best Actress: Charlize Theron – Monster as Aileen Wuornos (WINNER) Keisha Castle-Hughes – Whale Rider as Paikea Apirana Diane Keaton – Something’s Gotta Give as Erica Barry Samantha Morton – In America as Sarah Sullivan Naomi Watts – 21 Grams as Cristina “Cris” Williams-Peck
Best Supporting Actor: Tim Robbins – Mystic River as Dave Boyle (WINNER) Alec Baldwin – The Cooler as Shelley Kaplow Benicio del Toro – 21 Grams as Jack Jordan Djimon Hounsou – In America as Mateo Kuamey Ken Watanabe – The Last Samurai as Lord Moritsugu Katsumoto
Best Supporting Actress: Renée Zellweger – Cold Mountain as Ruby Thewes (WINNER) Shohreh Aghdashloo – House of Sand and Fog as Nadereh Behrani Patricia Clarkson – Pieces of April as Joy Burns Marcia Gay Harden – Mystic River as Celeste Boyle Holly Hunter – Thirteen as Melanie Freeland
Best Original Screenplay: Lost in Translation – Sofia Coppola (WINNER) The Barbarian Invasions – Denys Arcand Dirty Pretty Things – Steven Knight Finding Nemo – Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds In America – Jim Sheridan, Naomi Sheridan and Kirsten Sheridan
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson based on the book by J. R. R. Tolkien (WINNER) American Splendor – Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini based on the comic book series American Splendor by Harvey Pekar and Our Cancer Year by Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner City of God – Bráulio Mantovani based on the novel Cidade de Deus by Paulo Lins Mystic River – Brian Helgeland based on the novel by Dennis Lehane Seabiscuit – Gary Ross based on the book by Laura Hillenbrand
Best Animated Feature Film: Finding Nemo – Andrew Stanton (WINNER) Brother Bear – Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker The Triplets of Belleville – Sylvain Chomet
Best Foreign Language Film: The Barbarian Invasions (Canada) in French – Denys Arcand (WINNER) Evil (Sweden) in Swedish – Mikael Håfström The Twilight Samurai (Japan) in Japanese – Yoji Yamada Twin Sisters (Netherlands) in Dutch – Ben Sombogaart Želary (Czech Republic) in Czech – Ondrej Trojan
Best Documentary Feature: The Fog of War – Errol Morris and Michael Williams (WINNER) Balseros – Carlos Bosch and Josep Maria Domenech Capturing the Friedmans – Andrew Jarecki and Marc Smerling My Architect – Nathaniel Kahn and Susan Rose Behr The Weather Underground – Sam Green and Bill Siegel
Best Documentary Short Subject: Chernobyl Heart – Maryann DeLeo (WINNER) Asylum – Sandy McLeod and Gini Reticker Ferry Tales – Katja Esson
Best Live Action Short Film: Two Soldiers – Aaron Schneider and Andrew J. Sacks (WINNER) Die Rote Jacke (The Red Jacket) – Florian Baxmeyer Most (The Bridge) – Bobby Garabedian and William Zabka Squash – Lionel Bailliu (A) Torzija [(A) Torsion] – Stefan Arsenijevic
Best Animated Short Film: Harvie Krumpet – Adam Elliot (WINNER) Boundin’ – Bud Luckey Destino – Dominique Monfery and Roy Edward Disney Gone Nutty – Carlos Saldanha and John C. Donkin Nibbles – Christopher Hinton
Best Original Score: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Howard Shore (WINNER) Big Fish – Danny Elfman Cold Mountain – Gabriel Yared Finding Nemo – Thomas Newman House of Sand and Fog – James Horner
Best Original Song: “Into the West” from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Music and Lyrics by Fran Walsh, Howard Shore and Annie Lennox (WINNER) “Belleville Rendez-vous” from The Triplets of Belleville – Music by Benoît Charest; Lyrics by Sylvain Chomet “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” from A Mighty Wind – Music and Lyrics by Michael McKean and Annette O’Toole “Scarlet Tide” from Cold Mountain – Music and Lyrics by T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello “You Will Be My Ain True Love” from Cold Mountain – Music and Lyrics by Sting
Best Sound Editing: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Richard King (WINNER) Finding Nemo – Gary Rydstrom and Michael Silvers Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – Christopher Boyes and George Watters II
Best Sound Mixing: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges and Hammond Peek (WINNER) The Last Samurai – Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Jeff Wexler Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Paul Massey, Doug Hemphill and Art Rochester Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – Christopher Boyes, David Parker, David Campbell and Lee Orloff Seabiscuit – Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Tod A. Maitland
Best Art Direction: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Art Direction: Grant Major; Set Decoration: Dan Hennah and Alan Lee (WINNER) Girl with a Pearl Earring – Art Direction: Ben Van Os; Set Decoration: Cecile Heideman The Last Samurai – Art Direction: Lilly Kilvert; Set Decoration: Gretchen Rau Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Art Direction: William Sandell; Set Decoration: Robert Gould Seabiscuit – Art Direction: Jeannine Oppewall; Set Decoration: Leslie Pope
Best Cinematography: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Russell Boyd (WINNER) City of God – Cesar Charlone Cold Mountain – John Seale Girl with a Pearl Earring – Eduardo Serra Seabiscuit – John Schwartzman
Best Makeup: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Richard Taylor and Peter King (WINNER) Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Edouard Henriques III and Yolanda Toussieng Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – Ve Neill and Martin Samuel
Best Costume Design: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor (WINNER) Girl with a Pearl Earring – Dien van Straalen The Last Samurai – Ngila Dickson Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Wendy Stites Seabiscuit – Judianna Makovsky
Best Film Editing: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Jamie Selkirk (WINNER) City of God – Daniel Rezende Cold Mountain – Walter Murch Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Lee Smith Seabiscuit – William Goldenberg
Best Visual Effects: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook and Alex Funke (WINNER) Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World – Dan Sudick, Stefen Fangmeier, Nathan McGuinness and Robert Stromberg Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and Terry Frazee
Eligibility Year: October 1, 2002 – September 30, 2003
2004 Grammy Trivia
OutKast’s double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below bagged the Album of the Year, marking a significant moment for hip-hop in the Grammys.
Beyoncé had a stellar night, winning five Grammys, including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for Dangerously in Love 2.
Cold Mountain provided a rare moment for bluegrass music, as Scarlet Tide, co-written by Elvis Costello, won in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category.
Warren Zevon, who had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, was posthumously awarded two Grammys, adding an emotional note to the evening.
Smooth jazz saxophonist George Benson and powerhouse vocalist Al Jarreau teamed up for a cover of Take Five that won the Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
A Day in the Life by Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and Roy Hargrove won the award for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo.
Luther Vandross, who was unable to attend due to health issues, won four Grammys, including Song of the Year for Dance with My Father.
The late Johnny Cash received three nominations and one win for his cover of Nine Inch Nails’ song Hurt in the Best Short Form Music Video category.
Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful was honored with Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and the song’s writer, Linda Perry, was nominated for Song of the Year.
Evanescence won Best New Artist, despite controversies surrounding the band’s categorization in the rock genre.
2004 Grammy Winners
Record: Clocks – Coldplay
Album: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Outkast
Song of the year: Dance with My Father – Richard Marx, Luther Vandross, songwriters (Luther Vandross)
New Artist: Evanescence
Female Pop Vocal: Beautiful – Christina Aguilera
Male Pop Vocal: Cry Me a River – Justin Timberlake
Pop Duo or Group with Vocals: Underneath It All – No Doubt
Pop Collaboration with Vocals: Whenever I Say Your Name – Sting, Mary J. Blige
Pop Instrumental: Marwa Blues – George Harrison
Pop Instrumental Album: Mambo Sinuendo, Ry Cooder, Manuel Galban
Pop Vocal Album: Justified, Justin Timberlake
Dance Recording: Come Into My World – Kylie Minogue
Traditional Pop Vocal Album: A Wonderful World, Tony Bennett, k.d. lang
Female Rock Vocal: Trouble – Pink
Male Rock Vocal: Gravedigger – Dave Matthews
Rock Duo or Group with Vocals: Disorder in the House – Warren Zevon, Bruce Springsteen
Hard Rock: Bring Me To Life – Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy
Metal: St. Anger – Metallica
Rock Instrumental: Plan B – Jeff Beck
Rock Song: Seven Nation Army – Jack White, songwriter (The White Stripes)
Rock Album: One by One – Foo Fighters
Alternative Music Album: Elephant – The White Stripes
Female R&B Vocal: Dangerously In Love – Beyoncé
Male R&B Vocal: Dance with My Father – Luther Vandross
R&B Duo or Group with Vocals: The Closer I Get To You – Beyoncé & Luther Vandross
Traditional R&B Vocal: Wonderful – Aretha Franklin
Urban/Alternative Vocal: Hey Ya! – Outkast
R&B Song: Crazy in Love – Shawn Carter, Rich Harrison, Beyoncé Knowles, Eugene Record, songwriters (Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z)
R&B Album: Dance with My Father – Luther Vandross
Contemporary R&B Vocal Album: Dangerously In Love – Beyoncé
Female Rap Solo: Work It – Missy Elliott
Male Rap Solo: Lose Yourself – Eminem
Rap Duo or Group: Shake Ya Tailfeather – Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee
Rap Sung/Collaboration: Crazy in Love – Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
Rap Song: Lose Yourself – J. Bass, M. Mathers, L. Resto, songwriters (Eminem)
Rap Album: Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Outkast
Female Country Vocal: Keep on the Sunny Side – June Carter Cash
Male Country Vocal: Next Big Thing – Vince Gill
Country Duo or Group with Vocals: A Simple Life – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Country Collaboration with Vocals: How’s the World Treating You – James Taylor, Alison Krauss
Country Instrumental: Cluck Old Hen – Alison Krauss & Union Station
Country Song: It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere – Jim ·Moose· Brown, Don Rollins, songwriters (Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffett)
Country Album: Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’ – Songs of the Louvin Brothers, various artists
Bluegrass Album: Live – Alison Krauss & Union Station
New Age Album: One Quiet Night – Pat Metheny
Contemporary Jazz Album: 34th N Lex – Randy Brecker
Jazz Vocal Album: A Little Moonlight – Dianne Reeves
Jazz Instrumental, Solo: Matrix – Chick Corea
Jazz Instrumental Album: Alegria – Wayne Shorter
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Wide Angles – Michael Brecker Quindectet
Latin Jazz Album: Live at the Blue Note – Michel Camilo with Charles Flores & Horacio ·El Negro· Hernandez
Rock Gospel Album: Worldwide – Audio Adrenaline
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Worship Again – Michael W. Smith
Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Rise and Shine – Randy Travis
Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Go Tell It On the Mountain – The Blind Boys of Alabama
Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Again – Donnie McClurkin
Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus: A Wing and a Prayer – Bishop T. D. Jakes, choir director; The Potter’s House Mass Choir
2004 Grammy Award Winners No Es Lo Mismo – Alejandro Sanz
Latin Rock/Alternative Album: Cuatro Caminos – Café Tacuba
Tropical Latin Album: Buenos Hermanos – ,Ibrahim Ferrer
Salsa/Merengue Album: Regalo Del Alma – Celia Cruz
Mexican/Mexican-American Album: Afortunado – Joan Sebastian
Tejano Album: Si Me Faltas Tu, Jimmy Gonzalez y El Grupo Mazz
Traditional Blues Album: Blues Singer – Buddy Guy
Contemporary Blues Album: Let’s Roll – Etta James
Traditional Folk Album: Wildwood Flower – June Carter Cash
Contemporary Folk Album: The Wind – Warren Zevon
Native American Music Album: Flying Free – Black Eagle
Reggae Album: Dutty Rock – Sean Paul
Traditional World Music Album: Sacred Tibetan Chant – The Monks of Sherab Ling Monastery
Contemporary World Music Album: Voz D’Amor – Cesaria Evora
Polka Album: Let’s Polka ‘Round – Jimmy Sturr
Musical Album for Children: Bon Appetit! – Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer
Spoken Word Album for Children: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf/Beintus: Wolf Tracks – Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev, Sophia Loren
Spoken Word Album: Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right – Al Franken
Comedy Album: Poodle Hat – Weird Al Yankovic
Musical Show Album: Gypsy – Jay David Saks, producer; Jule Styne, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media: Chicago – Various Artists
Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Howard Shore, composer
Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media: A Mighty Wind· (from A Mighty Wind) – Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy, Michael McKean
Instrumental Composition: Sacajawea – Wayne Shorter – composer (Wayne Shorter)
Instrumental Arrangement: Timbuktu – Michael Brecker, Gil Goldstein, arrangers (Michael Brecker Orchestra)
Opera Recording: Janácek: Jenufa – Bernard Haitink, conductor
Choral Performance: Sibelius: Cantatas – Paavo Jarvi, conductor
Instrumental Soloist with Orchestra: Britten: Violin Concerto/Walton: Viola Concerto – Maxim Vengerov, violin & viola with the London Symphony Orchestra
Instrumental Soloist Without Orchestra: Haydn: Piano Sonatas Nos. 29, 31, 34, 35 & 49 – Emanuel Ax, piano
Chamber Music: Berg: Lyric Suite – Kronos Quartet & Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Small Ensemble Performance (with or Without Conductor): Chavez: Suite for Double Quartet – Jeff von der Schmidt, conductor; Southwest Chamber Music
Classical Vocal: Schubert: Lieder with Orchestra – Thomas Quasthoff, bass-baritone; Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo soprano
Classical Contemporary Composition: Argento: Casa Guidi – Dominick Argento
November 9, 2002- January 31, 2003:
Lose Yourself – Eminem
February 1 – February 7:
Bump, Bump, Bump – B2K featuring P. Diddy
February 8 – March 7:
All I Have – Jennifer Lopez featuring L.L. Cool J
March 8 – May 9:
In Da Club – 50 Cent
May 10 – May 30:
Get Busy – Sean Paul
May 31 – June 27:
21 Questions – 50 Cent featuring Nate Dogg
June 28 – July 11:
This Is The Night – Clay Aiken
July 12 – September 5:
Crazy In Love – Beyonce featuring Jay-Z
September 6 – October 3:
Shake Ya Tailfeather – Nelly/P. Diddy/Murphy Lee
October 4 – December 5:
Baby Boy – Beyonce featuring Sean Paul
December 6 – December 12:
Stand Up – Ludacris featuring Shawnna
December 13, 2003 – February 13, 2004:
Hey Ya! – OutKast
(Data is compiled from various charts including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
Influential Songs include: Unwell by Matchbox Twenty, Concrete Angel by Martina McBride, Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, and Dance With My Father by Luthor Vandross
The Movies to Watch include Finding Nemo, Gods and Generals, Bruce Almighty, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Elf
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Johnny Depp
Notable books include: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Price of Boar’s Head deluxe ham in 2003: $5.99/pound Price of a movie ticket: $6.00 Land O Lakes butter, 1 pound: $1.49
US 666, once a spur route of the decommissioned US Route 66, was changed to US 491, a spur of US Route 191, due to concerns using the number 666 for a road.
The Funny Guy was: Dane Cook The Funnier Guy was: Dave Chappelle
The Conversation: The United States Department of Homeland Security and what it would mean for average Americans.
Here are a few notable events from 2003:
The US led a coalition of countries in an invasion of Iraq, stating that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. These weapons were never found, and the invasion and its aftermath have been the source of much controversy and debate.
The Human Genome Project was completed in 2003, resulting in the mapping of the entire human genome.
The space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members.
A massive heatwave occurred in European countries like France, where more than 15,000, over 70.,000 in total.
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) emerged in China in 2003 and spread to several other countries before being controlled.
In the entertainment industry, Friends’ final episode aired on NBC, and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The Year of The Goat The year of the goat is one of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle. The goat (also known as sheep or ram) is the eighth animal in the cycle. The years of the goat include: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039, 2051, and 2063 The year of the goat is associated with creativity, gentleness, and calmness. People born in the year of the goat are said to be gentle, kind-hearted, and have a strong sense of creativity. They are also said to be sensitive, compassionate, and have a good sense of aesthetics. They enjoy the good things and appreciate beauty, art, and nature. They are also quite good at adapting to new situations, and they can work well under pressure. They are said to be great listeners and are often sought out for advice. They are also known to be quite selfless and are willing to help others.
Top Ten Baby Names of 2003: Emily, Emma, Madison, Hannah, Olivia, Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Andrew
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols: Gisele Bündchen, Eva Mendez, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Julia Stiles, Lucy, Liu, Brittany Murphy, Jennifer Lopez, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Pamela Anderson, Scarlett Johansson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry, Britney Spears, Kate Hudson, Beyonce, Julia Roberts, Selma Blair, Cameron Diaz, Hilary Swank, Renee Zellweger, Keira Knightley, Jessica Simpson, Denise Richards
The Heartthrob(s): Brad Pitt, Jude Law, Heath Ledger, Hugh Grant, David Beckham, Ben Affleck, Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, Johnny Depp, Julian McMahon, Justin Timberlake, Adam Brody
“The Quotes” “Where do buffalo wings come from? Chickens or buffaloes?” -Jessica Simpson, on her Newlyweds reality show.
“He’s just not that into you.” -Jack Berger, Sex In The City
When Arnold Schwarzenegger was running for Governor in 2003, he was hit with an egg during a rally; later, during the speech, Arnold responded with, “Now he owes me bacon.”
Time Magazine’s Persons of the Year: The American Soldier
Miss America: Erika Harold (Urbana, IL)
Miss USA: Susie Castillo (Massachusetts)
The Scandals: Angelina Jolie kissed her brother, James Haven, rather passionately at the Oscars. James claimed it was a quick peck, caught at the wrong second.
Paris Hilton’s sex tape was released with then-boyfriend Rick Salomon, One Night In Paris.
New York Times reporter Jayson Blair resigned after being confronted with evidence of fabricating quotes and details in at least 36 articles.
Natalie Maines, the lead singer for the Dixie Chicks, told a London crowd, “we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is From Texas.”
Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh entered rehab for addiction to prescription drugs oxycodone and hydrocodone. This may have led to his hearing loss. (the radio talk show host is essentially deaf)
Michael Jackson was alleged to have engaged in sexual activities with a teenage boy (again).
Madonna Kissed Britney Spears at the VMAs
The Collar Bomb Brian Wells was an American pizza delivery man who was killed on August 28, 2003, when a bomb locked around his neck detonated. The incident, which took place in Erie, Pennsylvania, is known as the “collar bomb” or “pizza bomber” case.
Wells had been delivering a pizza to a location on the outskirts of Erie when he was accosted by a man who claimed to be a police officer. The man forced Wells to wear a collar bomb and directed him to rob a nearby bank. After robbing the bank, Wells was taken into custody by the police, but the bomb detonated before it could be disarmed.
The case is notable for its complexity and the number of individuals who were eventually arrested and convicted in connection with the crime. It’s considered as a rare instance of a real-life criminal event that followed the scenario of a TV series or a movie.
The FBI had concluded that the crime was a “perfect crime” perpetrated by a group of criminals, but later investigations revealed the involvement of Wells himself in the crime. However, Wells’ family and some of the defendants maintain that he was an unwitting participant in the crime and was manipulated by the other individuals involved. The case remains controversial and is still being discussed by the media.
Welchia Computer Worm Welchia, also known as the Nachi worm, is a computer worm that was first discovered in 2003. It was primarily spread through a vulnerability in the Windows operating system, known as the “Remote Procedure Call (RPC) DCOM” vulnerability. This vulnerability allowed the worm to propagate across networks and infect unpatched systems.
The worm was designed to target Windows 2000 and Windows XP systems, and it could exploit the RPC DCOM vulnerability without needing user interaction. Once a system was infected, the worm would attempt to download and install a patch for the vulnerability it had just exploited to protect the system from further attack.
In addition to patching the vulnerability, the worm also had several other malicious payloads, including:
Attempting to propagate itself to other systems on the network
Terminating several security-related processes and services
Downloading and running additional malware
Creating a backdoor on the infected system that could be used to control the system remotely.
Welchia was considered to be a significant threat when it was first discovered, as it was able to spread quickly across networks and caused disruptions to many systems. However, because the worm attempted to patch the vulnerability it was exploiting, some saw it as a “benign” worm.
Beloved TV Star Sudden Death: John Ritter, age 54
HERO – 13-year-old Surfer Bethany Hamilton jumped right back on a surfboard after getting patched up from her shark bite, which took her left arm. A 2011 film, Soul Surfer, starring AnnaSophia Robb, was about her life.
HERO – Aron Ralston – while canyoneering in Utah, he was forced to amputate his right arm with a dull knife to free himself from a boulder. A 2011 film, 127 Hours, starring James Franco, was about the adventure.
HERO – Elizabeth Smart was found alive nine months after she was kidnapped. She has become an activist, working with Sexual Predator Legislation and the AMBER Alert system, and she spoke after the signing of the Adam Walsh Act. A TV movie about the ordeal, The Elizabeth Smart Story, was shown on CBS.
Pop Culture Facts & History:
Before 2003, if you changed wireless carriers, you would have to get a new phone number since carriers were not legally required to transfer your phone number.
Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King won 11 Oscars, winning every category it was nominated for. For this reason, many consider it the greatest film of all time. Several books have been written regarding the making of the Lord of the Rings film series.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) was Sean Connery’s last movie role, as he didn’t like playing aging old men in movies.
The Cat costume Mike Myers wore in the 2003 live-action Cat in the Hat film was made out of wool and human hair.
Actor Paul Bettany proposed to Jennifer Connelly after 9/11. The two were not dating at the time; they met while filming A Beautiful Mind in 2001. They’ve been married since 2003.
In a study in 2003, shelter dogs were found to be more relaxed and quiet when listening to classical music. The dogs didn’t seem particularly interested in pop music or radio shows but exhibited more barking when heavy metal was playing.
The word “McJob” was added to the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary in 2003, defined as “a low-paying job that requires little skill and provides little opportunity for advancement.”
The original “Dunkin’ Donut” from Dunkin’ Donuts had a pastry handle for dipping into coffee. It was discontinued in 2003 because it had to be cut by hand.
Despite a central theme of the X-Men comics being the mutants are still human – Marvel successfully won a court case in 2003 to classify the X-Men action figures as ‘non-human toys’ to avoid higher tariffs.
Disneyland and Disney World are “national defense airspace” no-fly zones and have been since 2003.
After the space shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, the debris field stretched from Texas through Louisiana, and the search team was so thorough they found nearly 84,000 pieces of the shuttle, several murder victims, and a few meth labs.
The 2003 invasion of Iraq was initially called “Operation Iraqi Liberation” but was quickly changed to “Operation Iraqi Freedom” due to the acronym spelling out “OIL.”
In 2003, US President George W. Bush started PEPFAR, providing antiretroviral drugs to African nations, lowering the AIDS rate by 10%, and saving 1.1 million lives.
The detective show Columbo, starring Peter Falk, aired its first episode in February 1968 and aired its last episode 35 years later in January 2003
The Human Genome Project mapped the structure of DNA, and all the specific information it contained completed its work.
In 2003 the “@” symbol was added to Morse code using the symbol “•–•-•”, the first and only addition to Morse code since WWII.
The original Gameboy wasn’t discontinued until 2003.
Queen are the only group in which every member has composed more than one #1 single, and hence, all four members were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003.
US Route 666, nicknamed The Devil’s Highway was renamed to Route 491 in 2003, and within days of the announcement nearly all the old signs containing the number 666 were stolen as souvenirs.
In 2003 Dodge built and sold nine motorcycles with a viper V-10 engine called the Dodge Tomahawk.
Leonardo Notarbartolo stole diamonds worth 100M Dollars after getting past a lock with 100M possible combinations, infrared heat detectors, a seismic sensor, Doppler radar, a magnetic field and security guards in Antwerp, Belgium. He was later caught because he left a partially eaten sandwich near the crime scene
Jon Lech Johansen, a self-trained software engineer who created software that decoded DVD copy protection. Johansen defended himself against computer hacking charges, arguing he owned the DVDs and didn’t access anyone else’s information. He was acquitted in 2003.
A pair of Miami radio DJ’s prank called Fidel Castro in 2003. They pretended to be Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to get Castro on the line and had a brief chat before telling Castro he had been fooled. Castro responded with a brief verbal tirade. The radio station was later fined $4,000.
On May 25, 2003, two men boarded an empty Boeing 727 at an airport in Angola and flew off into the sunset. The FBI and CIA conducted a massive search, but neither the men nor the plane was ever seen or heard from again. it is one of the largest aircraft ever to disappear.
In 2003 a herd of wild elephants released a group of captive antelopes from a game reserve in Southeast Africa. The herd’s matriarch undid the gate’s metal latches with her trunk & then pushed it open. The antelope took their chance & ran into the bush, followed by the elephants.
In 2003, Juan Catalan was cleared of murder charges after outtake footage shot for “The Car Pool Lane” episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm showed him and his daughter attending the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves baseball game some 20 miles from the crime scene at the time of the murder.
The chief officer of the German-owned cargo ship RMS Mülheim got into difficulties while on watch. His trousers caught in his chair mechanism and while trying to free himself, he tripped and knocked himself unconscious. The ship was grounded on rocks while he was out and broke up.
Steven Bartman, sitting in Section 4, Row 8, Seat 113 of the stands at Wrigley Field, reached for and deflected a foul ball that Cubs left fielder Moises Alou was trying to catch. The Florida Marlins won the game and the chance to be in the World Series. Steven is a decent guy and still a Cubs fan by all reports. He received a World Series ring when the Cubs won in 2016.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 2003: $2,100,000
NOT a Surprise: Liza Minelli and David Gest divorced after their 2002 marriage
The Habits: Wearing Chandelier Earrings Wearing Monogrammed Shirts and Coats while carrying monogrammed bags Wearing Uggs with Cargo pants
The Disaster: On Feb 1, Space Shuttle Columbia broke up while re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, Ilan Ramon, Kalpana Chawla, David M. Brown, Laurel Clark and Commander Rick D. Husband all died in the disaster
2003 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame: Alphabet Blocks, Checkers
1st Appearances & 2003’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents: Beyblades, Bionicle, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Flavas dolls, Barbie as Supergirl, Barbie as Wonder Woman
Best Film Oscar Winner: Chicago (Presented in 2003)
2003 Entries to The National Film Registry: Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman (released in 1974) Atlantic City (released in 1980) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (released in 1969) The Chechahcos (released in 1924) Dickson Experimental Sound Film (released in 1894/95) Film Portrait (released in 1972) Fox Movietone News: Jenkins Orphanage Band (released in 1928) Gold Deggirs of (released in 1933) The Hunters (released in 1957) Matrimony’s Speed Limit (released in 1913) Medium Cool (released in 1969) National Velvet (released in 1944) Naughty Marietta (released in 1935) Nostalgia (released in 1971) One Froggy Evening (released in 1956) Patton (released in 1970) Princess Nicotine; or, The Smoke Fairy (released in 1909) Show People (released in 1928) The Son of the Sheik (released in 1926) Tarzan and His Mate (released in 1934) Tin Toy (released in 1988) The Wedding March (released in 1928) White Heat (released in 1949) Young Frankenstein (released in 1974) Young Mr. Lincoln (released in 1939)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo) 1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2. Finding Nemo 3. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 4. The Matrix Reloaded 5. Bruce Almighty 6. X2: X-Men United 7. Elf 8. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines 9. The Matrix Revolutions 10. Cheaper By The Dozen
Broadway Show – Avenue Q (Musical) Opened on July 31, 2003 and closed on September 13, 2009
Broadway Show – Wicked (Musical) Opened on October 30, 2003
2003 Most Popular TV Shows: 1. American Idol (Fox) 2. CSI (CBS) 3. Survivor: All Stars (CBS) 4. Friends (NBC) 5. Survivor: Pearl Islands (CBS) 6. The Apprentice (NBC) 7. ER (NBC) 8. CSI: Miami (CBS) 9. Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) 10. Without a Trace (CBS)
2003 Billboard Number One Songs: November 9, 2002- January 31, 2003: Lose Yourself – Eminem
February 1 – February 7: Bump, Bump, Bump – B2K featuring P. Diddy
February 8 – March 7: All I Have – Jennifer Lopez featuring L.L. Cool J
July 12 – September 5: Crazy In Love – Beyonce featuring Jay-Z
September 6 – October 3: Shake Ya Tailfeather – Nelly/P. Diddy/Murphy Lee
October 4 – December 5: Baby Boy – Beyonce featuring Sean Paul
December 6 – December 12: Stand Up – Ludacris featuring Shawnna
December 13, 2004 – February 13, 2003: Hey Ya! – OutKast
Sports: World Series Champions: Florida Marlins Super Bowl XXXVII Champions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs Stanley Cup Champs: New Jersey Devils U.S. Open Golf Jim Furyk U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Andy Roddick/Kim Clijsters Wimbledon (Men/Women): Roger Federer/Serena Williams NCAA Football Champions: USC NCAA Basketball Champions: Syracuse Kentucky Derby: Funny Cide
Popular and Best-selling Books From 2003: A Royal Duty by Paul Burrell An Unfinished Life by Robert Dallek Armageddon by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson Birthright by Nora Roberts Bleachers by John Grisham Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell Bush at War by Bob Woodward Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King Devil in the White City by Erik Larson Dude, Where’s My Country? by Michael Moore The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling I Am a Soldier Too by Rick Bragg The Jester by James Patterson and Andrew Gross Johnny Angel by Danielle Steel Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg The King of Torts by John Grisham The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The Known World by Edward P. Jones The Lake House by James Patterson Leap of Faith by Queen Noor Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken Living History by Hillary Clinton The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Naked Prey by Jahn Sandford Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood Portrait of a Killer by Patricia Cornwell Prey by Michael Crichton The Sandman: Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman The Savage Nation by Michael Savage Stupid White Men by Michael Moore The Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy To The Nines by Janet Evanovich What Should I Do with My Life? by Po Bronson Who’s Looking Out For You? by Bill O’Reilly
Chicago won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, making it the first musical to win the coveted title since Oliver! in 1968.
Nicole Kidman won Best Actress for her role in The Hours, where she donned a prosthetic nose to portray writer Virginia Woolf.
Adrien Brody became the youngest actor ever to win the Best Actor award; he was just 29 when he won for The Pianist.
Eminem’s song Lose Yourself from 8 Mile snagged the award for Best Original Song, marking one of the rare instances a hip-hop song received this honor.
Pedro Almodóvar won the Best Original Screenplay for Talk to Her, marking another high point for international cinema.
Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine won Best Documentary Feature and caused a stir when Moore used his acceptance speech to criticize President George W. Bush.
Martin Scorsese was a frontrunner for Best Director for Gangs of New York, but he lost out to Roman Polanski for The Pianist.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* was nominated for six awards but only won two, setting the stage for the sweeping victories of its sequel the following year.
Spirited Away*, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, won Best Animated Feature, becoming the first (and so far, only) hand-drawn and non-English-language animated film to win the award.
Chris Cooper won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Adaptation, while Catherine Zeta-Jones won Best Supporting Actress for Chicago.
U2’s song The Hands That Built America, from Gangs of New York, was another nominee for Best Original Song, adding some rock flair to the category.
Frida, a biographical film about Frida Kahlo, won two Oscars for Best Makeup and Best Original Score, but Salma Hayek missed out on the Best Actress award.
2003 Oscar Nominees and Winners
Best Picture: Chicago – Martin Richards, producer (WINNER) Gangs of New York – Alberto Grimaldi and Harvey Weinstein, producers The Hours – Scott Rudin and Robert Fox, producers The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh, and Peter Jackson, producers The Pianist – Roman Polanski, Robert Bunmussa, and Alain Sarde, producers
Best Director: Roman Polanski – The Pianist (WINNER) Rob Marshall – Chicago Martin Scorsese – Gangs of New York Stephen Daldry – The Hours Pedro Almodóvar – Talk to Her
Best Actor: Adrien Brody – The Pianist as Wladyslaw Szpilman (WINNER) Nicolas Cage – Adaptation as Charlie Kaufman / Donald Kaufman Michael Caine – The Quiet American as Thomas Fowler Daniel Day-Lewis – Gangs of New York as Bill “The Butcher” Cutting Jack Nicholson – About Schmidt as Warren R. Schmidt
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman – The Hours as Virginia Woolf (WINNER) Salma Hayek – Frida as Frida Kahlo Diane Lane – Unfaithful as Constance “Connie” Sumner Julianne Moore – Far from Heaven as Cathy Whitaker Renée Zellweger – Chicago as Roxie Hart
Best Supporting Actor: Chris Cooper – Adaptation as John Laroche (WINNER) Ed Harris – The Hours as Richard “Richie” Brown Paul Newman – Road to Perdition as John Rooney John C. Reilly – Chicago as Amos Hart Christopher Walken – Catch Me If You Can as Frank Abagnale Sr.
Best Supporting Actress: Catherine Zeta-Jones – Chicago as Velma Kelly (WINNER) Kathy Bates – About Schmidt as Roberta Hertzel Queen Latifah – Chicago as Matron “Mama” Morton Julianne Moore – The Hours as Laura McGrath Brown Meryl Streep – Adaptation as Susan Orlean
Best Original Screenplay: Talk to Her – Pedro Almodóvar (WINNER) Far from Heaven – Todd Haynes Gangs of New York – Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, and Kenneth Lonergan My Big Fat Greek Wedding – Nia Vardalos Y Tu Mamá También – Carlos Cuarón and Alfonso Cuarón
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Pianist – Ronald Harwood based on the book by Wladyslaw Szpilman (WINNER) About a Boy – Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz, and Paul Weitz based on the book by Nick Hornby Adaptation – Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman based on the book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean Chicago – Bill Condon based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins The Hours – David Hare based on the novel by Michael Cunningham
Best Animated Feature Film: Spirited Away – Hayao Miyazaki (WINNER) Ice Age – Chris Wedge Lilo & Stitch – Chris Sanders Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron – Jeffrey Katzenberg Treasure Planet – Ron Clements
Best Foreign Language Film: Nowhere in Africa (Germany) in German – Caroline Link (WINNER) The Crime of Father Amaro (Mexico) in Spanish – Carlos Carrera Hero (China) in Mandarin – Zhang Yimou The Man Without a Past (Finland) in Finnish – Aki Kaurismäki Zus & Zo (Netherlands) in Dutch – Paula van der Oest
Best Documentary Feature: Bowling for Columbine – Michael Moore and Michael Donovan (WINNER) Daughter from Danang – Gail Dolgin and Vicente Franco Prisoner of Paradise – Malcolm Clarke and Stuart Sender Spellbound – Jeffrey Blitz and Sean Welch Winged Migration – Jacques Perrin
Best Documentary Short Subject: Twin Towers – Bill Guttentag and Robert David Port (WINNER) The Collector of Bedford Street – Alice Elliott Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks – Robert Hudson and Bobby Houston Why Can’t We Be a Family Again? – Roger Weisberg and Murray Nossel
Best Live Action Short Film: This Charming Man – Martin Strange-Hansen and Mie Andreasen (WINNER) Fait D’Hiver – Dirk Beliën and Anja Daelemans I’ll Wait for the Next One… (J’Attendrai Le Suivant…) – Philippe Orreindy and Thomas Gaudin Inja (Dog) – Steven Pasvolsky and Joe Weatherstone Johnny Flynton – Lexi Alexander and Alexander Buono
Best Animated Short Film: The ChubbChubbs! – Eric Armstrong (WINNER) Das Rad – Chris Stenner and Heidi Wittlinger Katedra – Tomek Baginski Mike’s New Car – Pete Docter and Roger L. Gould Mount Head – Koji Yamamura
Best Original Score: Frida – Elliot Goldenthal (WINNER) Catch Me If You Can – John Williams Far from Heaven – Elmer Bernstein The Hours – Philip Glass Road to Perdition – Thomas Newman
Best Original Song: “Lose Yourself” from 8 Mile – Music by Eminem, Jeff Bass, and Luis Resto; Lyrics by Eminem (WINNER) “I Move On” from Chicago – Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb “Burn It Blue” from Frida – Music by Elliot Goldenthal; Lyrics by Julie Taymor “The Hands That Built America” from Gangs of New York – Music and Lyrics by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen “Father and Daughter” from The Wild Thornberrys Movie – Music and Lyrics by Paul Simon
Best Sound Editing: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn (WINNER) Minority Report – Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom Road to Perdition – Scott Hecker
Best Sound: Chicago – Michael Minkler, David Lee, and Dominick Tavella (WINNER) Gangs of New York – Tom Fleischman, Eugene Gearty, and Ivan Sharrock The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges, and Hammond Peek Road to Perdition – Scott Millan, Bob Beemer, and John Patrick Pritchett Spider-Man – Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, and Ed Novick
Best Art Direction: Chicago – Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim (WINNER) Frida – Art Direction: Felipe Fernández del Paso; Set Decoration: Hania Robledo Gangs of New York – Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Art Direction: Grant Major; Set Decoration: Dan Hennah and Alan Lee Road to Perdition – Art Direction: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
Best Cinematography: Road to Perdition – Conrad Hall (posthumous award) (WINNER) Chicago – Dion Beebe Far from Heaven – Edward Lachman Gangs of New York – Michael Ballhaus The Pianist – Pawel Edelman
Best Makeup: Frida – John E. Jackson and Beatrice De Alba (WINNER) The Time Machine – John M. Elliott Jr. and Barbara Lorenz
Best Costume Design: Chicago – Colleen Atwood (WINNER) Frida – Julie Weiss Gangs of New York – Sandy Powell The Hours – Ann Roth The Pianist – Anna B. Sheppard
Best Film Editing: Chicago – Martin Walsh (WINNER) Gangs of New York – Thelma Schoonmaker The Hours – Peter Boyle The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Michael Horton The Pianist – Hervé de Luze
Best Visual Effects: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Jim Rygiel, Randall William Cook, Alex Funke, and Joe Letteri (WINNER) Spider-Man – John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara, and John Frazier Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones – Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll, and Ben Snow
Eligibility Year: October 1, 2001 – September 30, 2002
Trivia
This was the first time since 1998 that the Grammys returned to New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden.
One of the show’s major moments came when Simon & Garfunkel reunited for an opening performance of their classic The Sound of Silence.
Norah Jones had a breakthrough year, winning five Grammys, including Album of the Year for Come Away with Me.
Eminem’s The Eminem Show took home the award for Best Rap Album, a year after causing significant controversy with his previous album.
The Grammy for Best New Artist was awarded to Norah Jones, solidifying her place as the year’s breakout talent.
Bruce Springsteen’s The Rising was a notable winner, capturing three awards, including Best Rock Album. It was written in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
Hot in Herre by Nelly won Best Male Rap Solo Performance, a bop that was everywhere that year.
The Police reunited for a performance at this ceremony, making it one of the show’s highlights.
Coldplay’s In My Place won Record of the Year, adding to their growing list of accolades.
John Mayer was awarded Song of the Year for his hit Your Body Is a Wonderland.
Don’t Know Why, performed by Norah Jones and written by Jesse Harris, won Song of the Year, further cementing Norah Jones’ big night.
Avril Lavigne, who had a strong year with her debut album Let Go, was nominated for eight awards but did not win any.
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance went to Norah Jones for Don’t Know Why, which became one of her signature songs.
Satisfied Mind by Ben Harper won Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, adding a diverse genre winner to the mix.
2003 Grammy Winners
Record of the Year: Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones
Album of the Year: Come Away with Me, Norah Jones
Song of the Year: Don’t Know Why – Jesse Harris, songwriter (Norah Jones):
New Artist: Norah Jones
Female Pop Vocal: Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones
Male Pop Vocal: Your Body Is a Wonderland – John Mayer
Pop Duo or Group with Vocals: Hey Baby – No Doubt
Pop Collaboration with Vocals: The Game of Love – Santana & Michelle Branch
Pop Instrumental: Auld Lang Syne – B. B. King
Pop Instrumental Album: Just Chillin’, Norman Brown
Dance Recording: Days Go By – Dirty Vegas
Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Playin’ with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, Tony Bennett (Columbia/Sony Records)
Female Rock Vocal: Steve McQueen – Sheryl Crow
Male Rock Vocal: The Rising – Bruce Springsteen
Rock Duo or Group with Vocals: In My Place – Coldplay
Hard Rock: All My Life – Foo Fighters
Metal: Here to Stay – Korn
Rock Instrumental: Approaching Pavonis Mons By Balloon (Utopia Planitia) – The Flaming Lips
Rock Song: The Rising – Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)
Rock Album: The Rising, Bruce Springsteen
Alternative Music Album: A Rush of Blood to the Head, Coldplay
Female R&B Vocal: He Think I Don’t Know – Mary J. Blige
Male R&B Vocal: U Don’t Have to Call – Usher
R&B Duo or Group with Vocals: Love’s in Need of Love Today – Stevie Wonder & Take Six
Traditional R&B Vocal: What’s Going On – Chaka Khan & The Funk Brothers
Urban/Alternative Vocal: Little Things – India.Arie
R&B Song: Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop) – Erykah Badu, Madukwu Chinwah, Robert Ozuna, James Poyser, Raphael Saadiq, Glen Standridge, songwriters (Erykah Badu featuring Common)
R&B Album: Voyage to India, India.Arie
Contemporary R&B Vocal Album: Ashanti, Ashanti
Female Rap Solo: Scream, a k a Itchin’ – Missy Elliott
Male Rap Solo: Hot in Herre – Nelly
Rap Duo or Group: The Whole World – OutKast featuring Killer Mike
Rap Sung/Collaboration: Dilemma – Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Rap Album: The Eminem Show, Eminem
Female Country Vocal: Cry – Faith Hill
Male Country Vocal: Give My Love to Rose – Johnny Cash
Country Duo or Group with Vocals: Long Time Gone – Dixie Chicks
Country Collaboration with Vocals: Mendocino County Line – Willie Nelson with Lee Ann Womack
Country Instrumental: Lil’ Jack Slade – Dixie Chicks
Country Song: Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) – Alan Jackson, songwriter (Alan Jackson)
Country Album: Home – Dixie Chicks
Bluegrass Album: Lost in the Lonesome Pines – Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys
New Age Album: Acoustic Garden – Eric Tingstad & Nancy Rumbel
Contemporary Jazz Album: Speaking of Now – Pat Metheny Group:
Jazz Vocal Album: Live in Paris – Diana Krall
Jazz Instrumental, Solo: My Ship – Herbie Hancock
Jazz Instrumental Album: Directions in Music, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and Roy Hargrove
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: What Goes Around – Dave Holland Big Band
Latin Jazz Album: The Gathering, Caribbean Jazz Project
Rock Gospel Album: Come Together – Third Day
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: The Eleventh Hour – Jars of Clay
Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: We Called Him Mr. Gospel Music: The James Blackwood Tribute Album – The Jordanaires, Larry Ford and the Light Crust Doughboys
Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Higher Ground, The Blind Boys of Alabama
Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Sidebars – Eartha
Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus: Be Glad – Carol Cymbala, choir director; The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Latin Pop Album: Caraluna – Bacilos
Latin Rock/Alternative Album: Revolución De Amor – Maná
Tropical Latin Album: El Arte Del Sabor – Bebo Valdés Trio with Israel Lopez Cachao & Carlos Patato Valdés
Salsa Album: La Negra Tiene Tumbao – Celia Cruz
Merengue Album: Latino – Grupo Mania
Mexican/Mexican-American Album: Lo Dijo El Corazón – Joan Sebastian
Tejano Album: Acuérdate – Emilio Navaira
Traditional Blues Album: A Christmas Celebration of Hope – B. B. King
Contemporary Blues Album: Don’t Give Up On Me – Solomon Burke
Traditional Folk Album: Legacy – Doc Watson, David Holt
Contemporary Folk Album: This Side – Nickel Creek
Native American Music Album: Beneath the Raven Moon – Mary Youngblood
Reggae Album: Jamaican E.T – Lee Scratch Perry
World Music Album: Mundo – Ruben Blades
Polka Album: Top of the World – Jimmy Sturr
Musical Album for Children: Monsters Inc.: Scream Factory Favorites – Riders in the Sky
Spoken Word Album for Children: There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly – Tom Chapin (Live Oak Media)
Spoken Word Album: A Song Flung Up to Heaven – Maya Angelou
Spoken Comedy Album: Robin Williams: Live 2002 – Robin Williams
Musical Show Album: Hairspray – Marc Shaiman, composer and lyricist; Scott Wittman, lyricist
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media: Standing in the Shadows of Motown – Various Artists
Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Howard Shore, Composer
Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media: If I Didn’t Have You (from Monsters Inc.) – Randy Newman, composer (Randy Newman)
Instrumental Composition: Six Feet Under Title Theme – from Six Feet Under – Thomas Newman, Composer
Instrumental Arrangement: Six Feet Under Title Theme – Thomas Newman, arranger
Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals: Mean Old Man – Dave Grusin, arranger
Best Recording Package: Home – Kevin Reagan, art director
Best Boxed Recording Package: Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton – Susan Archie, art director
Best Album Notes: Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton – David Evans, album notes writer
Historical Album: Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton
Best Engineered Album – Non-Classical: Come Away with Me – Husky Huskolds, Arif Mardin, and Jay Newland, engineers (Norah Jones)
Producer, Non-Classical: Arif Mardin
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: Hella Good – Roger Sanchez, remixer
Best-Engineered Album – Classical: Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Symphony No. 1), Michael Bishop, engineer
Classical Producer: Robert Woods
Classical Album: Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Symphony No. 1), Robert Spano, conductor; Thomas C. Moore, producer
Orchestral Performance: Mahler: Symphony No. 6 – Michael Tilson Thomas (San Francisco Symphony)
Opera Recording: Wagner: Tannhäuser – Daniel Barenboim, conductor
Choral Performance: Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Symphony No. 1) – Robert Spano, conductor
Instrumental Soloist with Orchestra: Brahms/Stravinsky: Violin Concertos – ilary Hahn, violinist, with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Instrumental Soloist Without Orchestra: Chopin: Etudes, Op. 10 and Op. 25 – Murray Perahia, piano
Small Ensemble Performance (with or Without Conductor): Tavener: Lamentations and Praises – Joseph Jennings, conductor; Chanticleer; the Handel & Haydn Society of Boston
December 22 – January 15, 2002: How You Remind Me – Nickelback January 16, 2001 – February 22: U Got It Bad – Usher (see December 15, 2001) February 23 – March 8: Always On Time – Ja Rule featuring Ashanti March 9 – April 19: Ain’t It Funny – Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule April 20 – June 28: Foolish- Ashanti June 29 – August 16: Hot In Herre – Nelly August 17 – October 4: Dilemma – Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland October 5 – October 19: A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson October 20 – November 8: Dilemma – Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland November 9, 2002- January 31, 2003: Lose Yourself – Eminem
(Data is compiled from various charts including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
World Changing Event: United States President George W. Bush “Axis of Evil” speech
On January 1, Euro banknotes and coins become legal tender in twelve of the European Union’s member states.
The Top Song was Lose Yourself by Eminem
Influential Songs include: The Rising by Bruce Springsteen, Stole by Kelly Rowland, Cleanin’ Out My Closet by Eminem, A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton, and Sk8er Boi by Avril Lavigne
The Movies to Watch include Spider-Man, Barbershop, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Chicago, Lilo & Stitch, and Scooby-Doo
The Most Famous Fictional Person in America was probably Spider-Man
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Ben Affleck
Elon Musk founded SpaceX
Notable books include: John Adams by David McCullough and The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Price of a postage stamp in 2002: 37 cents Wendy’s Single burger with cheese: $2.25 Land O Lakes butter, 1 pound: $3.99
The Funny Late Night Host: Jay Leno
The Conversation: The Stand by Your Ad provision is a federal act requiring candidates to state “I approved this message” in all political advertisements, to discourage them from making controversial claims or attack ads.
Top Ten Baby Names of 2002: Emily, Madison, Hannah, Emma, Alexis, Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Ethan
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols: Jennifer Garner, Angelina Jolie, Gisele Bündchen, Christina Ricci, Debra Messing, Britney Spears, Halle Berry, Faith Hill, Ashanti, Jennifer Aniston, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Selma Blair, Kim Cattrall, Kate Beckinsale, Kylie Minogue, Brittany Murphy, Winona Ryder, Julianne Moore, Christina Applegate, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sarah Jessica-Parker, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Connelly, Nicole Kidman
The Heartthrob(s): Brad Pitt, David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Tim McGraw, Russell Crowe, Justin Timberlake, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Ashton Kutcher, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Adam Levine
“The Quotes” “My precious.” – Andy Serkis, Gollum, in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
“What happens here, stays here” – Las Vegas
Time Magazine’s Persons of the Year: Whistleblowers, Represented by Cynthia Cooper, WorldCom; Coleen Rowley, FBI; and Sherron Watkins, Enron
Miss America: Katie Harman (Gresham, OR)
Miss USA: Shauntay Hinton (District of Colombia)
The Scandals: Michael Jackson dangled Prince Michael II, off a balcony from a Berlin hotel room, earning him the nickname “blanket.”.
Enron’s 2001 surprise bankruptcy was just the beginning when its accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, was implicated in a huge accounting fraud scandal. AA was also dissolved in this scandal.
R & B singer R. Kelly liked to twiddle with underage girls, according to the visual evidence of videos he made.
Winona Ryder was sentenced to three years probation, 480 hours of community service, $3,700 in fines, $6,355 in restitution, and ordered to attend psychological and drug counseling after being found guilty of stealing $5,500 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue.
Raelian UFO sect/sex cult scientists announced that they, through their company called Clonaid, had cloned the first human baby. They didn’t.
Pop Star Car Crash Death: Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes
Beloved TV Character Death: ER’s Dr. Green, played by Anthony Edwards, while Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole’s Somewhere Over The Rainbow played.
Hip Hop Violent Death: Jam Master Jay (gunshot)
TV Star Murder? Robert Blake, best known as TV’s Baretta was charged, then acquitted for murdering his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.
Ted Williams had his head separated from his body and frozen – he and his children agreed to each have it done so they could once again be together at some point in the future.
Royal Rumor: Prince Charles had his valet hold the jar for a urine test
NOT a Surprise: Rosie O’Donnell announced that she was gay
Pop Culture Facts & History: Steve Fossett finished his non-stop trip around the world via balloon on July 4th. It took him 14 days, 19 hours and 51 minutes.
Muggle” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2003 defined as a person who is lacking a skill. Muggle is also a 1930s jazz slang word for someone who uses cannabis.
Fujitsu made a device called the “iPAD” in 2002. Apple had to pay $4 million to Fujitsu to buy the trademark.
Every car made after 2002 has an “Emergency Release” cable inside the trunk in case of kidnapping.
Claritin, invented as a prescription medication in 1993, became an over-the-counter allergy medicine.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 2002: $1,900,000
The Master of Disguise, a flop film from 2002, is only 65 minutes long but it includes 15 minutes of end credits in order to qualify as a feature film.
Doomsday Clock: 7 minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. 2002: “Concerns regarding a nuclear terrorist attack underscore the enormous amount of unsecured–and sometimes unaccounted for–weapon-grade nuclear materials located throughout the world. Meanwhile, the United States expresses a desire to design new nuclear weapons, with an emphasis on those able to destroy hardened and deeply buried targets. It also rejects a series of arms control treaties and announces it will withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.”
Nobel Prize Winners: Chemistry – John B. Fenn and Koichi Tanaka, Kurt Wüthrich Economics – Daniel Kahneman and Vernon L. Smith Literature – Imre Kertész Peace – Jimmy Carter Physics – Raymond Davis Jr. and Masatoshi Koshiba, Riccardo Giacconi Physiology or Medicine – Sydney Brenner, H. Robert Horvitz, and John E. Sulston
The Habit: Watching American Idol
2002 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame: Jigsaw puzzle, Raggedy Ann
1st Appearances & 2002’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents: Ugly Dolls, Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary Edition
FOX’s American Idol Premiered
Best Film Oscar Winner: A Beautiful Mind (presented in 2002)
2002 Entries to The National Film Registry: Alien (released in 1979) All My Babies (released in 1953) The Bad and the Beautiful (released in 1952) Beauty and the Beast (released in 1991) The Black Stallion (released in 1979) Boyz N the Hood (released in 1991) Demolishing and Building Up the Star Theatre (released in 1901) The Endless Summer (released in 1966) From Here to Eternity (released in 1953) From Stump to Ship (released in 1930) Fuji (released in 1974) In the Heat of the Night (released in 1967) Lady Windermere’s Fan (released in 1925) Melody Ranch (released in 1940) Navajo Film Themselves (Through Navajo Eyes) (released in 1966) The Pearl (released in 1948) Punch Drunks (released in 1934) Sabrina (released in 1954) Stranger Than Paradise (released in 1984) Theodore Case Sound Test: Gus Visser and His Singing Duck (released in 1925) This Is Cinerama (released in 1952) This Is Spinal Tap (released in 1984) Why Man Creates (released in 1968) Wild and Woolly (released in 1917) Wild River (released in 1960)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo) 1. Spider-Man 2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 3. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones 4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 6. Signs 7. Austin Powers in Goldmember 8. Men In Black II 9. Ice Age 10. Chicago
Broadway Show – Hairspray (Musical) Opened on August 15, 2002 and closed on January 4, 2009
East End Show – We Will Rock You (Musical) Opened on September 25, 2002 and closed on May 31, 2014
East End Show – Stomp (Dance Musical) Opened on September 25, 2002
Broadway Show – Movin’ Out (Dance Musical) Opened on October 24, 2002 and closed on December 11, 2005
2002 Most Popular TV Shows: 1. CSI (CBS) 2. American Idol-Wednesday (Fox) 3. Joe Millionaire (Fox) 4. Friends (NBC) 5. Survivor: Thailand (CBS) 6. ER (NBC) 7. Survivor: Amazon (CBS) 8. Everbody Loves Raymond (CBS) 9. Law & Order (NBC) 10. Monday Night Football (ABC)
2002 Billboard Number One Songs: December 15, 2001 – January 25, 2002: U Got It Bad – Usher
January 26 – February 22: How You Remind Me – Nickelback
February 23 – March 8: Always On Time – Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
March 9 – April 19: Ain’t It Funny – Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule
November 9, 2002- January 31, 2003: Lose Yourself – Eminem
Sports: World Series Champions: Anaheim Angels Super Bowl XXXVI Champions: New England Patriots NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers Stanley Cup Champs: Detroit Red Wings U.S. Open Golf Tiger Woods U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Pete Sampras/Serena Williams Wimbledon (Men/Women): Lleyton Hewitt/Serena Williams NCAA Football Champions: Ohio State NCAA Basketball Champions: Maryland Kentucky Derby: War Emblem World Cup (Soccer): Brazil
Popular and Best-selling Books From 2002: A Mind at a Time by Mel Levine American Son by Richard Blow Answered Prayers by Danielle Steel The Beach House by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge Bias by Bernard Goldberg Bush at War by Bob Woodward Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts Daddy’s Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer by Joyce Reardon Everything’s Eventual: 14 Dark Tales by Stephen King Four Blind Mice by James Patterson From a Buick 8 by Stephen King Hard Eight by Janet Ecanovich In This Mountain by Jan Karon John Adams by David McCullough Journals by Kurt Cobain Journey Through Heartsongs by Mattie Stepanek Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore Leadership by Rudy Giuliani with Ken Kurson Let’s Roll! by Lisa Beamer with Ken Abraham The Little Friend by Donna Tartt The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox Master of the Senate by Robert A. Caro Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks The No Spin Zone by Bill O’Reilly One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz Portrait of a Killer by Patricia Cornwell Prey by Michael Crichton The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren “Q” is for Quarry by Sue Grafton Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy The Remnant by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye The Right Words at the Right Time by Marlo Thomas 2nd Chance by James Patterson and Andrew Gross The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Shadow Warriors by Tom Clancy The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel Skipping Christmas by John Grisham Slander by Ann Coulter Stupid White Men by Michael Moore The Summons by John Grisham Three Fates by Nora Roberts Train Dreams by Denis Johnson You Cannot Be Serious by John McEnroe with James Kaplan
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