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Tag: 1981

  • Pop Culture Quiz: What Happened In 1981?

    Pop Culture Quiz: What Happened In 1981?

    Pop Culture Quiz: What Happened In 1981?

    81 Trivia Questions For 1981 History

    (answers)

    1. What was the highest-grossing superhero film of 1982?
    HINT: It was a sequel

    2. You get one point for each. Who were the three super-criminals who escaped from the Phantom Zone in Superman II?

    3. On March 6, 1981, this long-time CBS news broadcaster signed off for the last time. Name him.

    4. This video game features the attempted rescue of Pauline from a giant gorilla. Name the game.

    5. Another very popular character was introduced in Donkey Kong. Name him.

    6. President Ronald Reagan appointed the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Name her.

    7. Muhammed Ali’s last fight was with a Jamaican professional boxer. Name that boxer.

    8. Who is the animated alter ego of Prince Adam?

    9. This television show was based on a 1968 song and a 1978 film. It aired from January 16, 1981, to August 14, 1982. Name that song/film/TV show.

    10. Who was the star of the Harper Valley PTA film and TV show?

    11. Who won the World Series in 1981?

    12. BONUS ROUND: You get one point for each of the first five MTV VJs you can name.

    13. Name the second theatrical Muppets film

    14. In what comic strip did Opus the Penguin first appear?

    15. The American toy company Hasbro developed this animal-themed toy line and media franchise.
    HINT: little equine

    16. This CBS prime-time soap opera centered around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California wine industry set in the fictitious Tuscany Valley. Name that show.

    17. Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith starred in a revival of what Gilbert and Sullivan operetta?

    18. Name the musical that featured Carbucketty, Jemima, Jellylorum and Demeter

    19. What potato chip brand said, “Betcha can’t eat just one.”

    20. Who was Time Magazine’s 1981 “Man of the Year”?
    HINT: He was from Poland

    21. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1981?

    22. This TV program featured Hollywood stunt performers who moonlighted as bounty hunters. Name the show

    23. Who played the role of Colt Seavers as The Fall Guy?

    24. Who was Jessica Rabbit’s husband?

    25. Introduced in 1981, name the competitive team shooting sport in which players eliminate opponents from play by hitting them with spherical dye-filled gelatin capsules.

    26. “Let’s be careful out there” was often heard on this NBC police procedural. Name the show.

    27. What was the most-watched live television event in 1981?

    28. Blake Carrington, Fallon Carrington, Krystle Carrington, Sammy Jo Carrington, and Steven Carrington were all characters on what television soap opera?

    29. What was Indiana Jones’ dog’s name?

    30. Please name the Canadian-based sketch comedy show that aired on NBC from 1981 to 1983.

    31. Who was the TV spokesperson who said “Time to make the donuts”?

    32. Phil Collins had two Top 20 hits in 1981. They each peaked at #19 on the Billboard Pop Charts. You get one point for each that you can name.

    33. What was the biggest hit single in 1981?
    HINT: It spent 10 weeks at number one.

    34. This McDonald’s sandwich was introduced in 1981 but removed from the menu in 1985. It is sometimes brought back for a limited time. Name that sandwich.
    HINT: barbecue sauce

    35. Since this game was released in 1981, numerous themed editions have been produced, typically in six categories. Name the game.

    36. Lorna Patterson played the title role on this show based on a 1980 film starring Goldie Hawn. Name that show.

    37. The co-star of Private Benjamin reprised her role in the film as Cpt. Doreen Lewis. Name the actress.

    38. Played by Kurt Russell, name the character who served as the film’s protagonist of Escape from New York.

    39. From July 1981 to November 1982, the U.S. economy experienced the most significant recession since when?

    40. What was the federal minimum wage in 1981?

    41. Laverne & Shirley was originally set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the sixth season, where did they move to?

    42. You get one point for each former president that you can name who were alive in 1981.

    43. Name the top-rated prime-time news show in 1981.

    44. This 1981 Disney animated film was loosely based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix. Name that buddy film.

    45. This epic fantasy film featured Bubo, the mechanical owl.

    46. Clash of the Titans gave us a quote about a giant sea monster. Say the quote.

    47. Believe it or not, this superhero show lasted 3 seasons on Prime Time ABC. Name that program.

    48. The name of these animated creatures could be nouns, verbs, or adjectives.
    HINT: They’re described as being “three apples high.”

    49. The Smurfs were one of the most popular animated shows of the 1980s. Who created them?

    50. Name the artist who was the first artist to win all four “General Field” Grammy Awards in a single ceremony, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Arrangement of the Year, and Best New Artist.

    51. Who became the new landlord on Three’s Company after the Ropers left?

    52. Name the pop music duo who played The Concert in Central Park for nearly half a million people.
    HINT: It was free

    53. Which video game was NOT released in 1981?
    Frogger, MotoRace USA, Galaga, or Centipede?

    54. Name the singing superhero who first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130.

    55. Name the adventurer who famously said, “I hate snakes.”

    56. Name the original judge on The People’s Court, a syndicated reality television show.

    57. This 1981 comedy/horror film featured David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, and Griffin Dunne. Name that film.

    58. In 1981, this book received the Hugo Award for Best Non-Fiction Book.
    HINT: Carl Sagan

    59. This car company only made one model, but it was well known for its “butterfly doors.” Name that car company.
    HINT: Back to the Future

    60. This CBS Crime Drama starred Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker as two disparate brothers who operate a two-person detective agency in San Diego, California. Name the show.

    61. Who were the NBA Champions in 1981?

    62. Who was the President in 1981?

    63. Name Stephen King’s best-selling book from 1981 about a dog.

    64. Who fired 11,345 air traffic controllers after they refused to end their strike?

    65. Name the PBS painter who served as a Master Sergeant in the USAF, one of many positions he said required him to be “tough” and “mean.” After leaving in 1981, he said he had promised himself that he would never scream again if he ever left the military.

    66. On what planet does He-Man live?

    67. It was the highest-rated non-news hour in daytime television history. What was it?

    68. Who defeated Dusty Rhodes to win his first World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship in Kansas City.

    69. Name the 12th James Bond Film.

    70. Name the pop star who sang The title song, written by Conti and Michael Leeson.
    HINT: The song was For Your Eyes Only

    71. What was Sheena Easton’s first #1 song?

    72. What team won the Super Bowl in 1981?

    73. Who was the Pope in 1981?

    74. This spin-off of The Brady Bunch included several original stars and lasted 10 episodes.

    75. Who replaced the American Flag atop the White House at the end of Superman II?

    76. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1981?

    77. Who was the Vice-President in 1981?

    78. Who played the Fifth Doctor on the British science fiction television series Doctor Who?

    79. Which singer was NOT born in 1981?
    Pitbull, Alicia Keys, Ashlee Simpson, or Kelly Rowland?

    80. US President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt. Who Shot him?

    81. Name the first video played on MTV.

    Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

    1. Can you name the first song that was repeated on MTV?

    2. Retailing, or $1,795, is the first commercially successful portable computer released on April 3, 1981.

    3. Laverne & Shirley had a short-lived cartoon spin-off. What was it called?

    4. Name the Ronald Reagan film that inspired a man named Jerry Sparr to join the Secret Service and save President Reagan from an assassination attempt in 1981

    5. The rolling boulder scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark was stolen from a 1955 comic book. Name the cartoon character who starred in that comic book.

    6. What company used the slogan “We bring good things to life.”?

    7. On what late-night TV show did U2 make their first US television appearance

    8. This television show featured stars Tony Randall and Swoosie Kurtz, Name that NBC sitcom.

    9. Name the series of journals purportedly written by Adolf Hitler but forged by Konrad Kujau between 1981 and 1983.

    10. Name the Catholic-based basic television station which has been running since August 15, 1981.

    The Answers:

    81 Trivia Answers For 1981 History

    1. What was the highest-grossing superhero film of 1982?
    HINT: It was a sequel
    Superman II

    2. You get one point for each. Who were the three super-criminals who escaped from the Phantom Zone in Superman II?
    General Zod, Ursa, and Non

    3. On March 6, 1981, this long-time CBS news broadcaster signed off for the last time. Name him.
    Walter Cronkite

    4. This video game features the attempted rescue of Pauline from a giant gorilla. Name the game.
    Donkey Kong

    5. Another very popular character was introduced in Donkey Kong. Name him.
    Mario

    6. President Ronald Reagan appointed the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Name her.
    Sandra Day O’Connor

    7. Muhammed Ali’s last fight was with a Jamaican professional boxer. Name that boxer.
    Trevor Berbick (he lost in a ten-round decision)

    8. Who is the animated alter ego of Prince Adam?
    He-Man

    9. This television show was based on a 1968 song and a 1978 film. It aired from January 16, 1981, to August 14, 1982. Name that song/film/TV show.
    Harper Valley PTA

    10. Who was the star of the Harper Valley PTA film and TV show?
    Barbara Eden (and Jeannie C. Riley sang the song)

    11. Who won the World Series in 1981?
    Los Angeles Dodgers

    12. BONUS ROUND: You get one point for each of the first five MTV VJs you can name.
    Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, J.J. Jackson, Martha Quinn, and Alan Hunter

    13. Name the second theatrical Muppets film.
    The Great Muppet Caper

    14. In what comic strip did Opus the Penguin first appear?
    Bloom County by Berkeley Breathed

    15. The American toy company Hasbro developed this animal-themed toy line and media franchise.
    HINT: Equine
    My Little Pony

    16. This CBS prime-time soap opera centered around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California wine industry set in the fictitious Tuscany Valley. Name that show.
    Falcon Crest

    17. Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith starred in a revival of what Gilbert and Sullivan operetta?
    The Pirates of Penzance (Broadway’s Uris Theatre)

    18. Name the musical that featured Carbucketty, Jemima, Jellylorum, and Demeter.
    Cats

    19. What potato chip brand said, “Betcha can’t eat just one.”
    Lays

    20. Who was Time Magazine’s 1981 “Man of the Year”?
    HINT: He was from Poland
    Lech Walesa

    21. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1981?
    Diana Ross

    22. This TV program featured Hollywood stunt performers who moonlighted as bounty hunters. Name the show.
    The Fall Guy

    23. Who played the role of Colt Seavers as The Fall Guy?
    Lee Majors

    24. Who was Jessica Rabbit’s husband?
    Roger Rabbit

    25. Introduced in 1981, name the competitive team shooting sport in which players eliminate opponents from play by hitting them with spherical dye-filled gelatin capsules.
    Paintball

    26. “Let’s be careful out there” was often heard on this NBC police procedural. Name the show.
    Hill Street Blues

    27. What was the most-watched live television event in 1981?
    When Prince Charles married Lady Diana on July 29, 1981.

    28. Blake Carrington, Fallon Carrington, Krystle Carrington, Sammy Jo Carrington, and Steven Carrington were all characters on what television soap opera?
    Dynasty

    29. What was Indiana Jones’ dog’s name?
    Indiana

    30. Please name the Canadian-based sketch comedy show that aired on NBC from 1981 to 1983.
    Second City Television (or SCTV)

    31. Who was the TV spokesperson who said “Time to make the donuts”?
    Fred the Baker for Dunkin Donuts

    32. Phil Collins had two Top 20 hits in 1981. They each peaked at #19 on the Billboard Pop Charts. You get one point for each that you can name.
    I Missed Again and In The Air Tonight

    33. What was the biggest hit single in 1981?
    HINT: It spent 10 weeks at number one.
    Physical by Olivia Newton-John

    34. This McDonald’s sandwich was introduced in 1981 but removed from the menu in 1985. It is sometimes brought back for a limited time. Name that sandwich.
    HINT: barbecue sauce
    McRib

    35. Since this game was released in 1981, numerous themed editions have been produced, typically in six categories. Name the game.
    Trivia Pursuit

    36. Lorna Patterson played the title role on this show based on a 1980 film starring Goldie Hawn. Name that show.
    Private Benjamin

    37. The co-star of Private Benjamin reprised her role in the film as Cpt. Doreen Lewis. Name the actress.
    Eileen Brennan

    38. Played by Kurt Russell, name the character who served as the film’s protagonist of Escape from New York.
    Snake Plissken

    39. From July 1981 to November 1982, the U.S. economy experienced the most significant recession since when?
    The Great Depression

    40. What was the federal minimum wage in 1981?
    $3.35

    41. Laverne & Shirley was originally set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the sixth season, where did they move to?
    Burbank, California

    42. You get one point for each former president that you can name who was alive in 1981.
    Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter

    43. Name the top-rated prime-time news show in 1981.
    60 Minutes

    44. This 1981 Disney animated film was loosely based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Daniel P. Mannix. Name that buddy film.
    The Fox and the Hound

    45. This epic fantasy film featured Bubo, the mechanical owl.
    Clash of the Titans

    46. Clash of the Titans gave us a quote about a giant sea monster. Say the quote.
    Release the Kraken!

    47. Believe it or not, this superhero show lasted 3 seasons on Prime Time ABC. Name that program.
    The Greatest American Hero

    48. The name of these animated creatures could be nouns, verbs, or adjectives.
    HINT: They’re described as being “three apples high.”
    The Smurfs

    49. The Smurfs were one of the most popular animated shows of the 1980s. Who created them?
    The Smurfs were originally created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo (Pierre Culliford) in 1958.

    50. Name the artist who was the first artist to win all four “General Field” Grammy Awards in a single ceremony, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Arrangement of the Year, and Best New Artist.
    Christopher Cross, for Sailing

    51. Who became the new landlord on Three’s Company after the Ropers left?
    Ralph Furley, played by Don Knotts

    52. Name the pop music duo who played The Concert in Central Park for nearly half a million people.
    HINT: It was free
    Simon and Garfunkel

    53. Which video game was NOT released in 1981?
    Frogger, MotoRace USA, Galaga, or Centipede?
    MotoRace USA

    54. Name the singing superhero who first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130.
    Dazzler

    55. Name the adventurer who famously said, “I hate snakes.”
    Indiana Jones

    56. Name the original judge on The People’s Court, a syndicated reality television show.
    Judge (Joseph) Wapner

    57. This 1981 comedy/horror film featured David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, and Griffin Dunne. Name that film.
    An American Werewolf in London

    58. In 1981, this book received the Hugo Award for Best Non-Fiction Book.
    HINT: Carl Sagan
    Cosmos

    59. This car company only made one model of car, but it was well known for its “butterfly doors”. Name that car company.
    HINT: Back to the Future
    The Delorean

    60. This CBS Crime Drama starred Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker as two disparate brothers who operate a two-person detective agency in San Diego, California. Name the show.
    Simon and Simon

    61. Who were the NBA Champions in 1981?
    Boston Celtics

    62. Who was the President in 1981?
    Jimmy Carter (January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981)
    Ronald Reagan (January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989)

    63. Name Stephen King’s best-selling book from 1981 about a dog.
    Cujo

    64. Who fired 11,345 air traffic controllers after they refused to end their strike?
    Ronald Reagan

    65. Name the PBS painter who served as a Master Sergeant in the USAF, one of many positions he said required him to be “tough” and “mean.” After leaving in 1981, he said he had promised himself that he would never scream again if he ever left the military.
    Bob Ross

    66. On what planet does He-Man live?
    Eternia

    67. It was the highest-rated non-news hour in daytime television history. What was it?
    Luke and Laura got married on General Hospital.

    68. Who defeated Dusty Rhodes to win his first World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship in Kansas City.
    Ric Flair

    69. Name the 12th James Bond Film.
    For Your Eyes Only

    70. Name the pop star who sang The title song, written by Conti and Michael Leeson.
    HINT: The song was For Your Eyes Only
    Sheena Easton

    71. What was Sheena Easton’s first #1 song?
    Morning Train (9 to 5)

    72. What team won the Super Bowl in 1981?
    Oakland Raiders

    73. Who was the Pope in 1981?
    John Paul II (October 16, 1978 – April 2, 2005)

    74. This spin-off of The Brady Bunch included several original stars and lasted 10 episodes.
    The Brady Brides

    75. Who replaced the American Flag atop the White House at the end of Superman II?
    Superman

    76. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1981?
    New York Islanders

    77. Who was the Vice-President in 1981?
    Walter Mondale (January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981)
    George H. W. Bush (January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989)

    78. Who played the Fifth Doctor on the British science fiction television series Doctor Who?
    Peter Davison

    79. Which singer was NOT born in 1981?
    Pitbull, Alicia Keys, Ashlee Simpson, or Kelly Rowland?
    Ashlee Simpson (born October 3, 1984)

    80. US President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt. Who Shot him?
    John Hinkley

    81. Name the first video played on MTV.
    Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles

    Trivia Team Bonus Answers:

    1. Can you name the first song that was repeated on MTV?
    You Better You Bet – The Who (Song #4 and song #141)

    2. Retailing, or $1,795, is the first commercially successful portable computer released on April 3, 1981.
    The Osborne 1

    3. Laverne & Shirley had a short-lived cartoon spin-off. What was it called?
    Laverne & Shirley in the Army (Later Laverne & Shirley with The Fonz)

    4. Name the Ronald Reagan film that inspired a man named Jerry Sparr to join the Secret Service and save President Reagan from an assassination attempt in 1981.
    Code of the Secret Service

    5. The rolling boulder scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark was stolen from a 1955 comic book. Name the cartoon character who starred in that comic book.
    Uncle Scrooge (McDuck)

    6. What company used the slogan “We bring good things to life.”?
    GE (General Electric)

    7. On what late-night TV show did U2 make their first US television appearance?
    NBC’s The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder

    8. This television show featured stars Tony Randall and Swoosie Kurtz, Name that NBC sitcom.
    Love, Sydney

    9. Name the series of journals purportedly written by Adolf Hitler but forged by Konrad Kujau between 1981 and 1983.
    The Hitler Diaries

    10. Name the Catholic-based basic television station which has been running since August 15, 1981.
    EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network)

  • 1981 Top Ten Music Charts

    1981 Top Ten Music Charts

    1981’s Biggest Artists and Songs

    Christopher Cross (1980 Best New Artist Grammy Winner & Grammy for Album of the Year, presented in 1981)
    Sailing (Grammy for Record of the Year)
    New Artists in the Pop Charts Included:
    Sheena Easton, Phil Collins (solo), Loverboy, Stevie Nicks (solo),
    Lionel Richie, The Oak Ridge Boys, Al Jarreau, Steve Winwood (solo),
    The Go-Gos, Billy Squire, Luthor Vandross, Debbie Harry (solo),
    Marty Balin (solo) and Lee Ritenour

    1981’s Retro Top 10 Hits

    1. Betty Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
    2. Flash’s Theme (Flash) – Queen
    3. Ah! Leah! – Donnie Iris
    4. Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton
    5. I Love A Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt
    6. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
    7. Private Eyes – Hall and Oates
    8. Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne
    9. Fire and Ice – Pat Benatar
    10. Hearts – Marty Balin

    1981’s ‘One Hit Wonders’

    1. Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith
    2. Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through – Jim Steinman
    3. Tempted – Squeeze
    4. Precious To Me – Phil Seymour
    5. Seven Year Ache – Rosanne Cash
    6. Teacher Teacher – Rockpile
    7. Sausalito Summernight – Diesel
    8. Sweet Baby – Stanley Clark & George Duke
    9. Shaddap You Face – Joe Dolce
    10. A Woman’s Got The Power – The A’s

    1981’s Dance Top 10 Hit List

    1. Let’s Groove – Earth Wind and Fire
    2. When She Was My Girl – Four Tops
    3. Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith
    4. Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It) – Kool and the Gang
    5. She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton
    6. Don’t The Music – Yarbrough & Peoples
    7. We’re In This Love Together – Al Jarreau
    8. Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside
    9. A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do) – Ray Parker Jr & Raydio
    10. Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – Gap Band

    1981’s Pop Dance Top 10 Hit List

    1. Super Freak – Rick James
    2. Celebration – Kool and the Gang
    3. Give It To Me Baby – Rick James
    4. Physical – Olivia Newton-John
    5. Morning Train (9 to 5) – Sheena Easton
    6. Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go-Gos
    7. Lady (You Bring Me Up) – Commodores
    8. Slow Hand – Pointer Sisters
    9. Stars On 45 – Stars On 45
    10. This Little Girl – Gary U.S. Bonds

    1981’s Pop Rock Top 10 Hit List

    1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
    2. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
    3. Back In Black – AC/DC
    4. Start Me Up – Rolling Stones
    5. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
    6. Urgent – Foreigner
    7. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da – The Police
    8. Rapture – Blondie
    9. Fashion – David Bowie
    10. Tempted – Squeeze

    1981’s Album Rock Top 10 Hit List

    1. Don’t Stand So Close To Me – The Police
    2. While You See a Chance – Steve Winwood
    3. Back In Black – AC/DC
    4. The Stroke – Billy Squire
    5. Stop Draggin My Heart Around – Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty
    6. Skateaway – Dire Straits
    7. The Voice – The Moody Blues
    8. Burnin For You – Blue Oyster Cult
    9. Who’s Makin Love – The Blues Brothers
    10. The Waiting – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
    More of 1981’s Album Rock
    Fade Away – Bruce Springsteen

    1981’s Bubblegum Pop Music Top Ten

    1. Physical – Olivia Newton-John
    2. Morning Train – Sheena Easton
    3. De do do do, De Da Da Da – The Police
    4. Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton
    5. The Tide Is High – Blondie
    6. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
    7. Step By Step – Eddie Rabbitt
    8. Shaddap You Face – Joe Dolce
    9. My Girl (Gone Gone Gone) – Chilliwack
    10. Theme From ‘Greatest American Hero’ – Joey Scarbury

    PCM’s 1981 Top 10 Hit List

    1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
    2. Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind and Fire
    3. Super Freak – Rick James
    4. Give It To Me Baby – Rick James
    5. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
    6. Start Me Up – Rolling Stones
    7. Back In Black – AC/DC
    8. I Love You – Climax Blues Band
    9. Celebration – Kool and The Gang
    10. She’s A Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton
  • 25 Biggest Songs of the 1980s

    25 Biggest Songs of the 1980s

     

    Biggest Billboard Hits of the 1980s

    The biggest billboard hits of the 1980s were marked by a new sound that combined electronic dance, new wave, punk and post-punk with a focus on style and visual identity. This combination helped define the decade and set it apart from other decades in terms of the music produced and how it was marketed and presented to audiences.

    One of the most notable differences was the introduction of electronic dance and synthesized pop music, which became a defining characteristic of the decade’s music scene. This style was characterized by synthesizers, drum machines, and computerized production techniques, which gave artists and producers more control over the sound and helped create a new type of highly energetic and danceable music.

    Another difference was the influence of new wave, punk, and post-punk music, which brought a more experimental and eclectic approach to pop music. This style was characterized by its use of unconventional instruments, such as keyboards and synthesizers, and avant-garde and futuristic sounds, often with a political or social edge.

    Top 25 Songs 1980-1989

    1. Physical – Olivia Newton-John
    2. Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
    3. Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
    4. Every Breath You Take – The Police
    5. I Love Rock & Roll – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
    6. Ebony And Ivory – Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
    7. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
    8. Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor
    9. Flashdance – What A Feeling – Irene Cara
    10. Lady – Kenny Rogers
    11. Say Say Say – Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
    12. Centerfold – The J. Geils Band
    13. Call Me – Blondie
    14. Like A Virgin – Madonna
    15. (Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon
    16. When Doves Cry – Prince
    17. Jump – Van Halen
    18. Upside Down – Diana Ross
    19. All Night Long (All Night) – Lionel Richie
    20. Maneater – Daryl Hall & John Oates
    21. Another Brick In The Wall (Part II) – Pink Floyd
    22. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
    23. Total Eclipse Of The Heart – Bonnie Tyler
    24. Down Under – Men At Work
    25. That’s What Friends Are For – Dionne Warwick & Friends
  • 1981 Number One Hits

    1981 Number One Hits

    1981 Billboard Number One Hits:

    December 27, 1980 – January 30, 1981:
    (Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon
    January 31 – February 6:
    The Tide Is High – Blondie
    February 7 – February 20:
    Celebration – Kool & The Gang
    February 21 – February 27:
    9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
    February 28– March 20:
    I Love A Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt
    March 21 – March 27:
    Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon
    March 28 – April 10:
    Rapture – Blondie
    April 11 – May 1:
    Kiss On My List – Hall & Oates
    May 2 – May 15:
    Morning Train (Nine To Five) – Sheena Easton
    May 16 – June 19:
    Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
    June 20 – July 24:
    Medley – Stars on 45
    July 25 – July 31:
    The One That You Love – Air Supply
    August 1 – August 14:
    Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
    August 15 – October 16:
    Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
    October 17 – November 6:
    Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Christopher Cross
    November 7 – November 20:
    Private Eyes – Hall & Oates
    November 21, 1981 – January 29, 1982:
    Physical – Olivia Newton-John

    (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.)

  • 1981 History, Facts and Trivia

    1981 History, Facts and Trivia

    1981 History, Facts and Trivia

    Quick Facts from 1981:

    • World-Changing Event: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was recognized in 1981, and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was identified in 1984.
    • The Top Song was Physical by Olivia Newton-John
    • The Movies to Watch include Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Superman II, The Cannonball Run, Time Bandits, Arthur, An American Werewolf in London and Clash of the Titans
    • The Most Famous Person in America was probably Diana, Princess of Wales
    • Notable books include The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving and When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner
    • Price of a Rubick’s Cube: $3.99
      Sharp VHS Videocassette recorder: $599 to $950
      Minimum Wage in 1981: $3.35 per hour
    • The Funny Guy was Rodney Dangerfield
      The Funny Duo was: Cheech and Chong
    • The Conversation: What happened to cause the death of actress Natalie Wood while on a boating trip with then-husband Robert Wagner, actor Christopher Walken, and captain Dennis Davern?

    Top Ten Baby Names of 1981:

    Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda, Sarah, Melissa, Michael, Chris, Topher, Matthew, Jason, David

    Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:

    Loni Anderson, Barbara Bach, Catherine Bach, Kim Basinger, Valerie Bertinelli, Jacqueline Bisset, Christie Brinkley, Charo, Joan Collins, Lydia Cornell, Bo Derek, Linda Evans, Morgan Fairchild, Farrah Fawcett, Jane Fonda, Erin Gray, Debbie Harry, Goldie Hawn, Marilu Henner, Lauren Hutton, Grace Jones, Nastassja Kinski, Jessica Lange, Olivia Newton-John, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Victoria Principal, Tanya Roberts, Diana Ross, Brooke Shields, Jacquelyn Smith, Suzanne Somers, Donna Summer, Heather Thomas, Cheryl Tiegs, Charlene Tilton, Mary Woronov

    Leading Men and Hollywood Heartthrobs:

    Harrison Ford, Mickey Rourke, Warren Beatty, Burt Reynolds, John Travolta

    “The Quotes”

    “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans. “
    – President Ronald Reagan

    “Betcha can’t eat just one”
    -Lay’s Potato Chips

    “No wire hangers, ever!”
    – Faye Dunaway, in ‘Mommie Dearest’

    “Listen to me, mister. You’re my knight in shining armor. Don’t you forget it. You’re going to get back on that horse, and I’m going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we’re gonna go, go, go!”
    – Katharine Hepburn, in ‘On Golden Pond’

    “We bring good things to life”
    -General Electric (GE)

    “Be all that you can be”
    – United States Army ad

    Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:

    Lech Walesa

    Miss America:

    Susan Powell (Elk City, OK)

    Miss USA:

    Kim Seelbrede (Ohio)

    The Scandals:

    Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke cooked up a story about an 8-year-old heroin addict named Jimmy. He didn’t exist, but her pleas that he could have existed didn’t stop her from getting in trouble.

    Jack Henry Abbott was a felon/murderer/bank robber who wrote In the Belly of the Beast while in prison. Norman Mailer and others vouched for him… he was released and soon stabbed an employee at a restaurant who told him he could not use the employee’s restroom. Back in prison, he killed himself in 2002.

    Actress Drowning Death:

    Actress Natalie Wood died, apparently falling overboard after a day/night sailing with hubby Robert Wagner and mutual friend Christopher Walken.

    Actor Injury Death:

    William Holden was drunk, fell and cut his head open. He didn’t realize how injured he was, didn’t call for help, and died from what should have been fairly easy stitching. He was also probably the actor Suzanne Vega “never heard of” mentioned in her hit Tom’s Diner.

    Pop Star Automobile Death:

    Harry Chapin

    US Politics:

    January 20, 1981 (Tuesday): First inauguration of Ronald Reagan

    Pop Culture Facts & History:

    MTV began on August 1st. The first video, all vidNerds know was ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ by the Buggles. The second was Pat Benatar’s ‘You Better Run.’

    Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

    “Bulimia” was the new word du jour.

    The Smurfs, created in 1958, the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series brought them into American pop culture. Though many fans think Smurfette was the only female Smurf, there were actually two more – Nanny Smurf and Sassette Smurf. There was no Smurfina.

    Prince Charles married Lady Diana on July 29, 1981. It was on TV and in all the newspapers.

    Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1981: $275,000

    Doomsday Clock:

    4 minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
    1981: “The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan hardens the U.S. nuclear posture. Before he leaves office, President Jimmy Carter pulls the United States from the Olympic Games in Moscow and considers ways in which the United States could win a nuclear war. The rhetoric only intensifies with the election of Ronald Reagan as president. Reagan scraps any talk of arms control and proposes that the best way to end the Cold War is for the United States to win it.”

    The Habits:

    Working on the Rubik’s Cube, Donkey Kong, Frogger (arcade), playing with He-Man and the Masters of the Universe action figures.

    Popular and Best-selling Books From 1981:

    A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
    An Indecent Obsession by Colleen McCullough
    The Covenant by James Michener
    Cujo by Stephen King
    The Glitter Dome by Joseph Wambaugh
    The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
    Goodbye, Janette by Harold Robbins
    Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith
    The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
    Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
    The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
    Lanark by Alasdair Gray
    Masquerade by Kit Williams
    Noble House by James Clavell
    Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak
    Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme
    The Third Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders
    No Time for Tears by Cynthia Freeman
    What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver
    When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner

    East End Show – Cats (Musical) Opened on May 11, 1981 and closed on May 11, 2002

    Broadway Show – Dreamgirls (Musical) Opened on December 20, 1981 and closed on August 11, 1985

    Best Film Oscar Winner:

    Ordinary People (presented in 1981)

    The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)

    1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
    2. On Golden Pond
    3. Superman II
    4. Arthur
    5. Stripes
    6. The Cannonball Run
    7. Chariots Of Fire
    8. For Your Eyes Only
    9. The Four Seasons
    10. Time Bandits

    1981 Most Popular TV Shows:

    1. Dallas (CBS)
    2. 60 Minutes (CBS)
    3. The Jeffersons (CBS)
    4. Three’s Company (ABC)
    5. Alice (CBS)
    6. The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS)
    7. Too Close For Comfort (ABC)
    8. ABC Monday Night Movie (ABC)
    9. M*A*S*H (CBS)
    10. One Day at a Time (CBS)

    1981 Billboard Number One Songs:

    December 27, 1980 – January 30, 1981:
    (Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon

    January 31 – February 6:
    The Tide Is High – Blondie

    February 7 – February 20:
    Celebration Kool & The Gang

    February 21 – March 6:
    9 to 5 – Dolly Parton

    March 7 – March 20:
    I Love A Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt

    March 21 – March 27:
    Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon

    March 28 – April 10:
    Rapture – Blondie

    April 11 – May 1:
    Kiss On My List – Hall & Oates

    May 2 – May 15:
    Morning Train (Nine To Five) – Sheena Easton

    May 16 – July 17:
    Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes

    July 18 – July 24:
    Medley – Stars on 45

    July 25 – July 31:
    The One That You Love – Air Supply

    August 1 – August 14:
    Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield

    August 15 – October 16:
    Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

    October 17 – November 6:
    Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Christopher Cross

    November 7 – November 20:
    Private Eyes – Hall & Oates

    November 21, 1981 – January 29, 1982:
    Physical – Olivia Newton-John

    Sports:

    World Series Champions: Los Angeles Dodgers
    Super Bowl XV Champions: Oakland Raiders
    NBA Champions: Boston Celtics
    Stanley Cup Champs: New York Islanders
    U.S. Open Golf David Graham
    U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) John McEnroe/Tracy Austin
    Wimbledon (Men/Women): John McEnroe/Chris Evert
    NCAA Football Champions: Clemson
    NCAA Basketball Champions: Indiana
    Kentucky Derby: Pleasant Colony

    More 1981 Facts and History Resources:

    Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
    Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
    Broadway Shows that Opened in 1981X
    1981 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
    Everything 80s Podcast 1981
    Fact Monster
    Back In Time 1980s Timeline Thoughtco.com
    1980s, Infoplease.com World History
    Millennial Generation (1981-1996)
    1981 in Movies (according to IMDB)
    1981 Top Movies (according to BoxOfficeMojo)
    Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ Wedding
    Retrowaste Vintage Culture
    President Ronald Reagan
    The 80s(History.com)
    1980s Slang
    1980 US Census Fast Facts
    Wikipedia 1981

  • 1981 Music – The 100 Most Popular Songs

    1981 Music – The 100 Most Popular Songs

    1981 Popular Music Chart

    1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
    2. Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind and Fire
    3. Super Freak – Rick James
    4. Give It To Me Baby – Rick James
    5. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
    6. Start Me Up – Rolling Stones
    7. Back In Black – AC/DC
    8. I Love You – Climax Blues Band
    9. Celebration – Kool and The Gang
    10. She’s A Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked) – Carl Carlton
    11. Just The Two Of Us – Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers
    12. Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith
    13. Waiting For A Girl Like You – Foreigner
    14. Endless Love – Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
    15. Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside
    16. In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins
    17. Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan
    18. Love T.K.O. – Teddy Pendergrass
    19. We’re In This Love Together – Al Jarreau
    De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da – Police
    21. Lady (You Bring Me Up) – Commodores
    22. Urgent – Foreigner
    23. The Tide Is High – Blondie
    24. Fire and Ice – Pat Benatar
    25. Our Lips Are Sealed – Go Go’s
    26. Same Old Lang Syne – Dan Fogelberg
    27. The Stroke – Billy Squier
    28. Who’s Making Love – Blues Brothers
    29. Being With You – Smokey Robinson
    30. Don’t Stand So Close To Me – Police
    31. Tempted – Squeeze
    32. Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) – Gap Band
    33. Guilty – Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb
    34. Woman – John Lennon
    35. Winner Takes All – Abba
    36. Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton
    37. Controversy – Prince
    38. Rapture – Blondie
    39. 9 to 5 – Dolly Parton
    40. America – Neil Diamond
    41. Physical – Olivia Newton-John
    42. Treat Me Right – Pat Benatar
    43. Elvira – Oak Ridge Boys
    44. The Old Songs – Barry Manilow
    45. Fashion – David Bowie
    46. No Reply At All – Genesis
    47. All Those Years Ago – George Harrison
    48. Slow Hand – Pointer Sisters
    49. 8th Wonder – Sugarhill Gang
    50. My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) – Chilliwack
    51. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – Police
    52. Winning – Santana
    53. Say Goodbye To Hollywood – Billy Joel
    54. Jones vs. Jones – Kool and the Gang
    55. Controversy – Prince
    56. Private Eyes – Hall and Oates
    57. (Ghost) Riders In The Sky – The Outlaws
    58. Working In The Coal Mine – Devo
    59. Watching The Wheels – John Lennon
    60. Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon
    61. Super Trooper – Abba
    62. Arc of a Diver – Steve Winwood
    63. While You See A Chance – Steve Winwood
    64. Teacher, Teacher – Rockpile
    65. Sukiyaki – A Taste Of Honey
    66. Hello Again – Neil Diamond
    67. (There’s) No Getting Over Me – Ronnie Milsap
    68. Morning Train (9 to 5) – Sheena Easton
    69. All American Girls – Sister Sledge
    70. Skateaway – Dire Straits
    71. Ah! Leah – Donnie Iris
    72. This Little Girl – Gary U.S. Bonds
    73. Wasn’t That A Party – The Rovers
    74. Sign of the Gypsy Queen – April Wine
    75. Boy From New York City – Manhatten Transfer
    76. Just Once – Quincy Jones Featuring James Ingram
    77. Back To The 60s (Medley) – Tight Fit
    78. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around – Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
    79. Watching The Wheels – John Lennon
    80. Bette Davis Eyes
    81. Every Woman In The World – Air Supply
    82. It’s My Turn – Diana Ross
    83. How ‘Bout Us – Champagne
    84. Tom Sawyer – Rush
    85. I’ve Done Everything For You – Rick Springfield
    86. Passion – Rod Stewart
    87. Kiss On My List – Hall and Oates
    88. You Better You Bet – The Who
    89. I Love A Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt
    90. Love On A Two-Way Street – Stacy Lattisaw
    91. The Break-Up Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em) – Greg Kihn
    92. Medley – Stars on 45
    93. Hold On Loosely – 38 Special
    94. Say Goodbye To Hollywood – Billy Joel
    95. Promises In The Dark – pat Benatar
    96. Her Town Too – James Taylor and J.D. Souther
    97. Sausalito Summernight – Diesel
    98. 96 Tears – Garland Geffreys
    99. I Missed Again – Phil Collins
    100. Burnin’ For You – Blue Oyster Cult
  • About Tom’s Diner, by Suzanne Vega

    About Tom’s Diner, by Suzanne Vega

    A Deep Look At Tom’s Diner

    Doo Doo Dooo Dooo Dooo Do Do Do Do Do Do…

The best songs are often observational, and Suzanne’s observations that rainy morning at Tom’s Diner tells so much more than the words indicate at our first listen. She tells us subtle details about her own life, the diner, its employees, its patrons. She has a job, or at least somewhere to go after her shot of caffeine. The man pouring the coffee plays favorites, she tells us. She is trying to mind her own business, but her eyes wander inside and outside the goings-on in Tom’s Diner.

The original song is much softer than the D.N.A. Remix (video above) which was a Top Ten hit in 1990. It is also the backbeat sound for Fall Out Boy’s 2014 Hit “Centuries,” heard on the Big Hero 6 soundtrack.

Oddly, many of you have seen “Tom’s Diner”, or “Tom’s Restaurant” as Tom called it. It was the exterior shot of the diner that Jerry Seinfeld and friends ate at on the NBC TV show, although they called it Monk’s Café. It is located at 2880 Broadway in New York City.

I open up the paper
there’s a story of an actor
who had died while he was drinking.
it was no one I had heard of

The actor who died was most likely William Holden. I can vouch for Suzanne here, very few people at age 22, in 1981, would have known who he was. The New York Post headlined the story of his death on November 18, 1981, although he died on the 16th.

As I’m listening to the bells
of the cathedral, I am thinking
of your voice…

The church bells heard were from the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, located just down the street.

Some sources say that Karlheinz Brandenburg, an mp3 pioneer, used the original acappella track, with her pure voice, to fine-tune the mp3 technology he was helping to create.

Back to the song – It is a world before Starbucks and designer coffees. Coffee was ‘black,’ or with cream; sugar or saccharin; large or small. On the train, we read the paper or took a nap. There were no Blackberries or iPods or cell phones designed to keep us in contact with our friends and associates – people were in their own little worlds…

Some aspects of her morning are timeless; an actor succumbs to his own self-destruction, the horoscope, the comics, the rain, the sounds in the city.

…and while she’s straightening her stockings
her hair has gotten wet.
Oh, this rain, it will continue
through the morning

The song was not written about a particular, actual day in her life –  it may or may not have been raining the day that the New York Post featured the headline about Mr. Holden’s passing, and the song was probably not written in a single day

Most of us are in our own little universe first thing in the morning. We never notice the guy or girl on the other side of the counter. We say hello, hand over some money, usually the exact change, as our daily routine requires, grunt goodbye, and walk back out the door. Maybe if she got her full cup of coffee on a timely basis, we never would have known what happened or didn’t happen, that morning. It is a song about nothing and a little bit of everything.

The song is barely four decades old, but it captures a slice of life that may soon be forgotten, far better than a film or photograph ever could. Whether you are listening to the original, at just over two minutes, or the catchy remix at 3:47, or one of the many 12 inch variations, you can sense her detachment from the things she has observed in the diner. She merely narrates what she saw in a melodic, almost sing-song way.

She doesn’t give us a clue about what was really on her mind until the last few lines of the song, but that’s another story.

Tom’s Diner Lyrics

I am sitting in the morning at the diner on the corner
I am waiting at the counter for the man to pour the coffee
and he fills it only halfway
And before I even argue, he is looking out the window at somebody coming in…

“It is always nice to see you” says the man behind the counter
to the woman who has come in, she is shaking her umbrella

and I look the other way as they are kissing their hellos.
I’m pretending not to see them instead, I pour the milk.

I open up the paper there’s a story of an actor who had died while he was drinking.
It was no one I had heard of and I’m turning to the horoscope and looking for the funnies
when I’m feeling someone watching me and so I raise my head

There’s a woman on the outside looking inside.
Does she see me?
No, she does not really see me ’cause she sees her own reflection
and I’m trying not to notice that she’s hitching up her skirt

And while she’s straightening her stockings her hair has gotten wet.
Oh, this rain, it will continue through the morning

As I’m listening to the bells of the cathedral, I am thinking of your voice…

and of the midnight picnic once upon a time
Before the rain began…
I finish up my coffee it’s time to catch the train…

Doo Doo Dooo Dooo Dooo Do Do Do Do Do Do
Lyrics  © Suzanne Vega

 

 

  • The HIV/AIDS Epidemic Begins

    The HIV/AIDS Epidemic Begins

    The HIV/AIDS Epidemic

    The HIV/AIDS epidemic emerged in the early 1980s, as scientists and doctors identified and began to understand a new and deadly virus that caused a rare and aggressive immune system disorder, affecting people across the globe.

    In 1981, doctors in the United States observed a cluster of rare diseases, such as Kaposi’s sarcoma and Pneumocystis pneumonia, in young, otherwise healthy gay men. These unusual cases led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to publish a report on June 5, 1981, marking the official beginning of the recognition of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 1982, the CDC coined the term “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome” (AIDS) to describe the condition.

    By 1983, researchers from the Pasteur Institute in France, led by Dr. Luc Montagnier, and the National Cancer Institute in the United States, led by Dr. Robert Gallo, independently discovered the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as the cause of AIDS. The French team published their findings in the journal Science in May 1983, and the American team followed suit in 1984. Eventually, it was agreed that the French team had made the initial discovery, and the virus was named HIV.

    During 1983, the number of reported AIDS cases increased dramatically, with the disease affecting not only gay men but also intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs, and heterosexual individuals. The realization that HIV could be transmitted through blood transfusions led to the implementation of screening processes in blood banks to protect the blood supply.

    As the epidemic spread, fear and stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS grew, fueled by misconceptions about the disease and how it was transmitted. In response to the mounting crisis, public health campaigns were launched to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, promote safe sex practices, and educate people on how to prevent the spread of the virus.

    Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, scientists and researchers worked tirelessly to develop treatments for HIV/AIDS. The first antiretroviral drug, AZT, was approved for use in 1987, and by the mid-1990s, the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) led to a significant decline in AIDS-related deaths in countries where these treatments were accessible.

    The HIV/AIDS epidemic profoundly impacted global public health, prompting the establishment of organizations like the World Health Organization’s Global Programme on AIDS and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to combat the disease. Although significant progress has been made in HIV/AIDS research and treatment, the epidemic continues to be a major public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with limited access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapies.

  • 1981 Oscars 53rd Academy Awards

    1981 Oscars 53rd Academy Awards

    1981 Oscars 53rd Academy Awards

    • Winners Announced: March 31, 1981
    • Held at: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
    • Host: Johnny Carson
    • Eligibility Year: 1980

    Oscar Trivia for the Film Buffs

    • Host with the Most: Johnny Carson, famed for his long-running The Tonight Show, returned to host the Oscars, showcasing his quick wit and effortless charm.
    • First-Timer’s Luck: Ordinary People, a film about the disintegration of an upper-middle-class family in Illinois, marked Robert Redford’s directorial debut and won Best Picture.
    • Two Legends, Two Films: Both Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci won Oscars but for different films. De Niro took home Best Actor for his role as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, while Pesci secured Best Supporting Actor for Goodfellas.
    • Country Roads to Stardom: Sissy Spacek won the Best Actress award for her role as country music legend Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter. Her performance involved singing Lynn’s hits herself.
    • Musical Genius: John Williams, a name synonymous with film scores, won Best Original Score for his work on The Empire Strikes Back, adding another trophy to his extensive collection.
    • A Soviet Story: Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears, a Soviet film about the lives of three women in Russia, won Best Foreign Language Film. It was a nod to international cinema during the Cold War.
    • Political Stance: The 1981 ceremony was the last time the Academy advised winners to avoid making political statements during their acceptance speeches, a guideline that has since changed.
    • The ceremony was originally scheduled for the previous day but were postponed due to the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
    • The lack of recognition for Christopher Tucker’s make-up work on The Elephant Man prompted the creation of the Academy Award for Best Makeup the following year.

    1981 Oscar Nominees and Winners

    Best Picture:
    Ordinary People – Ronald L. Schwary, producer (WINNER)
    Coal Miner’s Daughter – Bernard Schwartz, producer
    The Elephant Man – Jonathan Sanger, producer
    Raging Bull – Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler, producers
    Tess – Claude Berri, producer; Timothy Burrill, co-producer
    Best Director:
    Robert Redford – Ordinary People (WINNER)
    David Lynch – The Elephant Man
    Martin Scorsese – Raging Bull
    Richard Rush – The Stunt Man
    Roman Polanski – Tess
    Best Actor:
    Robert De Niro – Raging Bull as Jake LaMotta (WINNER)
    Robert Duvall – The Great Santini as Lt. Col. Wilbur “Bull” Meechum
    John Hurt – The Elephant Man as Joseph Merrick
    Jack Lemmon – Tribute as Scottie Templeton
    Peter O’Toole – The Stunt Man as Eli Cross
    Best Actress:
    Sissy Spacek – Coal Miner’s Daughter as Loretta Lynn (WINNER)
    Ellen Burstyn – Resurrection as Edna Mae McCauley
    Goldie Hawn – Private Benjamin as Judy Benjamin
    Mary Tyler Moore – Ordinary People as Beth Jarrett
    Gena Rowlands – Gloria as Gloria Swenson
    Best Supporting Actor:
    Timothy Hutton – Ordinary People as Conrad Jarrett (WINNER)
    Judd Hirsch – Ordinary People as Dr. Tyrone C. Berger
    Michael O’Keefe – The Great Santini as Ben
    Joe Pesci – Raging Bull as Joey LaMotta
    Jason Robards – Melvin and Howard as Howard Hughes
    Best Supporting Actress:
    Mary Steenburgen – Melvin and Howard as Lynda West Dummar (WINNER)
    Eileen Brennan – Private Benjamin as Doreen Lewis
    Eva Le Gallienne – Resurrection as Pearl
    Cathy Moriarty – Raging Bull as Vikki Thailer Lamotta
    Diana Scarwid – Inside Moves as Louise
    Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:
    Melvin and Howard – Bo Goldman (WINNER)
    Brubaker – Screenplay by W. D. Richter; Story by W. D. Richter and Arthur Ross
    Fame – Christopher Gore
    Mon Oncle D’Amerique – Jean Gruault
    Private Benjamin – Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer and Harvey Miller
    Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:
    Ordinary People – Alvin Sargent based on the novel by Judith Guest (WINNER)
    Breaker Morant – Jonathan Hardy, David Stevens and Bruce Beresford based on the play by Kenneth G. Ross
    Coal Miner’s Daughter – Thomas Rickman based on the autobiography by Loretta Lynn with George Vecsey
    The Elephant Man – Christopher De Vore, Eric Bergren and David Lynch based on the books The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences by Sir Frederick Treves and The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity by Ashley Montagu
    The Stunt Man – Screenplay by Lawrence B. Marcus; Adaptation by Richard Rush based on the novel by Paul Brodeur
    Best Foreign Language Film:
    Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (WINNER)
    Confidence (Hungary)
    Kagemusha (Japan)
    The Last Metro (France)
    The Nest (Spain)
    Best Documentary Feature:
    From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China – Murray Lerner (WINNER)
    Agee – Ross Spears
    The Day After Trinity – Jon H. Else
    Front Line – David Bradbury
    The Yellow Star: The Persecution of the Jews in Europe 1933-45 – Bengt von zur Muehlen and Arthur Cohn
    Best Documentary Short Subject:
    Karl Hess: Toward Liberty – Roland Hallé and Peter Ladue (WINNER)
    Don’t Mess with Bill – John Watson and Pen Densham
    The Eruption of Mount St. Helens! – George Casey
    It’s the Same World – Dick Young
    Luther Metke at 94 – Richard Hawkins and Jorge Preloran
    Best Live Action Short Film:
    The Dollar Bottom – Lloyd Phillips (WINNER)
    Fall Line – Bob Carmichael and Greg Lowe
    A Jury of Her Peers – Sally Heckel
    Best Animated Short Film:
    The Fly – Ferenc Rofusz (WINNER)
    All Nothing – Frédéric Back
    History of the World in Three Minutes Flat – Michael Mills
    Best Original Score:
    Fame – Michael Gore (WINNER)
    Altered States – John Corigliano
    The Elephant Man – John Morris
    The Empire Strikes Back – John Williams
    Tess – Philippe Sarde
    Best Original Song:
    “Fame” from Fame – Music by Michael Gore; Lyrics by Dean Pitchford (WINNER)
    “9 to 5” from 9 to 5 – Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton
    “On the Road Again” from Honeysuckle Rose – Music and Lyrics by Willie Nelson
    “Out Here on My Own” from Fame – Music by Michael Gore; Lyrics by Lesley Gore
    “People Alone” from The Competition – Music by Lalo Schifrin; Lyrics by Will Jennings
    Best Sound:
    The Empire Strikes Back – Bill Varney, Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker and Peter Sutton (WINNER)
    Altered States – Arthur Piantadosi, Les Fresholtz, Michael Minkler and Willie D. Burton
    Coal Miner’s Daughter – Richard Portman, Roger Heman and Jim Alexander
    Fame – Michael J. Kohut, Aaron Rochin, Jay M. Harding and Chris Newman
    Raging Bull – Donald O. Mitchell, Bill Nicholson, David J. Kimball and Les Lazarowitz
    Best Costume Design:
    Tess – Anthony Powell (WINNER)
    The Elephant Man – Patricia Norris
    My Brilliant Career – Anna Senior
    Somewhere in Time – Jean-Pierre Dorleac
    When Time Ran Out – Paul Zastupnevich
    Best Art Direction:
    Tess – Art Direction and Set Decoration: Pierre Guffroy and Jack Stephens (WINNER)
    Coal Miner’s Daughter – Art Direction: John W. Corso; Set Decoration: John M. Dwyer
    The Elephant Man – Art Direction: Stuart Craig and Robert Cartwright; Set Decoration: Hugh Scaife
    The Empire Strikes Back – Art Direction: Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Harry Lange and Alan Tomkins; Set Decoration: Michael Ford
    Kagemusha – Art Direction and Set Decoration: Yoshiro Muraki
    Best Cinematography:
    Tess – Geoffrey Unsworth (posthumous award) and Ghislain Cloquet (WINNER)
    The Blue Lagoon – Néstor Almendros
    Coal Miner’s Daughter – Ralf D. Bode
    The Formula – James Crabe
    Raging Bull – Michael Chapman
    Best Film Editing:
    Raging Bull – Thelma Schoonmaker (WINNER)
    Coal Miner’s Daughter – Arthur Schmidt
    The Competition – David Blewitt
    The Elephant Man – Anne V. Coates
    Fame – Gerry Hambling
    Academy Honorary Award:
    Henry Fonda
    Special Achievement Award:
    The Empire Strikes Back (Brian Johnson, Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren and Bruce Nicholson) for Visual Effects
    Oscar® and Academy Awards® and Oscar® design mark are the trademarks and service marks and the Oscar© statuette the copyrighted property, of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Pop Culture Madness is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

     

  • 1981 Grammy Award Winners

    1981 Grammy Award Winners

    1981 Grammy Award Winners

    Winners Announced: February 25, 1981
    Held at: Radio City Music Hall, New York
    Host: Paul Simon
    Eligibility Year: October 1, 1979 – September 30, 1980

    Notable Trivia

    • ‘Sailing’ Smooth: Christopher Cross made history this year. He swept all four major categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. His hit Sailing was a big reason for his success.
    • Iconic Host: Hosting duties were taken up by Paul Simon, no stranger to Grammy gold himself. He had already won multiple awards, both as a solo artist and as half of Simon & Garfunkel.
    • Operatic Heights: Luciano Pavarotti, the operatic tenor, won his first Grammy this year. He was awarded Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance, broadening the awards’ musical diversity.
    • Rap Debut: Kurtis Blow’s The Breaks was nominated in the Best R&B Vocal Performance, marking the first time rap was recognized in Grammy history.
    • Country Classic: George Jones sang his way into hearts with He Stopped Loving Her Today. The song earned him the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and is often cited as one of the greatest country songs.
    • Genre Expansion: The B-52’s got a nod for Rock Lobster in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group category. This nomination indicated the Grammys’ willingness to embrace alternative and new wave music.
    • Jazzed Up: Pat Metheny, the jazz guitarist, won his first Grammy for Best Jazz Fusion Performance. His album Offramp got him this prestigious accolade, proving that jazz was far from forgotten in the awards circuit.

    1981 Grammy Winners

    Record of the Year:
    Sailing – Christopher Cross
    Album of the Year:
    Christopher Cross, Christopher Cross (Warner Bros.)
    Song of the Year:
    Sailing – Christopher Cross, songwriter
    Best New Artist:
    Christopher Cross
    Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male:
    This Is It – Kenny Loggins
    Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female:
    The Rose – Bette Midler
    Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal:
    Guilty – Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb
    Best Pop Instrumental Performance:
    One on One, Bob James and Earl Klugh
    Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male:
    Glass Houses, Billy Joel
    Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female:
    Crimes of Passion, Pat Benatar
    Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal:
    Against the Wind, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
    Best Rock Instrumental Performance:
    Reggatta de Blanc – Police
    Best Rhythm and Blues Song:
    Never Knew Love Like This Before – Reggie Lucas and James Mtume, songwriters
    Best Rhythm and Blues Performance, Male:
    Give Me the Night, George Benson
    Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Female:
    Never Knew Love Like This Before – Stephanie Mills
    Best Rhythm and Blues Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal:
    Shining Star – Manhattans
    Best Rhythm and Blues Instrumental Performance:
    Off Broadway – George Benson
    Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male:
    Moody’s Mood – George Benson
    Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female:
    A Perfect Match/Ella and Basie, Ella Fitzgerald
    Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist:
    I Will Say Goodbye, Bill Evans
    Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group:
    We Will Meet Again, Bill Evans
    Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band:
    On the Road, Count Basie and Orchestra
    Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or Instrumental:
    Birdland – Manhattan Transfer
    Best Country Song:
    On the Road Again – Willie Nelson, songwriter
    Best Country Vocal Performance, Male:
    He Stopped Loving Her Today – George Jones
    Best Country Vocal Performance, Female:
    Could I Have This Dance – Anne Murray
    Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal:
    That Lovin’ You Feelin’ Again – Roy Orbison and Emmylou Harris
    Best Country Instrumental Performance:
    Orange Blossom Special/Hoedown – Gilley’s Urban Cowboy Band
    Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational:
    The Lord’s Prayer, Reba Rambo, Dony McGuire, B.J. Thomas, Andrae Crouch, the Archers, Walter and Tramiane Hawkins and Cynthia Clawson
    Best Gospel Performance, Traditional:
    We Come to Worship, Blackwood Brothers
    Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary:
    Rejoice, Shirley Caesar
    Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional:
    Lord, Let Me Be an Instrument, James Cleveland and the Charles Fold Singers
    Best Latin Recording:
    La Onda Va Bien, Cal Tjader (Concord Jazz)
    Best Inspirational Performance:
    With My Song I Will Praise Him, Debby Boone
    Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording:
    Rare Blues, Dr. Isaiah Ross, Maxwell Street Jimmy, Big Joe Williams, Son House, Rev. Robin Wilkins, Little Brother Montgomery and Sunnyland Slim (Takoma)
    Best Instrumental Arrangement:
    Dinorah, Dinorah – Quincy Jones and Jerry Hey, arrangers
    Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s):
    Sailing – Michael Omatian and Christopher Cross, arrangers
    Best Arrangement for Voices:
    Birdland – Janis Siegel, arranger
    Best Instrumental Composition:
    The Empire Strikes Back, John Williams, composer
    Best Cast Show Album:
    Evita?Premier American Recording, Andrew Lloyd Webber, composer; Tim Rice, Iyricist (MCA)
    Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special:
    The Empire Strikes Back, John Williams, composer (RSO)
    Best Classical Album:
    Berg, Lulu (Complete Version), Pierre Boulez conducting Orchestre de l’Opera de Paris; solos: Stratas, Minton, Mazura and Blankenheim (Deutsche Grammophon)
    Best Classical Orchestral Recording:
    Bruckner, Symphony No. 6 in A Major, Sir Georg Solti conducting Chicago Symphony Orchestra (London)
    Best Chamber Music Performance:
    Music for Two Violins (Moszkowski, Suite for Two Violins; Shostakovich, Duets; Prokofiev, Sonata for Two Violins), Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman
    Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (With Orchestra) (tie):
    Berg, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; Stravinsky, Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, Itzhak Perlman; Seiji Ozawa conducting Boston Symphony Orchestra
    Brahms, Concerto in A Minor for Violin and Cello (Double Concerto), Itzhak Perlman and Mstislav Rostropovich; Bernard Haitink conducting Concertgebouw Orchestra
    Best Classical Performance Instrumental Soloist(s) (Without Orchestra):
    The Spanish Album, Itzhak Perlman
    Best Opera Recording:
    Berg, Lulu (Complete Version), Pierre Boulez conducting Orchestre de l’Opera de Paris; solos: Stratas, Minton, Mazura and Blankenheim
    Best Choral Performance, Classical (Other Than Opera):
    Mozart, Requiem, Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor and Norbert Balatsch, chorus master, Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon)
    Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance:
    Prima Donna, Volume 5 Great Soprano Arias From Handel to Britten, Leontyne Price; Henry Lewis conducting Philharmonia Orchestra
    Best Comedy Recording:
    No Respect, Rodney Dangerfield (Casablanca)
    Best Spoken Word, Documentary or Drama Recording:
    Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Pat Carroll (Caedmon)
    Best Recording for Children:
    In Harmony/A Sesame Street Record, Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Muppets, Al Jarreau, Linda Ronstadt, Wendy Waldman, Libby Titus and Dr. John, Livingston Taylor, George Benson and Pauline Wilson, Lucy Simon, Kate Taylor and the Simon/Taylor Family (Sesame Street/Warner Bros.)
    Best Album Package:
    Against the Wind, Roy Kohara, art director (Capitol)
    Best Album Notes:
    Trilogy: Past, Present and Future, David McClintick, annotator (Reprise/Warner Bros.)
    Best Historical Reissue Album:
    Segovia?The EMI Recordings 1927 – 39 (Angel)
    Producer of the Year (Non-Classical):
    Phil Ramone
    Classical Producer of the Year:
    Robert Woods