1981 was a year where pop culture seemed to sparkle with new beginnings, shocking farewells, and also unforgettable firsts. The early eighties were still shaking off the disco haze, but fresh voices and bold ideas were already reshaping music, film, television, and technology.
It was a moment when entertainment collided with world events, when celebrities became global icons overnight, and when innovations that everyone deemed experimental began to quietly alter our everyday life.
Culture pulsed with an energy that still feels electric when we look back at it. 1981 wasn’t just another year, it was a year that left a mark in history and everyone who experienced it.
1
Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a dove at a CBS Records meeting.
2
The IBM Personal Computer was released.
3
Bob Marley passed away on May 11.
4
The Police released Ghost in the Machine.
5
Journey released Escape, with anthems like “Don’t Stop Believin’”.
6
Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes” dominated the Billboard charts, becoming the year’s biggest hit.
7
Superman II hit theaters and it was a massive box office success.
8
Donkey Kong debuted in arcades and the world met Mario for the first time.
9
Meryl Streep won her first Oscar for Kramer vs. Kramer.
10
Phil Collins released Face Value, featuring “In the Air Tonight”.
11
Dynasty debuted, a prime time soap opera that would define the 80s.
12
MTV launched and the first video aired was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
13
John Lennon’s album Double Fantasy won Album of the Year at the Grammys posthumously.
14
Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie became one of the biggest duets in music history and the top-selling single of the year.
15
The Smurfs premiered on TV in the U.S.
16
One of the most-watched TV moments in U.S. history aired. Dallas "Who Shot J.R.?"
17
Raiders of the Lost Ark premiered, introducing Indiana Jones to the world.
18
Mark David Chapman's trial and sentencing for John Lennon’s murder dominated the headlines.
