What Happened in 1984?

It’s 1984, and we’re all wondering what Love’s Got To Do With It, and we’re getting Footloose! It was a great year for music, films, and fashion.

But, as with all years, it was also a 12-month period tinged with drama and tragedy. And, as always, we’re here to break it all down for you, event by event.

Despite what George Orwell said, it was not that bad! Here are some of the biggest events that took place in 1984.

In this year

1January

Apple fans rejoice – January 24th, 1984, was a major day for Steve Jobs and his team of boffins, as it was the official release date of the original Macintosh computer. The computer went toe-to-toe with Microsoft’s Windows PCs for many years – and it was the iPod in the 00s, of course, that really put Apple on the map!

2February

Dangerous doings in space! It was on February 7th, 1984, that Robert Stewart and Bruce McCandless II became the first people in history to complete an untethered walk in space. Rather them than us, honestly – but what an amazing moment in history to have been part of!

3March

In a landmark moment for Pakistan’s history, Rahimuddin Khan was announced as the first-ever dual ruler of two provinces – officially becoming Sindh’s governor.

4April

Big changes came to pass down under on April 19th, 1984, as the country made its decision with regard to a new national anthem – Advance Australia Fair. The nation also agreed that gold and green would become their official colors.

5May

Following nine years of intensive construction, the Itaipu Dam, sitting at the border between Brazil and Paraguay, began generating power for the very first time. This was literally a very big deal – as no other hydroelectric dam had been built and run at such a size before!

6June

Ever been to see a Cirque du Soleil show before? Well, the entertainment company dates all the way back to June 16th, 1984. The company has gone on to gain worldwide recognition and perform all over the world – they’re well worth watching live!

7July

Liechtenstein finally caught up with the rest of Europe on July 1st, 1984, by giving its female citizens the right to vote for the first time. At least in terms of the democratic process, gender equality was achieved across the continent!

8August

A major upset occurred in the Olympic 3,000-meter athletic final on August 11th, 1984 – as Mary Decker and Zola Budd clashed physically on the track, causing both iconic runners to drop back and fail to claim podium places.

9September

Honoring a long-standing agreement, China and the UK officially signed off on a deal on September 26th, 1984, for Hong Kong to pass ownership from the UK to the People’s Republic. The agreement took place to ensure transfer of ownership by 1997. Since that time, China’s rule over Hong Kong has proven controversial.

10October

Then-Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi was brutally assassinated by two of her own security guards. Following the assassination and in protest against her murder by two Sikh, riots broke across the region, during which up to 20,000 Sikh people were killed. As a result, Rajiv Gandhi would become the Prime Minister of India.

11November

US President Ronald Reagan cemented a second term as leader of the Free World as of November 6th, 1984. Reagan managed to claim a clear 59% of the popular vote with 49 states claimed via the electoral college. His rival, the Democrat Walter Mondale, only claimed Minnesota.

12December

In election news elsewhere in the world, Australia officially re-elected its leader in Bob Hawke, with his Labor party officially beating the Liberal and National Coalition in the poll. He was up against Andrew Peacock.

1984 was the year of the…Rat!

Like 1960, 1972, 1996, 2008, and 2020, 1984 was all about celebrating Rat people – and no, that’s something to be proud of! People born in rat years are smart, hard-working, sociable, and wise. Rats as animals get a bad rep – but when it comes to Rat people, you can count on them in a crisis. Don’t be so quick to judge! The next Rat year won’t be until 2032.

Celebrity Births in 1984

• Olivia Wilde, American actror, and director, born March 10th, 1984
• Mandy Moore, American actor, and singer, born April 10th, 1984
• America Ferrera, American actress, born April 18th, 1984
• Katy Perry, American singer, and songwriter, born October 25th, 1984
• Scarlett Johansson, American actor, born November 22nd, 1984

Famous People We Lost in 1984

• Ethel Merman, American actor, and singer, died aged 76
• Andy Kaufman, American entertainer, died aged 35
• Richard Burton, Welsh actor, died aged 58
• Marvin Gaye, American singer, and songwriter, died aged 44
• Diana Dors, English actor, and singer, died aged 52