1981 was filled with new discoveries, both good and bad, attempted assassinations, as well as iconic events that ushered us into the era of excess and glamour.

Scientists identify the AIDS virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 5 homosexual men in Los Angeles, California have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems (the first recognized cases of AIDS).

The first combined heart-lung transplant in the world is performed at Stanford's Medical Center, and the first American test-tube baby, Elizabeth Jordan Carr, is born in Norfolk, Virginia.

MTV (Music Television) is launched on August 1st and debuts "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles, and movies such as Raiders of The Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Superman II, Arthur, Stripes, and The Cannonball Run hit theaters.

"Swamp Fever!" Jack Elam from The Cannonball Run (above gif)

The first De Lorean DMC-12 automobile, a stainless steel sports car with gull-wing doors, rolls off the production line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland. It was only manufactured for two years and about 9,000 vehicles were produced in total. The company quickly ran into financial troubles and its founder, John DeLorean, was charged with conspiracy to smuggle drugs. The DeLorean was most well-known for being featured as the time travel machine used in the popular 1985 film "Back to the Future."

The original Model 5150 IBM PC with a 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 processor was released in the United States at a base price of $1,565, and Post It Notes are launched. This was also the first year that the word "Internet" was mentioned and MS-DOS was released by Microsoft.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by John Hinckley, Jr. . Two police officers and Press Secretary James Brady are also wounded.

Pope John Paul II is shot and nearly killed by Mehmet Ali Ağca, a Turkish gunman, as he enters St. Peter's Square in Rome to address a general audience.

Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is assassinated.

The Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer took place on July 29th. The wedding, held at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, attracted crowds of more than 600,000 people to witness the historic event. 3,500 guests, many of them royalty or celebrities, attended the ceremony and an estimated 750 million people worldwide watched it on television.

Here are just a few of the songs from this year, in no particular order, from Billboard's Hot 100 : 

1.) John Cougar Mellencamp - Ain't Even Done With the Night

2.) Diana Ross & Lionel Richie - Endless Love

3.) Kenny Rogers - Lady

4.) John Lennon - Just Like Starting Over

5.) Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl

6.) REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You

7.) Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot

8.) Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty - Stop Draggin' My Heart Around

9.) Queen - Another One Bites the Dust

10.) The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Medley

11.) Journey - Who's Crying Now

12.) Christopher Cross - Arthur's Theme (From the movie Arthur)

13.) Styx - Too Much Time On My Hands

14.) ABBA - The Winner Takes It All

15.)The Police - De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

16.) Air Supply - The One That You Love

17.) Air Supply - Every Woman in the World

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A/N : Ahhh...back when love songs meant something. Hope you enjoyed it! 😁 Which song or songs are your favorite?

⭐️Please be sure to vote and comment!!!⭐️

Info on 1981 events, movies, and songs credited to :

http://www.liketotally80s.com/2007/08/80s-capsules-1981/

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1981.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1981

Now on to 1982...