# What song was #1 on the day you were born **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 4, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820 "2008-08-04T17:21:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spiritinthesky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiritinthesky/32/7324_2.png) [@Spiritinthesky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritinthesky)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/1 "2008-08-04T17:21:04Z")
Some people believe our lives are profoundly influenced by whatever pop song was number one on the day we were born. On the day Heather Mills (the ex Mrs McCartney) was born (12th Jan 1968) it was Hello Goodbye by The Beatles! My number #1’s are: ‘You’re So Vain’ by Carly Simon in the US ‘Long Haired Lover From Liverpool’ by Little Jimmy Osmond in the UK ‘Ben’ by Michael Jackson in Australia \ ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/2 "2008-08-04T17:24:42Z")
I have: “Another One Bites the Dust” - Queen (for the US) “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” - The Police (UK) “Upside Down” - Diana Ross (Australia) Not sure what to make of that, really. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/3 "2008-08-04T17:35:26Z")
“Night Fever” - The Bee Gees (US) “Wuthering Heights” - Kate Bush (UK) “It’s A Heartache” - Bonnie Tyler (AUS) I always suspected my fondness for the Bee Gees had cosmic beginnings. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/4 "2008-08-04T17:36:57Z")
I always get the wrong answer. This thing shows “Moonglow and Theme from Picnic” by Morris Stoloff. The reason is that there were four parallel singles charts in those days, and that song reached #1 on my birthdate on one of them only: Most Played by Jockeys. On the other three charts, including the Top 100 (which is what these things _should_ go by), #1 on that day was Elvis, “Heartbreak Hotel,” which had already been #1 for about a month. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/5 "2008-08-04T17:42:17Z")
True - Spandau Ballet (UK) Beat It - Michael Jackson (US) Billie Jean - Michael Jackson (AUS) Interesting…even more interesting is that Michael Jackson only had 3 #1 songs in the UK in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/6 "2008-08-04T17:59:24Z")
UK - The Homing Waltz - Vera Lynn and Alma Cogan. US - Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart - Vera Lynn Australia – nothing. Chart doesn’t go back that far. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/7 "2008-08-04T18:03:07Z")
Great! The previous lists I’ve seen don’t go back far enough into the mists of time… US: _Woody Woodpecker_: Kay Kyser UK: _Galway Bay_: Bing Crosby & Kay Shelton. (Based on sheet music sales; the artists named had the “hits.”) Australia: …the mists of time reappear… I do remember Kay Kyser as a minor Big Band leader; [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Kyser) reminds me that he discovered Ish Kabibble–who was wheeled out by Bob Hope for many years of USO Christmas Shows. Much to the delight of silly little kids watching! And I’ve always liked “Galway Bay.” Just like [the boys of the NYPD choir](http://www.pogues.com/Releases/Lyrics/LPs/IfIShould/Fairytale.html)… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/8 "2008-08-04T18:08:11Z")
_Everyday People_…? What the hell…? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/9 "2008-08-04T18:11:39Z")
“(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration” Righteous Brothers (US) “Somebody help Me” Spencer Davis Group (UK) “Nowhere Man”/“Norwegian Wood” The Beatles (AU) ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/10 "2008-08-04T18:15:32Z")
Birthday In UK and Australia - Lady Madonna - The Beatles In the US - Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding Searched a bit more & found 18th Birthday UK - Living Doll - Cliff Richard & The Young Ones featuring Hank Marvin US - Rock Me Amadeus - Falco Australia - When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get Going - Billy Ocean Day I got Married UK - Who Do You Think You Are / Mama - Spice Girls (((shudder))) US - Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down - Puff Daddy featuring Mase Australia - Don’t Speak - No Doubt ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/11 "2008-08-04T18:17:04Z")
The Ballad of Davy Crockett - Bill Hayes (US) Give Me Your Word - Tennessee Ernie Ford (UK) Australia didn’t have music back then. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/12 "2008-08-04T18:23:10Z")
UK, Get Back - the Beatles. US, Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In - 5th Dimension. Australia, Get Back - the Beatles. 5/9/1969 ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/13 "2008-08-04T18:29:54Z")
US results - “Rock with You” by Michael Jackson UK results - “Brass in Pocket” by The Pretenders AUS results - “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles I couldn’t be more 80s if I tried. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/14 "2008-08-04T18:31:34Z")
_Pony Time,_ Chubby Checker (US) _Ebony Eyes,_ Everly Bros. (UK) _Wooden Horse,_ Elvis (AUS) I’ve never heard any of these songs. For some reason I thought _Moon River_ was the big hit back then. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/15 "2008-08-04T18:33:19Z")
US: “I Can Help” - Billy Swan Never heard of it. But seems an appropriate enough song, by the title. (OK, I just YouTubed it. Insipid song, but yeah, that’s my theme song.) UK: “Gonna Make You a Star” - David Essex. Who to the whatsit now? (YouTubed it. Blech. Although…hottie! Although…knows it!) Australia: “I Honestly Love You” - Olivia Newton John. Thank Og, ONE that I recognize! This was actually one of my favorites when I was a kid. My friends and I would give one another terribly melodramatic renditions of it, singing into hairbrushes. Fun times! ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/16 "2008-08-04T18:33:35Z")
US: “Get Back” - The Beatles UK: ditto Aus: ditto (05/25/69) ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/17 "2008-08-04T18:39:23Z")
Venus - Shocking Blue I love that song. First heard it as the Banarama remake in the 80s and didn’t even know there was an original. Heard the original and liked it even more. Didn’t realize till just now that it was #1 US on my birthday 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/18 "2008-08-04T18:40:45Z")
US – Rod Stewart, “Tonight’s the Night” UK – Chicago, “If You Leave Me Now” Australia – ABBA, “Money, Money, Money” 11/27/1976 ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/19 "2008-08-04T18:41:40Z")
_Brown Sugar_ - **Rolling Stones** (US) _Knock Three Times_ - **Dawn** (UK) _She’s a Lady_ - **Tom Jones** (AUS) No cosmic significance here, the Stones are pretty cool though, never heard of Dawn… and Tom Jones? Well, my Grandmother likes him. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820/20 "2008-08-04T18:45:46Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] _Everyday People_…? What the hell…? [/QUOTE] Me too! Weeeeeeee are everyday people (that are solyent green!) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-was-1-on-the-day-you-were-born/458820.md?page=2)