Uncover the Nostalgia: 9 Unexpected and Entertaining Fun Facts from 1988

1. Birth of Pop Stars

In 1988, the year when hairspray ruled the charts and big-haired divas reigned supreme, the cosmos must have had a good laugh as it cooked up the pop star concoction that birthed our current music royalty: The year saw the arrival of singing sensations Rihanna, Adele, and Vanessa Hudgens, who later gifted the world with iconic hits like "Umbrella," "Hello," and "Say Ok," making 1988 the musical gift that keeps on giving.
Source => republicworld.com

2. CDs Overtake Vinyl

Once upon a Technicolor dream, vinyl records spun their web of music, only to have their spotlight stolen by a shiny new rival: In 1988, CD sales leaped sizably with 70.4 million units shipped in just the first six months, while vinyl LP deliveries dropped by 22.4% to 43.5 million units, but cassettes still rocked the charts, improving by 11% to 208.1 million units.
Source => apnews.com

Did you know that in 1986, a spacecraft named Giotto became the first to encounter and image the nucleus of not just one, but two comets? 🚀💫 Discover more about this cosmic matchmaker's historic achievements!

=> Fun Facts about 1986

3. MJ's Moonwalk Autobiography

Before Moonwalking became synonymous with a dance move, it was a glimpse into the King of Pop's private world, where even chins received special treatment: In 1988, Michael Jackson's autobiography "Moonwalk," edited and secured by none other than Jacqueline Onassis, detailed his ascent to fame, shedding light on his two rhinoplastic surgeries, the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin, and the emotional and physical toll from his strict upbringing in The Jackson 5, all while reaching number one on the New York Times Best Seller list.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Roger Rabbit's Cinematic Debut

1988 was the year when humans and cartoons played a live-action game of whodunit and everyone's eyes peeled like bananas in Toontown: Who Framed Roger Rabbit, directed by Robert Zemeckis, was released, starring Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, and Joanna Cassidy, along with appearances by Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Donald Duck, and Daffy Duck, earning several Academy Awards and inciting some Toontastic adventures in the form of three animated shorts and a Disneyland attraction, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.
Source => amblin.com

5. Trump's Monopoly Moves

In a year that saw the perm reach unfathomable heights, the Gloved One moonwalk his way into history, and the film "Big" depict the cutthroat world of children's toy companies, one man built, bought, and doled out deals like a madman on a Monopoly board: In 1988, Donald Trump famously purchased the Plaza Hotel for a record-breaking $407.5 million and the Eastern Airlines Shuttle, leading to his first corporate bankruptcy, all the while penning his best-seller "The Art of the Deal."
Source => politico.com

6. Rickroll's Early Days

In an era where "Never Gonna Give You Up" morphed into an unsuspecting surprise gift disguised as a legitimate hyperlink, leading to impromptu head-bopping and nostalgic exclamations of "Dang it, not again!", Rick Astley unknowingly laid the foundation for the infamous "Rickroll" phenomenon: The catchy tune, which wormed its way into millions of hearts (and playlists), was actually released in 1987, climbed to the top of charts in 25 countries, and snagged the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single, forever embedding itself in musical history and Internet lore.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Mega Man 2 Madness

In the year when perm hairstyles stole the spotlight and cozying up to a CRT TV with your NES controller was the epitome of cool, a little blue robot on a mission made that radioactive-green beanbag chair groove even sweeter: 1988 saw the release of Capcom's wildly successful "Mega Man 2", adding new gameplay and graphic elements to the series, selling over 1.5 million copies, and blessing us with one of the most iconic 8-bit soundtracks composed by Takashi Tateishi.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Air Jordan III Sneaker Revolution

In 1988, when Marty McFly was still perfecting his hoverboard skills, MJ was ready to jump higher than ever with a game-changing pair of sneakers that almost didn't see the light of day: The Air Jordan III sneakers, designed by Tinker Hatfield, were the first to feature the now-iconic 'Jumpman' logo, ditching the traditional 'Wings' logo, and boasting an air bubble and elephant print upper for extra pizzazz. If it wasn't for the love of this design, Michael Jordan may have bid farewell to Nike, but thankfully these kicks were a slam dunk in every sense of the word.
Source => educ.jmu.edu

9. U.S. and Soviet Nuclear Freeze Tag

In an epic, high-stakes game of "Nuclear Freeze Tag," the U.S. and Soviet Union shouted, "You're it!" and began dismantling their intercontinental missiles: In 1988, the U.S. and Soviet Union signed the groundbreaking Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty to eliminate specific weapons classes and reduce nuclear arsenals, easing Cold War tensions. Sadly, by 2019, the U.S. withdrew from the agreement, and today, Russia's Ukraine invasion raises concerns about their nuclear intentions.
Source => wilsoncenter.org