Look Back To 1989: What Happened That Year

Hillsborough, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the decade.

Here's 1989 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

In the charts in 1989

• 'Ride on Time' by Black Box was the year's best-selling single.
• Band Aid II's version of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' was the Christmas number one.
• The Stone Roses released their first album, and Madchester began.

In the news in 1989

• The Hillsborough disaster on 15 April killed 97 Liverpool supporters.
• The Berlin Wall was opened on 9 November.
• The Marchioness disaster on the Thames happened on 20 August.

On screen in 1989

• Batman was the film of the year; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was close behind.
• Sky Television began broadcasting by satellite in February.
• Byker Grove began on BBC One.

In sport in 1989

• Arsenal won the league at Anfield in the last minute of the final match on 26 May.
• Nick Faldo won the Masters.
• Michael Thomas's goal became the most replayed moment in English league football of the era.

Everyday life in 1989

• The Nintendo Game Boy launched in Japan and America, reaching Britain the following year.
• Satellite dishes started appearing on the sides of houses.
• The poll tax was introduced in Scotland, a year before England and Wales.

If you were born in 1989

• Anyone born in 1989 arrived the year the Berlin Wall came down.
• They are the last of the eighties, which is a good line on a milestone card.
• Anyone born in 1989 turns 30 in 2019, 40 in 2029, 50 in 2039, 60 in 2049 and 70 in 2059.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1988
• Look back to 1987
• Look back to 1986
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• 1980s party playlist
• 80s kids' TV shows
• 80s quiz questions
• Toys of the 80s and 90s
• Computers and consoles we grew up with
• Saturday morning TV
• Cassette tapes and taping the charts
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was the Christmas number one in 1989?

'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid II.

When did the Berlin Wall come down?

The crossings were opened on the evening of 9 November 1989, and demolition followed over the months after.

How old is someone born in 1989?

Subtract 1989 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2029, 50 in 2039, 60 in 2049 and 70 in 2059.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.