Look Back To 2004: What Happened That Year

Strictly and The X Factor both started, and the year ended with the tsunami.

Here's 2004 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 2004

• 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid 20 was the Christmas number one.
• Eric Prydz's 'Call on Me' and Usher's 'Yeah!' were the year's dance floor records.
• Franz Ferdinand and the Streets were the British albums of the year.

In the news in 2004

• The Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December killed well over two hundred thousand people.
• Ten more countries joined the European Union in May.
• Facebook launched in the United States in February, for universities only.

On screen in 2004

• Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor both began.
• Shrek 2 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban were the family films.
• Little Britain moved to BBC One and its catchphrases went everywhere.

In sport in 2004

• Greece won Euro 2004; England went out on penalties to Portugal.
• Arsenal went the whole league season unbeaten.
• Kelly Holmes won two golds at the Athens Olympics.

Everyday life in 2004

• MySpace and Bebo were the places teenagers spent their evenings.
• The iPod Mini made MP3 players mainstream in Britain.
• Chip and PIN cards were rolled out.

If you were born in 2004

• Anyone born in 2004 is the same age as Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor.
• They were born the year Arsenal went unbeaten.
• Anyone born in 2004 turns 30 in 2034, 40 in 2044, 50 in 2054, 60 in 2064 and 70 in 2074.
• 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 2007
• Look back to 2006
• Look back to 2005
• Look back to 2003
• Look back to 2002
• Look back to 2001
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• 2000s party playlist
• 00s quiz questions
• Dial-up, MSN and MySpace
• Adverts we can still recite
• Decade music round questions
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: 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 2004?

'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid 20.

What did Kelly Holmes win in 2004?

Gold in both the 800 metres and the 1500 metres at the Athens Olympics.

How old is someone born in 2004?

Subtract 2004 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2044, 50 in 2054, 60 in 2064 and 70 in 2074.

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.