Saturday, January 31, 1981 · Memphis, Tennessee
The world the day Justin Timberlake was born
Justin Timberlake, the singer, arrived on a Saturday in Memphis, Tennessee. This is what was on the radio, in the sky and on the price tags that day.
#1 that week
“The Tide Is High”
Blondie
The moon
waning crescent
Star sign
♒ Aquarius
Year of the Monkey
U.S. president
Ronald Reagan
On every radio
The song at #1 the week Justin was born
“The Tide Is High” by Blondie topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week, taking over from “(Just Like) Starting Over”.
Tap the cover for a 30-second preview
Cost of living
What things cost in 1981
U.S. averages for the year Justin Timberlake was born, next to the latest figures (Sep 2026).
- Gallon of gas$1.38 → $4.48 today (3.3×)
- Loaf of white bread53¢ → $1.83 today (3.5×)
- Dozen eggs90¢ → $2.27 today (2.5×)
- Pound of coffee$2.53 → $9.33 today (3.7×)
- Postage stamp18¢ → 78¢ today (4.3×)
In the news
The year 1981
- Jan 1 · Greece is admitted into the European Community.
- Jan 2 · One of the largest investigations by a British police force ends when serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, the "Yorkshire Ripper", is arrested in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
- Jan 15 · Pope John Paul II receives a delegation from the Polish trade union Solidarity at the Vatican led by Lech Wałęsa.
- Jan 19 · Iran hostage crisis: United States and Iranian officials sign an agreement to release 52 American hostages after 14 months of captivity.
- Jun 12 · Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise, was released.
Born around the same time
Justin Timberlake shares a birth year with…
Beyoncé
singer · born September 4, 1981
Serena Williams
tennis player · born September 26, 1981
Britney Spears
singer · born December 2, 1981
Alicia Keys
singer-songwriter · born January 25, 1981
Jennifer Hudson
singer and TV host · born September 12, 1981
Chris Evans
actor · born June 13, 1981
Natalie Portman
actress · born June 9, 1981
Roger Federer
tennis player · born August 8, 1981
Ivanka Trump
businesswoman · born October 30, 1981
Meghan Markle
Duchess of Sussex · born August 4, 1981
Paris Hilton
media personality · born February 17, 1981
Your day, not just your year
Now see your day.
The weather, the #1 song and the moon on the day you were born, in your city. Free, no sign-up.
See your exact day →The weather, the sky and the #1 song from that exact day, in your city
Questions
When was Justin Timberlake born?
Justin Timberlake was born on Saturday, January 31, 1981, in Memphis, Tennessee.
What day of the week was Justin Timberlake born?
A Saturday. January 31, 1981 fell on a Saturday.
What was the #1 song when Justin Timberlake was born?
“The Tide Is High” by Blondie was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 the week Justin Timberlake was born. It spent 1 week at #1.
What is Justin Timberlake’s zodiac sign?
Justin Timberlake is a Aquarius (born Jan 31), and was born in the Chinese year of the Monkey.
What was the moon like when Justin Timberlake was born?
A waning crescent moon, about 17% lit, on the night of January 31, 1981.
More famous birthdays