Saturday, August 8, 1981 · Basel, Switzerland
The world the day Roger Federer was born
Roger Federer, the tennis player, arrived on a Saturday in Basel, Switzerland. This is what was on the radio, in the sky and on the price tags that day.
#1 that week
“Jessie's Girl”
Rick Springfield
The moon
first quarter
Star sign
♌ Leo
Year of the Rooster
U.S. president
Ronald Reagan
On every radio
The song at #1 the week Roger was born
“Jessie's Girl” by Rick Springfield topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks, taking over from “The One That You Love”.
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Cost of living
What things cost in 1981
U.S. averages for the year Roger Federer 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
Roger Federer 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
Justin Timberlake
singer · born January 31, 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
Ivanka Trump
businesswoman · born October 30, 1981
Meghan Markle
Duchess of Sussex · born August 4, 1981
Paris Hilton
media personality · born February 17, 1981
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Questions
When was Roger Federer born?
Roger Federer was born on Saturday, August 8, 1981, in Basel, Switzerland.
What day of the week was Roger Federer born?
A Saturday. August 8, 1981 fell on a Saturday.
What was the #1 song when Roger Federer was born?
“Jessie's Girl” by Rick Springfield was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 the week Roger Federer was born. It spent 2 weeks at #1.
What is Roger Federer’s zodiac sign?
Roger Federer is a Leo (born Aug 8), and was born in the Chinese year of the Rooster.
What was the moon like when Roger Federer was born?
A first quarter moon, about 60% lit, on the night of August 8, 1981.
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