May 7 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by A fire and explosion occurs at a fireworks factory at Sungai…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 54 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined May 7 across the 1990s.
A fire and explosion occurs at a fireworks factory at Sungai Buloh, Malaysia, ki…
A fire and explosion occurs at a fireworks factory at Sungai Buloh, Malaysia, killing 26.
Michigan ratifies a 203-year-old proposed amendment to the United States Constit…
Michigan ratifies a 203-year-old proposed amendment to the United States Constitution making the 27th Amendment law. This amendment bars the U.S. Congress from giving itself a mid-term pay raise.
Edvard Munch's painting The Scream is recovered undamaged after being stolen fro…
Edvard Munch's painting The Scream is recovered undamaged after being stolen from the National Gallery of Norway in February.
Mercedes-Benz buys Chrysler for US$40 billion and forms DaimlerChrysler in the l…
Mercedes-Benz buys Chrysler for US$40 billion and forms DaimlerChrysler in the largest industrial merger in history.
Pope John Paul II travels to Romania, becoming the first pope to visit a predomi…
Pope John Paul II travels to Romania, becoming the first pope to visit a predominantly Eastern Orthodox country since the Great Schism in 1054.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Peter Frampton (host), Pink Floyd · Message from the Supersonics + 11 more
13 episodes aired on May 7, 1994: "Peter Frampton (host), Pink Floyd", "Message from the Supersonics", "The Play's the Thing", "Artist Formally Known as Prince/ For Lovers Only", and 9 more.
Frankie and Ellie Get Lost · Police pursuit; a bored wrestler + 3 more
5 episodes aired on May 7, 1995: "Frankie and Ellie Get Lost", "Police pursuit; a bored wrestler", "The Springfield Connection", "Another Killing in Cork", and 1 more.
- · Marvin Woods + 8 more
10 episodes aired on May 7, 1996: "-", "Marvin Woods", "The Reckoning", "The Wedding", and 6 more.
Wednesday, May 7, 1997 · The Heather Biblow Story + 13 more
15 episodes aired on May 7, 1997: "Wednesday, May 7, 1997", "The Heather Biblow Story", "Survival", "Sleeping", and 11 more.
The One With Ross's Wedding: Part I · A Hand Up is Never a Handout (1) + 5 more
7 episodes aired on May 7, 1998: "The One With Ross's Wedding: Part I", "A Hand Up is Never a Handout (1)", "Suffer the Little Children", "Revenge", and 3 more.
TRL Countdown — 1999
Total Request Live was the center of the pop universe. Teens were burning up the phone lines to vote, and the countdown from Times Square was the most-watched 30 minutes on MTV.
The reigning #1 — retired from the countdown after an extended run at the top.
Eminem's "My Name Is" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Korn's "Freak On A Leash" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Britney Spears's "...Baby One More Time" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
*NSYNC's "I Drive Myself Crazy" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Sugar Ray's "Every Morning" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Limp Bizkit's "Nookie" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
98 Degrees's "The Hardest Thing" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on May 7 across the decade.
Ray McKinley, American drummer, singer, and bandleader (Glenn Miller Orchestra) …
Ray McKinley, American drummer, singer, and bandleader (Glenn Miller Orchestra) (born 1910)
Eddie Rabbitt, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1941)…
Eddie Rabbitt, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1941)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from May 7 across the 1990s.
Sydney Leroux, Canadian-American footballer
Sydney Leroux, Canadian-American footballer
Seko Fofana, Ivorian international footballer
Seko Fofana, Ivorian international footballer
Youri Tielemans, Belgian footballer
Youri Tielemans, Belgian footballer
Dani Olmo, Spanish footballer
Dani Olmo, Spanish footballer
Cody Gakpo, Dutch footballer
Cody Gakpo, Dutch footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Space Shuttle program
Space Shuttle program: The Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on its first mission, STS-49.
Read more →Almost Live
"Message from the Supersonics" (Season 10, Episode 24) aired on 1994-05-07.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Michigan
Michigan ratifies a 203-year-old proposed amendment to the United States Constitution making the 27th Amendment law. This amendment bars the U.S. Congress from giving itself a mid-term pay raise.
Space Shuttle program
Space Shuttle program: The Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on its first mission, STS-49.
McDonald's
Three employees at a McDonald's Restaurant in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, are brutally murdered and a fourth permanently disabled after a botched robbery. It is the first "fast-food murder" in Canada.
Alexander Ludwig
Alexander Ludwig, Canadian actor and musician
A fire and explosion occurs at a fireworks factory at Sungai Buloh, Malaysia, killing 26.
Edvard Munch's painting The Scream is recovered undamaged after being stolen from the National Gallery of Norway in February.
Mercedes-Benz buys Chrysler for US$40 billion and forms DaimlerChrysler in the largest industrial merger in history.
Allan McLeod Cormack, South African-English physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1924)
Pope John Paul II travels to Romania, becoming the first pope to visit a predominantly Eastern Orthodox country since the Great Schism in 1054.
Kosovo War: Three Chinese citizens are killed and 20 wounded when a NATO aircraft inadvertently bombs the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Serbia.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Ray McKinley
Ray McKinley, American drummer, singer, and bandleader (Glenn Miller Orchestra) (born 1910)
Eddie Rabbitt
Eddie Rabbitt, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1941)
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Sydney Leroux
Sydney Leroux, Canadian-American footballer
Seko Fofana
Seko Fofana, Ivorian international footballer
Youri Tielemans
Youri Tielemans, Belgian footballer
Dani Olmo
Dani Olmo, Spanish footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Almost Live
"Message from the Supersonics" (Season 10, Episode 24) aired on 1994-05-07.
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?
"The Play's the Thing" (Season 1, Episode 10) aired on 1994-05-07.
Soul Train
"Artist Formally Known as Prince/ For Lovers Only" (Season 23, Episode 25) aired on 1994-05-07.
The Wonderful World of Disney
"The Rocketeer" (Season 38, Episode 5) aired on 1994-05-07.
"Peter Frampton (host), Pink Floyd" (Season 1994, Episode 17) aired on 1994-05-07.
"Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 1) aired on 1994-05-07.
"It's the Thing of the Principal" (Season 1, Episode 9) aired on 1994-05-07.
"John Goodman / The Pretenders" (Season 19, Episode 19) aired on 1994-05-07.
"Police pursuit; a bored wrestler" (Season 6, Episode 23) aired on 1995-05-07.
"Paul Reiser, Jane Seymour, Keanu Reeves & Dogstar" (Season 1996, Episode 73) aired on 1996-05-07.
"Mike Myers" (Season 1997, Episode 62) aired on 1997-05-07.
"Mike Myers, Danny Aiello, Crossbows of Death" (Season 1997, Episode 72) aired on 1997-05-07.
"A Hand Up is Never a Handout (1)" (Season 2, Episode 22) aired on 1998-05-07.
"Jon Favreau" (Season 1998, Episode 62) aired on 1998-05-07.
"Matt Lauer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Green Day" (Season 1998, Episode 71) aired on 1998-05-07.
Total Request Live had teenagers calling in around the clock. Here's what was charting:
The #1 most requested video on TRL on this date in 1999
#2 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#3 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#4 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#5 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#6 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#7 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#8 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#9 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#10 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
By Year
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