May 31 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Bicesse Accords in Angola lay out a transition to multi-part…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 17 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined May 31 across the 1990s.
Bicesse Accords in Angola lay out a transition to multi-party democracy under th…
Bicesse Accords in Angola lay out a transition to multi-party democracy under the supervision of the United Nations' UNAVEM II peacekeeping mission.
Honey Tree Evil Eye, or, Spuds MacKenzie, Bud Light Bull Terrier mascot (born 19…
Honey Tree Evil Eye, or, Spuds MacKenzie, Bud Light Bull Terrier mascot (born 1983)
The Confederation Bridge opens, linking Prince Edward Island with mainland New B…
The Confederation Bridge opens, linking Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
- · Janice Pennington + 1 more
3 episodes aired on May 31, 1994: "-", "Janice Pennington", "The Electrified Key of Benjamin Franklin".
Geraldo Rivera (guest host), Cheech Marin · helping families in Bosnia + 1 more
3 episodes aired on May 31, 1996: "Geraldo Rivera (guest host), Cheech Marin", "helping families in Bosnia", "Bad Television".
Depeche Mode, INXS · Bloodlines + 5 more
7 episodes aired on May 31, 1997: "Depeche Mode, INXS", "Bloodlines", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "The Black Widower", and 3 more.
Over the Edge: In Your House · Doodler + 1 more
3 episodes aired on May 31, 1998: "Over the Edge: In Your House", "Doodler", "John Belushi".
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.
Backstreet Boys's "I Want It That Way" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
TLC's "No Scrubs" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Jennifer Lopez's "If You Had My Love" 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
*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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on May 31 across the decade.
Azealia Banks, American singer-songwriter and rapper
Azealia Banks, American singer-songwriter and rapper
Woo Jin-young, South Korean singer and rapper
Woo Jin-young, South Korean singer and rapper · Jeong Se-woon, South Korean singer-songwriter
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from May 31 across the 1990s.
Shane Bieber, American baseball player
Shane Bieber, American baseball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Electrified Key of Benjamin Franklin" (Season 2, Episode 8) aired on 1994-05-31.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Erik Karlsson
Erik Karlsson, Swedish ice hockey player
Michaël Bournival
Michaël Bournival, Canadian ice hockey player
Laura Ikauniece
Laura Ikauniece, Latvian heptathlete
Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson
Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, Icelandic politician
Bicesse Accords in Angola lay out a transition to multi-party democracy under the supervision of the United Nations' UNAVEM II peacekeeping mission.
Honey Tree Evil Eye, or, Spuds MacKenzie, Bud Light Bull Terrier mascot (born 1983)
The Confederation Bridge opens, linking Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Azealia Banks
Azealia Banks, American singer-songwriter and rapper
Woo Jin-young
Woo Jin-young, South Korean singer and rapper
Jeong Se-woon
Jeong Se-woon, South Korean singer-songwriter
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Electrified Key of Benjamin Franklin" (Season 2, Episode 8) aired on 1994-05-31.
The Price is Right
"Fri, May 31, 1996" (Season 1996, Episode 107) aired on 1996-05-31.
Dennis Miller Live
"Bad Television" (Season 3, Episode 16) aired on 1996-05-31.
Dark Skies
"Bloodlines" (Season 1, Episode 20) aired on 1997-05-31.
"Geraldo Rivera (guest host), Cheech Marin" (Season 1996, Episode 68) aired on 1996-05-31.
"I've Got You Under My Skin" (Season 4, Episode 20) aired on 1997-05-31.
"Over the Edge: In Your House" (Season 1998, Episode 5) aired on 1998-05-31.
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 — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#3 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#4 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#5 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#6 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#7 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#8 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#9 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#10 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
By Year
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