July 2 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are …, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 19 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined July 2 across the 1990s.
In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death …
In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death and trampled upon in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca.
USAir Flight 1016 crashes near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, killing …
USAir Flight 1016 crashes near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, killing 37 of the 57 people on board.
Lloyd MacPhail, Canadian businessman and politician, 23rd Lieutenant Governor of…
Lloyd MacPhail, Canadian businessman and politician, 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island (born 1920)
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Kenny Loggins (host), Bryan Adams · San Luis Obispo Train
2 episodes aired on July 2, 1994: "Kenny Loggins (host), Bryan Adams", "San Luis Obispo Train".
Aegean: Legacy of Atlantis · Family Car
2 episodes aired on July 2, 1995: "Aegean: Legacy of Atlantis", "Family Car".
The Haze · No Loans Today + 2 more
4 episodes aired on July 2, 1996: "The Haze", "No Loans Today", "Will Smith, Demi Moore", "Episode 17".
Ep. #2578 · Wednesday, July 2, 1997 + 5 more
7 episodes aired on July 2, 1997: "Ep. #2578", "Wednesday, July 2, 1997", "Best Laid Plans", "Mothers, Lost Fullbacks, and Other Soft Things", and 3 more.
Progeny · Hitting Olansky + 1 more
3 episodes aired on July 2, 1998: "Progeny", "Hitting Olansky", "Ben Stiller, Hatty Jones, Spice Girls".
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.
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.
Ricky Martin's "Livin' la Vida Loca" 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.
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.
Blink-182's "What's My Age Again?" 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.
Smash Mouth's "All Star" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Savage Garden's "I Want You" 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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on July 2 across the decade.
Vince Staples, American rapper and actor
Vince Staples, American rapper and actor · Saweetie, American rapper
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from July 2 across the 1990s.
Merritt Mathias, American soccer player
Merritt Mathias, American soccer player · Danny Rose, English footballer
Jānis Timma, Latvian basketball player
Jānis Timma, Latvian basketball player
Derrick White, American basketball player
Derrick White, American basketball player · Andrés Escobar, Colombian footballer (born 1967)
Full Events Archive
Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy
In the 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy, 1,400 Muslim pilgrims are suffocated to death and trampled upon in a pedestrian tunnel leading to the holy city of Mecca.
Kayla Harrison
Kayla Harrison, American judoka
Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie, Australian actress and producer
Bill Tupou
Bill Tupou, New Zealand rugby league player
USAir Flight 1016 crashes near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, killing 37 of the 57 people on board.
Lloyd MacPhail, Canadian businessman and politician, 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island (born 1920)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Vince Staples
Vince Staples, American rapper and actor
Saweetie
Saweetie, American rapper
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Merritt Mathias
Merritt Mathias, American soccer player
Danny Rose (footballer, born 1990)
Danny Rose, English footballer
Jānis Timma
Jānis Timma, Latvian basketball player
Derrick White
Derrick White, American basketball player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
California's Gold
"San Luis Obispo Train" (Season 5, Episode 7) aired on 1994-07-02.
Time Life's Lost Civilizations
"Aegean: Legacy of Atlantis" (Season 1, Episode 2) aired on 1995-07-02.
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
"Family Car" (Season 1, Episode 6) aired on 1995-07-02.
Caryl & Marilyn: Real Friends
"Episode 17" (Season 1, Episode 17) aired on 1996-07-02.
"Kenny Loggins (host), Bryan Adams" (Season 1994, Episode 25) aired on 1994-07-02.
"Will Smith, Demi Moore" (Season 1996, Episode 108) aired on 1996-07-02.
"Mothers, Lost Fullbacks, and Other Soft Things" (Season 1, Episode 13) aired on 1997-07-02.
"Tom Arnold, Mitchell Libonati, Blur" (Season 1997, Episode 107) aired on 1997-07-02.
"Ben Stiller, Hatty Jones, Spice Girls" (Season 1998, Episode 106) aired on 1998-07-02.
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 — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#3 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#4 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#5 on TRL — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#6 on TRL — Blink-182, "What's My Age Again?"
#7 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#8 on TRL — Smash Mouth, "All Star"
#9 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
#10 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
By Year
Get This in Your Inbox Every Morning
Every day at midnight, a fresh dose of 90s nostalgia hits your inbox — tailored to today's date in the 1990s. Music, news, sports, movies and more.
Browse All Posts →