Highlights
Black May (Thailand)
Three days of popular protests against the government of Prime Minister of Thailand Suchinda Kraprayoon begin in Bangkok, leading to a military crackdown that results in 52 officially confirmed deaths, hundreds of injuries, many disappearances, and more than 3,500 arrests.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
World Health Organization
The General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) eliminates homosexuality from the list of psychiatric diseases.
Charlie Gubb
Charlie Gubb, New Zealand rugby league player
Katrina Hart
Katrina Hart, English runner
Guido Pella
Guido Pella, Argentine tennis player
Shawn Nelson steals an M60 tank from the California Army National Guard Armory in San Diego and proceeds to go on a rampage.
Troops of Laurent-Désiré Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Black May (Thailand)
Three days of popular protests against the government of Prime Minister of Thailand Suchinda Kraprayoon begin in Bangkok, leading to a military crackdown that results in 52 officially confirmed deaths, hundreds of injuries, many disappearances, and more than 3,500 arrests.
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk, American accordion player and bandleader (born 1903)
Julie Anne San Jose
Julie Anne San Jose, Filipina singer-songwriter
Kevin Gilbert (musician)
Kevin Gilbert, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1966)
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Will Clyburn
Will Clyburn, American basketball player
Fabian Giefer
Fabian Giefer, German footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:

Roseanne
"Isn't It Romantic?" (Season 6, Episode 24) aired on 1994-05-17.

Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Apple Wood Amulet of Emiliano Zapata" (Season 2, Episode 4) aired on 1994-05-17.

Rescue 911
"Episode 525" (Season 5, Episode 25) aired on 1994-05-17.

NYPD Blue
"Rockin' Robin" (Season 1, Episode 22) aired on 1994-05-17.
"Jeff Goldblum, Sonic Youth, James Carville" (Season 1994, Episode 79) aired on 1994-05-17.
"Sinéad O'Connor, Van Morrison, The Chieftains" (Season 1995, Episode 84) aired on 1995-05-17.
"Helen Hunt, Dave Matthews Band" (Season 1996, Episode 81) aired on 1996-05-17.
"Surf Monkeys Must Dive!" (Season 1, Episode 23) aired on 1997-05-17.
"Moment of Truth (2)" (Season 5, Episode 26) aired on 1997-05-17.
"Jeff Goldblum / En Vogue" (Season 22, Episode 20) aired on 1997-05-17.
"Arabian Tales" (Season 1, Episode 23) aired on 1998-05-17.
"Miracle at Midnight" (Season 42, Episode 28) aired on 1998-05-17.
"The Spirit of Liberty Moon (1)" (Season 4, Episode 26) aired on 1998-05-17.
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 — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#3 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#4 on TRL — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#5 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#6 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#7 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#8 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#9 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#10 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
By Year
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