Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Bradley Klahn
Bradley Klahn, American tennis player
Ranomi Kromowidjojo
Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Dutch swimmer
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union, August Coup: More than 100,000 people rally outside the Soviet Union's parliament building protesting the coup aiming to depose President Mikhail Gorbachev.
Estonia
Estonia, occupied by and incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940, issues a decision on the re-establishment of independence on the basis of legal continuity of its pre-occupation statehood.
In India, Meitei language (officially known as Manipuri language) was included in the scheduled languages' list and made one of the official languages of the Indian Government.
The Supreme Court of Canada rules that Quebec cannot legally secede from Canada without the federal government's approval.
U.S. embassy bombings: The United States launches cruise missile attacks against alleged al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and a suspected chemical weapons plant in Sudan in retaliation for the August 7 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato, American singer-songwriter and actress
Rio Reiser
Rio Reiser, German singer-songwriter (born 1950)
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Macauley Chrisantus
Macauley Chrisantus, Nigerian footballer
Leigh Griffiths
Leigh Griffiths, Scottish footballer
Cory Joseph
Cory Joseph, Canadian basketball player
Deniss Rakels
Deniss Rakels, Latvian footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Gail O'Grady, Ruben Blades, Blightobody" (Season 1994, Episode 146) aired on 1994-08-20.
Cops
"Los Angeles, CA #17" (Season 7, Episode 6) aired on 1994-08-20.
Time Life's Lost Civilizations
"The Inca: Secrets of the Ancestors" (Season 1, Episode 9) aired on 1995-08-20.
Modern Marvels
"Space Shuttle" (Season 3, Episode 1) aired on 1995-08-20.
"Tevin Campbell (host), Salt-n-Pepa, Robin S, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin" (Season 1994, Episode 31) aired on 1994-08-20.
"Waylon Jennings, Donna Hanover, Giuliani, Patty Loveless, Toby Keith, Aaron Tippin, Rodney Foster, Mark Luna" (Season 1, Episode 11) aired on 1994-08-20.
"John Hulme & Michael Wexler" (Season 1996, Episode 18) aired on 1996-08-20.
"Dennis Rodman, Susan Molinari, Neville Brothers" (Season 1996, Episode 133) aired on 1996-08-20.
"Loretta Lynn" (Season 1997, Episode 109) aired on 1997-08-20.
"Mira Sorvino, Jeff Altman, Coolio" (Season 1997, Episode 132) aired on 1997-08-20.
"Helen Thomas First Lady of the Press" (Season 1998, Episode 46) aired on 1998-08-20.
"Sela Ward" (Season 1998, Episode 107) aired on 1998-08-20.
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 — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#4 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#5 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#6 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#7 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#8 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#9 on TRL — Brandy & Monica, "The Boy Is Mine"
#10 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
By Year
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