On August 17, 2011, Katy Perry’s hit “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” climbed to No. 1 on the charts. With this achievement, Perry became the second artist ever to have five singles from the same album reach No. 1, following Michael Jackson’s record with his album Bad.
This date has seen many significant moments in music history. In 1959, Miles Davis released Kind of Blue, a groundbreaking jazz album that remains the best-selling jazz record of all time. In 1968, The Doors topped the U.S. charts for four weeks with their album Waiting for the Sun, featuring the No. 1 single “Hello, I Love You.” Fast forward to 2002, when Nelly made history by replacing himself at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Dilemma,” after “Hot in Herre.” Most recently, in 2023, Travis Scott held the top spot on the Billboard 200 with his album Utopia, featuring collaborations with stars like Drake and Beyoncé.
August 17 has also been a day for memorable performances. In 1960, The Beatles rocked a concert in Hamburg, showcasing their energy and stage presence. In 1984, Elton John announced his retirement after a world tour, though he would return later. In 1991, Nirvana filmed the iconic music video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” which became a hit at the MTV Video Music Awards and peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
This date is packed with unforgettable moments in music. It’s a great time to revisit the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video!
