On this day in 1988: The Human Rights Now! world tour kicked off at Wembley Stadium London with Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman and Youssu n’Dour. Taking in five continents and claiming to be the most ambitious rock tour in history.
Human Rights Now! was a worldwide tour of twenty benefit concerts on behalf of Amnesty International that took place over six weeks in 1988. Held not to raise funds, but to increase awareness of both the universal Declaration of Human Rights on its 40th anniversary and the work of Amnesty International.
Human rights activists and former prisoners from around the world, led by Sonny Venkatrathnam from South Africa, participated in the tour. At each location, the artists and Amnesty leaders held a press conference to discuss human rights, and concert-goers were provided with copies of the Universal Declaration in their language and opportunities to sign the Declaration themselves and join the worldwide human rights movement. The tour was made possible in part by a grant from the Reebok Foundation.
On this day in 1989: Paula Abdul went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Cold Hearted.” It would spend one week in the top spot. It was the third #1 single off her “Forever Your Girl” album. “Cold Hearted” ended Richard Marx’s three-week run at the summit with “Right Here Waiting”. “Cold Hearted” ranked sixth on Billboard’s Year-End Hot 100 of 1989. It spent a total of eight weeks within the Billboard top ten.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1989:
1 2 COLD HEARTED –•– Paula Abdul – 11 (1)
2 1 RIGHT HERE WAITING –•– Richard Marx – 9 (1)
3 3 HANGIN’ TOUGH –•– New Kids On The Block – 8 (3)
4 4 DON’T WANNA LOSE YOU –•– Gloria Estefan – 9 (4)
5 10 ANGEL EYES –•– Jeff Healey Band – 12 (5)
6 15 HEAVEN –•– Warrant – 7 (6)
7 6 SECRET RENDEZVOUS –•– Karyn White – 15 (6)
8 12 SHOWER ME WITH YOUR LOVE –•– Surface – 10 (8)
9 8 THE END OF THE INNOCENCE –•– Don Henley – 11 (8)
10 9 FRIENDS –•– Jody Watley with Eric B. & Rakim – 12 (9)
11 17 IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME –•– Cher – 9 (11)
12 19 GIRL I’M GONNA MISS YOU –•– Milli Vanilli – 5 (12)
13 16 18 AND LIFE –•– Skid Row – 9 (13)
14 14 KEEP ON MOVIN’ –•– Soul II Soul – 11 (14)
15 5 ON OUR OWN –•– Bobby Brown – 13 (2)
16 13 SACRED EMOTION –•– Donny Osmond – 12 (13)
17 7 ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY –•– Great White – 17 (5)
18 11 I LIKE IT –•– Dino – 17 (7)
19 23 ONE –•– Bee Gees – 6 (19)
20 28 CHERISH –•– Madonna – 3 (20)
