15 Things That Happened 15 Years Ago

1998 really doesn't feel like so long ago, does it?

1. Viagra went on sale in the U.S.

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Initially created to help with high blood pressure and angina, Viagra went on sale in the U.S. in late 1998. Ten years later, annual sales of Viagra came in at $1,934 million.

2. Geri left the Spice Girls.

Via talktalk.co.uk

Ginger left the Spice Girls shortly before the group began a tour of North America. The group continued as a foursome.

3. The Parent Trap was released.

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Simpler times for Lindsay Lohan.

As was There's Something About Mary.

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Changing the way people looked at hair gel forever.

And Shakespeare in Love.

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In which Gwyneth Paltrow practices the first of two English accents that year. The second being for Sliding Doors.

4. And Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels made a mockney out of everyone.

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Including Guy Ritchie.

5. Dana International won the Eurovision.

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Israeli star Dana Interational became the first transgender singer to win the Eurovision Song Contest with "Diva."

6. Billie Piper went to No. 1 with "Because We Want To."

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The track made her the youngest artist to ever debut at No. 1.

As did all these songs:

7. The Corrs had the best-selling album of the year with Talk On Corners.

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Talk on Corners was also the ninth-best selling album of 1999.

And Madonna released "Ray of Light."

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The album went six times platinum in the U.K.

8. A goal turned Michael Owen into a superstar.

Owen's wondergoal against Argentina during the World Cup introduced the then-18-year-old as a major star.

9. Posh and Becks got engaged.

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See! She does smile.

10. The £2 coin was introduced into circulation.

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The inscription on the edge of the £2 coin reads "standing on the shoulders of giants," taken from a letter by Sir Isaac Newton to Robert Hooke.

11. A cardboard box became a vital piece of equipment in Metal Gear Solid.

Via metalgear.wikia.com

Metal Gear Solid for Playstation was the video game phenomenon of the year, shifting 6 million copies worldwide.

12. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire debuted.

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Interesting fact: Judith Keppel, the first £1 million winner, now appears on Eggheads.

13. The final Father Ted episode was broadcast.

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Down with that sort of thing.

14. Texas and Method Man collaborated at the BRIT Awards.

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Via dailymotion.com

And the world wondered why.

15. And Google was founded.

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Google Incorporated was operating out of a garage in 1998. Eight years later, "Google" was added to the Oxford English Dictionary.