In 1991, this pop superstar secretly voiced a character on The Simpsons but, due to a contract dispute, was credited under the pseudonym John Jay Smith instead of his real name.
Michael Jackson
This Prince song, released in 1982, became an anthem for partying “like it’s” the year in its title.
1999

Heisman Trophy
Masters Tournament
Augusta, Georgia
U.S. Open (Tennis)
Queens, New York
WrestleMania I
New York, New York (Madison Square Garden)
Writing under the name Richard Bachman, this author published several novels in the late 1970s and early ’80s to see whether his work could succeed without his famous name.
Stephen King
This Roland Emmerich disaster film uses a specific year as its title, referencing a misinterpreted Mayan calendar prediction.
2012

FIFA World Cup
Rose Bowl Game
Pasadena, California
2028 Summer Olympics
Los Angeles, California
The Bangles’ 1986 hit “Manic Monday” was written by this artist under the pseudonym “Christopher” to avoid drawing attention to himself.
Prince
This Smashing Pumpkins song takes its title from a year but is actually about nostalgia, youth, and fleeting moments rather than a specific historical event.
1979

CFP National Championship
Little League World Series
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Preakness Stakes
Baltimore, Maryland
NASA's Apollo launches (7-17)
Cape Canaveral, Florida
Credited as Robert Galbraith, this author launched a crime-fiction series years after achieving global fame under her real name.
JK Rowling
Serving as a prequel to Yellowstone, this television series takes its title from a specific year.
1923
Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony
Oslo, Norway
Winter X Games
Aspen, Colorado
Super Bowl I
Los Angeles
Credited as Larry Fisherman, this rapper used a pseudonym when producing music for himself and other artists to separate his work behind the boards from his performances.
Mac Miller
This 2017 science-fiction sequel set decades after the original film includes a future year directly in its title.
Blade Runner: 2049

U.S. Open (Golf)
Sundance Film Festival
Park City, Utah
2026 NFL Draft
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania