Rewind to 27 August – 3 September 2005 ⏪
🌪️ Katrina’s wrath
Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast with catastrophic force, flooding 80% of New Orleans when levees failed. What followed was a disaster of human error as much as nature’s fury — FEMA fumbled, the Superdome became a nightmare and trust in the system was non existent. But there were glimmers of humanity too: the Cajun Navy, hospital staff who refused to abandon patients and strangers who took families into their homes.
🏉 All Blacks untouchable
The Tri Nations wrapped with New Zealand strutting like it was their personal training session. Dan Carter booted, Joe Rokocoko dazzled and the Bledisloe Cup stayed firmly tucked under their arm. South Africa fought hard, Australia… well, let’s just say those Wallaby scrums were softer than a marshmallow in hot Milo.
🎶 Oasis sings about doing nothing
The Importance of Being Idle gave Noel Gallagher his turn on vocals and Britain its newest #1. A Kinks-flavoured anthem about slacking off and not giving a toss — proof that Oasis could still crank out bangers even when they couldn’t be bothered.
🌴 Enter: Rihanna
At just 17, Rihanna dropped her debut album Music of the Sun. It wasn’t world domination yet, but Pon de Replay turned every club into a sweaty Caribbean night. Jay-Z had literally locked her in a Def Jam office until she signed.
🔓 Prison Break kicks off
Michael Scofield got himself jailed, ripped his shirt off to reveal a full prison blueprint tattoo and made everyone rethink their life choices — like, why didn’t you get inked with an elaborate escape plan? Add in T-Bag’s creepy vibes, mob boss toe-snipping and toilets doubling as tunnels — it was instant appointment TV.
😂 We Can Be Heroes bows out
Chris Lilley’s Aussie mockumentary wrapped its season with Ja’mie raising money “for Sudan, but also me,” Pat Mullins rolling across the outback and the Dapto twins keeping it bogan. Hailed as genius at the time, it’s now the kind of show that makes you laugh, then wince, then say “yikes, that aged like milk.”
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