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Quiz about Songs That Characterized The 80s
Quiz about Songs That Characterized The 80s

Songs That Characterized The 80s Quiz


80s music has a reputation as being the death of R&B rock and the birth of electric pop. That might be so, but it did spawn some mighty fine tunes and mighty large shoulder pads. This quiz looks at some of the best songs and artists.

A multiple-choice quiz by bertho. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
bertho
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
132,742
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
10 / 15
Plays
8483
Last 3 plays: Guest 107 (14/15), Guest 73 (13/15), Guest 73 (9/15).
- -
Question 1 of 15
1. Which 'dandy highwayman' was heard singing "so unplug the jukebox
and do us all a favour, that music's lost its taste so try another flavour"?
Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. David Bowie reinvented himself for the eighth time and released a very commercial but very good album in 1983 called 'Let's Dance.' Which of these hit songs WASN'T on the album? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. If you were to 'play guitar on the MTV', you'd most likely want your 'money for nothing' and your ____________?

Answer: (3 words)
Question 4 of 15
4. If you met a 'Travelling Wilbury' in the wild, what would you do? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. 'Together In Electric Dreams', 'Flashdance....What A Feeling', 'Cat People' (lyrics by Bowie) and 'Call Me'(performed by Blondie) are all songs written and produced by which king of electro pop? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Who did Howard Jones blame in 1985? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. What would be the most appropriate school class to be in when listening to the 1982 song 'I Melt With You'? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. Who am I? "I was showing off my true colors when I said; girls just want to have fun, time after time!"

Answer: (Two Words)
Question 9 of 15
9. Which musical spawned Murray Head's 'One Night In Bangkok' and Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson's 'I Know Him So Well?' Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Who was 'Lost In Love' in 1980? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. Which Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band blues track had Tom Cruise sliding across the floor in his gym socks in the movie 'Risky Business'? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. Complete this line from Culture Club's 'Karma Chameleon: '"Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream, ______________." Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. Which ex-Eagle had the biggest solo career after the band broke up in 1982 with hits 'Dirty Laundry' and 'Boys Of Summer'? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Which early 80's hit had the opening lines: "Poor old Johnny Ray, sounded sad upon the radio, moved a million hearts in mono"?
Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. A little cryptic question to finish: These men lacking head apparel left your friends behind to write which bop without risk?

Answer: (Two Words: A song title)

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Most Recent Scores
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 107: 14/15
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 73: 13/15
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 73: 9/15
Mar 15 2024 : Guest 73: 12/15
Mar 13 2024 : angostura: 15/15
Mar 10 2024 : Guest 100: 13/15
Mar 07 2024 : Guest 62: 8/15
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 137: 11/15
Feb 18 2024 : Guest 204: 8/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which 'dandy highwayman' was heard singing "so unplug the jukebox and do us all a favour, that music's lost its taste so try another flavour"?

Answer: Adam Ant

Adam Ant, the guy who 'spent his cash on looking flash', launched into the 80's with his second album 'Kings of The Wild Frontier' featuring the great hit 'Ant Music.' He was to release another six albums during the 80's.
2. David Bowie reinvented himself for the eighth time and released a very commercial but very good album in 1983 called 'Let's Dance.' Which of these hit songs WASN'T on the album?

Answer: Heroes

'Fashion' was released in 1980 on the 'Scary Monsters' album. After releasing 14 smash albums in the 70's, the brilliant Bowie never quite got much of a foothold in the 80's and failed to impress the mainstream with his follow-up albums to 'Lets Dance', 'Tonight', and 'Never let Me Down.'
3. If you were to 'play guitar on the MTV', you'd most likely want your 'money for nothing' and your ____________?

Answer: Chicks for free

Formed in 1977, Dire Straits (aptly named due to their financial position) hit the super league with their 'Brothers In Arms' album in 1985. The hit single 'Money For Nothing' took the album to number one in Canada, Brazil, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, German, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Israel, just to name a lot.
4. If you met a 'Travelling Wilbury' in the wild, what would you do?

Answer: Handle With Care

One of the great hits from the Travelling Wilburys was 'Handle With Care.' The band was comprised of legends Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, and the late Tom Petty, George Harrison and Roy Orbison.
5. 'Together In Electric Dreams', 'Flashdance....What A Feeling', 'Cat People' (lyrics by Bowie) and 'Call Me'(performed by Blondie) are all songs written and produced by which king of electro pop?

Answer: Giorgio Moroder

Giorgio Moroder's credits are astounding. Starting his music career in 1967, Moroder racked up hit after hit in the 70's and 80's and produced so many more. He is the winner of three Oscars, four Golden Globes, and three Grammys.
6. Who did Howard Jones blame in 1985?

Answer: No One

Howard Jones was a defining figure of synth-pop during the 80's. Learning to play the piano at the tender age of 7 in Southampton, England, Jones' family relocated to Canada when he was a teenager. 'No One is to Blame' was one of three chart hits in 1985 for Jones.
7. What would be the most appropriate school class to be in when listening to the 1982 song 'I Melt With You'?

Answer: Modern English

Modern English has the unfortunate label of 'one-hit wonders.' Fortunately, they did record 'I Melt With You', which has survived on the radio for over 20 years.
8. Who am I? "I was showing off my true colors when I said; girls just want to have fun, time after time!"

Answer: Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953. Making her world debut in the early 80's she was one of the first women of the MTV generation.
9. Which musical spawned Murray Head's 'One Night In Bangkok' and Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson's 'I Know Him So Well?'

Answer: Chess

Tim Rice conceived the idea for the musical 'Chess' in 1980. Rice was introduced to Benny and Bjorn from ABBA who were looking to move their talents into musicals and eventually scored the show. Rice was responsible for the lyrics. The music from 'Chess' was released before the musical hit the stage and did very well.

The musical opened in the West End and ran for three years before moving to Broadway.
10. Who was 'Lost In Love' in 1980?

Answer: Air Supply

Aussie band Air Supply struggled to find an audience outside of Australia for many years. Rod Stewart took the band to North America as his support act and they soon found their overseas audience. 'Lost In Love' sold over 2 million copies in the USA.
11. Which Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band blues track had Tom Cruise sliding across the floor in his gym socks in the movie 'Risky Business'?

Answer: Old Time Rock n Roll

The song 'Old Time Rock n Roll' was released on the 1978 'Stranger In Town' album, but found its greatest audience in an unforgettable scene with Tom Cruise mouthing to the song and dancing to the music in the 1983 teen cult movie 'Risky Business.' 'Taking Care Of Business' was indeed from Bachman Turner Overdrive.
12. Complete this line from Culture Club's 'Karma Chameleon: '"Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream, ______________."

Answer: Red gold and green, red gold and green

UK band Culture Club, with front man Boy George, was one of the biggest bands of the 80's. In the UK they set a record with 7 straight top ten singles and bettered this with 9 in the USA.
13. Which ex-Eagle had the biggest solo career after the band broke up in 1982 with hits 'Dirty Laundry' and 'Boys Of Summer'?

Answer: Don Henley

Canadian Bryan Adams of course wasn't an ex-Eagle and had his own hit with 'Summer Of '69.' Don Henley had a lot of success beyond the Eagles. His third solo album, 'The End Of Innocence', sold 3 million copies and stayed charted for over three years.
14. Which early 80's hit had the opening lines: "Poor old Johnny Ray, sounded sad upon the radio, moved a million hearts in mono"?

Answer: Come On Eileen

'Come On Eileen' from Dexy's Midnight Runners was a huge hit in the USA and the UK, but the band failed to impress with follow up songs in the American market. Their unusual name came from the stimulant Dexedrine, a popular drug on the northern soul scene, which was ironic, as the band had a strict no drugs or drinking policy.
15. A little cryptic question to finish: These men lacking head apparel left your friends behind to write which bop without risk?

Answer: Safety Dance

Men Without Hats had a long staying hit with the 'Safety Dance.' Hopefully you remembered the song. "We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind 'cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance well they're no friends of mine."

Thanks for playing.
Source: Author bertho

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bullymom before going online.
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