My Word! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Magic

One of the good things to come from the 1980 musical "Xanadu" was the hit song "Magic", sung by Olivia Newton-John. "Magic" was ranked by Billboard as the third most popular single of the year, behind "Call Me" and "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II". The song was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.

Answer: Lady

Country singer Kenny Rogers released "Lady" on his album "Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits" in 1980. The song was written by former Commodore, Lionel Richie. The single was the first record of the decade to chart on all four of Billboard magazine's singles charts, i.e., Country, Hot 100, Top Black singles and Adult Contemporary.

Answer: Centerfold

From the album "Freeze Frame", we get J. Geils Band's hit "Centerfold", released in 1981. The song tells the story of a man who finds that his high school love appeared as the centerfold in a magazine for men; he is torn between dismay and lust. The following year, the single went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained there for six weeks.

Answer: Waterfalls

From the group's second album, "CrazySexyCool", comes TLC's hit song "Waterfalls".
The album was released in the United States on May 29, 1995, and "Waterfalls" was the third song. It became an international hit, and was the number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. In 1996, TLC won two Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Answer: Breakaway

Rock band ZZ Top (Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard) released "Antenna", their eleventh studio album, in 1994. "Breakaway" was the second single on the album, and the video featured the band singing in a cave full of bats, while a young woman seduces a new lover. Unfortunately, for the guy, the woman turns out to be a vampire.

Answer: Fallin'

"Fallin'" is from Alicia Keys first album "Songs in A Minor", released in 2001. One of the years' best selling hits, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The following year, "Fallin'" won three Grammy Awards, i.e., Song of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. It became Keys' signature song.

Answer: Believe

In 1998, Cher released her 22nd album, with the song "Believe" as the title track. A departure from her usual sound, "Believe" is an uptempo dance-pop song, catering to a younger audience. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording.

At the time, it also put Cher in the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the oldest female solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Answer: Funkytown

Lipps, Inc. asked the question "Won't you take me to Funkytown?" in 1979. "Funkytown" appeared on the group's debut album, "Mouth to Mouth". The disco beat helped push the song to number one, with the special distinction (at the time) of reaching number one in 28 countries. The single reached number one on March 29, 1980, and stayed at the top spot for four weeks.

Answer: Runaway

In 2010, "Runaway" appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was released in 1961 on the album "Del Shannon's Runaway", and sung by Del Shannon - the stage name for singer-guitarist Charles Westover. After appearing on "Dick Clark's American Bandstand" (anyone still remember that show?), Shannon's song went to number one on the Billboard charts for four weeks.

Answer: Dreamlover

Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover" is not to be confused with Bobby Darrin's "Dream Lover" from 1959. "Dreamlover" was the lead single on the album "Music Box", released in 1993. It was a departure from Carey's previous soul and gospel sound. The song became Mariah's seventh number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and it remained at the top spot for eight weeks.

Answer: Grenade

Peter Gene Hernandez, stage name Bruno Mars, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1985. His debut studio album, in 2010, was called "Doo-Wops & Hooligans". The album featured the hit single "Grenade", which reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song combined elements of pop and R&B sounds. It was the second best-selling digital single of 2011, right behind "Rolling in the Deep".

Answer: Escapade

"Rhythm Nation 1814" was Janet Jackson's forth studio album, released on September 19, 1989. The album featured "Escapade" as the third single. With the famous Jackson choreography and upbeat tempo, the song won a BMI Pop Award for "Most Played Song". The tune was inspired by Martha and the Vandellas' 1965 hit, "Nowhere to Run".

Answer: Kryptonite

"Kryptonite", by 3 Doors Down, was released in 2000. The song asks the question "If I go crazy, will you still call me Superman?". It was originally put out as a demo in Biloxi, Mississippi. It went to the top of Modern Chart Tracks, where it remained for eleven weeks, and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Answer: Honey

Going back to 1968, we have Bobby Goldsboro's syrupy hit "Honey", also known as "Honey (I Miss You)". The song's original title was "Pledge of Love"; the lyrics have him grieving for his dead lover. The single spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while also hitting the top spot on the Country Singles and Adult Contemporary charts.

Answer: Breathe

"Breathe", a song by country singer Faith Hill, was released in October 1999. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart where it stayed for six weeks from December 1999 to January 2000. "Breathe", a crossover hit, also went to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It was nominated for Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Country Song.