Songs In Stereo - 1981 Quiz / Test - Billboard Hot 100 Hits of 1981 | 1980s Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Juice Newton

1981 was a big year for Juice Newton. Her single "Queen Of Hearts" ranked as the fourteenth biggest hit of the year on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Angel Of The Morning" clocked in at number twenty-five. Juice earned five Grammy nominations that year in both the Pop and Country categories.

2. Devo

"When a problem comes along, you must whip it. Whip it good!" Devo's biggest hit and signature song became a staple on MTV and was the 94th biggest Billboard Hot 100 of 1981. The band were based in Akron, Ohio and known for their unique headwear, herky-jerky stage dances, and their alternative sound.

3. Daryl Hall And John Oates

One of the biggest stars of 1981 were the duo of Daryl Hall and John Oates. "Kiss On My List" ranked number seven on the year-end Billboard Singles chart. "You Make My Dreams" came in at number 43 and their cover of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" ranked number 90.

4. Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton burst onto the American music scene in 1981 and had three singles make the Billboard Hot 100 year-end countdown. The biggest hit was "Morning Train (Nine To Five)" which ended the year at number 12. Sheena's single, "For Your Eyes Only" was used in the same-named James Bond film. The single reached number 90 for the year. "Modern Girl" ranked number 95.

5. Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond was king of the airwaves in 1981 with three songs ranking in the Billboard Hot 100 year-end countdown. "America" from Neil's motion picture, "The Jazz Singer" ranked number 62. His biggest hit of 1981, "Love On The Rocks" finished at number 26 and "Hello Again" reached number 70.

6. Steely Dan

"Hey Nineteen" was the lead single on Steely Dan's 1980 album "Gaucho". The New York studio wizards' hit became one of the group's biggest pop singles in their career. It ranked at number 72 on the 1981 year-end countdown.

7. Blondie

Spots 15 and 17 on the 1981 Billboard Hot 100 year-end countdown both belonged to the New Wave band, Blondie. "The Tide Is High" pictured here came in at number 17 and featured a bouncy Caribbean vibe to their sound. "Rapture" was one of the first studio recordings to feature someone rapping on a record.

8. John Lennon

Sadly 1981 was the year after John Lennon was murdered in New York City. His album, "Double Fantasy" won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The single "Watching The Wheels" was a big pop hit for the former Beatle.

9. Kim Carnes

"Bette Davis Eyes" was the biggest charting single of 1981. Kim Carnes' signature song was actually a cover of Jackie DeShannon's song from 1974. The descriptive lyrics began with the words, "Her hair is Harlow gold, her lips a sweet surprise. Her hands are never cold, she's got Bette Davis eyes." Dedicated to the legendary actress, Ms. Davis was thrilled by tribute and the song.

10. Eddie Rabbitt

"I Love A Rainy Night" by Eddie Rabbitt was the eighth biggest hit of 1981 on the Billboard Hot 100. Eddie wrote "Kentucky Rain" for Elvis and songs like "Every Which Way But Loose", "Suspicions", and "I Love A Rainy Night" for his solo career.

Source: Author GBfan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Songs In Stereo - 1981 Trivia Quiz

Billboard Hot 100 Hits of 1981

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was inaugurated and the start of MTV changed music forever. Given a series of ten pictures, match a word from that picture to an artist who recorded one of the top 100 Billboard singles of 1981 with that word in the title