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 Music from 1980 Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
 Music from 1980 Quizzes, Trivia

Music from 1980 Trivia

Music from 1980 Trivia Quizzes

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17 quizzes and 205 trivia questions.
1.
  My Favourite 45s of the Year: 1980   popular trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
In 1980 I was living in Belfast, nominally doing post-Doctoral work at Queen's and also working with the Tearjerkers. 1980 was a really good year for music; this quiz is about my ten favourite single releases of that year.
Average, 10 Qns, Southendboy, Oct 23 23
Average
Southendboy gold member
Oct 23 23
332 plays
2.
  Hits of 1980   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Welcome to my new series of music quizzes. Do you remember the hits of 1980? I will give you a song and you tell me who sang it. Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, Velvet_Rain, Apr 25 07
Average
Velvet_Rain
15002 plays
3.
  BRI's Top Ten Hits for 1980   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The BRI (Bathroom Readers' Institute), in consultation with DJ Bob Shannon of WCBS-FM has published lists of the top ten hits for various years. If I give you some lyrics, can you identify the songs on their list for 1980?
Easier, 10 Qns, skunkee, Jan 20 23
Easier
skunkee editor
Jan 20 23
9867 plays
4.
  Match Song to Artist - US Top 15 of 1980    
Match Quiz
 15 Qns
Here are the US Top 15 songs in order for 1980 according to Billboard Magazine. Match the song and artist.
Very Easy, 15 Qns, jcmttt, Oct 28 21
Very Easy
jcmttt gold member
Oct 28 21
1358 plays
5.
  Billboard Number One Songs of 1980   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Chart information is from "Billboard Book of Number One hits".
Average, 10 Qns, shanteyman, Nov 25 12
Average
shanteyman
4616 plays
6.
  Pop Music Hits of 1980   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Please take a quiz on some popular songs from 1980. Good luck and have fun.
Average, 10 Qns, mrgrouchy, Jan 17 10
Average
mrgrouchy
4682 plays
7.
  Top of the UK Pops: 1980    
Match Quiz
 15 Qns
Match the 15 top-selling singles of the year in the UK in 1980 to the artist who sang them.
Easier, 15 Qns, darksplash, Feb 11 21
Easier
darksplash
Feb 11 21
592 plays
8.
  1980 KROQ Top 10 List   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are the top ten songs of the year 1980 from L.A. eclectic radio station KROQ's end of year countdown. You'll have to name either the song title or the artist. Enjoy!
Easier, 10 Qns, Alepcot, Jul 01 14
Easier
Alepcot
1344 plays
9.
  Music from the 80s - 1980   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I turned 13 in 1980 and officially became a teenager. Here's a quiz about some of the music I was listening to then. The majority of the answers are British artists and all correct answers were British chart entries during 1980.
Tough, 10 Qns, lizzbett, Apr 14 08
Tough
lizzbett
1983 plays
10.
  Lyric Quest : Year 1980    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
The US hockey team performed a "Miracle on Ice", Kristin shot JR, and Airplane! taught us not to eat airplane food...it's 1980! These were the songs filtering out of radios all across America.
Tough, 20 Qns, bottle_rocket, Feb 02 06
Tough
bottle_rocket gold member
2422 plays
trivia question Quick Question
What female singer could've had her song retitled "Feet On The Ceiling, Head On The Floor"?

From Quiz "1980 Song Titles In Other Words"




11.
  #1 Albums of 1980    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
These questions all pertain to #1 albums as ranked by Billboard Magazine. These albums were all released in 1980.
Difficult, 10 Qns, ralzzz, Sep 21 05
Difficult
ralzzz gold member
4336 plays
12.
  1980s Lyrics    
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
I'll give you the lyrics, you give me the title or part of the title. Hint-The blanks are where the title or part of the title is sung in the song.
Tough, 25 Qns, mollygrue, Dec 13 09
Tough
mollygrue
4253 plays
13.
  1980 Song Titles In Other Words    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
It's 1980. Your favorite song titles have been replaced by words of similar meaning. Decipher the title and match it with the recording artist that made it big. For example, "Gimme a ring" leads to "Call Me" and the answer Blondie.
Tough, 10 Qns, bottle_rocket, Jan 26 06
Tough
bottle_rocket gold member
2389 plays
14.
  Who Sang What In 1980    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Hits from 1980. Each question gives you a title. Do you know the right artist?
Tough, 10 Qns, Vermic, Feb 04 15
Tough
Vermic
5763 plays
15.
  UK Number 40 Hits of 1980    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
We all know the big hits and can sing along with their choruses, but how much do you know about the OTHER end of the top 40? This is a tribute to the little hits, often by huge artists! All answers according to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles.
Difficult, 10 Qns, DUFFMONKEY, Apr 25 07
Difficult
DUFFMONKEY
2215 plays
16.
  1980 Rock Album Mania    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
1980 was the beginning of an exciting decade, especially in rock and roll. Let's see how well you remember the albums released that year.
Difficult, 10 Qns, rockinmike, Sep 01 08
Difficult
rockinmike
1501 plays
17.
  Song Lyrics From 1980    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I list a lyric from a 1980 top-40 hit. You select the artist.
Tough, 10 Qns, tracyb555, Sep 21 05
Tough
tracyb555
3632 plays
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Music from 1980 Trivia Questions

1. Number ten: This song is from the Clash's legendary "London Calling" album. Sample lyrics: "Say you stand by your man, tell me something I don't understand, you said you love me and that's a fact". What is the name of this song?

From Quiz
1980 KROQ Top 10 List

Answer: Train in Vain

This song was not listed as a song track on the album cover. It was a "last-minute" add to the album, and since the album artwork was being completed, there was no time to add it to the track listings on the album cover. By the way, "London Calling" was ranked number seven on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time.

2. In 1980, Paul McCartney had a number one hit song with "Coming Up." Please complete this line from the song: "It's coming up, like a _________."

From Quiz Pop Music Hits of 1980

Answer: Flower

Paul McCartney sang, "It's coming up like a flower... coming up." In the USA, the live version of this song performed by Wings in 1979 reached the number one spot on the Billboard charts in June 1980. In the UK, McCartney's studio version of "Coming Up" reached the number two position on the singles charts.

3. AC/DC released their first album with new singer Brian Johnson. What was the title of the album?

From Quiz 1980 Rock Album Mania

Answer: Back In Black

"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was released in 1976, "Highway to Hell" in 1979 and "Flick Of The Switch" was released in 1983.

4. "Mirror In The Bathroom" was a hit in 1980 for which ska influenced band?

From Quiz Music from the 80s - 1980

Answer: The Beat

The Beat hailed from Birmingham, England and were known in North America as The English Beat. "Mirror In The Bathroom" was released in May 1980 and achieved a highest UK chart placing of number four during a nine week stay on the chart.

5. Which band began 1980 at the top of the charts with "Please Don't Go" on January 5th?

From Quiz Billboard Number One Songs of 1980

Answer: K C & The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey, aka K C, composed the song with Richard Finch and had the distinction of having the first number one song of the eighties. The tune deviated from their disco sound. In a 1979 interview with "Billboard Magazine" Casey told Paul Grein that he didn't intend to veer from his disco sound when he began recording the "Do You Wanna Go Party" album in 1979. The title song only made it to number 50. In an effort to regain his top ten success "Please Don't Go" was released as a single from the LP. It took 19 weeks to steadily make the climb from number 86 to number one. It was the last charted single for K C and the boys. In 1982 Casey was struck head-on in his car and spent over a year recuperating from severe injuries caused by a pinched nerve and a concussion. In 1984 he reached number 18 with "Give it Up" on his own independent label, Meca Records. The Commodores were number one in November, 1979, with "Still". Led Zeppelin sang the "Please Don't Go" line in D'yer Mak'er from their 1973 album "Houses of the Holy" and The Spinners were "Working My Way Back To You" in the top five in March, 1980.

6. "Rock with You" was a number one hit for whom?

From Quiz Hits of 1980

Answer: Michael Jackson

"Rock with You" is from Michael Jackson's 1979 album "Off the Wall". It reached number one in the US, four in Australia and seven in the UK.

7. This former boxer failed to make much of an impact on the charts with "All For Leyna". Who is he?

From Quiz UK Number 40 Hits of 1980

Answer: Billy Joel

Billy's biggest hit in the UK was his 1983 number one "Uptown Girl".

8. What song told us, "You're a real tough cookie with a long history"?

From Quiz Lyric Quest : Year 1980

Answer: Hit Me With Your Best Shot

"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" became Pat Benatar's first top ten hit when it peaked at number nine of the Billboard Hot 100 on December 20th, 1980.

9. What group had a song that could be called "Insane Tiny Item Named Amor"?

From Quiz 1980 Song Titles In Other Words

Answer: Queen

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" was Queen's first number one song in the United States. It began its four week run at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 23rd, 1980.

10. '__ __ __
the light the heat,
__ __ __
I am complete.'

From Quiz 1980s Lyrics

Answer: In Your Eyes

'In Your Eyes' - Peter Gabriel This song was used on the soundtrack for "Say Anything..." starring John Cusack.

11. 'Got motion, restrained emotion. I been driving uh, Detroit leaning. No reason, just seems so pleasing. Gonna make you, make you, make you notice'

From Quiz Song Lyrics From 1980

Answer: Pretenders

from 'Brass in Pocket'

12. Who had a hit in 1980 with the song: The Winner Takes It All?

From Quiz Who Sang What In 1980

Answer: ABBA

13. Number nine: The song is "Once in a Lifetime". It is from the "Remain In Light" album from a group whose lead singer was David Byrne. Name this group.

From Quiz 1980 KROQ Top 10 List

Answer: Talking Heads

The video for "Once In a Lifetime" is as eccentric as the song. Wikipedia mentions that Toni Basil showed David Byrne videos of epilepsy sufferers, which led to all the marionette-like movements by Byrne in the video. The song was produced by Brian Eno. The song was written by the entire group plus Eno, and was named one of the 100 most important American musical works of the 20th century by National Public Radio(NPR).

14. Which 1980 movie starring Richard Gere used Blondie's "Call Me" in its soundtrack?

From Quiz Pop Music Hits of 1980

Answer: American Gigolo

"Call Me" was featured in the 1980 film "American Gigolo." This movie starred Richard Gere as a male hustler and co-starred Lauren Hutton. The single "Call Me" was recorded by Blondie; this tune climbed to the top of the U.S. Billboard singles charts and remained at number one for six weeks during the spring of 1980.

15. Bruce Springsteen released his first double studio album in 1980. What was this classic album called?

From Quiz 1980 Rock Album Mania

Answer: The River

"The River" was one of the best albums of 1980 and Bruce today still performs many of the tracks from the album including "Out In The Street", "Ramrod" and of course "Hungry Heart". "Born In The USA" was released in 1984, "Nebraska" in 1982 and "The Rising" in 2002.

16. Jools Holland used to be a member of this band. During 1980, they released the singles "Another Nail In My Heart" and "Pulling Muscles (From The Shell)". Who were they?

From Quiz Music from the 80s - 1980

Answer: Squeeze

The line-up of Squeeze has fluctuated over the years, but singer/songwriters Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford have been the mainstays. 1980 was not a particularly successful year for them chart-wise; "Another Nail In My Heart" peaked at number 17 during its nine weeks on the chart while "Pulling Muscles (From The Shell)" only managed number 44 during its six week run.

17. Who went to the top with "Rock With You" on January 19, 1980?

From Quiz Billboard Number One Songs of 1980

Answer: Michael Jackson

Quincy Jones produced Michael's first solo album since he had left Motown. Quincy had been impressed with Rod Temperton's "Boogie Nights" so he located the British Heat Wave keyboardist and solicited songs that might be right for Jackson to record. Temperton was in the middle of recording Heat Wave's third LP, but eventually consented to fly to LA. He ended up contributing his compositions "Rock With You", "Burn This Disco" and the LP title cut "Off The Wall". In an interview with "Soul Teen" Michael related that he had enjoyed working with Quincy in "The Wiz" and although he initially wanted to produce the album himself, he believed working with Quincy would be a winning combination. Jackson's goal was to produce an album that would separate him from the sound of the Jackson Five. Stevie Wonder was number five behind Micheal that week with "Send One Your Love". Smokey had "Cruisin'" in the top five in February, 1980, and the Rolling Stones took "Emotional Rescue" to the top five in August, 1980.

18. Who had a number one hit with "Don't Stand So Close to Me"?

From Quiz Hits of 1980

Answer: The Police

"Don't Stand So Close to Me" is from The Police's 1980 album "Zenyatta Mondatta". The song is about a schoolgirl's crush on her teacher. It reached number one in the UK and number ten in the US.

19. Which song by The Commodores just scraped into the top 40 early in the year?

From Quiz UK Number 40 Hits of 1980

Answer: Wonderland

"Three Times a Lady" was the band's mega smash, but for me, their earlier, funkier work like the sublime "Machine Gun", was their finest hour.

20. What popular song had these lyrics: "Well, I talk about it, talk about it, talk about it, talk about it"?

From Quiz Lyric Quest : Year 1980

Answer: Funkytown

"Funkytown" by Lipps Inc. was a monster hit back in the spring of 1980. It ended the six week reign of Blondie's "Call Me" when it began its own four week run at number one on May 31st, 1980.

21. What female singer could've had her song retitled "Feet On The Ceiling, Head On The Floor"?

From Quiz 1980 Song Titles In Other Words

Answer: Diana Ross

"Upside Down" was Diana Ross' record-setting fifth number one song, the most for a solo female artist at that time. It shot to number one on September 6th, 1980, stayed there for four weeks, and remained on the Billboard Hot 100 long enough to become one of the 80s biggest songs.

22. This two-time Grammy winning album features the songs "Fire Lake" and "You'll Accomp'ny Me". Released in February 1980, what Bob Seger album spent six weeks on the Billboard charts?

From Quiz #1 Albums of 1980

Answer: Against the Wind

This Bob Seger classic featured a virtual Who's Who of accompanying musicians including Dr. John, Timothy B. Schmit, Glenn Frey and Don Henley. The album entered the charts on May 3.

23. 'Praising our leaders, we're getting in tune.
The music's played by the madmen, ____ ___
I want to be, ____ ___'

From Quiz 1980s Lyrics

Answer: Forever Young

'Forever Young' - Alphaville

24. 'Tonight in the city You won't find any pity Hearts are being twisted Another lover cheated, cheated'

From Quiz Song Lyrics From 1980

Answer: Rod Stewart

from 'Passion'

25. Who had a hit in 1980 with the song: Sun Of Jamaica?

From Quiz Who Sang What In 1980

Answer: Goombay Dance Band

26. Number eight: "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" is done by a group whose lead singer was Sting. Name this arresting group.

From Quiz 1980 KROQ Top 10 List

Answer: The Police

This song is from the album "Zenyatta Mondatta". While "De Do Do Do ,De Da Da Da" was a top ten hit in the UK (UK Singles Chart) and the USA (Billboard Hot 100), but the song that won a Grammy from the album was the instrumental "Behind My Camel". An interesting aside: "Zenyatta Mondatta" was the only Police album not to make Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

27. Michael Jackson's song "Rock With You" soared to the top of the Billboard charts in 1980. Which album contained this single?

From Quiz Pop Music Hits of 1980

Answer: Off The Wall

The song "Rock With You" was part of the highly successful "Off the Wall" by Michael Jackson. This album, produced by Quincy Jones, was released in the USA in November 1979. The single "Rock With You" reached the number one position in the Billboard charts in January 1980 and proved to be one of the most popular songs of the year.

28. Elvis Costello released an album with 20 new songs in 1980. What was the title?

From Quiz 1980 Rock Album Mania

Answer: Get Happy!

"Get Happy!" featured his lively remake of the Motown classic "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down". "My Aim Is True" was from 1977. "Armed Forces" from 1979 and "Imperial Bedroom" from 1982.

29. "We Are Glass", "I Die You Die" and "This Wreckage" were all single releases during 1980 for which artist?

From Quiz Music from the 80s - 1980

Answer: Gary Numan

I used to love Gary Numan! "We Are Glass" was released in May 1980 and spent seven weeks on the chart, peaking at number five. "I Die You Die" came out in August, also spent seven weeks on the chart and made it to number six. It appears to have been a case of lucky seven for Gary in 1980 as "This Wreckage", which was released in December, also enjoyed a seven week run on the UK singles chart, peaking at number two.

30. On February 16, 1980, a duo took "Do That To Me One More Time" to the top. Which pair had success with this song?

From Quiz Billboard Number One Songs of 1980

Answer: Captain and Tennille

Toni Tennille composed this number one hit for her and the captain. The duo had recently left A&M Records after a string of pop hits and signed with Neil Bogart's Casablanca Records. Casablanca was looking to sign a middle-of-the-road artist to shake their disco image and Captain and Tennille fit the bill perfectly. When a Casablanca VP was going over potential material with the duo Toni tried several pop style tunes and ended the session reluctantly playing "Do That to Me One More Time", believing it may make a good album cut at best. VP Bruce Bird immediately told them that it would be a smash hit. It marked a change in direction for the pair who had been doing more bouncy material. They left Casablanca after Neil Bogart passed away and in 1986 Toni released an album of standards titled "More Than You Know" which followed up with a tour backed by big bands. Peaches and Herb had a number one in 1979 with "Reunited". Teri De Sario with K.C. recorded the top five "Yes, I'm Ready" and Billy Preston and Syreeta took "With You I'm Born Again" to the top five in April, 1980.

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