Image: The Movie DB
About This Quiz
Prove it, by taking this bangin' quiz!
Which '80s band has three members with the same last name, even though none of them are related?
Duran Duran.
Three members of Duran Duran have the same last name - Taylor - even though they're not related. Andy plays guitar, John plays bass, and Roger plays drums. Non-Taylors in the band are Simon Le Bon on vocals and Nick Rhodes on keyboards.
Thompson Twins.
Devo.
Survivor.
Advertisement
Which '80s pop star had a condition called anisocoria, meaning his pupils were two different sizes?
Stevie Wonder.
Corey Hart.
David Bowie.
David Bowie had anisocoria, or different-sized pupils. From a distance, he seemed to have eyes of two different colors. He felt that his unusual eyes added to his mystique.
Kenny Loggins.
Advertisement
The members of a-ha, whose biggest hit was "Take On Me," are from what country?
Canada.
Portugal.
Norway.
The members of a-ha, Morten Harket, Pal Waaktaar, and Mags Furuholmen, are from Norway. They chose the band's name because it's an exclamation known all over the world.
Ireland.
Advertisement
Which German pop band had an unexpected hit, originally recorded in German, then subsequently rerecorded in English when it gained popularity in the US?
Squeeze.
Nena.
Nena recorded "99 Luftballons" in German, then rerecorded the song in English as "99 Red Balloons." The original German "air balloons" were changed to "red balloons" so the phrase would have the same number of syllables in English.
J. Geils Band.
Kajagoogoo.
Advertisement
Which pop star played Susan in the 1985 film, "Desperately Seeking Susan"?
Whitney Houston.
Cher.
Cyndi Lauper.
Madonna.
Madonna played Susan in "Desperately Seeking Susan." Rosanna Arquette played a suburban housewife whose life gets tangled up with Susan's, due to a bout of amnesia.
Advertisement
What is the reason for the confusing lyrics in Spandau Ballet's song, "True"?
They are based on a dream.
They are loosely based on "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov.
The lyrics are loosely based on Nabakov's "Lolita." Guitarist Gary Kemp had received the book from a woman he admired who did not share his feelings. Nabakov's "seaside arms" became "seaside limbs" in the song.
They are pulled from Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass."
The writers were more concerned about lyrical flow than literal meaning.
Advertisement
Which '80s pop star was considered for the part of Sondra Huxtable, the oldest daughter on "The Cosby Show"?
Paula Abdul.
Janet Jackson.
Mariah Carey.
Whitney Houston.
Whitney Houston was considered for a role on "The Cosby Show," but she decided she needed to focus on her music and touring instead. Actress Sabrina LeBeauf ultimately played Sondra Huxtable.
Advertisement
Who are the members of Simply Red?
Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.
The only member is Mick Hucknall.
Mick Hucknall is the only member of Simply Red. He has curly red hair. He is known for his own song, "Holding Back the Years," and for his cover of Harold Melvin's "If You Don't Know Me by Now."
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.
Kevin Godley and Lol Creme.
Advertisement
In 1983, on a TV special, "25 Years of Motown," Michael Jackson did the Moonwalk for the first time while singing what song?
"Beat It."
"Smooth Criminal."
"The Way You Make Me Feel."
"Billie Jean."
Michael Jackson sang "Billie Jean" while doing the Moonwalk. He also wore a single white glove for the first time during this performance.
Advertisement
What is the origin of the band name, Thompson Twins?
It's a nod to two detectives, Thompson and Thompson, from the comic strip, "The Adventures of Tintin."
The Thompson Twins were named for the detectives in "The Adventures of Tintin." Many fans were confused, because at the height of their fame the band consisted of three members who looked not at all alike.
The founding members of the band were twins named Thompson.
Two band members were friends, unrelated, whose last names happened to be the same.
Thompson and Thompson was a bakery the band members frequented.
Advertisement
Which '80s top-ten hit is about the phenomenon known as somniloquy?
"Talking in Your Sleep," by The Romantics.
The song is "Talking in Your Sleep," by The Romantics. Somniloquy means sleep-talking. Other songs by the band include "What I Like About You" and "One in a Million."
"When You Close Your Eyes," by Night Ranger.
"Sweet Dreams Are Made of This," by The Eurythmics.
"Get Up," by R.E.M.
Advertisement
Which Robert Palmer hit was originally recorded as a duet with Chaka Khan?
"Bad Case of Loving You."
"Addicted to Love."
Robert Palmer and Chaka Khan recorded "Addicted to Love" together, but their record companies couldn't come to an agreement, so Palmer re-recorded her parts with his own voice. The iconic music video featured a backup band of robotic models wearing red lipstick.
"Hyperactive."
"Simply Irresistible."
Advertisement
Which pop group was the first to perform in China in 1985, following the Cultural Revolution?
Queen.
The Rolling Stones.
Culture Club.
Wham!
Wham! was the first pop group from the west to perform in China, in 1985. Queen and The Rolling Stones had tried to book concert dates.
Advertisement
What hit song includes the lyrics, "See the people walking down the street / Fall in line just watching all their feet"?
"Walk like an Egyptian," by The Bangles.
"Walking on Sunshine," by Katrina and the Waves."
"We Got the Beat," by The Go-Gos.
The song is, "We Got the Beat," by The Go-Gos. Guitarist and songwriter Charlotte Caffey was inspired by the Smokey Robinson hit, "Going to a Go-Go," both for its sound and for its use of her band's name.
"Sharp Dressed Man," by ZZ Top.
Advertisement
Which '80s pop star sang with a band called Blue Angel before going solo?
Debbie Harry.
Madonna.
Cyndi Lauper.
Cyndi Lauper sang with Blue Angel, and they released one self-titled album in 1980. She didn't like the album cover, but "Rolling Stone" chose it as one of the 100 best new wave album covers.
Whitney Houston.
Advertisement
In the B-52s song, "Love Shack," what does singer Cindy Wilson shout?
"Tin roof, rusted."
You would yell too, if it were raining on your rusty tin roof.
"Hello, mustard."
"Henry, busted."
Hello, Rusty."
Advertisement
What was Thomas Dolby's inspiration for writing the song, "She Blinded Me with Science"?
He loved old Frankenstein films.
He wanted to direct a video.
He wrote the song specifically because he wanted to direct a video in the style of a Charlie Chaplin film. For Dolby, music videos were just silent movies with musical accompaniment.
He wanted to match his music to his nerdy appearance.
It was a tribute to Thomas Edison.
Advertisement
What duo was known as Two Tons O' Fun, before changing their name to suit a song?
Pet Shop Boys.
Tears for Fears.
The Weather Girls.
The Weather Girls were originally known as Two Tons O' Fun, but they changed their name before releasing their hit, "It's Raining Men." The singers were Martha Wash and Izora Armstead, who grew up singing in church.
Hall and Oates.
Advertisement
Who wrote 1985's "We Are the World," a song that raised over $60 million for African famine relief?
Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.
Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote the song, and Quincy Jones produced it. Many popular artists of the day can be heard on the track, but Prince declined, saying he never records with other artists.
Paul McCartney and Bob Geldof.
Sting and Midge Ure.
Bono and Phil Collins.
Advertisement
For which movie did Prince win an Oscar for Best Original Song Score?
"Purple Rain."
Prince won his Oscar for Best Original Song Score for 1984's "Purple Rain." He starred in the film as "The Kid."
"Under the Cherry Moon."
"Graffiti Bridge."
"Sign O' the Times."
Advertisement
What '80s blond band originally dyed their hair blond for a Wrigley's Gum commercial?
Duran Duran.
Pet Shop Boys.
The Police.
The Police dyed their hair for a Wrigley's Gum commercial. Oddly enough, the commercial that helped form The Police's image was never aired.
Stray Cats.
Advertisement
What Modern English song is literally about the end of the world?
"Dancing with Tears in my Eyes."
"Let's All Make a Bomb."
"It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)."
"I'll Melt with You."
"I'll Melt with You" is about a couple making love while the bomb drops. It was the biggest hit for Modern English.
Advertisement
Which '80s synth pop group included Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, and Jon Moss?
The Eurythmics.
The Cure.
Dead or Alive.
Culture Club.
At first, Culture Club was as famous for singer Boy George's controversial androgynous looks as for the music. In 1984, the band won the Grammy for Best New Artist.
Advertisement
The music video for which ZZ Top song featured rotating fuzzy guitars?
"Gimme All Your Lovin'."
"Sharp Dressed Man."
"Legs."
In "Legs," the guitarists' fuzzy instruments would rotate whenever they moved their hands away. "Legs" and other ZZ Top videos featured band member Billy Gibbons' 1933 Ford Hot Rod, The Eliminator.
"Cheap Sunglasses."
Advertisement
The members of what band, known for their own songs and videos, also directed the "Every Breath You Take" video for The Police?
Madness.
The Fixx.
Godley & Creme.
Godley & Creme directed "Every Breath You Take" for The Police. Their own video, "Cry," featured an early use of morphed faces.
The Tubes.
Advertisement
Whose hit song begins with the lyrics, "Does she walk? Does she talk? / Does she come complete?"
Wham!
The J. Geils Band.
The lyrics are from "Centerfold," by J. Geils Band. The band is named for the guitarist, not for the lead singer.
The Cure.
The Cars.
Advertisement
Which '80s pop star recorded the demo for her first hit, "Only In My Dreams," in her parents' garage?
Debbie Gibson.
Debbie Gibson recorded demos in a recording studio in her parents' garage, long before YouTube was a thing. She was only 16 when "Only In My Dreams" hit the charts.
Paula Abdul.
Janet Jackson.
Cyndi Lauper.
Advertisement
Which '80s band inspired another band called On a Friday to change their name to Radiohead?
Wham!
Duran Duran.
The Hooters.
Talking Heads.
The band On a Friday was inspired by the track "Radio Head" on the Talking Heads' album, "True Stories."
Advertisement
Which popular '80s song included the lyrics, "The beating of my heart is a drum, and it's lost / And it's looking for a rhythm like you"?
"Owner of a Lonely Heart," by Yes.
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," by Wham!
"Making Love out of Nothing At All," by Air Supply.
The song is "Making Love out of Nothing At All," by Air Supply. The band includes songwriter and guitarist Graham Russell, who is British, and vocalist Russell Hitchcock, who is Australian.
"Against All Odds," by Phil Collins.
Advertisement
Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wrote what song, performed by many artists for African famine relief?
"Vienna."
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
The song was 1984's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" The participating artists were known collectively as Band Aid. Bob Geldof was with the Boomtown Rats and Midge Ure was with Ultravox.
"The Great Song of Indifference."
"Feed the World."
Advertisement
Which band's name was inspired by the sounds a baby makes?
Kajagoogoo.
The band was Kajagoogoo, fronted by vocalist Limahl. Their greatest hit was "Too Shy."
The Go-Gos.'
a-ha.
The Buggles.
Advertisement
Who released the sad yet darkly comedic song, "Girlfriend in a Coma"?
Duran Duran.
Depeche Mode.
The Smiths.
"Girlfriend in a Coma" is an iconic song by The Smiths. Morrissey, the lead singer of the group, is a staunch vegetarian who once stormed offstage because he could smell meat.
Bananarama.
Advertisement
Which single was the first number one hit for Richard Branson's record label, Virgin?
"Don't You Want Me," by Human League.
Virgin Records' first number one hit was "Don't You Want Me," by Human League. During recording, Phil Oakey of Human League sang his vocals in the lavatory at the studio, to achieve a certain vocal quality.
"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," by Culture Club.
"She Blinded Me with Science," by Thomas Dolby.
"Don't You Forget About Me," by Simple Minds.
Advertisement
Which '80s song could function as a vocabulary quiz, because it includes words such as "irreversible," "invincible," "inscrutable," and "irrefutable"?
"She Bilinded Me with Science," by Thomas Dolby.
"Der Kommissar," by After the Fire.
"Simply Irresistible," by Robert Palmer.
"Simply Irresistible" has more challenging lyrics than the typical tune. For example, Palmer sings, "Her methods are inscrutable / The proof is irrefutable."
"Tainted Love," by Soft Cell.
Advertisement
Which is the best selling album of all time made in the 80's?
Thriller
Michael Jackson's music is still popular to this day so it's no surprise he has the #1 selling album of all time.
Control
Appetite for Distruction
Tunnel of Love
Advertisement
You Got:
/35
The Movie DB