Billboard Hot 100 Number One Hits - 1980s Quiz

Answer: (Just Like) Starting Over

"(Just Like) Starting Over" written by John Lennon was number one for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for John Lennon in 1980. It was number one for one week on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

"(Just Like) Starting Over" rose to number one on December 27 1980, 19 days after John Lennon was fatally shot outside the Dakota Building, where he lived in New York.

John Lennon's previous number one hit was "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night", six years earlier in 1974. He was the last of the four Beatles to have a solo number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Lionel Richie

"Endless Love", written by Lionel Richie, was number one for nine weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Diana Ross and Lionel Richie in 1981. It peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Diana Ross has sung duets with all of the alternative singers mentioned but "Endless Love" was the only one to make it to number one. "Endless Love" was the title song from the movie of the same name, starring Brooke Shields with Tom Cruise in his first feature film appearance.

Answer: Daryl Hall and John Oates

"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" written by Daryl Hall/John Oates/Sara Allen hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 30 1982 and was there for one week. It peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

"Maneater" written by Daryl Hall/John Oates/Sara Allen hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 18 1982 and was there for four weeks. It peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

The two songs were the fourth and fifth out of six number one hits for Daryl Hall and John Oates on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1977 and 1984. Daryl Hall (vocals, guitars, keyboards, mandolin, vibraphone) and John Oates (guitars, vocals, keyboards), were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. They have received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their work in the music industry, it is located at 6752 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Answer: Every Breath You Take

"Every Breath You Take" written by Sting was number one for eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Police in 1984. It was number one for four weeks on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

"Every Breath You Take" was probably the pinnacle in the career of Sting and The Police. The song won two awards at the 26th Grammy Awards, for Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Sting received the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors in 1983.

Although it was the only US Billboard number one hit for The Police, it was the fifth and last number one for them in the UK. In 1983 Sting became the only person to have composed five UK number one singles. In May 2019, the song was recognised by BMI as being the most played song in radio history With nearly 15 million radio plays.

Answer: Like A Virgin

"Like A Virgin" written by Tom Kelly/Billy Steinberg was number one for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Madonna in 1984. It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

It wasn't until her fourth Billboard Hot 100 entry that Madonna made it to number one with "Like A Virgin". She made up for that wait, with seven number one hits during the '80s spending a total of 15 weeks at number one.

During the same period, she had six number one hits on the UK Singles Chart, which gave her a total of 14 weeks at number one in the '80s.

Answer: Phil Collins

Phil Collins had seven number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1980s, for a total of 15 weeks at number one. These three came in 1985.

"One More Night" written by Phil Collins was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Phil Collins in 1985. It peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

"Sussudio" written by Phil Collins was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Phil Collins in 1985. It peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

"Separate Lives" written by Stephen Bishop was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin in 1985. It peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Answer: Sledgehammer

"Sledgehammer" written by Peter Gabriel was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. It peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Peter Gabriel was the original lead singer of the UK group Genesis until he went solo in 1975. He never had a solo number one hit on the UK Singles Chart and "Sledgehammer" was his only number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the most successful single from his best-selling 1986 album "So" and it won nine MTV Awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards.

Answer: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)

"I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" written by George Merrill/Shannon Rubicam, was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Whitney Houston in 1987. It was number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks the same year.

"I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" was the fourth of seven consecutive number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 for Whitney Houston, between 1985 and 1988. It was the second of three non-consecutive number one hits on the UK Singles Chart during the same period.

It was number one in 14 countries which included Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, New Zealand and Switzerland.

Answer: The Beach Boys

"Kokomo" written by John Phillips/Scott McKenzie/Mike Love/Terry Melcher was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988. It peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Brian Wilson was not on the recording of "Kokomo" and there are differing explanations why. One is that Brian Wilson was recording his solo album "Brian Wilson" so was too busy and he was not informed of the session date until it was too late. Another explanation was that Brian Wilson's therapist and later collaborator, Eugene Landy, refused to let Brian sing on it unless he himself was a producer and had a writing credit.

Another strange move was that The Beach Boys later recorded a Spanish language version of "Kokomo", on which Brian Wilson did participate.

Answer: Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul had three number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1980s, all in 1989 and for a total of six weeks at number one.

"Straight Up" written by Elliot Wolff was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Paula Abdul in 1989. It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

"Forever Your Girl" written by Oliver Leiber was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Paula Abdul in 1989. It peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

"Cold Hearted" written by Elliot Wolff was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Paula Abdul in 1989. It peaked at number 46 on the UK Singles Chart in 1990.