Their Top UK Chart Performance Quiz

Answer: The Sun Always Shines on T.V.

The Norwegian group, A-ha, hit the big time with their single "Take on Me" in 1985. Having not taken off on first release in 1983, it caught the imagination, and, allied to an innovative video, it was a huge success, going to number one all over the world. In the UK, it won a gold disc, but only got to number two. A-ha's highest charting single in the UK was "The Sun Always Shines on T.V.", written by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, which reached number one later on in 1985, and also won awards for its video. Both songs were included in the album "Hunting High and Low", which included four hit singles for Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy. The band never hit such commercial success again, although the three continued, with a few breaks, to perform as A-ha into the 2020s.

The photograph is a vintage TV.

Answer: House Of Fun

Madness were regulars in the UK charts in the early 1980s, with 15 top ten singles between 1980 and 1983. They only got to number one once that decade, with "House of Fun", which made it in May 1982. In the song, written by Lee Thompson and Mike Barson, vocalist Suggs portrays a sixteen year old having embarrassing conversations at a chemist shop. Madness formed in Camden Town in 1976 and continued as a group into the 2020s.

The photograph is an old funhouse from Florida.

Answer: Lovefool

The Cardigans formed in Sweden in 1992. Their first album, "Emmerdale", released in 1994, was named after the UK soap opera, and including a really cool version of Black Sabbath's classic song "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath". In 1996 they released "Lovefool", written by guitarist Peter Svensson, and vocalist Nina Persson, and it was a minor hit. It rocketed up the charts worldwide the following year, after being used in the Baz Luhrmann movie "Romeo + Juliet". In the UK, it got to number two in May 1997. The Cardigans covered another Black Sabbath song, "Iron Man", on the b-side.

The picture is a heart carved in a door, from Sweden.

Answer: A Little Time

The Beautiful South was formed by Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway in 1988, after their previous band, the Housemartins, disbanded. The two shared lead vocals. Briana Corrigan joined the band for their second album, "Choke", which was released in 1990. The single from that album, "A Little Time", gave the group its only UK number one. A duet performed by Hemingway and Corrigan about a disintegrating relationship, its cool music contrasted with a hilarious video, featuring a mutilated teddy bear, smashed up furniture, flour, feathers, and a lot of knives.

The picture is an Omega chronometer.

Answer: So You Win Again

Hot Chocolate formed in London in 1968. They band broke up in 1986, but later reformed, and was active into the 21st century. Hot Chocolate was led by lead singer Errol Brown and bass player Tony Wilson. Their song "You Sexy Thing" was a top ten single in the UK in three decades, and had a big exposure due to its use in "The Full Monty", a 1997 movie. Their biggest hit single in the UK, however, was "So You Win Again", written by Russ Ballard, which reached number one in 1977. It was one of three singles from the album "Every 1's a Winner".

The photograph is of the Ranji Trophy, which is a first class cricket trophy from India.

Answer: Eternal Flame

The Bangles formed in Los Angeles in 1981. They tried out a couple of different names- the Colours, and the Bangs, before settling on the Bangles. They really came to prominence in 1986, with a song by Prince, "Manic Monday". Further chart success followed, before the release of "Eternal Flame " in 1989. The song was written by vocalist Susanna Hoffs along with song writing partners Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. A big hit all over the world, it hit number one in the UK. It has been covered by groups including Human Nature and Atomic Kitten.

The photograph is the eternal flame from the JFK memorial at Arlington Cemetery.

Answer: True

"True" was a change of direction for the New Romantic outfit, Spandau Ballet. In the early 1980s Gary Kemp, the band's leader and songwriter, wanted to write a soulful number, moving away from their dance sound. In a 2012 interview in "The Guardian" he said 'I was infatuated with Clare Grogan' - he had met the Altered Images singer, and star of "Gregory's Girl" in 1981. 'Although my feelings were unrequited and the relationship was platonic, it was enough to trigger a song, '"True", which became the name of our 1983 album, too.' Kemp was influenced by the book "Lolita", which Grogan bought him, using some of its language. He was also obsessed with soul artists such as Marvin Gaye and Al Green. The resultant single "True", released in 1983, was their biggest hit, reaching number one in the UK.

Hopefully the picture of a tick helped.

Answer: Runaway

The Corrs was an Irish band made up of family members, Andrea, Jim, Caroline, and Sharon. They started performing together as a group in 1990, and landed parts in Alan Parker's movie, "The Commitments" the following year. Their first hit single was "Runaway", in 1995. Although it only just got into the UK top 50, it did better elsewhere, including Ireland and Canada. After ten subsequent singles, they released a remixed version of "Runaway" in 1999 in the UK, where it got to number two in the singles chart.

The picture is by James Gillray, of the runaway French Royal Family being discovered by "French Democrats" after the Revolution.

Answer: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Guns N' Roses formed in LA in 1985. Their first big hit was "Welcome to the Jungle" in 1987, and they reached number one on the Billboard chart in 1988 with "Sweet Child o' Mine". It was their cover of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", released in 1992, that gave the group their biggest UK chart placing, getting to number two.

The photograph is of the door to a church at Kemi, Finland.

Answer: Love Shack

The B-52's formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. 1978 saw their chart breakthrough, with "Rock Lobster", which they followed up with "Planet Claire". Their highest place on the UK chart was with "Love Shack", released in 1989. It was written by the band, inspired by a place in Georgia, where band member Kate Pierson lived, and produced by Don Was. The promotional video featured an early appearance by RuPaul.

The photograph is of a rundown wooden shack.