1983 KROQ Top Ten Songs Quiz | 1980s Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Number ten: The English Beat did the number ten song from the album "Special Beat Service". Sample lyrics: "Always searching for paradise, I'll admit that I'm good as blind, Darling, I confess yes I've ruined three lives, Did not care till I found out that one of them was mine". Name this tune.

Answer: I Confess

Here in the USA we call them the English Beat, because of an L.A power pop band, but in England they are known simply as "The Beat". Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger left the group to form General Public, and a few of the other members ended up in the group the Fine Young Cannibals.

"Ghost Town" was done by The Specials.
"On My Radio" was done by The Selecter.

2. Number nine: The song is titled "Union of the Snake". Simon Le Bon wrote the song lyrics for this British group. Name the group that recorded this song.

Answer: Duran Duran

The song was on the album "Seven and the Ragged Tiger". It reached number three on both the UK singles chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Drummer Roger Taylor stated that the drum track was based on David Bowie's "Let's Dance".

3. Number eight: German artist Peter Schilling did the song at number eight. From the title, it would seem the song has ties to David Bowie's song "Space Oddity", though not officially. What is the title of this song by Schilling?

Answer: Major Tom (I'm Coming Home)

The song was originally recorded in German. It reached number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in late 1983.

"Ziggy Stardust" was done by David Bowie.
"Spaceman" was done By Nilsson in the 1970s.
"She Blinded Me With Science" was done by Thomas Dolby in the 1980s.

4. Number seven. This song was recorded by Tears for Fears. Opening lyrics: "All around me are familiar faces, Worn out places, worn out faces, Bright and early for their daily races, Going nowhere, going nowhere". The lyrics give insight into the songs title. The song is called:

Answer: Mad World

As usual, this song was influenced by the band's love of "Primal Scream" psychologist Arthur Janov's work. The song had a resurgence of popularity after being rearranged at a slower tempo for the movie "Donnie Darko".

"The Killing Moon" was done by Echo and the Bunnymen.
"Beds Are Burning" was recorded by Midnight Oil.
"I Was Only Joking" was a song from Rod Stewart.

5. Number six: The song is titled "Let's Dance" and performed by a legendary British performer. There were probably no "Spiders from Mars" involved in this song. Name the artist who performed this song.

Answer: David Bowie

"Let's Dance" was off the album of the same name and produced by Nile Rodgers. It was Bowie's first single to ever top both the US and UK singles' charts.

The song featured the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn on guitar. The video was shot in Australia.

6. Number five: This song was performed by Boy George and Culture Club. Sample lyrics are: "Watch me cling to the beat, I had to fight to make it mine That religion you could sink in neat, Just move your feet and you'll feel fine, Who would be the fool to maybe Trick a kiss in time". Name this song by "The Club".

Answer: Church of the Poison Mind

The song was the Culture Club's first single off the "Colour By Numbers" album. Ironically it stalled behind "Let's Dance" at number two on the UK singles chart, but was rated higher on KROQ's list.

"Time (Clock of the Heart)" was off the album "Kissing to Be Clever".
"Two Tribes" was done by Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984.
"Billie Jean" was off Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album.

7. Number four: This song was recorded by the Scottish group Big Country. Here is some lyrical assistance, "And in a big country, dreams stay with you, Like a lover's voice, fires the mountainside ... stay alive, I thought pain and truth were things that really mattered, But you can't stay here with every single hope you had shattered".

Answer: In a Big Country

The guitar orchestration in this song won raves from the L.A. music press, and it was well deserved. The song peaked at number 17 on both the US and UK single's charts in 1983. The video was a bit different, it seemed loosely connected to the song, but some great scenery of Scotland.

"Jessie's Girl" was performed by Rick Springfield.
"I Could Be Happy" was performed by Altered Images.
"The Safety Dance" was recorded by Men Without Hats.

8. Number three: This was one of the Police's biggest hits ever. Here are some lyrics: "Every single day, Every word you say, Every game you play, Every night you stay, I'll be watching you, Oh can't you see, you belong to me, How my poor heart aches with every step you take". Name this US Billboard Hot 100 number one song from the Police.

Answer: Every Breath You Take

The song was written by Sting, and is off the multi-platinum "Synchronicity" album. This song won two Grammys, including "Song of the Year" in 1984. It was also listed at number 84 on Rolling Stones' top 500 songs of all-time. It is also one of the most misunderstood songs in pop music history. It is a dark song about a controlling voyeuristic man who's lost out on love; it is not a sweet love song as most thought. The above lyrics are an example of that.

"Roxanne" of course was released in 1978, not 1983.
"Maneater" is a song from Hall & Oates.
"Sweet Dreams" was done by the Eurythmics.

9. Number two: The runner-up on KROQ's list was done by a group from Montreal, Men Without Hats. Whether they had hats or not, the song was about a dance. Name the song at number two.

Answer: Safety Dance

"The Safety Dance" was Men Without Hats' only real hit in the USA. The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. It reached number 11 in the bands native country of Canada.

According to Wikipedia, the song was a protest against bouncers stopping "pogoing" at night clubs, though singer Ivan Doroschuk said the anti-nuclear ending, which most thought the song was about, was really more "anti-establishment". Maybe that's why the video was so bizarre, complete with a dancing "little person" and a Maypole.

"The Macarena" was done by Los del Rio in the 1990s.
"Rip It Up" was done by Edwyn Collins and his group Orange Juice.
"Pop Goes the World" was a song by Men Without Hats released in 1987.

10. Number one: This song was the second 1983 KROQ top ten hit for this popular group with a repetitive name. It is called "Is There Something I Should Know?". Which group performed the song at number one?

Answer: Duran Duran

This song was recorded in London, England in December 1982. It reached number one on the UK singles charts, and peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
An interesting note: the song was not originally included on the "Rio" album when it was released in the UK in 1982. It was decided to re-release the album with this song included for its US debut.

Source: Author Alepcot

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

1983 KROQ Top Ten Songs Trivia Quiz

Name the song or artist from L.A. radio station KROQ's 106.7 year-end countdown. Ironically, none of the bands are from the US; eight are from the UK. Have fun with a "new wave" nostalgic journey.

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