"Behind the Lyrics"--Bowling for Soup--1985 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The song's lackluster heroine, Debby, was "gonna shake her ass/ On the hood of Whitesnake's car." Who actually did shake her tailfeather all over that car?

Answer: Tawny Kitaen

Julie "Tawny" Kitaen was famous for the video of "Here I Go Again." She went on to co-host "America's Funniest People" with David Coulier of "Full House" fame.

Later she married Major League Baseball pitcher Chuck Finley, but that marriage ended in divorce when he accused her of battery.

But, good lord, she was sexy in that video!

2. The woman who danced in the "Here I Go Again" video by Whitesnake was not only a video babe, she was actually married to the lead singer of Whitesnake. Can you name him?

Answer: David Coverdale

Coverdale sang lead for Deep Purple, but after splitting with the band, he formed Whitesnake in 1976. He married Kitaen in 1989, and she appeared in three videos for Whitesnake. They were divorced by 1991.

Stephen Pearcy fronted Ratt; Jani Lane led Warrant; and Tom Keifer sang for Cinderella.

3. The song mentions Bruce Springsteen. What album of his debuted in 1985?

Answer: None of the above

In fact, Springsteen did not release an album in this year. And why should he? "Born in the U.S.A." was so hot after its June 1984 release. It spawned three Top Ten hits in '84 and FOUR Top Ten songs in 1985 ("I'm on Fire" #6, Glory Days" #5, "I'm Goin' Down" #9, "My Hometown" #6).

4. Madonna gets a mention, too, but which of these events did NOT happen for Madonna in 1985?

Answer: Released the album "Like a Virgin"

"Like a Virgin" released in 1984.

Madonna made her first movie appearance in the flick "Vision Quest," starring Matthew Modine as a high school wrestler. Later the same year she won critical acclaim (probably the last time for one of her movie performances) for her portrayal of the elusive Susan, who is sought by Aidan Quinn.

Do we really need to mention the marriage?

5. The song says there was music still on MTV in 1985. The company has diversified over the years. Which sister channel began broadcasting in 1985?

Answer: VH1

In 1985 the parent company saw a need for videos of softer music, and "Video Hits 1 (VH1)" was formed.

MTV started as a show called "Sight for Sound" but was renamed "Music Television (MTV)" in 1981. All channels listed are divisions of MTV Networks and are owned by Viacom.

6. The song mentions the movies "The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink," and "St. Elmo's Fire." Which of the following was NOT in at least two of these movies?

Answer: Anthony Michael Hall

All were members of the so-called "Brat Pack," and appeared in several movies together in the early to mid 80's.

Of the movies mentioned in the song, Hall appeared only in "The Breakfast Club." Ringwald starred in "Pretty in Pink" and "The Breakfast Club." McCarthy lent his talents to "Pretty in Pink" and "St. Elmo's Fire," and Sheedy appeared in "St. Elmo's Fire" and "The Breakfast Club."

Got all that straight in your head?

7. In the song, Debby "rocked out to Wham!" We all know George Michael was a member of Wham!, but who was his partner in the duo?

Answer: Andrew Ridgeley

Wham! dissolved in 1985 when their management company decided to seal its part of the act to a South African company. As a protest against South Africa's apartheid policies at the time, the duo split. Michael embarked on a huge solo career and Ridgeley faded into obscurity.

8. Debby wanted to "get a hand on a member of Duran Duran." If she touched the lead singer, who would she have thrilled?

Answer: Simon LeBon

Born in the late 70's, Duran Duran had the look and the sound that MTV loved when it started airing music videos. Somgs such as "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "RIO" fit well into the MTV playlist.

However, in 1985, tensions in the band started to pull it apart. John and Andy Taylor teamed with Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson to form Power Station that had a huge hit with a cover of the T. Rex smash "Bang a Gong."

Duran Duran played at Live Aid in July of that year. It was its last concert for the original members until 2003.

Nick Rhodes was also a member of the band, and it should be noted that the Taylors are unrelated.

9. "Who's the other guy singing in Van Halen?" That's the question. David Lee Roth was the long-time lead singer of this rocking band, but he made way for the Red Rocker Sammy Hagar in--you guessed it--1985. However, the band has had a third lead singer. Who is he?

Answer: Gary Cherone

Cherone replaced Hagar in 1997. He was once a member of the band Extreme that produced hit songs "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted."

10. "When did Ozzy become an actor?" laments poor Debby. Do you know in which vehicle Ozzy Osbourne made his acting debut?

Answer: Riders of the Storm

It appeared in 1986, so back in 1985, Debby didn't have long to wait to see Ozzy on the screen!

Starring Dennis Hopper as a Vietnam vet who wants to disrupt a politican's election run, "Riders of the Storm" marked Ozzy's first foray into acting, albeit in a very small role.

In the same year he played a more major part as the Rev. Aaron Gilstrom in "Trick or Treat." The movie follows a clean-cut kid who falls under the spell of a rock album that, when played backwards, tells of coming destruction. Go figure!

The movie also stars Gene Simmons of KISS.

Hope you enjoyed the quiz!

Source: Author umpire63

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

Fun song by a fun group, but what do we know about the people and actions in the lyrics?

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