Billboard Number One Songs of 1984 Quiz

Answer: Yes

Yes was formed in 1968 by vocalist Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire. They played their first show at East Mersea Youth Camp in England on August 4, 1968. Soon afterwards the band opened for Cream at their 1968 Farewell Concert from Royal Albert Hall. Chris wrote "Owner of a Lonely Heart" with members Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson and Trevor Horn. Yes has endured numerous lineups and musical directions throughout the band's four decade tenure. "Owner of a Lonely Heart" appears in the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City".

In 2005 DJ Max Graham sampled and remixed "Owner of a Lonely Heart". It reached the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart. For their 40th Anniversary Yes announced a 2008 world tour but it was cancelled because Anderson was experiencing health problems. Chicago had top five success in September, 1984, with "Hard Habit to break". "I Can't Tell You Why" and "Seven Bridges Road" were 1980 top forty hits for The Eagles and their only Billboard top forty singles in the eighties.

The Who formed in 1964.

Answer: Karma Chameleon

In 1981 Boy George used to sing with the group Bow Wow Wow using the stage name "Lieutenant Lush". This caused problems with the group's lead singer, Annabella Lwin. George decided to form his own band with Mikey Craig, Jon Moss and Roy Hay. The newly formed group recorded demos financed by EMI Records, but the label ultimately decided not to sign the group. Virgin Records liked the demos and signed the group in the UK. Epic Records signed Culture Club in the US because Virgin did not have a US office.

Their second album, "Colour by Numbers", was released in 1983. The second single released from the album was "Karma Chameleon". "Miss Me Blind" hit number four in on the US Billboard charts 1984. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" made number two in 1982. "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" made it to number nine the following year.

Answer: The Netherlands

Eddie and Alex Van Halen were born in Amsterdam to a Dutch father and an Indo Eurasian mother. They spent their childhood in Nijmegen in the east of The Netherlands. In 1962 the family moved to Pasadena, California. By 1972 the Van Halen brothers had formed a band called Mammoth featuring Eddie as vocalist and lead guitarist, Alex on drums and Mark Stone on bass.

They were renting a sound system from David Lee Roth but were able to save money by letting him sing, even though he had previously auditioned and was rejected.

In 1974 they replaced Stone with Michael Anthony, who had been the bassist and vocalist for "Snake". After learning that the name Mammoth had been taken they called themselves Van Halen. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 12, 2007.

Answer: Let's Hear it For the Boy

"Let's Hear it For the Boy" is one of five top forty hits from the movie "Footloose". The only other flicks to accomplish the feat are "Xanadu" and Saturday Night Fever". "Let's Hear it For the Boy" was a last minute addition to the movie. Another song had been used during filming.

The song was written by songwriters Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford when the producers realized there was no song from the girlfriend's perspective. After DeNiece Williams recorded the song the producer thought she sounded too much like a young girl.

He wanted a more intense version. DeNiece was rushed from New York to LA to cut another version. Because of deadline issues she sang the retake in twenty minutes. She didn't even have time to get her luggage at the airport.

It is her first solo number one. She had a duet hit with Johnny Mathis with "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". Matthew Wilder's "Break My Stride" was number five in January, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" made the top five for Cindi Lauper in February and Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" made the top five in June.

Answer: Woman in Red

Stevie Wonder received an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "I Just Called to Say I Love You". Dionne Warwick suggested Stevie Wonder when the producers of "Woman in Red" needed songs. Stevie had to meet a strict deadline and Orion actually held up the final prints in anticipation of the finished songs. "The Woman in Red" is a romantic comedy directed by Gene Wilder and stars Wilder as a happily married man who fantasizes about having an affair with a sexy mysterious woman played by Kelly LeBrock. Gilda Radner mistakenly believes that she is actually the one he's after. "Bachelor Party" was Directed by Neal Israel and features Tom Hanks, Tawny Kitaen and Adrian Zmed. "Unfaithfully Yours" was directed by Howard Zieff and stars Dudley Moore, Nastassja Kinski and Armand Assante. "The Lonely Guy" is a 1984 Steve Martin romantic comedy film written by Neil Simon and directed by Arthur Hiller.

Answer: When Doves Cry

"When Doves Cry" was Prince's first US Billboard number one single. It topped the charts for five weeks. Billboard magazine rates it the top-selling single of 1984. Prince finished high school at age 16 and started writing three or four songs a day. He taught himself to play guitar, keyboards and drums and eventually got a contract with Warner brothers. "For You" was his debut album and although it ran over budget the label consented to letting Prince record three more albums due to a growing fan base.

The "Purple Rain" song "Let's Go Crazy" made it to number one for Prince in September. "Take Me With U" reached number 25 the following year. "I Would Die for U" made it to number eight in 1985 and Laura Branigan's "Self Control" was number four behind "When Doves Cry".

Answer: What's Love Got to do With It?

"What's Love Got to Do with It" was the second single released from Tina Turner's debut solo album "Private Dancer". At the 1985 Grammy Awards the song took Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. When Tina heard producer Terry Britton demo his song she didn't like it.

At Terry's suggestion she modified the arrangement to suit her edgy style and soon she captured the song and made it her own. In 1993 the song was used for the title of Tina's autobiographical movie featuring her life leading up to the recording of the song. "Let's Stay Together" reached number 25 in 1983. "Private Dancer" reached number seven in 1985 and "We Don't Need Another Hero" hit number two the same year.

Answer: Ray Parker, Jr.

Ray Parker, Jr. received an Academy Award nomination for singing and composing the "Ghostbusters" theme. The producers of the movie had already auditioned over 60 songs and didn't like any of them by the time Ray became involved. Ray was an in-demand session musician in 1972 when he was asked by Stevie Wonder to work with him on a tour with the Rolling Stones.

He then formed a group called Raydio and had hits such as "You Can't Change That". He went solo and had a top ten hit with "The Other Woman". Parker continues to work as a session player for numerous artists.

The Pointer Sisters had a top five in July, 1984 with "Jump (For My Love)". Phil Collins had number one success with "Against All Odds (Take A Look at me Now)" from the movie "Against All Odds". "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" was number five behind "Ghostbusters" for Elton John in August, 1984.

Answer: Missing You

Waite's song "Missing You" reached number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 knocking "What's Love Got to Do With it?" off the top spot. Ironically, Tina Turner did a version of "Missing You" in 1996. Waite wrote the lyrics within a short time because he was missing his wife, Lynne, who was back in England while he was working in the US. "Missing You" was recorded by the country music duo Brooks and Dunn in 1999 on their "Tightrope" album.

It peaked at number 15 on the country charts. John Waite re-recorded the song with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss in 2007. That version peaked at number 34 on the Hot Country Songs chart. "Hard Habit to Break" was number four for Chicago in October, 1984. Former Journey front man Steve Perry had a number three hit with "Oh, Sherrie" in June, 1984 and "Stuck on You" was a number three for Lionel Richie in September, 1984. On May 12, 1983, "Hello" was number one for Richie. "Hold Me Now" was a top five for The Thompson Twins in April, 1984.

Answer: Time After Time

"Time After Time" is the last song written for Cyndi's "She's So Unusual" album. It was co-written with Bob Hyman of The Hooters. Bob also provides backing vocals on the recording. Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper first came to the attention of the public in 1983 with the number two hit "Girls Just Want To Have Fun".

She was dismissed as a novelty singer, but her determination and talent kept her in the top forty with several more songs. The video for "Time After Time" featured Cyndi's real mother and her boyfriend/manager at the time, Dave Wolff. WWF wrestler Captain Lou Albano appeared in the videos for "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" and "Time After Time". "Time after Time" was nominated for Song of the Year at the 1985 Grammy Awards. The number seven "Change Of Heart" is the second single released by Cyndi Lauper from her 1986 album "True Colors".