Birthday Chart Toppers - My Second Decade Quiz

Answer: Culture Club

"Karma Chameleon" was released in the U.K. in September of 1983, a month before the release of their second studio album "Colour by Numbers". It was written by Boy George, the group's lead singer.

It eventually made its way onto the U.S Billboard Hot 100, making its debut in the week ending December 3rd at Number 52. It reached Number One in the week ending February 4th, 1984, where it stayed for three weeks. Altogether, "Karma Chameleon" stayed in the top 100 for 22 weeks. It was their only Number One hit in the United States, but their second in the U.K.

In an interview (quoted on Wikipedia), Boy George explained, "The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back."

Answer: Foreigner

Written by Mick Jones and Lou Gramm, "I Want to Know What Love Is" is a power ballad by Foreigner that was released on November 13th, 1984 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, "Agent Provocateur".

The song burst onto the Billboard Hot 100 at Number 45 in the week ending December 8th, then rose steadily to reach Number One in the week ending February 2nd, 1985 (two weeks after reaching Number One in the U.K.). It stayed in the top spot for two weeks before dropping down and off the Hot 100 chart after 21 total weeks.

Answer: Dionne & Friends

"That's What Friends are For" was written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager and originally recorded by Rod Stewart in 1982 (as part of the soundtrack for the film "Night Shift").

Dionne Warwick's cover in 1985 included Gladys Knight, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder (the '& Friends) as a charity single in support of the American Foundation for AIDS Research, raising over $3 million.

"That's What Friends are For" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at Number 67 in the week ending November 9th. It reached the top spot on the chart in the week ending January 18th, 1986, where it stayed for four weeks. In total, the song remained in the top 100 for 23 weeks.

Answer: Billy Vera & The Beaters

Billy Vera originally wrote and recorded "At This Moment" in 1981, where it made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, but only as high as Number 79. It wasn't until it was featured in the television series "Family Ties" that interest in the song was renewed, and it was rereleased.

During this second run, "At This Moment" appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 at Number 96 in the week ending November 8th, 1986, vaulting up the chart to reach Number One in the week ending January 24th, 1987, where it stayed for two weeks. In total, the song stayed in the top 100 for 21 weeks.

Answer: INXS

"Need You Tonight" was the first worldwide single release by INXS in 1987 from their sixth studio album "Kick". It was their only song to reach Number One on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Released in mid-October of 1987, the song debuted on the chart at Number 97 in the week ending October 24th, then rose steadily up the ranks to reach Number One in the week ending January 30th, 1988. In total, "Need You Tonight" remained on the Hot 100 chart for 25 weeks.

Incidentally, the accompanying music video created by the band earned five MTV Video Music Awards, including the 1988 Video of the Year.

Answer: Sheriff

"When I'm with You" was originally released by Canadian band Sheriff in early 1983. At the time, the song made the top ten in Canada, and made it onto the US Billboard Hot 100, but only peaked at Number 61.

The band, unhappy with their lack of success, broke up in 1985... the different members later formed the groups Frōzen Ghōst and Alias.

In November of 1988, the song began to be played on the radio again, which prompted a re-release of the song by Capitol Records. This time, it made it to Number One on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking for just the one week ending February 4th, 1989. Altogether, it stayed on the chart for 28 weeks!

Answer: Michael Bolton

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" was written by by Doug James and Michael Bolton in 1982, and originally recorded and released by Laura Branigan in 1982. Branigan's rendition peaked at Number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

In 1988, Michael Bolton recorded the song for his own (sixth studio) album "Soul Provider", which was released in June of 1989. The song itself was released as a single in October, and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at Number 89 in the week ending October 28th. It reached the Number One spot in the week ending January 20th, 1990, where it stayed for three weeks. Altogether, it remained on the chart for 23 weeks.

Answer: Surface

"The First Time" was released as a single on October 11th, 1990 as the first single from their third studio album "3 Deep".

The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at Number 82 in the week ending November 3rd and rose up the chart to reach Number One in the week ending January 26th, 1991, where it stayed for two week. Altogether, "The First Time" spent 25 weeks in the top 100.

Answer: George Michael / Elton John

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and originally recorded in 1974 for Elton's eighth studio album "Caribou". At that time it made it just shy of the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at Number Two for two weeks in July.

Elton John collaborated with George Michael as early as 1985 with this song, performing it as part of the Live Aid concert, but it was during the final show of George Michael's 1991 'Cover to Cover' tour (at Wembley Stadium) that Elton joined him for the live recording that would reach the top of the chart.

The live duet single of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was released in November and made it to the Number One spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week ending February 1st, 1992. It lasted 20 weeks in the top 100.

Answer: Whitney Houston

"I Will Always Love You" was written by Dolly Parton and released by her as a single in 1974 (it reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs), then released again in 1982 as part of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" film. On this occasion, it reached Number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 in addition to regaining the Number One spot on the Hot Country Songs list.

Whitney Houston covered the song for the soundtrack of "The Bodyguard" in 1992, and it became known as her signature song. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at Number 40 in the week ending November 14th. It took only two more weeks to vault up to the Number One spot in the week ending November 28th, where it stayed for 14 weeks, setting a new record. Altogether, it spent 26 weeks on the chart.

After Houston's death in 2012, "I Will Always Love You" made it back onto the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at Number Three.