More 80s ... Well it was the best era! Quiz

Answer: My Own Way

Duran Duran started in 1981 with the release of 'Planet Earth', but despite their popularity they did not get a number one record in the UK until 'Is There Something I Should Know?' which was their eighth single release.

'My Own Way' was their fourth single release and reached fourteen in the singles charts in the UK.

Answer: Purple Rain

'Purple Rain' was a hit for Prince in 1984. It won two awards, one for best rock performance, and best soundtrack (it was used as a soundtrack for a film with the same name and starring Prince). At one time the song, the album and the film of the same name were all number ones in the US at the same time!

Answer: Smalltown Boy

The three members of Bronski Beat were lead singer Jimmy Somerville and Larry Steinbachek and Steve Bronski (now we know where their name comes from!) All three men are gay and their songs and videos often reflected the issues gay people face.
Their first song 'Smalltown Boy' (the song in the question) was an example of this. It was about a gay person leaving home in disgrace because of being gay. The song was released in 1984 and reached three in the UK singles charts.

Answer: One In Ten

UB40 got their name from the form the unemployed filled in when on the dole in this era. 'One In Ten' also makes reference to the unemployment issues at the time. The song was released in 1981 and reached seven in the UK singles charts.
It was Chrissie Hydne of The Pretenders who spotted UB40 while they were gigging and signed them up as her support act on her tour.

Answer: Locomotion

'Locomotion' was a hit for OMD in 1984 when it reached five in the UK singles charts.
The founders and probably the main members of OMD are Andy McCluskey and Paul Humpreys. They are both from the Wirral Peninsula in England and met when they were in primary school!

Answer: Say Hello Wave Goodbye

'Say Hello Wave Goodbye' was a hit for Soft Cell. It reached three in the UK singles charts. Soft Cell consisted of Marc Almond and David Ball; Marc wrote the words and David wrote the music. Many of their songs have been covered by different artists including David Gray and A-ha.

Answer: Head Over Heels

Tears For Fears consisted of Roland Orzabol and Curt Smith who met as teenagers in Bath. Roland sang, played guitar and wrote most of the songs and Curt played bass guitar and also sang. 'Head Over Heels', sung by Roland, was a hit for the band in 1985 and reached twelve in the UK singles charts.
Tears For Fears did a re-make of 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' to promote Live Aid, they changed the word rule to run ... genius!

Answer: Lately

In 1981 Stevie Wonder had a hit with 'Lately' it reached three in the UK singles charts and features on his album 'Hotter Than July'.
Wonder is an exceptionally talented man. He has been blind almost from birth and yet he writes songs and plays various instruments, although he is most famous for playing the keyboard/piano. His blindness was caused through a condition called retinopathy of prematurity, which meant that due to his premature birth parts of the eyes stopped developing.

Answer: Running In The Family

Level 42 had a hit with 'Running In The Family' in 1987 when it got to six in the UK charts. The band was noted for its strong bass guitar sound of the singer Mark King and backing vocals by Mike Lindup who has a much higher voice than the singer giving a great contrast. Altogether Level 42 had 33 released singles and eleven studio albums.

Answer: Carrie

'Carrie' was the first hit for Cliff Richard in the 80s. Released in 1980 it reached four in the UK singles charts.
Cliff's singing career has lasted more than fifty years and he is one of the most successful singers of all time (third top selling artist).
In June 1995 Cliff was appointed a knight bachelor and became Sir Cliff Richard.

Answer: Don't Dream It's Over

'Don't Dream It's Over' was a hit for Crowded House in 1986 when it reached twenty seven in the UK singles charts but eight in Australia and one in New Zealand and Canada.
Crowded House are an Australian group with Neil Finn as the chief songwriter, guitar player and singer for the group.

Answer: Stray Cat Strut

The Stray Cats consisted of guitarist, singer and songwriter Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker on bass guitar and Slim Jim Phanton on drums. 'Stray Cat Strut', written by Brian, gave them their highest chart entry; it was released in 1981 and reached three in the singles charts.
The band had a very unique style heavily influenced by 50s/60s artists like Eddie Cochran.

Answer: Golden Brown

In 1982 'Golden Brown' was a hit for The Stranglers; it reached two in the singles charts. The number one spot was taken by The Jam with 'A Town Called Malice'.
The song was written by the singer of the band, Hugh Cornwall, who claims the song has links to a girl he once knew and loved and drugs which he also dabbled in.

Answer: Labelled With Love

This song was a hit for Squeeze in 1981 when it reached four in the UK singles charts. The writers, composers and singers in the band were Difford and Tilbrook. Later the two of them used the title of this song for a short musical about their music.

If you like Squeeze please try out my quiz on their music.

Answer: I Can't Go For That

'I Can't Go For That' was a hit record for Hall And Oates (Daryl Hall And John Oates). It was released in 1981 and was a top ten worldwide. The song was voted six on VH1's Greatest songs of the 80s.
In total Hall And Oates have released 63 singles!

Answer: Don't Stop Believin'

'Don't Stop Believing' was a hit for Journey. It was released in 1981 originally but did not chart in the UK but reached nine in the Billboard Hot 100.
The song, rereleased later in 2009, became the top selling track in itunes history and reached six in the UK. It was also used as one of the songs sung by Joe McElderry on the "X Factor".

Answer: Road To Nowhere

'Road To Nowhere' was a hit for The Talking Heads in 1985. It reached six in the UK charts, giving them their only UK top ten hit. The video which was directed by the singer of the group David Bryne and Stephen Johnson was nominated by MTV as the best video of the year!

Answer: Real Gone Kid

'Real Gone Kid' a hit for Deacon Blue, got to eight in the UK charts in 1988. The song was written by the singer of the band and features on their second album 'When The World Knows Your Name'. The album got to number one in the UK album charts.
Deacon Blue took their name from a Steely Dan record called 'Deacon Blues'.

Answer: Club Tropicana

'Club Tropicana' was written and performed by Wham. The song was released in 1983 and reached four in the UK charts.
Altogether Wham sold over 25 million records over the four years of their reign from 1982 to 1986.

Answer: Temptation

Heaven 17 had a hit with 'Temptation' in 1983. It reached two in the UK charts.

Jarvis Cocker (singer of Pulp) and Beth Ditto performed this song live at NME awards and then released it as a charity record.

Answer: Hang On Now

Christopher Hamill is not a name you probably recognise but is the birth name of the singer of 'Hang On Now', you will know him from his stage name Limahl. Limahl came to fame as the lead singer of Kajagoogoo. In mid 1983 he was sacked from the group; there have been two theories of the reason. One is that the rest of the group thought his ego was making it hard to work with him and the other that the Limahl image of a band that 'girls' like was not the image the rest wanted. Limahl sought a solo career and the band continued without him.

Answer: Wishing I Was Lucky

'Wishing I Was Lucky' was the debut single from Wet Wet Wet. It reached six in the UK and Ireland. Their biggest hit was their cover of The Troggs 'Love Is All Around' which spent fifteen weeks at number one!
It was 'Getting Having And Holding' by the group Scritti Politti that gave Wet Wet Wet the inspiration for their name. Looking at the lyrics to this song I can not understand why ... please let me know if you know.

Answer: The Girl Is Mine

'The Girl Is Mine' is a duet between Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. The song, written by Jackson, was released in 1982 and was a worldwide success. They have recorded two other records together: 'Say Say Say' and 'The Man'.

Answer: Only You

'Only You' was the debut hit for Yazoo in 1982, it reached the top ten in the UK, Ireland and Australia. Yazoo was a duo, the singer Alison Moyet and songwriter and keyboard player Vince Clarke.
Vince Clarke was in Depeche Mode before Yazoo and then after Yazoo he has been in the bands The Assembly and Erasure. In all bands he was the chief song writer.
Alison Moyet started her career in Yazoo and when they parted she pursued a solo career and is very successful.

Answer: Do You Really Want To Hurt Me

'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me' was a hit for Culture Club in 1982. It was the third single they released but the first to be successful and it was very successful worldwide. The song was written by Boy George about the sort of guys he was dating at the time including Jon Moss the drummer of the band.
The group called themselves Culture Club due to their mixture of cultures.