Music from the 80s - 1980 Quiz | Music from 1980

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Mirror In The Bathroom" was a hit in 1980 for which ska influenced band?

Answer: The Beat

The Beat hailed from Birmingham, England and were known in North America as The English Beat. "Mirror In The Bathroom" was released in May 1980 and achieved a highest UK chart placing of number four during a nine week stay on the chart.

2. Jools Holland used to be a member of this band. During 1980, they released the singles "Another Nail In My Heart" and "Pulling Muscles (From The Shell)". Who were they?

Answer: Squeeze

The line-up of Squeeze has fluctuated over the years, but singer/songwriters Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford have been the mainstays. 1980 was not a particularly successful year for them chart-wise; "Another Nail In My Heart" peaked at number 17 during its nine weeks on the chart while "Pulling Muscles (From The Shell)" only managed number 44 during its six week run.

3. "We Are Glass", "I Die You Die" and "This Wreckage" were all single releases during 1980 for which artist?

Answer: Gary Numan

I used to love Gary Numan! "We Are Glass" was released in May 1980 and spent seven weeks on the chart, peaking at number five. "I Die You Die" came out in August, also spent seven weeks on the chart and made it to number six. It appears to have been a case of lucky seven for Gary in 1980 as "This Wreckage", which was released in December, also enjoyed a seven week run on the UK singles chart, peaking at number two.

4. During the 80s, Madness spent a great deal of time in the top 20. Two of their 1980 singles reached number three - which two?

Answer: "My Girl" and "Baggy Trousers"

Madness were the ultimate singles band in the early 80s. Between September 1979 and August 1985 they enjoyed 20 top 20 hits and spent more weeks on the UK singles chart than any other band. "My Girl", released in January and "Baggy Trousers", released in September, both achieved a highest chart placing of number three. "One Step Beyond" was a number seven hit in 1979, "Embarrassment" was released in November 1980 and eventually made it to number four and "Return of the Los Palmas Seven" was released in January 1981 and peaked at number seven.

5. Who invited you to "Dance Yourself Dizzy" in February 1980?

Answer: Liquid Gold

Released in February 1980, "Dance Yourself Dizzy" spent a total of 14 weeks on the chart, peaking at number two. Liquid Gold's only other top 20 hit was "Substitute", which was released in May 1980 and reached number eight.

6. "Lorraine" was a number 21 hit for which ska band in 1980?

Answer: Bad Manners

Fronted by the larger-than-life Buster Bloodvessel (real name Douglas Trendle) North Londoners Bad Manners were a ska revival band who enjoyed considerable British chart success in the early 80s. "Lorraine" was released in December 1980 and spent a total of 12 weeks on the UK singles chart.

Other hits for Bad Manners in that year included "Ne-ne Na-na Na-na Nu-nu", "Lip Up Fatty" and "Special Brew". The only band who spent more weeks on the singles chart in 1980 was Madness.

7. "Kings of The Wild Frontier" and "Antmusic" were both released in 1980 and both reached number two. What was the name of the war-paint-wearing band that recorded these songs?

Answer: Adam and the Ants

Categorised by the British music press as part of the 'new wave' movement, Adam and the Ants had eight top 20 hits between 1980 and 1982. On its original release, "Kings of the Wild Frontier" only managed a chart placing of 48, but it did much better when re-released in August 1980, when it made it all the way to number two. Also peaking at number two was "Antmusic", which was released on 6 December 1980 and spent 18 weeks on the chart.

8. Which 1980 hit do these lyrics come from? "Oh oh your hair is beautiful Oh tonight"

Answer: "Atomic" by Blondie

New Yorkers Blondie released three singles in the UK in 1980; "Atomic", "Call Me" and "The Tide is High", and all three of them reached number one. "Call Me" and "The Tide is High" were also number ones in the USA.

9. "My World" was a number 16 hit in 1980 for whom?

Answer: Secret Affair

Mod revivalists Secret Affair formed in 1978. Released in March 1980, "My World" spent nine weeks on the chart, peaking at number 16. Secret Affair only ever released five singles in the UK and only two of them troubled the top 20. I still like this song and have it on my MP3.

10. "Our life together is so precious together We have grown, we have grown Although our love is still special Let's take a chance and fly away somewhere alone" These are the opening lyrics to which 1980 hit?

Answer: "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon

"(Just Like) Starting Over" was number one in the UK in the week of 20 December 1980, knocking Abba's "Super Trouper" off the top spot. Released on 8 November, "(Just Like) Starting Over" was no doubt propelled to the top of the chart by Lennon's murder on 8 December 1980. The song spent 15 weeks on the UK charts altogether and also reached number one in the USA. In the UK, "(Just Like) Starting Over" spent only one week at the top of the chart before it was deposed by the ubiquitous cheesy Christmas number one, which in 1980 was "There's No One Quite Like Grandma" by St Winfred's School Choir!
I was off school with tonsillitis the day that Lennon's murder was announced and I remember lying in bed listening to all the tributes on Radio One.

All information about chart placing used in this quiz comes from the 19th edition of 'The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles and Albums". Thanks for playing.

Source: Author lizzbett

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Music from the 80s - 1980 Trivia Quiz

I turned 13 in 1980 and officially became a teenager. Here's a quiz about some of the music I was listening to then. The majority of the answers are British artists and all correct answers were British chart entries during 1980.

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