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Music of the 80s: Part II Trivia Quiz

This is the follow-up to Part I of my quiz. I try to make these challenging and fun, with questions that haven't been asked a hundred times elsewhere. Hope you like it!

A multiple-choice quiz by panderson. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
panderson

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
80,224

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
12 / 20

Plays
5347

Last 3 plays: Guest 51 (9/20), Guest 108 (15/20), Guest 72 (16/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. What wrestling star played Cyndi Lauper's father in the video for 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun'? Hint

Hulk Hogan

Captain Lou Albano

Rowdy Roddy Piper

Macho Man Randy Savage

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Question 2 of 20

2. In what island country did Duran Duran film the video for 'Hungry Like The Wolf' in 1983? Hint

The Philippines

Indonesia

Madagascar

Sri Lanka

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Question 3 of 20

3. In Men at Work's single 'Down Under,' what was the height of the 'man in Brussells'? Hint

Six foot tall

Six foot one

Six foot four

Six foot five

4. Public Enemy's 1988 album 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back' is considered a classic of 80s music, and one of the best rap albums ever. However, what was the name of Public Enemy's debut album, released a year before, in 1987? Hint

Yo! Bum Rush the Show

Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos

Fear of a Black PLanet

Prophets of Rage

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Question 5 of 20

5. What song contained the line 'yellow is the color of sunrays'? Hint

'Faithfully' by Journey

'Walkin' On Sunshine' by Katrina and the Waves

'Keep On Movin' by Soul II Soul

'Sowing the Seeds of Love' by Tears for Fears

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Question 6 of 20

6. About which city was Huey Lewis singing when he asked 'where else can you do a half a million things, all at a quarter to three?'

Answer: (Two or Three Words)

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Question 7 of 20

7. What Texas act asked the musical question 'is that tuff enuff?' in 1986? Hint

ZZ Top

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Sammy Hagar

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Question 8 of 20

8. In what 1989 song did Billy Joel give us an exhaustive list of 20th century historical events? Hint

Good Night Saigon

Famous Last Words

We Didn't Start the Fire

Storm Front

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Question 9 of 20

9. In what song will you hear the line 'everyone's a silverhero, everyone's a Captain Kirk'? Hint

'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' by Tears for Fears

'Take On Me' by A-Ha

'The End of the Innocence' by Don Henley

'99 Red Balloons' by Nena

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Question 10 of 20

10. Whom did the Bangles consider to be their lead singer? Hint

None of these

Debbi Peterson

Vicki Peterson

Susanna Hoffs

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Question 11 of 20

11. Who warned, in 1983, 'baby you're much 2 fast, yes U are'?

Answer: (One Word Only)

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Question 12 of 20

12. For what movie's soundtrack did James Brown compose the 1986 hit 'Living In America'? Hint

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Crocodile Dundee

Rocky IV

The Golden Child

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Question 13 of 20

13. The video for this 1985 song has Bryan Adams singing to an audience of TV screens. What was the song?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 14 of 20

14. Phil Collins and Phillip Bailey teamed up for the 1985 song 'Easy Lover.' What famous group was Bailey formerly a member of? Hint

The Commodores

Earth, Wind and Fire

Cameo

Kool & the Gang

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Question 15 of 20

15. Which of the famous actors below did NOT appear in Billy Ocean's 1986 video for 'When the Going Gets Tough'? Hint

Michael Douglas

Kathleen Turner

Robin Williams

Danny DeVito

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Question 16 of 20

16. What supermodel was Billy Joel's real-life 'Uptown Girl'? Hint

Cindy Crawford

Cheryl Tiegs

Christie Brinkley

Farrah Fawcett

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Question 17 of 20

17. Actor Bruce Willis charted in 1987 with 'Respect Yourself' in 1987. What was the name of the album on which the song appeared? Hint

Bruce's House

Night Music

Shake That Thing

The Return of Bruno

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Question 18 of 20

18. In what David Bowie song did the singer complain of 'visions of swastikas in my head'?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 19 of 20

19. Britain's beloved Dr. Magnus Pike is given credit as a guest vocalist on which 1983 hit? Hint

'Video Killed the Radio Star,' by The Buggles

'Rock It,' by Herbie Hancock

'She Blinded Me With Science,' by Thomas Dolby

'People Are People,' by Depeche Mode

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Question 20 of 20

20. In 1984, Huey Lewis sued Ray Parker Jr., claiming 'Ghostbusters' ripped off what song? Hint

'Do You Believe In Love'

'I Want a New Drug'

'Heart and Soul'

'The Power of Love'

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 08 2024 : Guest 51: 9/20
Nov 19 2024 : Guest 108: 15/20
Nov 09 2024 : Guest 72: 16/20
Oct 23 2024 : Guest 172: 10/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What wrestling star played Cyndi Lauper's father in the video for 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun'?

Answer: Captain Lou Albano

Albano had an unusual trademark - he apparently affixed rubber bands into the skin of his face somehow. Lauper also appeared in many WWF wrestling matches to lend support to Albano. Interestingly, 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun,' considered Lauper's signature song, was written by a man, Robert Hazard.

2. In what island country did Duran Duran film the video for 'Hungry Like The Wolf' in 1983?

Answer: Sri Lanka

I learned this from Pop-Up Video. I love that show! Sri Lanka is formerly called Ceylon by the way.

3. In Men at Work's single 'Down Under,' what was the height of the 'man in Brussells'?

Answer: Six foot four

The singer bought bread from the man, asked him if he spoke his language, and was given a vegemite sandwich. From what I can tell, Australia's beloved 'vegemite' is a product something like Britain's 'marmite,' but with some extra ingredient in it.

Answer: Yo! Bum Rush the Show

In 'Yo! Bum Rush the Show,' the group's signature 'wall of sound' was not yet employed - the album has a sparser sound than 'It Takes a Nation,' with Chuck D.'s powerful voice driving the tracks. If you have not heard 'It Takes a Nation,' you are missing perhaps the best album of the 80s.

5. What song contained the line 'yellow is the color of sunrays'?

Answer: 'Keep On Movin' by Soul II Soul

Soul II Soul, a UK group formed in 1989, followed up 'Keep On Movin' with 'Back To Life (However Do You Want Me).'

6. About which city was Huey Lewis singing when he asked 'where else can you do a half a million things, all at a quarter to three?'

Answer: New York

From the song 'The Heart of Rock and Roll,' 1984. Canadian fans will remember that 'Toronto!' and 'Montreal!' were added in at the end of the version played in those markets.

7. What Texas act asked the musical question 'is that tuff enuff?' in 1986?

Answer: The Fabulous Thunderbirds

The Fabulous Thunderbirds came out of the Austin, Texas, music scene - a longtime mecca of the Southern arts world. They mixed blues, rock and country for a sound that was similar to ZZ Top, a band with which they are constantly compared.

8. In what 1989 song did Billy Joel give us an exhaustive list of 20th century historical events?

Answer: We Didn't Start the Fire

Supposedly, it was a defense of the Baby-Boom generation against attacks from the Gen-X'ers. Personally, I found it an annoying rip-off of REM's 'It's the End of the World as We Know It.' My high school history teacher made us sit silently and listen to this song in class, I guess in some awkward attempt at making history seem 'cool.'

9. In what song will you hear the line 'everyone's a silverhero, everyone's a Captain Kirk'?

Answer: '99 Red Balloons' by Nena

This song was based on a real-life incident, in which a flock of birds was nearly misidentified as a bunch of missiles, bringing the US and USSR close to war. Although Nena seems to sing 'superhero,' the lyrics say it is 'silverhero.' Some will also recall that this song had 2 videos - a US version and a European version.

The difference? In the European video, Nena lifts her arm up to reveal - gasp! - underarm hair!

10. Whom did the Bangles consider to be their lead singer?

Answer: None of these

The Bangles made a point of sharing all of their singing equally. However, as the group became successful, their management pushed hard to make Susanna Hoffs the official 'lead singer,' as they saw her photogenic looks as a marketing tool. By the time of 'Eternal Flame' (1988), Hoffs was promoted as the lead, causing resentment that would lead to the eventual breakup of the band.

11. Who warned, in 1983, 'baby you're much 2 fast, yes U are'?

Answer: Prince

From 'Little Red Corvette,' by Prince Rogers Nelson. This was really the song that broke Prince into the big-time - I remember kids being divided for a while in 1983-84 over whether Prince or Michael Jackson was 'cooler.'

12. For what movie's soundtrack did James Brown compose the 1986 hit 'Living In America'?

Answer: Rocky IV

Brown performs the song in the movie, just before Apollo Creed is killed by the evil Russian boxer Ivan Drago.

13. The video for this 1985 song has Bryan Adams singing to an audience of TV screens. What was the song?

Answer: Heaven

The song went to number 1 that year. Adams was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

14. Phil Collins and Phillip Bailey teamed up for the 1985 song 'Easy Lover.' What famous group was Bailey formerly a member of?

Answer: Earth, Wind and Fire

Bailey went on to put out a gospel album that won a Grammy in 1986.

15. Which of the famous actors below did NOT appear in Billy Ocean's 1986 video for 'When the Going Gets Tough'?

Answer: Robin Williams

Douglas, Turner and DeVito played backup singers in the video, dressed in white tuxedos. The song was from the movie 'The Jewel of the Nile,' the 1986 sequel to 'Romancing the Stone.'

16. What supermodel was Billy Joel's real-life 'Uptown Girl'?

Answer: Christie Brinkley

Brinkley appeared in the video for the song, getting on the back of Joel's motorcycle and riding off with him at the end.

17. Actor Bruce Willis charted in 1987 with 'Respect Yourself' in 1987. What was the name of the album on which the song appeared?

Answer: The Return of Bruno

If you listen to this song, it sounds suspiciously like Madonna's 1989 hit 'Express Yourself' - I'm surprised Willis didn't sue. Willis also made a 1988 movie based on his music.

18. In what David Bowie song did the singer complain of 'visions of swastikas in my head'?

Answer: China Girl

From the 'Let's Dance' album, 1983.

19. Britain's beloved Dr. Magnus Pike is given credit as a guest vocalist on which 1983 hit?

Answer: 'She Blinded Me With Science,' by Thomas Dolby

Pike was known to a generation of Britons as the explainer of science on television, whose affable personality epitomized the 'absent-minded professor' stereotype.

20. In 1984, Huey Lewis sued Ray Parker Jr., claiming 'Ghostbusters' ripped off what song?

Answer: 'I Want a New Drug'

'Who you gonna call?' - the lawyer, that's who! Parker and Lewis settled out of court. Listening to both songs, it is easy to see why Lewis sued!

Source: Author panderson

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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