Nik Kershaw and his Music Trivia Quiz

Answer: The threat of nuclear war

The song was initially released in 1983 and reached number 47 in the UK charts. It was re-released in 1984, after Kershaw's second single had increased his popularity, and was much more successful, charting at number two. The song's lyrics reflect Cold War anxieties about the ever-present possibility of nuclear war breaking out between the USA and the Soviet Union and expresses a distrust of politicians in both of these countries.

Answer: Wouldn't It Be Good

This song was one of Kershaw's most popular releases, charting at number four in the UK, as well as becoming a hit in Australia and much of Europe. The video used chroma key technology to create the alien suit's visual effects. The video also contains a rather odd scene where Kershaw stumbles out onto the street and collapses while a crowd of onlookers gather around, looking at him impassively and muttering the song's chorus. Following this, he is seen running towards a radio telescope that appears to be releasing rays of energy and then he dematerialises mysteriously.

Answer: The Riddle

This song features on the album of the same name. In response to speculation about the possible hidden meaning of the enigmatic lyrics, Kershaw revealed that the lyrics were "nonsense" being nothing but "the confused ramblings of an 80s popstar." Despite, or perhaps because of, its apparent meaninglessness, the song charted in the top ten in several countries. Additionally, the song has since been covered by several artists.

Answer: Don Quixote

"Don Quixote" was the third single to be released from the album "The Riddle" and became Kershaw's seventh consecutive top 20 hit in the UK charts. The video features a couple of scenes of Kershaw and a knight in medieval armour riding horses, although in modern times. And of course, the knight appears to tilt at windmills a few times!

Sir Robin is a character in the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," who is accompanied by minstrels who sing ludicrous songs about his supposed bravery. For example, one such song contains the immortal lyrics, "when danger reared its ugly head, brave Sir Robin turned his tail and fled"! None of these songs were released as singles though.

Answer: Wide Boy

This was another hit single, which charted well in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. The accompanying video depicts Kershaw as a rocker in the 1950s and 60s. At one point, he is sitting on a deck chair when two men pick up his chair and throw into a pool. Later, he is followed down a corridor by men in white coats wearing sinister masks. What does this all mean? Your guess is as good as mine!

Answer: None of them

Despite receiving critical acclaim upon its release, the album was much less successful than this previous output, peaking at 47 on the UK albums chart, thus marking a downturn in Kershaw's career. The single "When a Heart Beats" was moderately successful, peaking at number 27 in the UK charts, although this was the first time that a lead single from one of his albums failed to break into the top 20, and it was the last of his singles to break into the top 40.

Answer: Nikita

Kershaw played electric guitar on this romantic ode to a beautiful woman that the singer yearns for but does not get to interact with, apart from when she checks his passport at the border crossing, because she works behind the Iron Curtain.

Answer: Buddy's Song

The film follows the career of a 17-year-old boy who aspires to be a pop star. The song's theme concerns the singer asserting his unique identity as "the one and only" who is "not the same as all the rest." Two music videos were made for the song, both featuring Hawkes.

The first is rather conventional, while in the second, a girl is watching "Buddy's Song" when Buddy (played by Hawkes) emerges from the screen and beckons the girl to join him. After being chased by Buddy's father (played by Roger Daltrey), Buddy and the girl go back into the screen and kiss, to the shock of the girl's friend who is watching.

Answer: Duets

As the name suggests, this album consisted of Elton John performing a series of duets with other famous artists, including George Michael, k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen, Little Richard, and many others. The album was highly successful, debuting at number seven in the UK and being certified platinum in the USA.

Answer: Come Out and Play

The song is a romantic ballad about - surprise, surprise - love conquering all. The song was not one of the singles released from this album; these were two songs called "Lights Down Low" and "Real Life". The album was released by Sony Music Germany and reached number ten on the album chart in Germany.