Pop Music Hits of 1985, Part 2 Quiz

Answer: Boys who save their pennies

Madonna Louise Ciccone took the pop music world by storm during the 1980s with a series of hit singles and outrageous music videos. One of Madonna's most famous songs was "Material Girl". In this tune, Madonna sang about the virtues of boys "who save their pennies" because they "make my rainy day".

In the USA, "Material Girl" climbed to the number two spot in the Billboard charts in the spring of '85.

Answer: Sade

Helen Folasade Adu (Sade) sang lead vocals on the hit song "Smooth Operator". Sade was born in Nigeria and was the lead singer for the British group Sade. "Smooth Operator" was a song which concerned a suave man who could break women's hearts from "L.A. to Chicago...to Key Largo".

In the USA, this song was released in March 1985; it eventually reached the number five spot on the Billboard singles charts. "Smooth Operator" featured Sade's sultry vocals and Stu Mathewman's exquisite work on saxophone.

Answer: Baseball

In the summer of 1985, Bruce Springsteen reached the number five spot on the U.S. Billboard singles charts with his song "Glory Days". The protagonist in this tune reminisced about the "good old days" and mentioned a star baseball pitcher in the opening lyrics. Springsteen sang these words:

"I had a friend was a big baseball player
Back in high school
He could throw that speedball by you
Make you look like a fool, boy..."

Answer: A View to a Kill

The Birmingham, England superstars Duran Duran reached the top spot in the U.S. Billboard charts in May 1985 with the song "A View to a Kill". This single was the title track to the James Bond movie of the same name. "A View to a Kill" starred Roger Moore and Christopher Walken. Duran Duran sang these lyrics:

"Meeting you with a view to a kill
Face to face, secret places, feel the chill...
Until we dance into the fire..."

Answer: Things Can Only Get Better

Howard Jones was born in Southampton, England. In 1985, Jones' upbeat single "Things Can Only Get Better" ascended to the number five position on the U.S. Billboard singles charts. Much of the song's chorus/hook consisted of the sounds "whoa, whoa, whoa..." Jones sang these lyrics:

"And do you feel scared - I do
But I won't stop and falter
And if we throw it all away
Things can only get better..."

"Angel" was a hit for Madonna, "Raspberry Beret" was performed by Prince and the Revolution, and "St. Elmo's Fire" was performed by John Parr.

Answer: Too Late for Goodbyes

John Charles Julian Lennon was born in Liverpool, England in 1963. Many pop music listeners were stunned in 1984 and 1985 to hear Julian's voice on such hits as "Valotte" and "Too Late For Goodbyes". The young Lennon's voice bore a striking resemblance to the vocals of his famous father, "Beatle John". In the USA, the song "Too Late" rose to the number five position on the Billboard singles charts. Julian Lennon sang these words:

"Now I know how it feels for you
I've been wanting to die
But it's much too late for goodbyes
Yes, it's much too late for goodbyes..."

Answer: Waves

In the spring of 1985, the single "I'm Walking On Sunshine" reached the number nine position on the U.S. Billboard charts for the group Katrina and the Waves. This group featured the lead vocals of Katrina Leskanich. Other members of the Waves included Kimberley Rew (guitar), Alex Cooper (drums), and Vince Dela Cruz (bass).

Answer: Heartache

"In my life, there's been heartache and pain; I don't know if I can face it again..." With these lyrics, Lou Gramm and Foreigner struck international gold. The power ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is" was released in the USA in late 1984, and it climbed to the top of the Billboard singles charts in February 1985.

Answer: Marvin Gaye

Diana Ross dedicated the song "Missing You" to Motown legend Marvin Gaye, who had been murdered in April 1984. This song was written by '80s superstar Lionel Richie, and it reached the number ten spot on the U.S. Billboard charts in 1985. Ross sang these lyrics about Gaye:

"I'll still recall
All those dreams we shared together
Where did you run to, boy?
Oooh, ooh I'm missing you
Tell me why the road turns?"

Answer: Marilyn Martin

Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin reached the top of the U.S. Billboard singles charts in November 1985 with "Separate Lives". This song was featured in the movie "White Nights". Marilyn Martin, known mainly for her backup vocal work, grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. Collins and Martin sang these words:

"You have no right to ask me how I feel
You have no right to speak to me so kind
We can't go on, holding on to time
Now we're living separate lives..."