Songs That Characterized The 80s Quiz

Answer: Adam Ant

Adam Ant, the guy who 'spent his cash on looking flash', launched into the 80's with his second album 'Kings of The Wild Frontier' featuring the great hit 'Ant Music.' He was to release another six albums during the 80's.

Answer: Heroes

'Fashion' was released in 1980 on the 'Scary Monsters' album. After releasing 14 smash albums in the 70's, the brilliant Bowie never quite got much of a foothold in the 80's and failed to impress the mainstream with his follow-up albums to 'Lets Dance', 'Tonight', and 'Never let Me Down.'

Answer: Chicks for free

Formed in 1977, Dire Straits (aptly named due to their financial position) hit the super league with their 'Brothers In Arms' album in 1985. The hit single 'Money For Nothing' took the album to number one in Canada, Brazil, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, German, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Israel, just to name a lot.

Answer: Handle With Care

One of the great hits from the Travelling Wilburys was 'Handle With Care.' The band was comprised of legends Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, and the late Tom Petty, George Harrison and Roy Orbison.

Answer: Giorgio Moroder

Giorgio Moroder's credits are astounding. Starting his music career in 1967, Moroder racked up hit after hit in the 70's and 80's and produced so many more. He is the winner of three Oscars, four Golden Globes, and three Grammys.

Answer: No One

Howard Jones was a defining figure of synth-pop during the 80's. Learning to play the piano at the tender age of 7 in Southampton, England, Jones' family relocated to Canada when he was a teenager. 'No One is to Blame' was one of three chart hits in 1985 for Jones.

Answer: Modern English

Modern English has the unfortunate label of 'one-hit wonders.' Fortunately, they did record 'I Melt With You', which has survived on the radio for over 20 years.

Answer: Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953. Making her world debut in the early 80's she was one of the first women of the MTV generation.

Answer: Chess

Tim Rice conceived the idea for the musical 'Chess' in 1980. Rice was introduced to Benny and Bjorn from ABBA who were looking to move their talents into musicals and eventually scored the show. Rice was responsible for the lyrics. The music from 'Chess' was released before the musical hit the stage and did very well.

The musical opened in the West End and ran for three years before moving to Broadway.

Answer: Air Supply

Aussie band Air Supply struggled to find an audience outside of Australia for many years. Rod Stewart took the band to North America as his support act and they soon found their overseas audience. 'Lost In Love' sold over 2 million copies in the USA.

Answer: Old Time Rock n Roll

The song 'Old Time Rock n Roll' was released on the 1978 'Stranger In Town' album, but found its greatest audience in an unforgettable scene with Tom Cruise mouthing to the song and dancing to the music in the 1983 teen cult movie 'Risky Business.' 'Taking Care Of Business' was indeed from Bachman Turner Overdrive.

Answer: Red gold and green, red gold and green

UK band Culture Club, with front man Boy George, was one of the biggest bands of the 80's. In the UK they set a record with 7 straight top ten singles and bettered this with 9 in the USA.

Answer: Don Henley

Canadian Bryan Adams of course wasn't an ex-Eagle and had his own hit with 'Summer Of '69.' Don Henley had a lot of success beyond the Eagles. His third solo album, 'The End Of Innocence', sold 3 million copies and stayed charted for over three years.

Answer: Come On Eileen

'Come On Eileen' from Dexy's Midnight Runners was a huge hit in the USA and the UK, but the band failed to impress with follow up songs in the American market. Their unusual name came from the stimulant Dexedrine, a popular drug on the northern soul scene, which was ironic, as the band had a strict no drugs or drinking policy.

Answer: Safety Dance

Men Without Hats had a long staying hit with the 'Safety Dance.' Hopefully you remembered the song. "We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind 'cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance well they're no friends of mine."

Thanks for playing.