FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

The 80s Trivia Quiz

Do you miss the 1980s and the music that defined a generation?

A multiple-choice quiz by m1a2lt. Estimated time: 8 mins.

Author
m1a2lt

Time
8 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
107,190

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
10 / 25

Plays
4898

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. "Der Kommissar" was done in English by After the Fire. Who performed the original German version?

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 2 of 25

2. Kenny Loggins was the soundtrack king of the 1980s, although not all of his hits were soundtracks. Which of the following was not part of the soundtrack for a movie? Hint

Nobody's Fool

Meet Me Half Way

Playing with the Boys

Keep the Fire

NEXT>

Question 3 of 25

3. True or False: Nena's (of "99 Red Balloons" fame) last name was Kerner.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 4 of 25

4. True or False: "I Ran (So Far Away)" was A Flock of Seagull's only Top 40 hit on the US Pop Charts.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 5 of 25

5. What was the artist Rockwell's real name? Hint

Bernard Sumner

Joe Strummer

Kenneth Gordy

Stephen Morris

NEXT>

Question 6 of 25

6. Which of the following movies did not have a New Order song on the soundtrack? Hint

Married to the Mob

Pretty in Pink

Better Off Dead

Something Wild

NEXT>

Question 7 of 25

7. In what year was Depeche Mode's "Music for the Masses" released? Hint

1986

1988

1987

1989

NEXT>

Question 8 of 25

8. Which of these Def Leppard albums was released first? Hint

High 'N' Dry

First Strike

Pyromania

On Through the Night

NEXT>

Question 9 of 25

9. What was Peter Schilling's only Top 40 hit in the US?

Answer: (Two Words)

NEXT>

Question 10 of 25

10. According to They Might be Giants, who gets "hit on the head with a frying pan"? Hint

Particle Man

Universe Man

Person Man

Triangle Man

NEXT>

Question 11 of 25

11. Which of these 80's songs did Weird Al NOT do a parody of? Hint

Jeopardy

Living in America

Material Girl

Eye of the Tiger

NEXT>

Question 12 of 25

12. Devo did a remake of this Lee Dorsey song for the animated film "Heavy Metal".

Answer: (Five Words)

NEXT>

Question 13 of 25

13. Which Tears for Fears album featured the following songs: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", "Shout", and "Head over Heels"? Hint

The Seeds of Love

Songs from the Big Chair

The Hurting

Elemental

NEXT>

Question 14 of 25

14. What was the name of Def Leppard's drummer who lost an arm?

Answer: (Two Words)

NEXT>

Question 15 of 25

15. Which new wave band included the artists Nick Laird-Clowes, Kate St. John, and Gilbert Gabriel? Hint

Strawberry Switchblade

Dream Academy

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark

Arcadia

NEXT>

Question 16 of 25

16. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was first released on Metallica's Hint

Kill 'Em All

Ride the Lightning

Master of Puppets

...And Justice for All

NEXT>

Question 17 of 25

17. "Institutionalized", from the film "Repo Man", was sung by this band. Hint

Agnostic Front

Suicidal Tendancies

Living Color

Faith No More

NEXT>

Question 18 of 25

18. This song was Belinda Carlisle's only number 1 hit. Hint

I Get Weak

Mad About You

Circle in the Sand

Heaven is a Place on Earth

NEXT>

Question 19 of 25

19. Michael Jackson had a number of people "assist" on the "Thriller" album. Which of the following was not included in the assistance on "Thriller"? Hint

Eddie Van Halen

Lionel Richie

Vincent Price

Paul McCartney

NEXT>

Question 20 of 25

20. Who sung "Something About You" in 1985?

Answer: (Two Words)

NEXT>

Question 21 of 25

21. During the 1980s, which of the following artists had the most number 1 hits on the "Billboard Hot 100"? Hint

Madonna

Michael Jackson

Phil Collins

George Michael

NEXT>

Question 22 of 25

22. True or False: "Mixed Emotions" was the Rolling Stones' only number 1 hit on the "Billboard Hot 100" in the 1980s.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 23 of 25

23. Which New Wave band had "Voices Carry" as their only major hit? Hint

The Motels

Missing Persons

Quarterflash

'Til Tuesday

NEXT>

Question 24 of 25

24. Prince's "Purple Rain" album, released in 1984, spent how many weeks at number 1 in the US? Hint

NEXT>

Question 25 of 25

25. And, finally, what "don't wear sweaters", "can't play baseball", and "are never seen drinking capuccino in Italian restaurants with Oriental women"?

Answer: (Two Words (Also the title of the song))

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Dec 21 2024 : Guest 120: 8/25
Oct 23 2024 : Guest 172: 6/25

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Der Kommissar" was done in English by After the Fire. Who performed the original German version?

Answer: falco

Although this hit was popular in Germany and the American dance scene, it did not receive the praise that the English version by After the Fire received, reaching number 5 on the pop charts. Falco is best remembered for his song "Rock Me Amadeus".

2. Kenny Loggins was the soundtrack king of the 1980s, although not all of his hits were soundtracks. Which of the following was not part of the soundtrack for a movie?

Answer: Keep the Fire

"Keep the Fire" was from Kenny Loggin's "Alive" album and was not featured in any movie. "Nobody's Fool" was the title song from "Caddyshack II", "Playing with the Boys" was from the "Top Gun" soundtrack, which also had Kenny's song "Danger Zone", and "Meet Me Half Way" was from "Over the Top", an absolutely horrible Stallone movie.

3. True or False: Nena's (of "99 Red Balloons" fame) last name was Kerner.

Answer: True

Nena Kerner was originally the lead singer for a band known as Stripes but this band disbanded after one unsucessful album, so Nena started her own band with her name as the name for the band.

4. True or False: "I Ran (So Far Away)" was A Flock of Seagull's only Top 40 hit on the US Pop Charts.

Answer: False

Even though this is the only song they are remembered for, they also had success with "Wishing (If I had a Picture of You)" hit the Top 40 right after "Space Age Love Song" hit number 30.

5. What was the artist Rockwell's real name?

Answer: Kenneth Gordy

Kenneth Gordy changed his name to Rockwell since his father, Berry Gordy, was the founder of Motown Records and he wanted to make it on his own. His only hit, "Somebody's Watching Me", included backgrounds by Michael and Jermaine Jackson. Joe Strummer was a member of The Clash and Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner were both members of New Order.

6. Which of the following movies did not have a New Order song on the soundtrack?

Answer: Better Off Dead

New Order performed "Shellshock" for "Pretty in Pink", "Temptation" for "Something Wild", and "Bizarre Love Triangle" for "Married to the Mob".

7. In what year was Depeche Mode's "Music for the Masses" released?

Answer: 1987

"Music for the Masses" included tracks such as "Strangelove", "I Want You Now", and "Little 15".

8. Which of these Def Leppard albums was released first?

Answer: On Through the Night

"On Through the Night" was Def Leppard's first commercially sold album, which included the tracks "Rock Brigade", "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down", and "Wasted".

9. What was Peter Schilling's only Top 40 hit in the US?

Answer: major tom

During the 1980s, many artists attempted to imitate David Bowie. I guess this wasn't enough for Schilling, because he rewrote his song!

10. According to They Might be Giants, who gets "hit on the head with a frying pan"?

Answer: Person Man

According to the song "Particle Man", Person Man gets hit.

11. Which of these 80's songs did Weird Al NOT do a parody of?

Answer: Material Girl

"Living in America" was parodied with "Living with a Hernia", "Eye of the Tiger" with "Rye or the Kaiser", and "Jeopardy" with "I Lost on Jeopardy".

12. Devo did a remake of this Lee Dorsey song for the animated film "Heavy Metal".

Answer: working in the coal mine

This song was also the title song for the sitcom "Working".

13. Which Tears for Fears album featured the following songs: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", "Shout", and "Head over Heels"?

Answer: Songs from the Big Chair

"Songs from the Big Chair" was released in 1985 and was the band's second album.

14. What was the name of Def Leppard's drummer who lost an arm?

Answer: rick allen

Rick Allen lost his arm in a New Year's Eve car accident. The arm was origianlly reattached, but had to be removed again when infection set in.

15. Which new wave band included the artists Nick Laird-Clowes, Kate St. John, and Gilbert Gabriel?

Answer: Dream Academy

"Dream Academy" had only one major hit, "Life in a Northern Town", which reached the Top 10 in the US in 1986.

16. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" was first released on Metallica's

Answer: Ride the Lightning

"Ride the Lightning", released in 1984, was Metallica's second album and also contained "Fade to Black".

17. "Institutionalized", from the film "Repo Man", was sung by this band.

Answer: Suicidal Tendancies

Suicidal Tendancies released their first self-titled album in 1983, which included the song "Institutionalized".

18. This song was Belinda Carlisle's only number 1 hit.

Answer: Heaven is a Place on Earth

"Heaven on Earth" was Belinda's only number 1 hit. "I Get Weak" hit number 2, "Mad About You" hit number 3, and "Circle in the Sand" reached the Top 10.

19. Michael Jackson had a number of people "assist" on the "Thriller" album. Which of the following was not included in the assistance on "Thriller"?

Answer: Lionel Richie

Van Halen assisted with "Beat It", McCartney with "The Girl is Mine", and Price with "Thriller". Lionel Richie paired with Jackson for "We Are the World".

20. Who sung "Something About You" in 1985?

Answer: level 42

Level 42 also had a number of other hits, including "The Sun Goes Down" and "Lessons in Love". Dave Edmunds also sung a song named "Something About You", but this was in 1984.

21. During the 1980s, which of the following artists had the most number 1 hits on the "Billboard Hot 100"?

Answer: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson wins with an outstanding 10 singles, followed by Madonna and Phil Collins tied with 7, and George Michael last with 6.

22. True or False: "Mixed Emotions" was the Rolling Stones' only number 1 hit on the "Billboard Hot 100" in the 1980s.

Answer: False

This is a trick question; the "Rolling Stones" had no number 1 hits on the "Billboard Hot 100" in the 1980s.

23. Which New Wave band had "Voices Carry" as their only major hit?

Answer: 'Til Tuesday

"Voices Carry" became an instant hit with the video enjoying a large amount of airtime on MTV. However, 'Til Tuesday never capitalized on the single, so the singer and writer of "Voices Carry", Aimee Mann, went out on a solo career.

24. Prince's "Purple Rain" album, released in 1984, spent how many weeks at number 1 in the US?

Answer: 24

"Purple Rain" was Prince's crowning achievement and brought him superstar status. The album sold over 10 million copies.

25. And, finally, what "don't wear sweaters", "can't play baseball", and "are never seen drinking capuccino in Italian restaurants with Oriental women"?

Answer: fish heads

"Fish Heads" was from Barnes and Barnes' "Voobaha". According to the song, "They're not good dancers, they don't play drums".

Source: Author m1a2lt

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bullymom before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.