Top 100 Songs of the 1980s (40 - 31) Quiz

Answer: Jack and Diane

"Jack and Diane" was the second release from the number one album "American Fool". It debuted in the top 40 on August 7th, 1982 and eight weeks later took over the top spot which it held for four weeks. It spent 17 weeks in the top 40 and was the only number one pop hit in Mellencamp's chart career. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single gold and named the record one of the 20th century's "Songs of the Century".

"Pink Houses" was a top ten hit for John Cougar Mellencamp in 1984. Bryan Adams sang "Summer of '69" into the top ten in 1985. "Eat It" was a number 12 hit for Weird Al Yankovic in 1984.

FUN FACT: "Jack and Diane" was inspired by the performances of Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood in the 1961 movie "Splendor in the Grass".

Answer: Into The Night

"Into The Night" had its first foray into the top 40 when it peaked at number 11 on September 6th, 1980 and remained in the Hot 100 for 20 weeks. It reentered the charts in 1989 and managed to get as high as number 20 in July. Its combined weeks on the Hot 100 added up to 37, a feat very few songs surpassed during the decade. While Benny Mardones was born in Cleveland, Ohio, he has maintained quite a following in upstate New York with his band the Hurricanes. This was his only pop chart success.

"Where Are You Now?" was a top ten hit for Jimmy Harnen with Synch in 1989. Both Steve Lawrence and Donny Osmond had a number one hit with the song "Go Away Little Girl". "You Give Love A Bad Name" was the first number one song for the New Jersey band Bon Jovi.

FUN FACT: The reemergence of "Into The Night" in 1989 occurred following a "Where Are They Now?" segment on an Arizona radio station.

Answer: Rainy

"I Love A Rainy Night" debuted in the Hot 100 on December 6th, 1980 and after a slow climb reached number one on February 28th, 1981, holding that spot for two weeks. While it was Eddie Rabbitt's only number one on the Billboard Hot 100, it was the eighth of his 17 career chart toppers on the Billboard Country Singles chart. It spent 18 weeks in the top 40 and 28 weeks on the Hot 100. He was quoted as having written the song while "sitting in a small apartment, staring out the window at one o'clock in the morning." Sadly, we lost Eddie Rabbitt in 1998 when he succumbed to lung cancer at the tender age of 56.

FUN FACT: While he had a very successful career on the Adult Contemporary Chart, this was his only record to reach the top of that chart.

Answer: Crazy Little Thing Called Love

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" became Queen's first number one in America when it ascended to the top on February 23rd, 1980. It was a worldwide smash reaching number two in Britain and topping the charts in Canada, Mexico, Australia, The Netherlands and New Zealand. It came from their multi-platinum, number one album "The Game" and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

"Killer Queen" was a number 12 hit for Queen in 1975. Ambrosia took "Biggest Part of Me" to number three in 1980. "Big Bottom" was a featured song in the movie "This Is Spinal Tap".

FUN FACT: Freddie Mercury claimed to have written the song while he was taking a bath in a hotel in Germany.

Answer: Beat It

"Beat It" was the fifth solo number one hit for Michael Jackson. It was the third release from the historically popular album "Thriller" and took over the number one spot on April 30, 1983. It spent three weeks at number one and 18 weeks in the top 40. Besides being certified platinum, the single won the Grammy Award for "Record of the Year" and was named by Rolling Stone magazine in its 2004 poll of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

"Bad" was a 1987 number one single from Michael Jackson. Eddy Grant took us down "Electric Avenue" in 1983. "Man Size Love" was a top twenty hit for Klymaxx in 1986.

FUN FACT: The solo guitar work near the end of the song was performed by Eddie Van Halen.

Answer: Maneater

"Maneater" ate its way to the top on December 18th, 1982 and hung around for four weeks. Of their six number one hits, this stayed at number one the longest and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It spent 13 weeks in the top ten, 17 weeks in the top 40 and 23 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It came from their album H2O which also spawned the top ten hits "One on One" and "Family Man".

"Rich Girl" was Hall and Oates first number one hit in 1977. Toto hit number two with their song "Rosanna". "Beauty and the Beast" was a top ten hit for Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson.

FUN FACT:"Maneater" was used to describe Julia Robert's character in the movie "Runaway Bride" when it was played over a short montage.

Answer: When Doves Cry

"When Doves Cry" became one of Prince's signature songs when it topped the chart on July 7th, 1984 and reigned for five weeks. It was a blazingly popular song, reaching the number one spot in only its sixth week on the chart. It was the first of five top 40 hits from Prince's movie and album "Purple Rain" which included his number one "Let's Go Crazy". Spin Magazine put "When Doves Cry" at number six of the greatest songs of all time and Rolling Stone ranked it at number 52 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

"Kiss" was Prince and the Revolution's number one hit from 1986. Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" was kept at number two for four weeks while "When Doves Cry" ruled the chart. "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)" was a top five hit for Samantha Fox.

FUN FACT: "When Doves Cry" was a triple chart winner-it hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the Billboard R & B chart and the Billboard Dance chart.

Answer: Abracadabra

"Abracadabra" was the third number one song for the Steve Miller Band. Abracadabra was their last top 40 hit and their biggest chart success. The song knocked a very popular "Eye of the Tiger" out of the number one spot on September 4th, 1982. It was soon followed by "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" at the top. After the Chicago song's two week reign, it regained the top spot for a second week. It remained in the top ten for 14 weeks, 19 weeks in the top forty and a total of 25 weeks on the Hot 100.

"The Joker" was the Steve Miller Band's first number one hit in 1974. America hit the top ten hit in 1982 with "You Can Do Magic". "Blue Velvet" was a number one tune from Bobby Vinton in 1963.

FUN FACT: Steve Miller's godfather is electric guitar pioneer Les Paul.

Answer: Hurt So Good

"Hurt So Good" was the first single released from John Cougar Mellencamp's platinum selling album "American Fool". Mellencamp has said that when record executives first heard the album they didn't get it and had considered dropping him from the label at that point. Lucky for all of us they didn't. The song went all the way to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 16 weeks in the top ten, longer than any other record spent in the top ten during the 1980s. It held on to the top 40 for 22 weeks and in the Hot 100 for 28 weeks.

"Lonely Ol' Night" was a 1985 top ten hit for John Cougar Mellencamp. Asia took "Heat of the Moment" to number five in 1982. "Hungry Like The Wolf" hit number three for Duran Duran in 1983.

FUN FACT: John Cougar Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

Answer: Woman In Love

"Woman In Love" had a three week run at the top starting on October 25th, 1980. It came from a collaboration with Barry Gibb who co-produced and wrote the album "Guilty" from which this was released as the debut single. Two other songs that came from the album were duets featuring Barry Gibb-the top tens "Guilty" and "What Kind of Fool". "Woman in Love" spent 19 weeks in the top 40 and was a platinum-certified single. It was a worldwide megahit reaching number one in over ten European countries and Australia.

"Papa Can You Hear Me?" was featured in Barbra Streisand's 1983 movie "Yentl". "Clumsy" was a 2007 hit for Fergie. "Fallin' In Love" was a number one song from 1976 by Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds.

FUN FACT: "Woman In Love" was nominated for a Grammy for "Record of the Year".

Thanks so much for trying out this quiz. Be sure to look for the top 30 songs of the 1980s coming soon.