Top of the UK Pops: 1982 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Shakin' Stevens

Shakin' Sevens gathered a reputation of a recycler of songs made famous by others, and usually from the 60s, but his third number one "Oh Julie" was self-penned. It was a top ten right across Europe and did well in the Antipodes also. Barry Manilow later took it to number 38 in the USA.

Stevens had wanted a 'Cajun' feel to the music and that came courtesy of the accordion played by Geraint Watkins, at that time a stalwart of Dave Edmunds' band.

Answer: The Jam

"A Town Called Malice/Precious" was a double A side. The better known song was a play on the title of the Nevil Shute novel "A Town Called Alice". In this song, Paul Weller wanted to cover the plight of unemployed people in a generic urban setting. He later said in interview that he had his home town of Woking in mind specifically.

The record spent three weeks at number one. It was released as a seven-inch studio single and a 12-inch live version and there was a feeling that sales figures were improved by Jam fans buying both.

Answer: Kraftwerk

With "The Model", Kraftwerk became the first native-born German band to top the UK charts. The song was based on the imagined life of a fashion model. It had been around for a few years but did not become a hit until its re-release in 1982. Hailing from Düsseldorf, Kraftwerk were noted for their electronic style of music and pioneered the use of synthesisers and drum machines

Although "The Model/Computer Love" was a number one in the UK, it was only a number seven in Germany.

Answer: Renée and Renato

Renée and Renato - Renato Pagliari and Hilary Lester - claimed the coveted Christmas number one spot with the faux-operatic "Save Your Love". It was a number one also in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway. Although Renato Pagliari appeared on the official video, Hilary Lester was replaced by a model.

Answer: Musical Youth

No, the song was not about drugs. At least not officially. Musical Youth were a bunch of five schoolkids from Birmingham and became the first group of colour to appear on MTV. Although they had a huge hit with the five-million seller "Pass The Dutchie" (a dutchie is a cooking pot) they had equally huge problems and a lot of the money they earned disappeared. In the USA, "Pass the Dutchie" became the biggest-selling reggae single in over a decade.

But the band struggled to maintain their momentum. Because of their ages they were only allowed to work 42 days a year. They were also ripped off. "To say we were manipulated is an understatement. We were led by everybody and anybody," keyboard player Michael Grant later said.

Answer: Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

Paul McCartney used the imagery of black and white (ivory) keys on a piano to represent social harmony between people of differing races and how they could work together. McCartney said he was inspired to write the lyrics after seeing comedian Spike Milligan play a segregated piano on which the white and black keys were kept apart on a TV show.

The song reached the top ten across the world and was a number one in 14 countries. It spent seven weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. In spite of the worthy sentiments, the song was often parodied. In one poll, BBC Radio 6 listeners named it "worst duet ever".

Answer: Bucks Fizz

"The Land Of Make Believe" was the second UK number one from Bucks Fizz. Pete Sinfield, who had written many songs for King Crimson, came up with the lyrics. He later claimed it was not just a simple frothy pop song but a social commentary on the political era of Margaret Thatcher.

Answer: Goombay Dance Band

Native German acts were like buses in the UK: you waited ages for one to come along and then two came together. Goombay Dance Band became the second bunch of German artists to reach the top of the British charts in one year. (Pedantically, Boney M do not count: although they came together as a band in Germany, all four members were born in the West Indies.)

Formed in Hamburg in the late 1970s, Goombay Dance Band were noted for a Caribbean sound. "Seven Tears" was a track on their third LP and went on to become a hit in the UK, but was less successful elsewhere in Europe. "Goombay", incidentally, is a type of music from the Bahamas.

Answer: Adam Ant

In his post-Ants career, "Goody Two Shoes" was to be the first hit for Adam Ant in the USA. On his videos, Ant showed a very flamboyant persona and was often questioned on whether he was the same in personal life. The answer was, no. Ant did not smoke or drink and had a personal life that he liked to keep private. That was reflected in the repeated line "Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?".

The song topped the UK charts and made number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number one in Australia.

Answer: Eddie Grant

"I Don't Wanna Dance" was the sole solo UK number one for Eddie Grant. He had previously felt the joys of the top spot with The Equals in 1968 and their hit "Baby Come Back". There was a sub plot to the song, Grant said in a "Daily Telegraph interview: "I Don't Wanna Dance can mean that you don't want to go out on the dancefloor, or it could mean that you don't want to go along with an idea. That's how I try to write: you take it how you want, but I am basically a writer of protest."

Answer: Culture Club

Boy George wrote "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" as a personal song about his relationship with Culture Club drummer Jon Moss. Initially he had not been keen for it to go out as a single. Culture Club caught a big break when they were asked onto "Top of the Pops". Accounts vary. One account was that the show's producer did not like an Elton John video that was pencilled in for the show; another was that Shakin' Stevens was ill and could not perform. Anyway, with the fastest rising single on the charts, Culture Club answered the call.

"Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" reached the top in nine countries and was a number two in the Billboard Hot 100.

Bonus interesting information: While many singers assume a stage persona for their performances, Boy George - George O'Dowd - really did enjoy wearing mind-boggling clothes and using dramatic make up in real life before the music business came calling.

Answer: Tight Fit

Let's deal with those problematical lyrics first of all:
"In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight..."
Lions do not live in the jungle, so all this 'king of the jungle' stuff is just malarkey.

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" had its beginnings in the song "Mbube" written by Solomon Linda in South Africa in 1939. It got picked up by a lot of singers, many of whom, shamefully, failed to credit Linda as the author. (Pete Seeger was among the first to do so when The Weavers covered it as "Wimoweh" in 1956.). In 1961, The Tokens had a US number one with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" version. Tight Fit took it to number one in the UK in 1982.

Answer: Irene Cara

"Fame" was the theme song of the 1980 movie and 1982 television series of the same name. In the movie, Irene Cara played a student at the High School of Performing Arts and sang the theme song. The song also won an Oscar for Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford, the writers. The song reached number one in the UK and number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Cara also sang "Flashdance... What a Feeling" for the movie "Flashdance" (1983) and made it a number one on the Hot 100.

Answer: Survivor

Now, the tiger is (probably) 'king of the jungle'. If a lion and tiger ever got into a 'rumble in the jungle' (or anywhere else) my money is on the one in the striped PJs.

"Eye Of The Tiger" became the number one hit that it might never have been. Sylvester Stallone had asked the band Survivor for a song for the movie "Rocky III". The rough cut of the footage had Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" on a scene that Stallone wanted a Survivor song for. Survivor were mystified as they thought the Queen song fitted, but were told the producers could not get publishing rights to use it. Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan then wrote "Eye Of The Tiger". Stallone asked for louder drums and a third verse and a hit was born.

"Eye Of The Tiger" won a Grammy and was nominated for an Oscar. It was a number one in nine countries. It also became a popular introductory song for boxing matches and some politicians liked to use it also - until Survivor sent in the 'cease and desist' notices.

Answer: Dexys Midnight Runners

With its catchy violin hook, "Come On Eileen" became a big hit in the UK, Australia, and the US. It was about a girl that writer Kevin Rowland had a teenage relationship with. The song was the biggest-selling single of the year in the UK and gave Dexys their first hit in the USA. It also won a Brit award.

Kevin Rowland was noted as being something of a perfectionist and not afraid to change musical style, image or band members as he felt fit. He remains the sole original member of the band and some sources list more than 40 members since its inception in 1978.