How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Alice Cooper, Glenn Medeiros, Gloria Estefan, Boy George, Leo Sayer, Joe Strummer, Elton John, ABBA, Dollar, Steve Winwood, Brother Beyond, Chris Rea
They are the performers of twelve vintage love songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (30/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. Which Canadian artist released the chart-topping song “Blinding Lights”?
- A Drake
- B The Weeknd
- C Shawn Mendes
2. What genre blend characterizes The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights”?
- A Synth-pop and electropop
- B Jazz fusion and blues
- C Country and folk
3. How did The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” perform on the US Billboard Hot 100?
- A Never charted
- B Peaked outside top 50
- C Number one
4. What is a lyrical theme in “Blinding Lights”?
- A Environmental conservation
- B Longing for a partner
- C Financial success
5. In what year was “Blinding Lights” released?
- A 2021
- B 2019
- C 2015
6. What achievement is associated with “Blinding Lights” on the Billboard charts?
- A Longest time in the top ten
- B Shortest time on the charts
- C Most covers by other artists
7. Who co-wrote “Blinding Lights” with The Weeknd?
- A Max Martin and Oscar Holter
- B Taylor Swift
- C Ed Sheeran
8. What 1980s musical style is reflected in “Blinding Lights”?
- A Grunge
- B Synthwave
- C R&B
9. How has the RIAA certified “Blinding Lights”?
- A Gold
- B Diamond
- C Silver
10. Which of these songwriters did not contribute to “Blinding Lights”?
- A Belly
- B DaHeala
- C Adele
11. Which album features “Blinding Lights”?
- A *Dawn FM*
- B *After Hours*
- C *Starboy*
12. On which chart did “Blinding Lights” set a record for the most weeks spent in the top ten?
- A UK Singles Chart
- B Billboard Hot 100
- C Canadian Hot 100
1. Which guitarist co-wrote Alice Cooper’s “Poison” and contributed its distinctive riff?
- A Slash
- B John McCurry
- C Joe Perry
2. How did Glenn Medeiros first come to record “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You”?
- A Radio contest win
- B Nepotism
- C Talent show discovery
3. What unique characteristic does Gloria Estefan’s “Don’t Wanna Lose You” share with its Spanish version?
- A Same music video
- B Same song title
- C Spanish version reached number one too
4. In which location was the music video for Boy George’s “Keep Me In Mind” filmed?
- A Jamaica
- B Barbados
- C Scotland
5. Which famous songwriting trio wrote Leo Sayer’s “Heart (Stop Beating In Time)”?
- A Elton John, Bernie Taupin, and Davey Johnstone
- B Holland-Dozier-Holland
- C Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb
6. Which film was Joe Strummer’s song “Love Kills” specifically written for?
- A Quadrophenia
- B Sid & Nancy
- C The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle
7. Who played harmonica on Elton John’s “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues”?
- A Larry Adler
- B Stevie Wonder
- C Greg Phillinganes
8. What recording technique is used in ABBA’s “Lay All Your Love On Me” to create a descending effect?
- A Harmoniser
- B Autotune
- C Flanging
9. Which label released Dollar’s song “We Walked in Love” in 1986?
- A Arista Records
- B Capitol Records
- C Mercury Records
10. Which artist contributed background vocals to Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love”?
- A Tina Turner
- B Chaka Khan
- C Aretha Franklin
11. Which music production team was responsible for Brother Beyond’s “The Harder I Try”?
- A Stock Aitken Waterman
- B Motown Records’ The Funk Brothers
- C Quincy Jones Productions
12. What inspired the writing of Chris Rea’s “On the Beach”?
- A A holiday in Greece
- B An island in Spain
- C A vacation in Hawaii
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘L’Amour Toujours’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 30/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
 |
1 . Alice Cooper – PoisonFeatured on the 1989 album “Trash”.
|
|
|
2 . Glenn Medeiros – Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For YouFeatured on the 1987 album “20/20”.
|
|
|
3 . Gloria Estefan – Don’t Wanna Lose YouFeatured on the 1989 album “Cuts Both Ways”.
|
|
|
4 . Boy George – Keep Me In MindFeatured on the 1987 album “Sold”.
|
|
|
5 . Leo Sayer – Heart [Stop Beating In Time]Featured on the 1982 album “World Radio”.
|
|
|
6 . Joe Strummer – Love Kills [Sid & Nancy]Featured on the 1986 album “Sid & Nancy : Soundtrack”.
|
|
|
7 . Elton John – I Guess That’s Why They Call It The BluesFeatured on the 1983 album “Too Low for Zero“.
|
|
|
8 . ABBA – Lay All Your Love On MeFeatured on the 1980 album “Super Trouper“.
|
|
|
9 . Dollar – We Walked in LoveFeatured on the 1987 album “Dollar”.
|
|
|
10 . Steve Winwood – Higher LoveFeatured on the 1986 album “Back in the High Life”.
|
|
|
11 . Brother Beyond – The Harder I TryFeatured on the 1988 album “Get Even”. |
|
|
12 . Chris Rea – On the BeachFeatured on the 1986 album “On the Beach”.
|
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. John McCurry co-wrote “Poison” with Alice Cooper and Desmond Child. He also played the guitar riff that became the song’s signature sound, helping to propel Cooper’s comeback into the glam metal scene.
2. Glenn Medeiros recorded “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” after winning a local radio contest. His rendition achieved global success, contrasting its modest beginnings through a small independent label in Honolulu.
3. The Spanish version of “Don’t Wanna Lose You,” titled “Si Voy a Perderte,” also reached number one on Billboard’s Hot Latin Tracks. Both shared considerable commercial success, confirming Estefan’s crossover appeal.
4. Boy George filmed the “Keep Me In Mind” music video in Barbados. Against its tropical backdrop, the visual complemented the song’s catchy melody, even as critical reviews remained mixed.
5. “Heart (Stop Beating In Time)” by Leo Sayer was written by the Gibb brothers: Barry, Maurice, and Robin. Famous for their work with the Bee Gees, they infused the song with their signature pop craftsmanship.
6. Joe Strummer’s “Love Kills” was specifically written for the film “Sid & Nancy,” capturing the tragic essence of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen’s relationship through its intense 1980s production style.
7. Stevie Wonder played harmonica on Elton John’s “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues.” The collaboration added a distinctive touch to the hit, which remains a fan favorite to this day.
8. ABBA used a harmoniser to create a descending vocal effect on “Lay All Your Love On Me.” This innovative production choice was one of several that contributed to the track’s dance floor success.
9. “We Walked in Love” was released by Arista Records in 1986. Dollar’s track dealt with themes of emotional closure against a sophisticated pop backdrop typical of the era.
10. Chaka Khan contributed background vocals to Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love.” Her distinctive voice added depth to the polished production, helping it achieve commercial success and critical acclaim.
11. Brother Beyond’s “The Harder I Try” was produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. This partnership significantly boosted the band’s chart performance, helping them attain a top position in the UK charts.
12. Chris Rea’s “On the Beach” was inspired by time spent on the Spanish island of Formentera. Its laid-back rhythm and gentle arrangement convey the serene escape Rea experienced there.
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. The Weeknd, a Canadian artist, released “Blinding Lights” as part of his album *After Hours*. It became one of his most successful tracks.
2. “Blinding Lights” blends synth-pop and electropop, drawing significant inspiration from new wave and synthwave sounds of the 1980s.
3. “Blinding Lights” achieved commercial success, peaking at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and holding a record-setting position.
4. The song revolves around the theme of longing and emotional connection, specifically highlighting the desire to reunite with a significant other at night.
5. “Blinding Lights” was released in 2019 and quickly became a global hit, dominating charts across various countries.
6. On the Billboard charts, “Blinding Lights” has the distinction of spending the longest time in the top ten, a testament to its enduring popularity.
7. The song was co-written by The Weeknd along with Max Martin and Oscar Holter, two prolific figures in the music production industry.
8. Reflecting the vibrant synthwave style, “Blinding Lights” incorporates elements reminiscent of 1980s music, enhancing its nostalgic appeal.
9. The Recording Industry Association of America certified “Blinding Lights” as diamond, recognizing its remarkable sales and streaming numbers.
10. Among the contributors, Adele did not play a role in writing “Blinding Lights”, unlike Belly and DaHeala who were involved.
11. The track “Blinding Lights” is featured on The Weeknd’s fourth studio album, *After Hours*, solidifying its place in his discography.
12. The Billboard Hot 100 chart acknowledged “Blinding Lights” for its record-setting stay in the top ten, cementing its legacy.
For THE FULL ‘L’AMOUR TOUJOURS’ COLLECTION click here
