How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Alison Moyet, Tanita Tikaram, The Traveling Wilburys, Julian Lennon, UB40, Amazulu, Howard Jones, Supertramp, Danny Wilson, Hurrah!, Noiseworks, Suzanne Vega
They are the performers of twelve “lip sync” music videos that were ranked in various charts, this week (11/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. Which producer contributed to the re-recorded version of Howard Jones’ “No One Is To Blame”?
- A Rick Rubin
- B Phil Collins
- C Nile Rodgers
2. What genre shift did Supertramp experiment with on “Free as a Bird”?
- A Synthesized dance beats
- B Heavy metal
- C Reggae influences
3. Which 1952 film inspired the band name “Danny Wilson”?
- A Singin’ in the Rain
- B A Streetcar Named Desire
- C Meet Danny Wilson
4. Why was Hurrah!’s “Sweet Sanity” music video controversial in the US?
- A Political content
- B Two women holding hands
- C Explicit language
5. Who directed the music video for Noiseworks’ “Take Me Back”?
- A An unknown filmmaker
- B David Fincher
- C Tim Pope
6. What relation does the song “Marlene on the Wall” have to Marlene Dietrich?
- A Shared lyrics
- B A poster inspiration
- C Dietrich co-wrote the song
7. Which Green Day song’s bass line was conceived under psychedelic influence?
- A “Basket Case”
- B “Longview”
- C “When I Come Around”
8. Which band was David Lee Roth originally the lead singer for?
- A Led Zeppelin
- B The Eagles
- C Van Halen
9. Which 1990s subgenre did Mötley Crüe incorporate into “Hooligan’s Holiday”?
- A Glam rock
- B Alternative metal
- C Ska punk
10. What inspired Nirvana’s “Come As You Are” music video?
- A The band’s teenage years
- B The album artwork
- C A film noir
11. Which music genre influenced Sting’s “Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot”?
- A Stax soul
- B Punk rock
- C Classical
12. What was the title of Jennifer Paige’s debut single?
- A “Always You”
- B “Crush”
- C “Sober”
Tracklist
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1 . Alison Moyet – Weak In The Presence Of BeautyFeatured on the 1986 album “Weak in the Presence of Beauty”.
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2 . Tanita Tikaram – World Outside Your WindowFeatured on the 1988 album “Ancient Heart”.
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3 . The Traveling Wilburys – End Of The LineFeatured on the 1988 album “Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1”.
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4 . Julian Lennon – Say You’Re WrongFeatured on the 1984 album “Valotte”.
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5 . UB40 – I’m Not Fooled [So Easily]Featured on the 1984 album “Geffery Morgan”.
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6 . Amazulu – The Things We Lonely DoFeatured on the 1986 album “Amazulu”.
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7 . Howard Jones – No One Is To BlameFeatured on the 1985 album “Dream into Action”.
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8 . Supertramp – Free As A BirdFeatured on the 1987 album “Free as a Bird”.
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9 . Danny Wilson – Mary’s PrayerFeatured on the 1987 album “Meet Danny Wilson”.
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10 . Hurrah! – Sweet SanityFeatured on the 1987 album “Way Ahead”.
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11 . Noiseworks – Take Me BackFeatured on the 1987 album “Noiseworks”. |
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12 . Suzanne Vega – Marlene On The WallFeatured on the 1985 album “Suzanne Vega“.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Phil Collins not only produced but also played drums and provided background vocals for the re-recorded version. This collaboration brought Jones’ biggest hit to a broader audience.
2. “Free as a Bird” marked Supertramp’s foray into synthesized dance beats, differing from their known progressive rock style, and added a touch of electronic vibes to their music.
3. The British band Danny Wilson named themselves after “Meet Danny Wilson,” a 1952 Frank Sinatra flick. Perhaps they liked playing it on a loop.
4. “Sweet Sanity” attracted controversy due to its depiction of two women holding hands. Such cordiality was considered unsuitable content for American television in the mid-1980s.
5. An unknown filmmaker directed the music video for Noiseworks’ “Take Me Back”. It captured the dramatic essence of the band’s studio performance and kept the audience guessing about the director’s identity.
6. Inspired by a wall poster, Suzanne Vega’s “Marlene on the Wall” imagines advice from Marlene Dietrich, moving it from an inanimate object to lyrical muse.
7. “Longview’s” iconic bass line sprang from Mike Dirnt’s psychedelic musings under LSD’s influence. It ensures the notoriety of psychedelia in music creation.
8. David Lee Roth was originally the frontman of Van Halen. His departure from the group led to “Sensible Shoes” and ongoing solo ventures.
9. Mötley Crüe’s “Hooligan’s Holiday” features shades of alternative metal, moving away from their glam rock roots and embracing grunge traits of the 90s.
10. The music video for “Come As You Are” drew its visuals from the “Nevermind” album’s artwork, offering viewers a liquidy lens into the song’s essence.
11. Sting’s “Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot” pulls from Stax soul influences. You can almost hear Otis Redding clapping along in the background.
12. Jennifer Paige’s debut single “Crush” skyrocketed to popularity before “Sober” made its quieter entrance. It was hard to follow such a catchy act.
For THE FULL ‘ARE WE LIVE?’ COLLECTION click here
