How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Billy Joel, Bing Crosby, Cliff Richard, The Cult, Stray Cats, Transvision Vamp, The Beat, The English Beat, Helen Terry, Nik Kershaw, Van Morrison, Seona Dancing
They are the performers of twelve “lip sync” music videos that were ranked in various charts, this week (49/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. Which event in Billy Joel’s life does the song “Leningrad” reflect?
- A His meeting with Viktor
- B His encounter with the Berlin Wall
- C His childhood in New York
2. What did David Bowie add to his duet with Bing Crosby on “Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy”?
- A A harmony line
- B A counter-melody
- C Percussion beats
3. How did Cliff Richard change the song from the musical *Scraps*?
- A Changed the musical score
- B Added a new chorus
- C Altered the lyrics for a religious theme
4. In which country did “Runaway Boys” by Stray Cats reach number one?
- A United Kingdom
- B United States
- C Finland
5. Which song was a minor hit for Transvision Vamp, despite being the last single from their album?
- A Sister Moon
- B Baby I Don’t Care
- C I Want Your Love
6. What inspired the lyrics for The Beat’s “I Confess”?
- A A piano riff
- B A tabloid story
- C A friend’s betrayal
7. What shift did Helen Terry’s song “Stuttering” represent in her musical style?
- A A move towards jazz
- B A polished, complex sound
- C A minimalist approach
8. “When a Heart Beats” was Nik Kershaw’s last hit to reach which chart milestone?
- A UK Top 40
- B US Top 100
- C Australian Top 10
9. Who was Van Morrison’s duet partner on “Whenever God Shines His Light”?
- A Elton John
- B Cliff Richard
- C Paul McCartney
10. What narrative is portrayed in Seona Dancing’s song “Bitter Heart”?
- A Unrequited love
- B Toxic relationship
- C Triumphant reunion
11. What was unusual about the song’s evolution before being performed as “Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy”?
- A It was impromptu
- B Written in a day
- C Musically complex
12. Which track marked a stylistic attempt by Brian Setzer to innovate within his genre?
- A Stray Cat Strut
- B Runaway Boys
- C Rock This Town
For TWELVE “We are Live” – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 49/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Billy Joel – LeningradFeatured on the 1989 album “Storm Front”.
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2 . Bing Crosby – Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy
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3 . Cliff Richard – Mistletoe And WineFeatured on the 1988 album “Private Collection: 1979-1988”.
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4 . The Cult – RevolutionFeatured on the 1985 album “Love”.
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5 . Stray Cats – Runaway BoysFeatured on the 1981 album “Stray Cats”.
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6 . Transvision Vamp – Sister MoonFeatured on the 1988 album “Pop Art”.
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7 . The Beat – I ConfessFeatured on the 1982 album “Special Beat Service”.
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8 . The English Beat – Hit It
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9 . Helen Terry – StutteringFeatured on the 1986 album “Blue Notes”.
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10 . Nik Kershaw – When A Heart BeatsFeatured on the 1986 album “Radio Musicola”.
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11 . Van Morrison – Whenever God Shines His LightFeatured on the 1989 album “Avalon Sunset”. |
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12 . Seona Dancing – Bitter HeartFeatured on the 1983 album “Bitter Heart”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. The song “Leningrad” reflects Billy Joel’s visit to the Soviet Union and his meeting with Viktor, bridging their contrasting life stories. Joel highlights the universal bond shared despite political divides.
2. Bowie provided a counter-melody to Crosby’s “Little Drummer Boy” in their duet. His addition enriched the arrangement, creating a memorable holiday classic.
3. Cliff Richard’s adaptation of the song from *Scraps* involved rewriting the lyrics to focus on a religious theme, aligning it with the Christmas spirit.
4. In Finland, “Runaway Boys” reached number one, showcasing Stray Cats’ international appeal beyond their initial UK success.
5. “Sister Moon” was a minor hit for Transvision Vamp, charting in the UK during 1988 as the final single from their debut album *Pop Art*.
6. The Beat’s song “I Confess” was lyrically inspired by sensational tabloid stories and personal anecdotes, resulting in a distinctive narrative blend.
7. With “Stuttering,” Helen Terry transitioned to a polished, complex sound, diverging from her earlier stylistic roots with Culture Club.
8. “When a Heart Beats” reached number 27 in the UK, making it Nik Kershaw’s last Top 40 hit in his homeland, a significant hallmark in his career.
9. On “Whenever God Shines His Light,” Van Morrison performed a duet with Cliff Richard. Their collaboration reached notable chart positions in the UK and Ireland.
10. “Bitter Heart” by Seona Dancing portrays a toxic relationship unraveling, capturing themes of emotional coldness and unresolved tensions through synthpop melodies.
11. “Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy” was crafted in just seventy-five minutes, a rapid creation that became a cherished holiday tune.
12. Brian Setzer’s “Runaway Boys” illustrates his attempt at crafting a new take on rockabilly, breaking from convention in search of broader creative horizons.
For THE FULL ‘ARE WE LIVE?’ COLLECTION click here
