‘Music For The Dancers’ N°145 – Vintage 80s Music Videos

How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.

The subjects du jour are : The Brothers Johnson, Kiki Dee, Michael Jackson, Imagination, Sharon Redd, Fun Boy Three, Toto, Culture Club, The Selecter, Kim Wilde, Blondie, Tracey Ullman

They are the performers of twelve vintage dance tunes that were ranked in various charts, this week (14/52) BUT … in the EIghties 80s.

QUIZ QUESTIONS
QUIZ QUESTIONS

1. Which 1981 single by Kiki Dee became the opening theme for BBC's Opportunity Knocks?

  • A Perfect Timing
  • B Give It Up
  • C Star

2. Whose guitar solo is featured in Michael Jackson's "Beat It"?

  • A Brian May
  • B Eddie Van Halen
  • C Eric Clapton

3. What year did Imagination release "Just an Illusion" as a lead single?

  • A 1982
  • B 1980
  • C 1984

4. Sharon Redd's "Can You Handle It" was remixed by which British duo?

  • A DNA
  • B Pet Shop Boys
  • C Basement Jaxx

5. Fun Boy Three collaborated with which girl group on "It Ain't What You Do"?

  • A The Bangles
  • B The Go-Go's
  • C Bananarama

6. Which Toto song includes the line about blessing the rains in Africa?

  • A Rosanna
  • B Hold the Line
  • C Africa

7. Culture Club released "Church of the Poison Mind" as part of which album?

  • A Kissing to Be Clever
  • B Colour by Numbers
  • C Waking Up with the House on Fire

8. "Missing Words" was a single by which 2 Tone ska band?

  • A Madness
  • B The Specials
  • C The Selecter

9. Marty Wilde co-wrote which hit song for Kim Wilde?

  • A You Keep Me Hangin' On
  • B Kids in America
  • C Cambodia

10. Debbie Harry provides vocals for which Blondie track known for its atomic theme?

  • A Heart of Glass
  • B Call Me
  • C Atomic

11. Who originally released the song that Tracey Ullman covered as "Breakaway"?

  • A Aretha Franklin
  • B Irma Thomas
  • C Dusty Springfield

12. Simply Red's "Sunrise" samples which Hall & Oates track?

  • A Maneater
  • B I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)
  • C Rich Girl

WATCH IN FULL
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For TWENTY FOUR more 'Music For The Dancers' - Vintage 80s Music Videos - week 14/52 - click here and here

AUDIO ONLY

Tracklist

1 . The Brothers Johnson - Stomp!

Featured on the 1980 album "Light Up the Night".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Facebook

2 . Kiki Dee - Star

Featured on the 1981 album "Perfect Timing".

Lyrics >> More by the same : Wikipedia

3 . Michael Jackson - Beat It

Featured on the 1982 album "Thriller".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Twitter

4 . Imagination - Just An Illusion

Featured on the 1982 album "In The Heat Of The Night".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

5 . Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It?

Featured on the 1980 album "Sharon Redd".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Wikipedia

6 . Fun Boy Three - It Ain't What You Do It's The Way That You Do It

Featured on the 1982 album "Fun Boy Three".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Wikipedia

7 . Toto - Africa

Featured on the 1982 album "Toto IV".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

8 . Culture Club - Church Of The Poison Mind

Featured on the 1983 album "".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Twitter

9 . The Selecter - Missing Words

Featured on the 1980 album "Too Much Pressure".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

10 . Kim Wilde - Kids In America

Featured on the 1981 album "Kim Wilde".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

11 . Blondie - Atomic

Featured on the 1979 album "Eat to the Beat".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

12 . Tracey Ullman - Breakaway

Featured on the 1983 album "You Broke My Heart in 17 Places".

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Wikipedia

And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:

1. The catchy "Star" introduced Kiki Dee to TV audiences as the theme for Opportunity Knocks. Its debut as a single predated this thematic fame.

2. Eddie Van Halen lent his legendary guitar skills to "Beat It," creating an unforgettable rock atmosphere on Jackson's pop masterpiece.

3. Imagination dropped "Just an Illusion" in 1982, riding a wave of pulsing beats and falsetto vocals to chart success.

4. DNA remixed Redd's "Can You Handle It," launching it into the UK charts and Top of the Pops.

5. Bananarama added their youthful vocals to Fun Boy Three’s track, pushing it into the mainstream spotlight.

6. "Africa" features that memorable line, capturing the imagination of listeners around the globe with its tribal beats and synths.

7. Culture Club included "Church of the Poison Mind" on their celebrated album, "Colour by Numbers," further defining 1980s new wave sound.

8. The Selecter brought "Missing Words" to the airwaves, proving ska's emotional range alongside tempos that skank.

9. Marty and Ricky Wilde penned "Kids in America," creating Kim's breakthrough hit that embodied youthful rebellion.

10. "Atomic" stands out with Debbie Harry's iconic voice and a characteristic blend of rock and disco influences.

11. Irma Thomas originally sang "Break-a-Way." Ullman’s cover propelled her into the pop scene of the early '80s.

12. Simply Red borrowed the driving hook from "I Can't Go for That," creating "Sunrise," a nostalgic yet modern hit.

For THE FULL 'MUSIC FOR THE DANCERS' COLLECTION click here

(*) According to our own statistics, updated on January 11, 2026