How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Grandmaster Melle Mel, Earlene Bentley, Run~D.M.C., Daryl Hall & John Oates, Fine Young Cannibals, Madonna, Redhead Kingpin and The FBI, Duran Duran, Beastie Boys, Bobby Brown, Exposé, Wham!
They are the performers of twelve vintage dance tunes that were ranked in various charts, this week (30/52) BUT … in the EIghties 80s.
1. Which footwear brand was immortalized in a 1986 Run-D.M.C. song?
- A Nike
- B Adidas
- C Converse
2. What genre combination defines the sound of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights”?
- A Synth-pop, electropop, new wave, and synthwave
- B Hip-hop and R&B
- C Indie rock and disco
3. What notable achievement did “Blinding Lights” reach on the US Billboard Hot 100?
- A First song to debut at number one
- B Most weeks in the top ten
- C Longest chart-topper of 2020
4. Which producer contributed to both writing and producing “Blinding Lights”?
- A Timbaland
- B Max Martin
- C Pharrell Williams
5. In which decade’s musical style is “Blinding Lights” rooted?
- A 1970s
- B 1980s
- C 1990s
6. What element of The Weeknd’s “Take My Breath” faced concerns leading to its removal from IMAX screenings?
- A Explicit lyrics
- B Strong strobe effects
- C Intense bassline
7. Which artist features on tracks produced by Max Martin, including “Blinding Lights”?
- A Drake
- B The Weeknd
- C Billie Eilish
8. What was the first song certified diamond by the RIAA that included The Weeknd?
- A Starboy
- B Blinding Lights
- C Can’t Feel My Face
9. What title did Billboard award “Blinding Lights” in history?
- A Most downloaded song
- B Best-performing song on the Hot 100
- C Best remix of the year
10. Who are the additional songwriters on “Blinding Lights” apart from The Weeknd?
- A Belly and DaHeala
- B Sia and Diplo
- C Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco
11. How many times did “Blinding Lights” reach number one on various global charts?
- A Over 20
- B Over 40
- C Over 60
12. Name the album featuring The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights”.
- A Starboy
- B After Hours
- C Beauty Behind the Madness
1. Which song by Grandmaster Melle Mel prominently references urban life in New York City?
- A The Message
- B Beat Street Breakdown
- C White Lines
2. Earlene Bentley’s “Caught In The Act” contains a reference to which comic book hero’s oath?
- A Batman
- B Green Lantern
- C Spider-Man
3. Which artist’s version of “Run” was part of their 2021 album *Human*?
- A OneRepublic
- B Snow Patrol
- C BTS
4. “Out of Touch” by Hall & Oates often transitions from which other track?
- A Dance on Your Knees
- B Method of Modern Love
- C Private Eyes
5. “Johnny Come Home” by Fine Young Cannibals uses which musical instrument for its solo?
- A Saxophone
- B Guitar
- C Trumpet
6. Which Madonna song was initially created for a movie club scene?
- A Holiday
- B Into the Groove
- C Borderline
7. What is the notable chart success of “Do the Right Thing” by Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I.?
- A UK number 1
- B New Zealand number 4
- C US number 10
8. Duran Duran’s “A View to a Kill” holds which unique distinction among Bond themes?
- A First female singer
- B Only US number 1
- C Longest Bond theme
9. The guitar riff in “She’s On It” by the Beastie Boys draws influence from which band?
- A Aerosmith
- B Cheap Trick
- C Led Zeppelin
10. Bobby Brown’s “On Our Own” was written for which movie’s soundtrack?
- A Do the Right Thing
- B Ghostbusters II
- C Beverly Hills Cop
11. Exposé’s “Point of No Return” was first released with which lead vocalist?
- A Jeanette Jurado
- B Alejandra Lorenzo (Alé)
- C Ann Curless
12. “The Edge of Heaven” by Wham! featured which famous artist on piano?
- A Elton John
- B Stevie Wonder
- C Eric Clapton
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Music For The Dancers’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 30/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
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1 . Grandmaster Melle Mel – Beat Street Breakdown
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2 . Earlene Bentley – Caught In The Act
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3 . Run~D.M.C. – My AdidasFeatured on the 1986 album “Raising Hell“.
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4 . Daryl Hall & John Oates – Out Of TouchFeatured on the 1984 album “Big Bam Boom”.
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5 . Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come HomeFeatured on the 1985 album “Fine Young Cannibals”.
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6 . Madonna – Into The GrooveFeatured on the 1985 album “Like a Virgin“.
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7 . Redhead Kingpin and The FBI – Do the Right ThingFeatured on the 1989 album “A Shade of Red”.
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8 . Duran Duran – A View To A KillFeatured on the 1985 album “A View to a Kill : Soundtrack”.
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9 . Beastie Boys – She’s On ItFeatured on the 1985 album “Krush Groove : Soundtrack”.
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10 . Bobby Brown – On Our OwnFeatured on the 1989 album “Ghostbusters II: Soundtrack”.
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11 . Exposé – Point Of No ReturnFeatured on the 1987 album “Exposure”. |
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12 . Wham! – The Edge of HeavenFeatured on the 1986 album “Music from the Edge of Heaven”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Beat Street Breakdown delves into New York City’s urban life and its social issues, further representing the cultural milieu of the mid-1980s hip-hop scene. As a leader, Melle Mel leveraged the track to cement his status post-Grandmaster Flash.
2. Bentley’s “Caught In The Act” includes the Green Lantern oath. This nod to comics reflects Ian Levine’s collection hobby, which inspired the lyrical choice in this Hi-NRG track.
3. OneRepublic released “Run” in 2021 on their album *Human*. It showcases their pop sensibilities and includes multiple remixes, continuing Ryan Tedder’s knack for crafting catchy tunes.
4. “Out of Touch” by Hall & Oates transitions from “Dance on Your Knees”, providing a seamless handoff on the *Big Bam Boom* album. This approach helped the song achieve commercial success as a chart-topper.
5. “Johnny Come Home” features a muted trumpet solo, highlighting the Fine Young Cannibals’ blend of rock, ska, and jazz influences. This instrumental break complements the themes of youth and hardship.
6. “Into the Groove” was penned for *Desperately Seeking Susan*. This track became a significant pop hit for Madonna, contributing to her surge in global popularity during the 1980s.
7. “Do the Right Thing” hit number 4 in New Zealand, marking its international appeal. Although not used in Spike Lee’s film, its presence in *The People Under the Stairs* adds to its cross-media legacy.
8. “A View to a Kill” is the only Bond theme to reach number one on the US Billboard chart. Duran Duran combined their sound with John Barry’s orchestral expertise, making it a standout film theme.
9. The Beastie Boys’ “She’s On It” drew its guitar riff from Cheap Trick’s “Stiff Competition”, which was stylistically influenced by The Who’s iconic track. This demonstrates the band’s ability to infuse rock elements in hip hop.
10. “On Our Own” appeared on the *Ghostbusters II* soundtrack. It reflected Bobby Brown’s peak era, achieving top chart positions and showcasing the new jack swing style.
11. Exposé initially released “Point of No Return” with Alejandra Lorenzo. It was later re-recorded with Jeanette Jurado, contributing to the song’s chart success and the group’s breakthrough.
12. Wham!’s farewell single “The Edge of Heaven” features Elton John on piano. This collaboration added star power to a track symbolizing the duo’s final chapter in the 1980s pop scene.
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Adidas, popularized by Run-D.M.C. in “My Adidas,” led to a historic million endorsement deal between the duo and the brand.
2. The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” blends synth-pop, electropop, new wave, and synthwave, capturing a distinctively retro flavor.
3. “Blinding Lights” set a Billboard Hot 100 record with the most weeks in the top ten, a testament to its enduring appeal.
4. Max Martin, a prolific hitmaker, co-wrote and co-produced “Blinding Lights,” bringing his renowned pop expertise to the track.
5. Channeling the 1980s, “Blinding Lights” encapsulates the era’s sound through its synth-heavy arrangement.
6. The video’s strong strobe effects prompted an IMAX removal due to epilepsy concerns, highlighting the visual intensity.
7. The Weeknd frequently collaborates with Max Martin, including on the chart-topping “Blinding Lights.”
8. “Blinding Lights,” by The Weeknd, was certified diamond, marking a significant milestone in his discography.
9. Billboard named “Blinding Lights” the best-performing song on the Hot 100, underscoring its historical impact.
10. Belly and DaHeala contributed to “Blinding Lights,” highlighting the collaborative nature behind The Weeknd’s hit.
11. “Blinding Lights” reached number one in over 40 countries, showcasing its global resonance.
12. Featured on “After Hours,” “Blinding Lights” stands out as a defining track from The Weeknd’s fourth studio album.
For THE FULL ‘MUSIC FOR THE DANCERS’ COLLECTION click here
