How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Wham!, Was Not Was, The Belle Stars, Earth Wind and Fire, Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force, Donna Summer, Ryan Paris, Bryan Ferry, Amazulu, The Darling Buds, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, The Communards
They are the performers of twelve vintage dance tunes that were ranked in various charts, this week (42/52) BUT … in the EIghties 80s.
1. What notable television performance boosted Wham!’s “Young Guns (Go for It)” to number 3 on the UK singles chart?
- A Top of the Pops
- B The Late Show
- C Saturday Night Live
2. What imagery is referenced in the lyrics of Was (Not Was)’s hit single from the album *What Up, Dog?*?
- A Futuristic cityscape
- B Prehistoric imagery
- C Wild West themes
3. Which classic song did The Belle Stars cover in their 1982 release included on their debut album?
- A “Mockingbird”
- B “Stand by Me”
- C “Be My Baby”
4. Which Earth, Wind & Fire single, released as part of their album *Faces*, reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart in 1980?
- A “Fantasy”
- B “September”
- C “Let Me Talk”
5. Which track from the album “Planet Rock: The Album” is by Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force?
- A “Frantic Situation”
- B “Planet Rock”
- C “Looking for the Perfect Beat”
6. How did Brenda Russell contribute to Donna Summer’s track from the “All Systems Go” album?
- A As a co-producer and co-writer
- B As a backup singer
- C As a lyricist only
7. Which synthesizer was NOT used in the production of Ryan Paris’s Italo Disco debut single?
- A Minimoog
- B Yamaha DX7
- C Oberheim DMX
8. What song did Bryan Ferry adapt into “The Right Stuff” for his album *Bête Noire*?
- A “Bigmouth Strikes Again”
- B “Money Changes Everything”
- C “This Charming Man”
9. Which original song by Tommy James and the Shondells was covered by Amazulu?
- A “Crimson and Clover”
- B “Mony Mony”
- C “I Think We’re Alone Now”
10. Which Darling Buds track released in 1988 came before their debut album *Pop Said…*?
- A “Smile”
- B “Burst”
- C “Hit the Ground”
11. What event does the Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark song from 1980’s *Organisation* reference?
- A The Battle of the Somme
- B The Sinking of the Titanic
- C The atomic bombing of Hiroshima
12. In what year was The Communards’ “Tomorrow” released as the opening track of their album “Red”?
- A 1987
- B 1985
- C 1989
For TWELVE more ‘Music For The Dancers’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 42/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Wham! – Young Guns [Go For It!]Featured on the 1983 album “Fantastic”.
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2 . Was [Not Was] – Walk The DinosaurFeatured on the 1987 album “What Up, Dog?”.
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3 . The Belle Stars – MockingbirdFeatured on the 1982 album “The Belle Stars”.
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4 . Earth Wind and Fire – Let Me TalkFeatured on the 1980 album “Faces”.
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5 . Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force – Frantic SituationFeatured on the 1982 album “Planet Rock: The Album“.
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6 . Donna Summer – Dinner With GershwinFeatured on the 1987 album “All Systems Go”.
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7 . Ryan Paris – Dolce VitaFeatured on the 1983 album “Dolce Vita”.
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8 . Bryan Ferry – The Right StuffFeatured on the 1987 album “Bete Noire“.
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9 . Amazulu – Mony Mony
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10 . The Darling Buds – BurstFeatured on the 1989 album “Pop Said”.
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11 . Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Enola GayFeatured on the 1980 album “Organisation”. |
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12 . The Communards – TomorrowFeatured on the 1987 album “Red”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Achieving a major boost from exposure on Top of the Pops, “Young Guns (Go for It)” by Wham! escalated to number 3 on the UK singles chart. The performance significantly raised the duo’s profile during the early 1980s.
2. Was (Not Was) tapped into prehistoric imagery for their track’s lyrics, providing a playful yet poignant contrast to its underlying theme of nuclear Armageddon.
3. The Belle Stars covered “Mockingbird,” staying true to the structure and lyrics of the Inez and Charlie Foxx classic. It continued their trend of adapting hits from earlier decades.
4. “Let Me Talk” by Earth, Wind & Fire reached No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. The track combined their signature energetic sound with a socially conscious message.
5. “Frantic Situation” highlights Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force’s electronic and hip-hop fusion. The track is a staple from their influential “Planet Rock: The Album.”
6. Brenda Russell not only penned the song performed by Donna Summer but also co-produced it. Her version appeared on her own album in 1990.
7. Although the track featured several synthesizers, the Yamaha DX7 was not among them. The original production used iconic devices like the Minimoog and Oberheim DMX.
8. Bryan Ferry’s “The Right Stuff” was adapted from “Money Changes Everything,” a Smiths instrumental. Collaborating with Johnny Marr, Ferry transformed it into a pop hit.
9. Amazulu covered “Mony Mony,” infusing the classic Tommy James song with a reggae-pop twist. Their version added to their late 1980s repertoire.
10. “Burst,” released by the Darling Buds in 1988, predated their debut album. It typifies their catchy indie pop sound and formed part of their early work.
11. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s track on the album *Organisation* references the Hiroshima bombing. The song achieved notable chart success across several countries.
12. Released in 1987, “Tomorrow” by The Communards kicked off their album “Red” with a synth-pop tune. It captured the vibrant style of the late ’80s.
For THE FULL ‘MUSIC FOR THE DANCERS’ COLLECTION click here
