How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Twin Hype, Tom Jones & Art Of Noise, Devo, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Samantha Fox, 808 State, Bomb The Bass, Stakker, Bananarama, Artists United Against Apartheid, Big Fun
They are the performers of twelve vintage dance tunes that were ranked in various charts, this week (48/52) BUT … in the EIghties 80s.
1. In which year did Twin Hype’s “For Those Who Like to Groove” reach number 8 on the US Dance Chart?
- A 1987
- B 1988
- C 1989
2. What makes the Tom Jones and Art of Noise version of “Kiss” noteworthy?
- A It was banned in the US
- B It uses techno elements
- C It employs diverse rhythms like Latin-American
3. What unexpected factor contributed to the success of Devo’s “Whip It”?
- A A viral TV commercial
- B Radio play in the Southeastern U.S.
- C A political endorsement
4. Which performance by Madonna made her song from 1984 iconic?
- A Her singing on the “Tonight Show”
- B Her appearance at the MTV VMAs
- C Her act at the Grammy Awards
5. Which instrument did Stevie Wonder use in “Go Home” that was innovative for its time?
- A Theremin
- B Vocoder
- C Electric violin
6. Which sample is notable in the acid house track released as a single from “I Wanna Have Some Fun”?
- A Vocals from “Vogue” by Madonna
- B Vocable from “Just That Type of Girl”
- C Piano riff from “Imagine” by John Lennon
7. What is particularly distinctive about the track “Pacific State” by 808 State?
- A Its use of traditional jazz instruments
- B A sample of a “Canadian Loon” bird
- C Vocals by an acclaimed opera singer
8. What distinguishes Bomb the Bass’s “Say a Little Prayer” in relation to its original version?
- A It has entirely new lyrics
- B It incorporates sample-heavy production
- C It’s performed a capella
9. Why is “Stakker Humanoid” by Humanoid considered pioneering in UK acid techno?
- A It’s the first acid track to use auto-tune
- B It prominently features synthesized vocals
- C It sampled the arcade game “Berzerk”
10. What was unique about Bananarama’s version of “Nathan Jones”?
- A It features a guest singer
- B Multiple distinct mixes were released
- C It contains new spoken word segments
11. Who wrote the protest song “Sun City” targeting apartheid?
- A Steven Van Zandt
- B Pete Seeger
- C Bruce Springsteen
12. Which instrument was a key feature in “Can’t Shake the Feeling” by Big Fun?
- A Acid house piano riff
- B Theremin solo
- C Bagpipe loop
For TWELVE more ‘Music For The Dancers’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 48/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Twin Hype – For Those Who Like To GrooveFeatured on the 1989 album “Twin Hype”.
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2 . Tom Jones & Art Of Noise – KissFeatured on the 1988 album “The Best of The Art of Noise”.
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3 . Devo – Whip ItFeatured on the 1980 album “Freedom of Choice”.
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4 . Madonna – Like A VirginFeatured on the 1984 album “Like a Virgin“.
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5 . Stevie Wonder – Go HomeFeatured on the 1985 album “In Square Circle“.
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6 . Samantha Fox – Love HouseFeatured on the 1988 album “I Wanna Have Some Fun”.
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7 . 808 State – Pacific StateFeatured on the 1989 album “Ninety “.
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8 . Bomb The Bass – Say A Little PrayerFeatured on the 1988 album “Into the Dragon”.
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9 . Stakker – Stakker Humanoid
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10 . Bananarama – Nathan JonesFeatured on the 1988 album “Wow”.
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11 . Artists United Against Apartheid – Sun CityFeatured on the 1985 album “Sun City: Artists United Against Apartheid”. |
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12 . Big Fun – Can’t Shake The FeelingFeatured on the 1990 album “A Pocketful of Dreams”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. The single “For Those Who Like to Groove” by Twin Hype reached number 8 on the US Dance Chart in 1989. It marked a successful entry into the dance music scene for the hip hop trio.
2. The Tom Jones and Art of Noise cover of “Kiss” is notable for its eclectic arrangement, including Latin-American rhythms. It showed a bold reinterpretation distinct from Prince’s original.
3. Surprising radio play in the Southeastern U.S. helped “Whip It” gain traction, defying expectations and leading to its commercial success.
4. Madonna’s performance at the MTV VMAs in a wedding dress for her 1984 hit song became iconic, significantly boosting her fame and media attention.
5. Stevie Wonder employed the vocoder in “Go Home,” adding a futuristic sound that intrigued listeners in the mid-1980s.
6. The track from “I Wanna Have Some Fun” featured a vocable sample from “Just That Type of Girl,” highlighting its creative use of existing material.
7. “Pacific State” is distinguished by its “Canadian Loon” bird sample, contributing to its unique ambient style and helping define the sound of the Madchester scene.
8. Bomb the Bass’s cover of “Say a Little Prayer” is set apart by its sample-heavy production, which created a fresh take on the classic song.
9. “Stakker Humanoid” is seen as a pioneering UK acid techno track for its clever use of samples from the arcade game “Berzerk,” influencing later electronic musicians.
10. Bananarama released multiple versions of “Nathan Jones,” including the Psycho Mix, which contributed to its popularity and featured innovative production.
11. Steven Van Zandt wrote “Sun City,” a protest song with prominent artists boycotting performances at the Sun City resort, drawing attention to the apartheid issue.
12. Big Fun’s “Can’t Shake the Feeling” is characterized by its use of an acid house piano riff, becoming a hallmark of their pop-dance style.
For THE FULL ‘MUSIC FOR THE DANCERS’ COLLECTION click here
