How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : George Michael, Malcolm McLaren, Evelyn Champagne King, Taffy, Was [Not Was], Wang Chung, Nick Heyward, Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Wilde, Matt Bianco, The Pointer Sisters
They are the performers of twelve vintage dance tunes that were ranked in various charts, this week (49/52) BUT … in the EIghties 80s.
1. Which musical element is integrated with a church organ at the beginning of George Michael’s “Faith”?
- A Electric keyboard
- B Guitar strumming
- C Drum solo
2. What traditional American folk song inspired Malcolm McLaren’s “Buffalo Gals”?
- A “Oh! Susanna”
- B “Buffalo Gals”
- C “Camptown Races”
3. Which duo composed “Your Personal Touch” for Evelyn King?
- A Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards
- B Allen George and Fred McFarlane
- C Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
4. Why was the UK release of “I Love My Radio” by Taffy renamed?
- A Legal issues with the title
- B Lyrics changed to fit UK radio schedules
- C A competing song with the same name
5. Which song by Wang Chung includes the phrase “Everybody Wang Chung tonight”?
- A “Dance Hall Days”
- B “Let’s Go”
- C “Everybody Have Fun Tonight”
6. What was Nick Heyward’s last solo Top 40 hit of the 1980s?
- A “Take That Situation”
- B “Warning Sign”
- C “Blue Hat for a Blue Day”
7. Which high-profile instrument configuration features in Gloria Estefan’s “Get on Your Feet”?
- A Synthesizers and organ
- B Piano and violins
- C Brass and tambourine
8. Cyndi Lauper’s “Change of Heart” shares backing vocals with which band?
- A The Bangles
- B The Go-Go’s
- C Heart
9. What recurring geographic location is pivotal in Kim Wilde’s “Cambodia”?
- A Vietnam
- B Cambodia
- C Thailand
10. Which British band’s “Yeh Yeh” features sophisti-pop and jazz blend?
- A Matt Bianco
- B Swing Out Sister
- C Sade
11. Which Pointer Sisters song re-released in 1984 peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100?
- A “I’m So Excited”
- B “Jump (For My Love)”
- C “Fire”
12. Which artist performs the iconic guitar part in the Pointer Sisters’ re-release of the featured track in National Lampoon’s Vacation?
- A George Doering
- B Lee Ritenour
- C Carlos Santana
Tracklist
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1 . George Michael – FaithFeatured on the 1987 album “Faith“.
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2 . Malcolm McLaren – Buffalo GalsFeatured on the 1983 album “Duck Rock“.
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3 . Evelyn Champagne King – Your Personal TouchFeatured on the 1985 album “A Long Time Coming”.
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4 . Taffy – I Love My RadioFeatured on the 2012 album “I Love My Radio”.
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5 . Was [Not Was] – Boy’s Gone CrazyFeatured on the 1988 album “What Up, Dog?”.
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6 . Wang Chung – Everybody Have Fun TonightFeatured on the 1986 album “Mosaic”.
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7 . Nick Heyward – Warning SignFeatured on the 1986 album “Postcards from Home”.
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8 . Gloria Estefan – Get On Your FeetFeatured on the 1989 album “Cuts Both Ways”.
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9 . Cyndi Lauper – Change Of HeartFeatured on the 1986 album “True Colors“.
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10 . Kim Wilde – CambodiaFeatured on the 1982 album “Select”.
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11 . Matt Bianco – Yeh Yeh!Featured on the 1986 album “Matt Bianco”. |
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12 . The Pointer Sisters – I’m So ExcitedFeatured on the 1982 album “So Excited!”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Guitar strumming follows the church organ in “Faith,” contributing to its distinctive intro. The Bo Diddley beat is used throughout.
2. McLaren’s “Buffalo Gals” pulls inspiration from the folk song “Buffalo Gals,” blending it with hip hop elements in a novel way.
3. Allen George and Fred McFarlane wrote “Your Personal Touch,” contributing to Evelyn King’s repertoire of dance-oriented tracks.
4. “I Love My Radio” became “Dee Jay’s Radio” to reflect UK broadcast timings, omitting midnight radio-themed lyrics.
5. “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” is famous for urging listeners to “Wang Chung tonight,” capturing the spirit of the 80s dance scene.
6. “Warning Sign” was Heyward’s last Top 40 hit solo, capturing his quintessential 80s sound before his chart presence waned.
7. Synthesizers and synthfunk rhythms with dance-pop stylings define Estefan’s “Get on Your Feet,” accentuating energy and groove.
8. The Bangles lent their vocal talents to “Change of Heart,” enhancing Lauper’s hit with their pop harmony expertise.
9. “Cambodia” by Kim Wilde uses the eponymous location to anchor its narrative of loss and longing, set against a synth-heavy backdrop.
10. Matt Bianco’s version of “Yeh Yeh” brings a sophisti-pop flair to this cover, integrating jazz and dance elements seamlessly.
11. “I’m So Excited” gained popularity twice, peaking higher in its re-released state as part of the album “Break Out” in 1984.
12. Lee Ritenour’s guitar talents feature in the Pointer Sisters track remixed for more mainstream appeal and a cameo in Vacation.
For THE FULL ‘MUSIC FOR THE DANCERS’ COLLECTION click here
