How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Longsy D, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash , Level 42, Johnny Clegg & Savuka, Vanessa Paradis, Hot Chocolate, The Selecter, Commodores, JoBoxers, S-Express, Dire Straits
They are the performers of twelve vintage dance tunes that were ranked in various charts, this week (08/52) BUT … in the EIghties 80s.
1. Which band made history with the song “You Sexy Thing” in multiple decades?
- A ABBA
- B Hot Chocolate
- C Genesis
2. What label released “Three Minute Hero” by The Selecter?
- A 2 Tone Records
- B Trojan Records
- C Stiff Records
3. Who sang lead vocals on the Commodores’ track “Nightshift”?
- A Lionel Richie
- B J.D. Nicholas
- C Walter Orange
4. What distinct feature is prominent in JoBoxers’ “Boxerbeat”?
- A A horn section
- B A synthesizer solo
- C A string quartet
5. Which composer remixed a B-side for S’Express’ single “Hey Music Lover”?
- A Steve Reich
- B Philip Glass
- C John Adams
6. What is the musical style departure noted in Dire Straits’ “Twisting By The Pool”?
- A Jazz fusion
- B Rock ‘n’ roll
- C Disco
7. Who produced “Make It Clap” by Busta Rhymes?
- A Rick Rock
- B Timbaland
- C Pharrell Williams
8. How did Blazin’ Squad’s music style in “Reminisce” stand out?
- A A capella vocals
- B Multivocal approach
- C Instrumental ballad
9. What sample appears in Dilated Peoples’ “Worst Comes to Worst”?
- A Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”
- B Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me”
- C William Bell’s “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”
10. What helped “How We Do” by The Game achieve mainstream success?
- A Justin Timberlake collaboration
- B Dr. Dre’s production
- C A feature film placement
11. Who co-produced “Brand New” alongside Rhymefest?
- A Dr. Dre
- B Timberland
- C Kanye West
12. What caused Gnarls Barkley’s “Run” music video to be initially banned in the U.S.?
- A Inappropriate content
- B Hypnotic visual effects
- C Trademark infringement
For TWELVE more ‘Music For The Dancers’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 08/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Longsy D – This Is SkaFeatured on the 1989 album “For The World”.
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2 . LL Cool J – Going Back To CaliFeatured on the 1989 album “Walking with a Panther“.
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3 . Grandmaster Flash – Sign Of The TimesFeatured on the 1984 album “They Said It Couldn’t Be Done”.
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4 . Level 42 – Running in the FamilyFeatured on the 1986 album “Running in the Family”.
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5 . Johnny Clegg & Savuka – Scatterlings Of AfricaFeatured on the 1982 album “Scatterlings”.
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6 . Vanessa Paradis – Joe Le TaxiFeatured on the 1988 album “M&J”.
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7 . Hot Chocolate – You Sexy ThingFeatured on the 1975 album “Hot Chocolate”.
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8 . The Selecter – Three Minute HeroFeatured on the 1980 album “Too Much Pressure”.
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9 . Commodores – NightshiftFeatured on the 1985 album “Nightshift”.
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10 . JoBoxers – BoxerbeatFeatured on the 1983 album “Like Gangbusters”.
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11 . S-Express – Hey Music LoverFeatured on the 1989 album “Original Soundtrack”. |
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12 . Dire Straits – Twisting By The PoolFeatured on the 1983 album “ExtendedancEPlay”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Hot Chocolate was unique in the UK charts, thanks to “You Sexy Thing” hitting the Top Ten across three decades. The song’s enduring appeal landed it in various films, ensuring its longevity.
2. Released on 2 Tone Records, “Three Minute Hero” exemplified The Selecter’s fusion of ska and punk. The track, a nod to pop stardom’s brevity, solidified their place in the ska revival movement.
3. Walter Orange led the vocals on “Nightshift,” adding experiential depth, while J.D. Nicholas contributed to the song’s emotive tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson.
4. “Boxerbeat” stands out with a brass section, an integral part of its lively atmosphere. JoBoxers’ nod to a mid-century worker persona was visually reinforced by their music video.
5. Renowned for his minimalist work, Philip Glass transformed the B-side of “Hey Music Lover” into a rhythmic deconstruction. The remix added a curious classical twist to the dance single.
6. “Twisting By The Pool” diverged from Dire Straits’ familiar tracks by embracing a buoyant rock ‘n’ roll vibe. The shift appealed to audiences worldwide and ended up as an MTV staple.
7. Busta Rhymes’ “Make It Clap” pulsated with Rick Rock’s production, mixing dancehall and reggae fusion. Its vibrant club setting shored up its early 2000s party credentials.
8. Blazin’ Squad capitalized on a multivocal strategy, layering voices for their hip-hop/pop crossover. “Reminisce” continued to boost their string of UK chart successes in the early 2000s.
9. Incorporating William Bell’s soulful work gave “Worst Comes to Worst” a resonant foundation. The song’s enduring popularity was further fueled by its video game appearances.
10. Dr. Dre lent his production wizardry to “How We Do,” propelling The Game to wider fame. The collaboration with 50 Cent showcased the synergy between established West Coast talent.
11. Kanye West, no stranger to hit-making, brought punch to “Brand New,” bolstered by Rhymefest’s lyrically dense delivery. The pair’s intertwined careers are marked by creative camaraderie.
12. “Run” by Gnarls Barkley stumbled on visuals deemed too hypnotic, breaching the Harding test. The video was adjusted and later gained acclaim for groundbreaking choreography.
For THE FULL ‘MUSIC FOR THE DANCERS’ COLLECTION click here
