How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Kraftwerk, Sly And Robbie, The Jets, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Duran Duran, Afrika Bambaataa & Family, The Power Station, Huey Lewis And The News, The Waterboys, The Style Council, In Tua Nua, Paul Hardcastle
They are the performers of twelve vintage dance tunes that were ranked in various charts, this week (19/52) BUT … in the EIghties 80s.
1. What unique instrument did Kraftwerk record “Pocket Calculator” with?
- A A Casio fx-501P programmable calculator
- B An Apple II computer
- C A Roland TR-808 drum machine
2. Which phrase is prominently featured in Sly and Robbie’s “Boops (Here to Go)”?
- A Bass, the final frontier
- B Drop the beat
- C Let’s groove tonight
3. Who provided lead vocals for The Jets’ song “Curiosity”?
- A Aaron Zigman
- B Elizabeth Wolfgramm
- C Jerry Knight
4. What achievement does the track “Parents Just Don’t Understand” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince hold?
- A It won a Juno Award
- B It was featured in “Space Jam”
- C It won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance
5. Which iconic guitarist contributed to Duran Duran’s single “Skin Trade”?
- A Eric Clapton
- B Nile Rodgers
- C George Harrison
6. Which music label released Afrika Bambaataa’s “Sho Nuff Funky”?
- A Capitol Records
- B Tommy Boy Music, LLC
- C Atlantic Records
7. “Get It On (Bang a Gong)” by The Power Station is a cover of which band’s original hit?
- A The Rolling Stones
- B Led Zeppelin
- C T. Rex
8. What event inspired the title of Huey Lewis and the News’ “The Heart of Rock & Roll”?
- A A concert in Cleveland
- B Huey Lewis’ high school reunion
- C A Grammy Awards after-party
9. Which British band released the song written by Mike Scott in March 1983?
- A The Smiths
- B The Waterboys
- C The Cure
10. Where was the music video for The Style Council’s single filmed?
- A New York, USA
- B Warsaw, Poland
- C Tokyo, Japan
11. What year saw the release of In Tua Nua’s “All I Wanted”?
- A 1985
- B 1988
- C 1990
12. What is the primary theme of Paul Hardcastle’s track “19”?
- A Environmental activism
- B The Vietnam War
- C Space exploration
For TWELVE more ‘Music For The Dancers’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 19/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Kraftwerk – Pocket CalculatorFeatured on the 1981 album “Computer World“.
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2 . Sly And Robbie – Boops Here To GoFeatured on the 1987 album “Rhythm Killers”.
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3 . The Jets – CuriosityFeatured on the 1986 album “The Jets”.
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4 . DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Parents Just Don’t UnderstandFeatured on the 1988 album “He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper”.
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5 . Duran Duran – Meet El PresidenteFeatured on the 1986 album “Notorious”.
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6 . Afrika Bambaataa & Family – Sho Nuff FunkyFeatured on the 1988 album “The Light”.
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7 . The Power Station – Get It On [Bang A Gong]Featured on the 1985 album “The Power Station”.
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8 . Huey Lewis And The News – The Heart Of Rock & RollFeatured on the 1983 album “Sports“.
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9 . The Waterboys – A Girl Called JohnnyFeatured on the 1983 album “The Waterboys”.
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10 . The Style Council – Walls Come Tumbling Down!Featured on the 1985 album “Our Favourite Shop”.
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11 . In Tua Nua – All I WantedFeatured on the 1988 album “The Long Acre”. |
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12 . Paul Hardcastle – 19Featured on the 1985 album “Paul Hardcastle”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Kraftwerk used a Casio fx-501P programmable calculator for “Pocket Calculator.” This distinctive choice highlighted the band’s innovative merging of electronics and music.
2. “Boops (Here to Go)” by Sly and Robbie frames the bass as “the final frontier.” The phrase underscores their exploration and mastery of reggae and offshoot genres.
3. Elizabeth Wolfgramm led the vocals for The Jets’ “Curiosity.” Her performance established the group’s distinct sound among 1980s pop acts.
4. “Parents Just Don’t Understand” took home the Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1989. Will Smith’s storytelling captivated an audience experiencing emerging hip-hop narratives.
5. Nile Rodgers played guitar on Duran Duran’s “Skin Trade.” His touch added a signature funk-rock blend, enhancing the track’s dynamic appeal.
6. Tommy Boy Music, LLC, released “Sho Nuff Funky.” The label championed hip-hop’s growth, in alignment with Afrika Bambaataa’s innovative style.
7. “Get It On (Bang a Gong)” by The Power Station is a T. Rex cover. The original glam rock classic gained renewed attention through this 1980s adaptation.
8. A Cleveland concert sparked the title for “The Heart of Rock & Roll.” The track follows a legacy trail blazed by American rock hubs like this Midwest city.
9. The Waterboys released their single penned by Mike Scott in March 1983. A harmonized sound and lyrical depth set them apart in the era’s rock scene.
10. The music video for The Style Council’s single was filmed in Warsaw, Poland. An unexpected backdrop that contrasted with the song’s Northern soul influences.
11. “All I Wanted” by In Tua Nua came out in 1988. Its chart impact in the UK and Ireland captured a moment in alternative rock.
12. Paul Hardcastle’s “19” delves into the Vietnam War, focusing on the soldiers’ youth. It mixed documentary sampling with a pulsating beat to convey its message.
For THE FULL ‘MUSIC FOR THE DANCERS’ COLLECTION click here
