How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : U2, Joe Jackson, Paul Simon, Paul Simon, Dire Straits, Billy Joel, Luther Vandross, Ray Charles & Chaka Khan, George Benson, N.W.A., Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden
They are the ’80s Throwback’ artists selected among the 351 Posts we publish this week.
1. Where did U2 deliver a legendary performance of ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ in 1983?
- A Madison Square Garden
- B Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- C Wembley Stadium
2. What inspired Joe Jackson’s song ‘Steppin’ Out’ ?
- A Los Angeles
- B Paris
- C New York City
3. Which unique percussion technique does Steve Gadd use in Paul Simon’s ‘Late in the Evening’ ?
- A Finger snaps
- B Two pairs of drumsticks
- C Foot tambourine
4. What inspired the title of ‘You Can Call Me Al’ by Paul Simon?
- A A misread birthday card
- B A telemarketer’s mistake
- C Pierre Boulez’s misnaming at a party
5. In Dire Straits’ ‘Walk of Life’ music video, what notable element is included?
- A A street musician
- B A famous painting
- C A comedic dance
6. Which supermodel stars in Billy Joel’s ‘Uptown Girl’ music video?
- A Naomi Campbell
- B Christie Brinkley
- C Cindy Crawford
7. What’s notable about Luther Vandross’s ‘Never Too Much’ music video?
- A Saxophonist cameo
- B Studio recording scenes
- C A live concert
8. In Quincy Jones’s ‘I’ll Be Good to You,’ who provides vocal contributions?
- A Ray Charles & Chaka Khan
- B Stevie Wonder & Aretha Franklin
- C Prince & Whitney Houston
9. Which festival featured George Benson’s notable performance of ‘Love X Love’ ?
- A Glastonbury
- B Montreux Jazz Festival
- C Woodstock
10. What makes N.W.A’s ‘Express Yourself’ distinct in their catalog?
- A Classical music sample
- B Lack of profanity
- C Jazz influences
11. What type of locations does Mötley Crüe’s ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ celebrate?
- A Casinos
- B Strip clubs
- C Nightclubs
12. What historical event does Iron Maiden’s ‘Run to the Hills’ depict?
- A The Battle of Gettysburg
- B European colonization of Native American lands
- C The Crusades
Tracklist
1 . U2 . Sunday Bloody Sunday |
2 . Joe Jackson . Steppin’ Out |
3 . Paul Simon . Late In The Evening |
4 . Paul Simon . You Can Call Me Al |
5 . Dire Straits . Walk Of Life |
6 . Billy Joel . Uptown Girl |
7 . Luther Vandross . Never Too Much |
8 . Ray Charles & Chaka Khan . I’Ll Be Good To You |
9 . George Benson . Love . Love |
10 . N.W.A. . Express Yourself |
11 . Mötley Crüe . Girls, Girls, Girls |
12 . Iron Maiden . Run To The Hills |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. U2’s performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre is iconic. Despite the rain, their energy and the dramatic setting helped launch their reputation as stellar live performers.
2. Steppin’ Out was inspired by Joe Jackson’s experiences in New York City, capturing the fusion of music and night-time energy characteristic of the early 1980s.
3. Steve Gadd’s use of two pairs of drumsticks in ‘Late in the Evening’ creates a unique rhythmic feel that complements Paul Simon’s storytelling and enhances the song’s vibrant texture.
4. The title ‘You Can Call Me Al’ emerged when Pierre Boulez mistakenly referred to Paul Simon as ‘Al’ at a social gathering, humorously capturing an interpersonal blunder.
5. The ‘Walk of Life’ video features a street musician mirroring Mark Knopfler. This element weaves everyday narratives with the band’s energetic presence.
6. Christie Brinkley, then Billy Joel’s partner, stars in ‘Uptown Girl,’ embodying the song’s narrative contrast between different social worlds.
7. The music video for ‘Never Too Much’ by Luther Vandross includes intercut scenes of studio recording, aligning with its upbeat, romantic vibe.
8. Quincy Jones re-recorded ‘I’ll Be Good to You’ featuring Ray Charles and Chaka Khan, melding diverse talents and styles into a Grammy-winning hit.
9. George Benson’s live rendition of ‘Love X Love’ at Montreux Jazz Festival showcases his transition to pop/R&B and emphasizes his mainstream appeal in the 1980s.
10. ‘Express Yourself’ is unique in N.W.A’s discography for its clean lyrics, focusing on free expression and setting it apart in style and message.
11. ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ pays homage to strip clubs across multiple cities, capturing Mötley Crüe’s glam metal ethos and lifestyle during the 1980s.
12. ‘Run to the Hills’ tackles the harsh history of European settlers’ violence against Native Americans, providing a rare perspective in popular music.
For THE FULL 80s THROWBACKS COLLECTION click here
