How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Lionel Richie, Chicago, Billy Joel, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Culture Club, Status Quo, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, Blue Öyster Cult, INXS, Talking Heads
They are the ’80s Throwback’ artists selected among the 390 Posts we publish this week.
1. What unique instrumental feature characterizes Lionel Richie’s “Hello”?
- A Neapolitan chord
- B Blues scale
- C Harmonic minor scale
2. Which key element of Chicago’s “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” music video is visually distinctive?
- A Fireworks display
- B Jet plane
- C Diamond decorations
3. What personal theme does Billy Joel’s song “This Is The Time” focus on?
- A Adventurous journeys
- B Cherishing the moment
- C Future aspirations
4. Which animal is visually referenced in the music video for “Maneater” by Hall & Oates?
- A Black jaguar
- B Snow leopard
- C Golden lion
5. What chart-topping achievement is linked with Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon”?
- A Biggest-selling UK single of 1983
- B Music video award for choreography
- C First single to reach platinum status worldwide
6. Status Quo’s cover of “In the Army Now” incorporated which message in its 2010 re-recording?
- A Environmental awareness
- B Military support
- C Global peace
7. What central emotion does Bruce Springsteen explore in “Brilliant Disguise”?
- A Boredom in daily routine
- B Joy in newfound love
- C Insecurity in relationships
8. What was the opening track of the “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” soundtrack?
- A Somebody’s Baby by Jackson Browne
- B Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar
- C We Got the Beat by The Go-Go’s
9. Why is the character “Al” in Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” notable?
- A Al is a fictional character created by Simon
- B Al represents Simon’s brother
- C Al was inspired by a misnaming incident
10. What literary concept inspires “Veteran of the Psychic Wars” by Blue Öyster Cult?
- A The Great Gatsby
- B The Eternal Champion
- C Frankenstein’s monster
11. Which animation technique was used in the music video for “What You Need” by INXS?
- A Claymation
- B Stop-motion rotoscoping
- C Hand-drawn animation
12. How does the Talking Heads’ song reflect its African influence?
- A By using traditional African instruments
- B Through lyrics written in Swahili
- C Via band jams inspired by Afrobeat
Tracklist
1 . Lionel Richie . Hello |
2 . Chicago . Hard to Say I’m Sorry |
3 . Billy Joel . This Is the Time |
4 . Daryl Hall & John Oates . Maneater |
5 . Culture Club . Karma Chameleon |
6 . Status Quo . In The Army Now |
7 . Bruce Springsteen . Brilliant DisguiseBruce Springsteen releases ‘Tunnel of Love,’ his eighth album featuring ‘Brilliant Disguise’ and ‘One Step Up’ (1987) |
8 . Jackson Browne . Somebody’s Baby |
9 . Paul Simon . You Can Call Me Al |
10 . Blue Öyster Cult . Veteran of the Psychic Wars |
11 . INXS . What You NeedINXS release their fifth album . ‘Listen Like Thieves’ featuring ‘What You Need’ (1985) |
12 . Talking Heads . Once in A Lifetime |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. The song “Hello” by Lionel Richie features a distinctive Neapolitan chord, adding a unique touch to its instrumental arrangement. Its beautiful yet complex harmony contributes to the song’s timeless appeal.
2. The music video for Chicago’s “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” is visually notable for its use of diamond decorations, an element that is both simplistic and strikingly elegant.
3. Billy Joel’s “This Is The Time” reflects deeply on the theme of cherishing the present moment. The introspective lyrics align with Joel’s style during his time with *The Bridge*.
4. “Maneater” by Hall & Oates includes a visual reference to a black jaguar in its music video. This imagery complements the lyrical metaphor of a woman’s fiercely wild nature.
5. Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon” achieved monumental success as the best-selling single in the UK for 1983. Its catchy tune resonated worldwide, gaining significant chart positions.
6. The 2010 re-recording of “In the Army Now” by Status Quo included a military support message. This version featured military personnel and was intended to benefit armed forces charities.
7. Bruce Springsteen’s “Brilliant Disguise” intricately explores the emotion of insecurity within relationships. This theme builds upon the album’s focus on love’s complexities.
8. “Somebody’s Baby” by Jackson Browne opens the *Fast Times at Ridgemont High* soundtrack. It complements the film’s rock-infused context with its soft-rock sound.
9. In “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon, the name ‘Al’ is inspired by an incident where Simon was mistakenly called ‘Al’ at a party. This personal anecdote made its way into the song’s narrative.
10. “Veteran of the Psychic Wars” by Blue Öyster Cult draws inspiration from Michael Moorcock’s literary concept of the Eternal Champion. The song’s complex narrative explores perpetual struggle.
11. The music video for INXS’s “What You Need” employed stop-motion rotoscoping animation. This technique added dynamic visual flair to their popular 1986 hit.
12. The Talking Heads integrated Afrobeat influences into their song through collaborative band jams. This approach, combined with inspired lyrical delivery, reflects their creative process.
For THE FULL 80s THROWBACKS COLLECTION click here
