How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : The Human League, Level 42, Peter Gabriel, INXS, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks, Cheap Trick, Dire Straits, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Sonic Youth
They are the ’80s Throwback’ artists selected among the 427 Posts we publish this week.
1. What groundbreaking technology did “Don’t You Want Me” by the Human League utilize?
- A LM-1 drum machine
- B Moog synthesizer
- C Theremin
2. Which game features “Something About You” by Level 42 on its in-game radio station?
- A Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- B Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony
- C Grand Theft Auto V
3. What was notable about Peter Gabriel’s performance of “Sledgehammer” during the Human Rights Now! Tour?
- A It featured stop-motion animation
- B Collaborations with Tracy Chapman and Youssou N’Dour
- C It was performed in London
4. Which global tension inspired INXS’s track from their album *Kick*?
- A Economic recession
- B Cold War militarization
- C Environmental issues
5. Which band shares the Rockpalast 1983 stage with Elvis Costello according to records?
- A Stray Cats
- B U2
- C Bryan Adams
6. What notable film technology was used for a live recording of “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones?
- A Digital 3D
- B IMAX
- C Dolby Atmos
7. What musical style characterizes Stevie Nicks’s “Rooms On Fire” from her album *The Other Side of the Mirror*?
- A Synthesized pop-rock
- B Acapella
- C Gospel
8. Which song did Cheap Trick include in their Rockpalast Nacht 1983 performance?
- A Dream Police
- B Surrender
- C I Want You to Want Me
9. Which musical from Rodgers and Hammerstein is referenced in Dire Straits’ “Tunnel of Love”?
- A The Sound of Music
- B Oklahoma!
- C Carousel
10. Which U.S. state hosted Bruce Springsteen’s concert that was filmed for The River Tour?
- A New Jersey
- B Arizona
- C California
11. Early claims suggested U2’s “A Day Without Me” was about which late artist?
- A Elvis Presley
- B Ian Curtis
- C Jim Morrison
12. What rock and roll recognition did Sonic Youth’s “Teen Age Riot” achieve?
- A Multi-Platinum Record
- B Grammy Award
- C Listed in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs
Tracklist
1 . The Human League . Don’t You Want MeVirgin publish The Human League’s third album . ‘Dare’ featuring ‘Don’t You Want Me’ (1981) |
2 . Level 42 . Something About You |
3 . Peter Gabriel . SledgehammerBruce, Sting, Tracy, Peter et al support Amnesty International in Argentina (1988) |
4 . INXS . Guns In The Sky |
5 . Elvis Costello & The Attractions . Pump It Up |
6 . The Rolling Stones . Start Me Up |
7 . Stevie Nicks . Rooms on Fire |
8 . Cheap Trick . Surrender |
9 . Dire Straits . Tunnel Of LoveDire Straits release’Making Movies,’ their third album featuring ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (1980) |
10 . Bruce Springsteen . Out In the StreetBruce Springsteen releases his fifth album . ‘The River’ featuring ‘Hungry Heart’ and ‘Fade Away’ (1980) |
11 . U2 . A Day Without MeIsland Records publish U2’s debut album . ‘Boy’ featuring ‘I Will Follow’ (1980) |
12 . Sonic Youth . Teen Age RiotEnigma Records publish Sonic Youth’s fifth album . ‘Daydream Nation’ (1988) |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Don’t You Want Me” employed the LM-1 drum machine, a pioneering move infusing real drum samples into production, contributing to its landmark status during the Second British Invasion.
2. “Something About You” can be heard in the game Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, showcasing Level 42’s enduring appeal in pop culture soundtracks.
3. Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” during the Human Rights Now! Tour included performances with Tracy Chapman and Youssou N’Dour, uniting artists in a message of solidarity.
4. The INXS track dwells on the Cold War’s militarization of space, reflecting on arms race expenditures, a musical reaction to late 1980s global events.
5. Elusive by presence, Costello was misattributed to Rockpalast 1983, a stage rather occupied by bands like U2 and Stray Cats.
6. Recorded for “Live at the Max,” “Start Me Up” was part of a pioneering IMAX technology film, capturing the Rolling Stones like never before.
7. Stevie Nicks’s “Rooms On Fire” melds synthesized pop-rock with introspective lyrics, resonating within her distinct late-1980s style.
8. During their Rockpalast Nacht 1983 set, Cheap Trick played “Surrender,” a signature tune lauded for its generational lyricism.
9. Dire Straits’ “Tunnel of Love” nods to the musical Carousel, blending its narrative depth with Knopfler’s evocative storytelling.
10. On November 5, 1980, Springsteen performed in Arizona during The River Tour, capturing the post-election atmosphere on both film and tape.
11. Although believed to be about Ian Curtis, “A Day Without Me” by U2 had anteceding lyrics unrelated to the Joy Division singer.
12. Sonic Youth’s “Teen Age Riot” was included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs, cementing it as a foundational influence on alternative rock.
For THE FULL 80s THROWBACKS COLLECTION click here
