This week In ’80s Throwback’ 43/52

How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.

The subjects du jour are : Prince, Paul McCartney, Basia, Depeche Mode, Bob Dylan, Yes, Ringo Starr, Lou Reed, Duran Duran, Jethro Tull, R.E.M., Sting

They are the ’80s Throwback’ artists selected among the 438 Posts we publish this week.

1. What inspired Prince’s song “1999”?

  • A New Year celebrations
  • B Cold War-era fears
  • C Personal ambitions

2. In the “Say Say Say” music video, which character was portrayed by Michael Jackson?

  • A Jack
  • B Mac
  • C George

3. What is the main topic of Basia’s “Cruising for Bruising”?

  • A A summer road trip
  • B A relationship breakup
  • C Overcoming nightmares

4. Which song did Depeche Mode perform in the “Schizo Mix” version during a notable Hammersmith concert?

  • A “People Are People”
  • B “Strangelove”
  • C “I Just Can’t Get Enough”

5. Bob Dylan performed “License to Kill” at which notable event in 1986?

  • A The Grammy Awards
  • B Amnesty International Benefit Concert
  • C Woodstock

6. What was Yes’s “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” originally marked as in their discography?

  • A A return to their roots
  • B Their most complex track
  • C A commercial hit

7. Who wrote “Wrack My Brain” for Ringo Starr?

  • A Paul McCartney
  • B George Harrison
  • C John Lennon

8. On which TV show did Lou Reed perform “Video Violence” in 1986?

  • A The Tonight Show
  • B Late Night with David Letterman
  • C Saturday Night Live

9. Where was the music video for Duran Duran’s “The Reflex” primarily filmed?

  • A Central Park, NYC
  • B Maple Leaf Gardens
  • C Wembley Stadium

10. Jethro Tull’s “Under Wraps #1” featured which of these unusual elements during their 1984 tour?

  • A Live fireworks
  • B No live drummer
  • C A floating stage

11. R.E.M. performed “Can’t Get There From Here” for which UK TV program in 1985?

  • A Top of the Pops
  • B The Tube
  • C Old Grey Whistle Test

12. “King Of Pain” by The Police was inspired by Sting’s experience in which location?

  • A Los Angeles
  • B Jamaica
  • C Ibiza

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Tracklist

1 . Prince . 1999

Lifted from : Warner Bros. publish Prince’s fifth album . ‘1999’ featuring ‘Little Red Corvette’ and ‘Delirious’ (1982)

2 . Paul McCartney . Say Say Say

Lifted from : Paul McCartney releases his fourth solo album . ‘Pipes of Peace’ featuring ‘Say Say Say’ (1983)

3 . Basia . Cruising For Bruising

Lifted from : Epic publish Basia’s second album . ‘London Warsaw New York’ featuring ‘Cruising for Bruising’ (1989)

4 . Depeche Mode . Just Can’t Get Enough

Lifted from : Depeche Mode electrify Hammersmith Odeon (1982)

5 . Bob Dylan . License to Kill

Lifted from : Bob Dylan releases his twenty-second album . ‘Infidels’ co-produced with Mark Knopfler (1983)

6 . Yes . Owner of A Lonely Heart

Lifted from : Happy Birthday Jon Anderson

7 . Ringo Starr . Wrack My Brain

Lifted from : Ringo Starr releases his eighth album . ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ featuring ‘Wrack My Brain’ (1981)

8 . Lou Reed . Video Violence

Lifted from : We remember Lou Reed. ‘Reed Loud and Clear’

9 . Duran Duran . The Reflex

Lifted from : As we wish today . Happy Birthday To Simon Le Bon, the time is perfect for . ‘Duran Duran at their bests’ post

10 . Jethro Tull . Under Wraps

Lifted from : Jethro Tull unwrap in New Jersey (1984)

11 . R.E.M. . Can’t Get There From Here

Lifted from : On English TV today, R.E.M. at “˜The Tube” (1985)

12 . Sting . King Of Pain

Lifted from : Sting brings ‘Nothing Like The Sun’ to Tokyo (1988)

And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:

1. Prince’s “1999” was influenced by the prevailing Cold War-era fears. The song’s theme revolves around living in the moment despite looming apocalyptic anxieties.

2. In the “Say Say Say” music video, Michael Jackson portrayed the character Jack. Together with Paul McCartney’s Mac, they were depicted as con artists.

3. “Cruising for Bruising” explores the theme of a relationship breakup. Its lyrics reflect on the uncertainty surrounding the finality of the separation.

4. During the Hammersmith concert, Depeche Mode performed “I Just Can’t Get Enough” in the “Schizo Mix” version. This style highlighted their catchy, electronic pop sound.

5. Bob Dylan performed “License to Kill” at the Amnesty International Benefit Concert in 1986. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers supported him as the backing band.

6. Yes’s “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” was marked as a commercial hit. It gave the band their only number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

7. George Harrison wrote “Wrack My Brain” for Ringo Starr. It was part of Starr’s album “Stop and Smell the Roses” and became his last charting US single.

8. Lou Reed performed “Video Violence” on Late Night with David Letterman in 1986. The performance was part of Lou’s popular TV appearances that year.

9. The music video for “The Reflex” by Duran Duran was filmed at Maple Leaf Gardens. The video included both live performances and filmed close-ups.

10. Jethro Tull’s “Under Wraps #1” tour featured no live drummer, relying instead on programmed percussion. This created a unique sound setting for the performances.

11. R.E.M. performed “Can’t Get There From Here” on the UK TV program “The Tube” in 1985. This performance was part of promoting their album “Fables of the Reconstruction.”

12. Sting wrote “King Of Pain” during a stay in Jamaica. The song drew from personal reflections following the end of his first marriage.

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