How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Billy Idol, Robert Palmer, The Pointer Sisters, R.E.M., Men At Work, ABBA, Grace Jones, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, The Rolling Stones, Eurythmics
They are the ’80s Throwback’ artists selected among the 338 Posts we publish this week.
1. Which bourbon brand inspired Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell”?
- A Maker’s Mark
- B Jack Daniel’s
- C Rebel Yell
2. What was originally planned for Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love”?
- A A duet with Chaka Khan
- B A guitar solo
- C Additional saxophone parts
3. Why did The Pointer Sisters’ “Jump” have its title changed?
- A To avoid conflict with a movie
- B To disambiguate from a Van Halen song
- C To fit the album theme
4. In what way did “Stand” by R.E.M. pay homage to 1960s pop?
- A A cover of a classic song
- B Phrase modulation technique
- C Features saxophones
5. What caused Colin Hay to write the lyrics for “Who Can It Be Now?”?
- A Living next to a busy highway
- B Neighbors’ door-knocking incidents
- C Local radio broadcasts
6. What characterizes ABBA’s “The Day Before You Came”?
- A Upbeat disco rhythm
- B Narrative storytelling
- C Deep bass beats
7. Who inspired Grace Jones’s “My Jamaican Guy” lyrics?
- A Bob Marley
- B Tyrone Downie
- C Peter Tosh
8. What instrument features prominently in Eric Clapton’s “Pretending”?
- A Wah wah pedal guitar
- B Harmonica
- C Maracas
9. Which Springsteen album is anchored by the track “The River”?
- A Born to Run
- B Nebraska
- C The River
10. What role did “Love On The Rocks” play in *The Jazz Singer* for Neil Diamond?
- A A minor subplot
- B Center of family conflict
- C Background music
11. What inspired the themes of The Rolling Stones’ “Undercover of the Night”?
- A Central American Dirty Wars
- B Personal experiences in urban nightlife
- C A political novel
12. What is notable about Eurythmics’ “You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart”?
- A Powerful brass section
- B Synth-driven ballad style
- C Collaboration with female artists
Tracklist
1 . Billy Idol . Rebel YellChrysalis publish Billy Idol’s second album . ‘Rebel Yell’ featuring ‘Eyes Without . Face’ (1983) |
2 . Robert Palmer . Addicted To LoveIsland publish Robert Palmer’s eighth solo album . ‘Riptide’ featuring ‘Addicted to Love’ (1985) |
3 . The Pointer Sisters . Jump (For My Love)The Pointer Sisters release their tenth album . ‘Break Out’ featuring ‘Neutron Dance’ (1983) |
4 . R.E.M. . StandWarner Bros publish R.E.M.’s sixth album . ‘Green’ featuring ‘Orange Crush’ and ‘Stand’ (1988) |
5 . Men At Work . Who Can It Be Now? |
6 . ABBA . The Day Before You Came |
7 . Grace Jones . My Jamaican Guy |
8 . Eric Clapton . Pretending |
9 . Bruce Springsteen . The River |
10 . Neil Diamond . Love On The RocksCapitol publish Neil Diamond’s album . ‘The Jazz Singer’ (1980) |
11 . The Rolling Stones . She Was HotThe Rolling Stones release their seventeenth album . ‘Undercover’ (1983) |
12 . Eurythmics . You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Rebel Yell” was named after the bourbon brand Idol saw The Rolling Stones enjoying. This meeting inspired him to write the high-energy track with Steve Stevens, making it synonymous with his musical identity.
2. “Addicted to Love” was initially crafted as a duet with Chaka Khan. However, due to record label constraints, her harmonies were removed, leaving Palmer as the sole singer over a dream-inspired riff.
3. To avoid confusion with Van Halen’s hit “Jump,” The Pointer Sisters renamed their track “Jump (For My Love).” This decision helped distinguish the dance anthem amid Olympic Games promotion.
4. “Stand” by R.E.M. incorporated stylistic nods to 1960s bubblegum pop, specifically through phrase modulation in its choruses, embodying a playful and retro sound.
5. “Who Can It Be Now?” echoes Colin Hay’s anxieties living near dubious neighbors, whose frequent door-knocking fueled its narrative. The saxophone riff cemented the song’s catchy allure.
6. With Agnetha on lead vocals, “The Day Before You Came” exemplifies ABBA’s embrace of mature storytelling. Its minimalist synth underscores a reflective departure from traditional pop.
7. Grace Jones wrote “My Jamaican Guy” as a nod to Tyrone Downie, mixing reggae with funk elements. Unaware of the song’s tribute at release, Downie figured indirectly into its narrative.
8. Eric Clapton’s “Pretending” is marked by the wah wah guitar effect, illustrating both his instrumental prowess and the song’s rock foundation that topped rock charts.
9. The track “The River” from the same-titled album became iconic for Springsteen, capturing themes of working-class struggles and rendering it a poignant piece that capped the era’s social commentary.
10. “Love On The Rocks” becomes the musical linchpin in *The Jazz Singer* for Neil Diamond, encapsulating his film’s storyline of torn family ties through stirring soft rock renditions.
11. “Undercover of the Night” weaves the unrest of Central America’s Dirty Wars with Jagger’s lyrics, painting a gritty political portrait underscored by Burroughs-inspired narrative threads.
12. “You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart” stands out as a synth-dripped ballad contemplating relational coldness, reaching high chart positions as part of Eurythmics’ *Savage* album expressions.
For THE FULL 80s THROWBACKS COLLECTION click here
