How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Herbie Hancock, U2, Madonna, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, The Beat, Pat Benatar, Kate Bush, Greg Kihn, The Police, Elton John, Elvis Costello & The Attractions
They are the ’80s Throwback’ artists selected among the 385 Posts we publish this week.
1. Which unique musical technique is prominently used in Herbie Hancock’s ‘Rockit’ ?
- A Vocal layering
- B Turntable scratching
- C Harp solos
2. On which album did U2 debut the track ‘I Will Follow’ ?
- A War
- B October
- C Boy
3. During which concert series did Madonna perform ‘Express Yourself’ in Barcelona?
- A Sticky & Sweet Tour
- B Blond Ambition Tour
- C Rebel Heart Tour
4. Who were the co-creators behind Liza Minnelli’s ‘Losing My Mind’ ?
- A Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson
- B Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe
- C Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
5. Which Rolling Stones song did Bette Midler cover, featuring a notable cameo by Mick Jagger?
- A Satisfaction
- B Beast Of Burden
- C Angie
6. From which year is The Beat’s track ‘Save It For Later’ ?
- A 1980
- B 1982
- C 1984
7. Pat Benatar’s ‘You Better Run’ was released as a single from which album?
- A In the Heat of the Night
- B Crimes of Passion
- C Get Nervous
8. At which event did Kate Bush perform ‘Running Up That Hill’ with David Gilmour?
- A Live Aid
- B Amnesty International’s Secret Policeman’s Third Ball
- C The Montreux Jazz Festival
9. The Greg Kihn Band’s ‘Jeopardy’ reached number two on which chart?
- A UK Singles Chart
- B Billboard Hot 100
- C Alternative Songs Chart
10. Which album features ‘Every Breath You Take’ by The Police?
- A Regatta de Blanc
- B Ghost in the Machine
- C Synchronicity
11. Who collaborated with Elton John to write ‘Sacrifice’ ?
- A Bernie Taupin
- B Tim Rice
- C Andrew Lloyd Webber
12. Which historical event inspired Elvis Costello’s ‘Shipbuilding’ ?
- A Falklands War
- B Gulf War
- C Vietnam War
Tracklist
1 . Herbie Hancock . RockitColumbia publish Herbie Hancock’s thirty-fifth album . ‘Future Shock’ featuring ‘Rockit’ (1983) |
2 . U2 . I Will Follow |
3 . Madonna . Express Yourself |
4 . Liza Minnelli . Losing My Mind |
5 . Bette Midler . Beast of Burden |
6 . The Beat . Save It for Later |
7 . Pat Benatar . You Better Run |
8 . Kate Bush . Running Up That Hill |
9 . Greg Kihn . Jeopardy |
10 . The Police . Every Breath You Take |
11 . Elton John . Sacrifice |
12 . Elvis Costello & The Attractions . Shipbuilding |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. B. The use of turntable scratching in ‘Rockit’ by Herbie Hancock was pioneering. Performed by Grand Mixer DXT, it set a benchmark in combining jazz, hip-hop, and electronic elements.
2. C. ‘I Will Follow’ was featured on U2’s debut album ‘Boy’ . Its energetic style set the tone for their early sound.
3. B. Madonna’s ‘Express Yourself’ was a key performance in the Blond Ambition Tour, noted for its elaborate production and choreography.
4. B. ‘Losing My Mind’ was heavily influenced by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of the Pet Shop Boys. Their electronic production added a modern twist to Liza Minnelli’s theatrical style.
5. B. Midler covered ‘Beast Of Burden’ , famously featuring Mick Jagger, whose cameo added a playful touch to her version.
6. B. Released in 1982, ‘Save It For Later’ by The Beat became emblematic of their lasting appeal. Its melody and themes resonate with listeners across generations.
7. B. ‘You Better Run’ appeared on ‘Crimes of Passion’ , showcasing Benatar’s signature rock style. It built on The Young Rascals’ original with a harder edge.
8. B. Kate Bush’s rare live performance of ‘Running Up That Hill’ with Gilmour at the Secret Policeman’s Third Ball highlights their musical synergy.
9. B. Charting at number two on Billboard Hot 100, ‘Jeopardy’ was Greg Kihn Band’s biggest hit, also gaining cultural longevity through ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic’s parody.
10. C. ‘Every Breath You Take’ is from the album ‘Synchronicity’ , marking a high point in The Police’s career despite internal tensions.
11. A. Elton John and Bernie Taupin collaborated on ‘Sacrifice’ . Their long-standing partnership crafted the song’s rich, introspective lyrics.
12. A. Inspired by the Falklands War, ‘Shipbuilding’ offers commentary on economic gains juxtaposed with personal loss, a theme central to Elvis Costello’s work.
For THE FULL 80s THROWBACKS COLLECTION click here
