This week In ’80s Throwback’ 46/52

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

The subjects du jour are : Earth Wind & Fire, Madonna, LL Cool J, Yes, Robert Cray, Neil Young & The Shocking Pinks, Eurythmics, Beastie Boys, R.E.M., The Jesus and Mary Chain, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

They are the ’80s Throwback’ artists selected among the 403 Posts we publish this week.

1. Which musical innovation did Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove” notably revive?

  • A Disco
  • B Synth-Pop
  • C Country Rock

2. In Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” video, which city’s symbol frequently appears?

  • A The Eiffel Tower
  • B A Lion
  • C The Colosseum

3. Which item is romanticized in LL Cool J’s “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”?

  • A A Boombox
  • B A Sports Car
  • C A Gold Chain

4. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” was Yes’s first foray into what musical style?

  • A Country
  • B Blues
  • C Modern Pop Rock

5. Which phrase inspired Robert Cray’s “Smoking Gun”?

  • A Rolling Stone
  • B Smoking Gun
  • C Blazing Saddles

6. In which decade was Neil Young’s song “Wonderin'” originally written?

  • A 1960s
  • B 1970s
  • C 1980s

7. What did Annie Lennox observe while Dave Stewart composed “Here Comes the Rain Again”?

  • A Clear blue skies
  • B A busy street
  • C An overcast skyline

8. What chaotic event marks the end of the Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” video?

  • A A pillow fight
  • B A pie fight
  • C A dance-off

9. Which program featured an early version of R.E.M.’s “So Central Rain” before its album release?

  • A The Tonight Show
  • B Top of the Pops
  • C The Tube

10. The drum riff in The Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Just Like Honey” pays homage to which band’s song?

  • A The Ronettes
  • B The Beatles
  • C The Beach Boys

11. Which guitarist joined Siouxsie and the Banshees for their live performance of “Painted Bird” on The Old Grey Whistle Test?

  • A Eric Clapton
  • B Johnny Marr
  • C Robert Smith

12. Joan Jett’s “Victim of Circumstance” highlights what recurring societal theme?

  • A Bureaucratic inefficiency
  • B Misunderstanding and judgment
  • C Economic disparity

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Tracklist

1 . Earth, Wind & Fire . Let’s Groove

Lifted from : Earth, Wind . Fire release their eleventh album . ‘Raise!’ featuring ‘Let’s Groove’ (1981)

2 . Madonna . Like A Virgin

Lifted from : Madonna releases ‘Like A Virgin,’ her second album featuring ‘Like A Virgin,’ ‘Into the Groove’ and ‘Material Girl’ (1984)

3 . LL Cool J – . Can’t Live Without My Radio

Lifted from : Def Jam Publish LL Cool J’s Debut Album . ‘Radio’ (1985)

4 . Yes . Owner of A Lonely Heart

Lifted from : Yes release ‘90125,’ their eleventh album featuring ‘Owner of . Lonely Heart’ (1983)

5 . Robert Cray . Smoking Gun

Lifted from : Mercury Publish ‘Strong Persuader’ By The Robert Cray Band, Cray’s Fifth Album (1986)

6 . Neil Young & The Shocking Pinks . Wonderin’

Lifted from : Happy Birthday Neil Young. ‘Young Forever’

7 . Eurythmics . Here Comes the Rain Again

Lifted from : Eurythmics release ‘Touch,’ their third album featuring ‘Who’s That Girl?’, ‘Right by Your Side’ and ‘Here Comes the Rain Again’ (1983)

8 . Beastie Boys . Fight For Your Right

Lifted from : Beastie Boys release ‘Licensed To Ill’ their debut album featuring ‘Fight for Your Right’ (1986)

9 . R.E.M. . So. Central Rain

Lifted from : On TV English today, R.E.M. at ‘The Tube’ (1983)

10 . The Jesus and Mary Chain . Just Like Honey

Lifted from : The Jesus and Mary Chain release their debut album ‘Psychocandy’ on Blanco . Negro (1985)

11 . Siouxsie and the Banshees . Painted Bird

Lifted from : On English TV today, Siouxsie . The Banshees at ‘OGWT’ (1982)

12 . Joan Jett & The Blackhearts . Victim of Circumstance

Lifted from : Joan Jett releases ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll,’ her second album featuring ‘Crimson and Clover’ and ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’ (1981)

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

1. Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Let’s Groove” rejuvenated disco during a time of its decline by combining it with funk elements, using synthesizers and vocoder lines.

2. The recurring symbol in Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” video is a lion, representing Venice, where part of the video was filmed.

3. LL Cool J’s “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” is famously a love song to his boombox, celebrating its importance in hip-hop culture.

4. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” marked Yes’s entry into modern pop rock, a departure from their traditional progressive sound.

5. “Smoking Gun” by Robert Cray was inspired by the phrase “smoking gun,” highlighting undeniable evidence in politics and relationships.

6. Neil Young’s “Wonderin'” was originally written in the 1970s but recorded in a rockabilly style in the 1980s.

7. While “Here Comes the Rain Again” was composed, Annie Lennox was looking at an overcast skyline in New York.

8. The Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” video ends with a famous pie fight, a humorous ending to their chaotic party.

9. R.E.M. performed “So Central Rain” on The Tube before it was released, giving viewers a preview of their upcoming album material.

10. The drum riff in “Just Like Honey” by The Jesus and Mary Chain was inspired by The Ronettes’ classic “Be My Baby.”

11. Robert Smith of The Cure joined Siouxsie and the Banshees for their live performance of “Painted Bird” on The Old Grey Whistle Test.

12. “Victim of Circumstance” by Joan Jett addresses themes of misunderstanding and judgment, exploring societal and personal challenges.

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(*) According to our own statistics, updated on December 14, 2025