This week In ’80s Throwback’ 50/52

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

The subjects du jour are : ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, Sheila E, Sting, ZZ Top, Leonard Cohen, Television, The Clash, The Smiths, Paul Young, Tina Turner, Killing Joke

They are the ’80s Throwback’ artists selected among the 327 Posts we publish this week.

1. What was ABBA’s final public performance as an active group?

  • A Live Aid 1985
  • B Top of the Pops
  • C The Late, Late Breakfast Show

2. During which tour did Fleetwood Mac perform their live rendition of “Dreams” in Fresno?

  • A Rumors Tour
  • B Tango in the Night Tour
  • C Mirage Tour

3. Which artist was originally intended to perform “The Glamorous Life” before it became Sheila E.’s hit?

  • A Apollonia 6
  • B The Bangles
  • C Vanity 6

4. “Englishman in New York” is a notable song from which Sting album?

  • A The Dream of the Blue Turtles
  • B Soul Cages
  • C …Nothing Like the Sun

5. Which ZZ Top song won the inaugural MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video?

  • A Sharp Dressed Man
  • B Gimme All Your Lovin’
  • C Legs

6. Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love” was inspired by what historical circumstance?

  • A Medieval courtship dances
  • B String quartets in Nazi camps
  • C A famous jazz club

7. What was the significance of Tom Verlaine’s performance on La Edad de Oro?

  • A First ever Television reunion
  • B Promotion of a second solo album
  • C Introduced Spanish audiences to his music

8. Which member of The Clash performed lead vocals on “Somebody Got Murdered”?

  • A Joe Strummer
  • B Mick Jones
  • C Paul Simonon

9. What notable event marked The Smiths’ last live performance?

  • A MTV Unplugged
  • B Brixton Academy concert
  • C Collaborating with another band

10. On what show did Paul Young perform “Everything Must Change” in 1984?

  • A Saturday Night Live
  • B American Bandstand
  • C Top of the Pops

11. Tina Turner’s early solo performance of “Let’s Stay Together” was part of which tour?

  • A Rough World Tour
  • B Private Dancer Tour
  • C European Tour

12. “Eighties” by Killing Joke was performed on which TV program?

  • A The Old Grey Whistle Test
  • B The Tube
  • C TopPop

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Tracklist

1 . ABBA . Under Attack

Lifted from : On English TV today, ABBA at ‘Late Late Breakfast Show’ (1982)

2 . Fleetwood Mac . Dreams

Lifted from : Fleetwood Mac tango in San Francisco (1987)

3 . Sheila E. . The Glamorous Life

Lifted from : Happy Birthday Sheila E. ‘E Like Energy’

4 . Sting . Englishman in New York

Lifted from : Sting travels to Buenos Aires (1987)

5 . ZZ Top . Legs

Lifted from : Happy Birthday Billy Gibbons

6 . Leonard Cohen . Dance Me to the End Of Love

Lifted from : Leonard Cohen releases his seventh album . ‘Various Positions’ featuring ‘Dance Me to the End of Love’ and ‘Hallelujah’ (1984)

7 . Television . Marquee Moon

Lifted from : Happy Birthday Tom Verlaine

8 . The Clash . Somebody Got Murdered

Lifted from : The Clash release their fourth album . ‘Sandinista!’ featuring ‘Police On My Back and ‘The Magnificent Seven’ (1980)

9 . The Smiths . Hand In Glove

Lifted from : The Smiths play their last (?) concert (1986)

10 . Paul Young . Everything Must Change

Lifted from : On TV today . Paul Young at ‘TOTP’ (1984)

11 . Tina Turner . Let’s Stay Together

Lifted from : Tina Turner visits Holland (1983)

12 . Killing Joke . Eighties

Lifted from : On English TV today . Killing Joke at ‘The Tube’ (1983)

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

1. ABBA’s appearance on The Late, Late Breakfast Show marked their final public performance as an active group. They performed “Under Attack” and “I Have a Dream” via satellite.

2. Fleetwood Mac performed “Dreams” live during the Tango in the Night tour in 1987, which supported their album of the same name.

3. “The Glamorous Life,” originally meant for Apollonia 6, became Sheila E.’s breakthrough hit after being produced and written by Prince.

4. Sting’s “Englishman in New York” is featured on his album …Nothing Like the Sun, reflecting his diverse musical influences.

5. ZZ Top’s “Legs” won the first MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video, showcasing the band’s signature style and humor.

6. Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love” was inspired by stories of string quartets playing in Nazi death camps, adding depth to its romantic lyrics.

7. Tom Verlaine’s performance on La Edad de Oro connected Spanish audiences to Television’s pioneering art rock sound and global influences.

8. Mick Jones took on lead vocals for The Clash’s “Somebody Got Murdered,” a song infused with both energy and poignant storytelling.

9. The Smiths’ last concert was held at Brixton Academy in 1986, memorable for exclusive live renditions and marking the band’s imminent split.

10. Paul Young showcased “Everything Must Change” on Top of the Pops in 1984, highlighting his soulful and introspective style.

11. Tina Turner’s “Let’s Stay Together” performance occurred during her European Tour, pivotal to her transition back into solo stardom.

12. Killing Joke delivered “Eighties” on The Tube, enhancing their visibility within the evolving post-punk and industrial rock scene.

For THE FULL 80s THROWBACKS COLLECTION click here

(*) According to our own statistics, updated on December 7, 2025