How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Steve Miller Band, The Specials, Echo & The Bunnymen, Kate Bush, Thomas Dolby, Duran Duran, Tears For Fears, The The, Falco, The Art Company, Red Box, a~ha
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (31/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. What inspired Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra”?
- A A magic show
- B Diana Ross
- C A fairy tale
2. Which social issue does The Specials’ “Ghost Town” address?
- A Urban congestion
- B Social unrest
- C Environmental pollution
3. Which band member left and returned during Echo & The Bunnymen’s “Lips Like Sugar” sessions?
- A Will Sergeant
- B Ian McCulloch
- C Pete de Freitas
4. What instrument was uniquely recorded in a stone room for Kate Bush’s “Sat in Your Lap”?
- A Drums
- B Flute
- C Violin
5. Which artist collaborated with Thomas Dolby on “May The Cube Be With You”?
- A George Clinton
- B Lene Lovich
- C Both A and B
6. What is unique about the music video for Duran Duran’s “Girls on Film”?
- A It features animated characters
- B It exists in censored and uncensored versions
- C It was filmed underwater
7. Which university library served as the location for Tears For Fears’ “Head Over Heels” video?
- A Oxford
- B Cambridge
- C Harvard
8. Who was the co-composer for The The’s “Gravitate to Me”?
- A Johnny Marr
- B Matt Johnson
- C Paul McCartney
9. What element in Falco’s “Jeanny” led to controversy?
- A Its length
- B Its lyrics
- C Its melody
10. What is the English version of The Art Company’s song “Suzanne” called?
- A Sarah
- B Susanna
- C Sandra
11. What musical style influenced Red Box’s “Chenko (Tenka-Io)”?
- A Grunge
- B World music
- C Classical
12. What transformation theme is visually explored in a-ha’s “Hunting High and Low” video?
- A Rebirth
- B Morphing animals
- C Aging
For TWELVE more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 31/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Steve Miller Band – AbracadabraFeatured on the 1982 album “Abracadabra”.
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2 . The Specials – Ghost Town
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3 . Echo & The Bunnymen – Lips Like SugarFeatured on the 1987 album “Echo & The Bunnymen”.
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4 . Kate Bush – Sat in Your LapFeatured on the 1982 album “The Dreaming“.
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5 . Thomas Dolby – May The Cube Be With You
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6 . Duran Duran – Girls On FilmFeatured on the 1981 album “Duran Duran”.
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7 . Tears For Fears – Head Over HeelsFeatured on the 1985 album “Songs From The Big Chair“.
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8 . The The – Gravitate to MeFeatured on the 1989 album “Mind Bomb”.
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9 . Falco – JeannyFeatured on the 1985 album “Falco 3”.
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10 . The Art Company – SusannaFeatured on the 1984 album “Get It Out Of Your Head”.
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11 . Red Box – Chenko [Tenka~Io]Featured on the 1986 album “The Circle & the Square”. |
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12 . a~ha – Hunting High and LowFeatured on the 1985 album “Hunting High and Low”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Diana Ross inspired the lyrics of “Abracadabra” following Steve Miller’s encounter with her during a television appearance. The song became a major hit after initial reluctance from the label.
2. The Specials’ “Ghost Town” discusses social unrest in Britain, particularly highlighting urban decay and rising unemployment during its release in 1981.
3. Drummer Pete de Freitas temporarily left Echo & The Bunnymen before returning to record “Lips Like Sugar”, marking a change in their lineup during its production.
4. Drums on “Sat in Your Lap” were recorded in a stone room for their unique acoustic properties, contributing to the track’s distinct sound.
5. “May The Cube Be With You” was a collaborative effort featuring both George Clinton and Lene Lovich, showcasing Dolby’s exploration into funk-infused music.
6. The “Girls on Film” video by Duran Duran is notable for its dual versions: one censored for mainstream broadcast and the other featuring explicit content.
7. Cambridge’s Emmanuel College Library provided the backdrop for the Tears For Fears’ video for “Head Over Heels”, which contains a nod to “Ghostbusters”.
8. Johnny Marr co-composed “Gravitate to Me” with Matt Johnson, showcasing their music during The The’s “Mind Bomb” era.
9. Falco’s “Jeanny” stirred controversy with its lyrics, leading to bans in some regions, yet it triumphed on various European charts.
10. “Susanna” is the English rendition of The Art Company’s “Suzanne”, extending the song’s success beyond Dutch borders.
11. “Chenko (Tenka-Io)” incorporated world music elements that were a hallmark of Red Box’s style during the 1980s.
12. A-ha’s “Hunting High and Low” video includes a recurring motif of animal transformations, enhancing the song’s emotive tone.