How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Spandau Ballet, The Specials, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Depeche Mode, Haircut 100, Huey Lewis And The News, Silver Bullet, Robert Plant, a~ha, Saxon, Kate Bush
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (36/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. What synthesizer technique contributed to the distinctive sound in “Love Action (I Believe in Love)” by The Human League?
- A Feeding strummed guitar into a Roland System 700
- B Layering classic Moog sounds
- C Sampling natural sound effects
2. Which two songs influenced the songwriting of a 2009 UK single by Lucie Kay, Sophie King, and Brooke Challinor’s group?
- A “Stool Pigeon” and “Wordy Rappinghood”
- B “Material Girl” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”
- C “Karma Chameleon” and “Uptown Funk”
3. “Revival” by Eurythmics was the lead single from which album?
- A Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
- B We Too Are One
- C Be Yourself Tonight
4. Where did Ed Sheeran premiere “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” live?
- A Glastonbury Festival
- B Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
- C Lollapalooza
5. Which notable instrument riff characterizes Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Run Away with Me”?
- A Distorted, reverbed saxophone
- B Overdriven electric guitar
- C Euphoric trumpet fanfare
6. “All I Wanna Do” marked Dannii Minogue’s first top-five hit in which country?
- A United States
- B United Kingdom
- C Canada
7. Modern Talking’s “Brother Louie” lyrically revolves around which theme?
- A A love triangle
- B Battling social injustice
- C An adventure quest
8. What is the central message of Silver Bullet’s “Bring Forth the Guillotine”?
- A Resistance and revolution
- B Relationships and heartbreak
- C Celebration and dance
9. In which popular TV series did Robert Plant’s “Little by Little” appear?
- A Miami Vice
- B Magnum, P.I.
- C The A-Team
10. Who directed the music video for a-ha’s “Touchy!”?
- A Kevin Moloney
- B David Fincher
- C Michel Gondry
11. Saxon’s “Back On The Streets” appears on which album?
- A Denim and Leather
- B Innocence Is No Excuse
- C Wheels of Steel
12. Which band’s music was sampled in Kanye West’s “Power”?
- A Pink Floyd’s “Time”
- B King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man”
- C Yes’ “Roundabout”
For TWELVE more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 36/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Spandau Ballet – Fight for OurselvesFeatured on the 1986 album “Through the Barricades”.
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2 . The Specials – What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend
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3 . Paul McCartney – PressFeatured on the 1986 album “Press to Play”.
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4 . Elton John – Healing HandsFeatured on the 1989 album “Sleeping with the Past”.
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5 . Depeche Mode – Never Let Me Down AgainFeatured on the 1987 album “Music for the Masses“.
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6 . Haircut 100 – Nobody’s FoolFeatured on the 1982 album “Pelican West“.
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7 . Huey Lewis And The News – Stuck With YouFeatured on the 1986 album “Fore!“.
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8 . Silver Bullet – Bring Forth the GuillotineFeatured on the 1989 album “Bring Down the Walls”.
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9 . Robert Plant – Little By LittleFeatured on the 1985 album “Shaken ‘n’ Stirred”.
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10 . a~ha – Touchy!Featured on the 1988 album “Stay on These Roads”.
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11 . Saxon – Back On The StreetsFeatured on the 1985 album “Innocence Is No Excuse”. |
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12 . Kate Bush – Running Up That HillFeatured on the 1985 album “Hounds Of Love“.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. A Roland System 700 synthesizer took Jo Callis’ guitar strumming to synth-pop heaven, reshaping it into “Love Action” via modular synthesis magic. The result was a pivotal Top 10 hit for The Human League.
2. The catchy beat borrowed tension from “Stool Pigeon” and playful energy from “Wordy Rappinghood,” blending influences from 1980s pop landmarks into fresh synth-driven sounds.
3. “Revival” ushered in the album “We Too Are One,” presenting Eurythmics’ soul-pop refinement and marking their final big Australian chart splash.
4. Ed Sheeran brought “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” to life at Glastonbury Festival in 2011, showcasing his loop pedal mastery well before it hit the charts.
5. Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Run Away with Me” engages listeners with a uniquely distorted and reverbed saxophone that haunts her upbeat pop escades.
6. Dannii Minogue strutted into the UK Top 5 with “All I Wanna Do,” marking her biggest British hit at the time, as remixed versions kept fans twirling for years.
7. “Brother Louie” spins a tale of jealousy and tangled romance in a love triangle, becoming a hit across European charts with its catchy drama.
8. Silver Bullet’s “Bring Forth the Guillotine” became iconic for rallying cries of resistance with razor-sharp lyrics and formidable delivery standing out in British rap’s history.
9. Robert Plant’s “Little by Little” crafted tension and intrigue in “Miami Vice,” fitting snugly in the stylized crime series with its rock allure.
10. The summery essence of a-ha’s “Touchy!” was captured deftly through Kevin Moloney’s lens, amidst French beaches and nostalgic flare.
11. Saxon’s energetic “Back On The Streets” roared onto “Innocence Is No Excuse,” showcasing the band’s mid-80s melodic metal prowess.
12. Kanye West skewed expectations with “Power,” sampling King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man” to ground his modern tale of fame and isolation.