How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Toto Coelo, Robert Palmer, Bucks Fizz, Culture Club, Classix Nouveaux, Spandau Ballet, Chris De Burgh, The Buggles, Tina Turner, The Human League, Morrissey, Arcadia
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (47/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. What peak position did Toto Coelo’s “Dracula’s Tango (Sucker For Your Love)” reach in Australia?
- A #54
- B #19
- C #9
2. Which musical channel aired Robert Palmer’s “Looking for Clues” video on its launch day?
- A VH1
- B MTV
- C Channel V
3. Which Bucks Fizz member took lead vocals on “Rules of the Game” for the first time?
- A Bobby G
- B Mike Nolan
- C Cheryl Baker
4. What unusual feature does the Culture Club music video for this song have?
- A Boy George wearing clogs
- B Children dressed as skeletons
- C George riding a giant turtle
5. What previous band were some members of Classix Nouveaux part of?
- A X-Ray Spex
- B Joy Division
- C Buzzcocks
6. Who faced creative tension during the recording of this Spandau Ballet track?
- A Tony Hadley
- B Gary Kemp
- C Martin Kemp
7. What advice is repeatedly given in the lyrics of Chris de Burgh’s song about a mysterious journey?
- A Always look back
- B Don’t pay the ferryman
- C Hold your breath
8. What role does the protagonist of “Elstree” find themselves in within the film industry?
- A Cameraman
- B Producer
- C Behind the scenes worker
9. Which legal issue affected Tina Turner’s recording of “Private Dancer”?
- A Infringement on choreography rights
- B Use of lyrics from a book
- C Original Dire Straits backing track
10. What was the original working title of this song by a British synth-pop band?
- A Can’t Get To Sleep At Night
- B Sleepwalker
- C Don’t Wake Me Up
11. What message does the Ouija board convey in Morrissey’s 1989 song?
- A Hello
- B Breakfast is ready
- C Steven Push Off
12. Which three Duran Duran members formed the band Arcadia?
- A Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor
- B John Taylor, Andy Taylor, Roger Taylor
- C Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor
Tracklist
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1 . Toto Coelo – Dracula’s Tango [Sucker For Your Love]Featured on the 1987 album “I Eat Cannibals”.
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2 . Robert Palmer – Looking For CluesFeatured on the 1980 album “Clues”.
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3 . Bucks Fizz – Rules Of The GameFeatured on the 1981 album “Are You Ready”.
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4 . Culture Club – The War SongFeatured on the 1984 album “Waking Up with the House on Fire”.
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5 . Classix Nouveaux – Never AgainFeatured on the 1983 album “La Verité”.
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6 . Spandau Ballet – Paint Me DownFeatured on the 1981 album “Diamond”.
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7 . Chris De Burgh – Don’t Pay The FerrymanFeatured on the 1982 album “The Getaway”.
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8 . The Buggles – ElstreeFeatured on the 1980 album “The Age of Plastic”.
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9 . Tina Turner – Private DancerFeatured on the 1984 album “Private Dancer“.
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10 . The Human League – Mirror ManFeatured on the 1983 album “Fascination!”.
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11 . Morrissey – Ouija Board Ouija BoardFeatured on the 1989 album “Bona Drag”. |
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12 . Arcadia – Election DayFeatured on the 1985 album “So Red the Rose”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Dracula’s Tango (Sucker For Your Love)” reached #19 on the Australian charts. The song embraced kitsch with its catchy nods to vampiric romance and charted modestly elsewhere.
2. “Looking for Clues” was one of the early music videos that played on MTV’s launch day. Palmer’s catchy track came with equally memorable MTV visuals.
3. Cheryl Baker took the lead vocals on “Rules of the Game”, marking her debut as a front figure in the group’s singles lineup. The song’s commercial reception was lukewarm.
4. The Culture Club video features children dressed as skeletons, enhancing the theatrical flair. Boy George’s flamboyant style complements the vibrant and eerie visuals.
5. Classix Nouveaux members previously belonged to X-Ray Spex. The connection is more historical than stylistic, with the former expressing the New Romantic ethos.
6. Tony Hadley had friction with producer Richard James Burgess, who used creative strategies to capture the desired vocal performance. Studio tension added an edge to the final product.
7. “Don’t pay the ferryman” is repeated throughout Chris de Burgh’s song as a warning for the stormy night ahead. Such ominous advice echoes through his suspenseful narrative.
8. In “Elstree,” the protagonist steps away from acting to work behind the scenes, reflecting on dreams unfulfilled yet finding solace in film history. The nostalgic track is bittersweet.
9. Tina Turner couldn’t use the original Dire Straits backing track for “Private Dancer” due to legal constraints. The final cut was produced sans Knopfler’s iconic guitar.
10. The song’s working title was “Can’t Get To Sleep At Night,” revealing its North Soul influence. Its intriguing lineage contributed to its polished final version.
11. The Ouija board in Morrissey’s song urges “Steven Push Off”, sparking controversy over lyrics perceived as promoting the occult. The single enticed spirited debate.
12. Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor were the foundations of Arcadia during Duran Duran’s hiatus. Their short-lived project still made waves with “Election Day”.