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, Madness, Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, Doctor & The Medics, ABC, Soft Cell, Ultravox, Supertramp, Atmospherics, Marillion, 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 (49/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. Who wrote the debut single “To Cut a Long Story Short” for Spandau Ballet?
- A Tony Hadley
- B Gary Kemp
- C John Keeble
2. Who handled the production of Madness’s “Our House”?
- A Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
- B Trevor Horn
- C George Martin
3. What does the protagonist in the song “Rent” by Pet Shop Boys depend on financially?
- A Government benefits
- B A secret lover
- C Independent business
4. Duran Duran’s “Rio” serves as a metaphor for which country?
- A Brazil
- B United States
- C United Kingdom
5. Which ABBA song did Doctor & The Medics cover in 1986?
- A Mamma Mia
- B Waterloo
- C Dancing Queen
6. On which chart did ABC’s “King Without a Crown” reach No. 1?
- A UK Singles Chart
- B Italy Airplay Chart
- C US Billboard Hot 100
7. What is notable about the equipment used in the recording of Soft Cell’s “Bedsitter”?
- A Expensive synthesizers
- B Limited budget tools
- C Live orchestra
8. Which Irish folk group contributed to Ultravox’s “All Fall Down”?
- A The Dubliners
- B The Chieftains
- C The Corrs
9. Which children’s rhyme is referenced at the end of the Supertramp song from 1982?
- A Hickory Dickory Dock
- B Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
- C It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
10. Which Cold War city is mentioned in Tom Robinson’s “Listen To The Radio (Atmospherics)”?
- A Berlin
- B Moscow
- C Hamburg
11. Which landmarks are referenced in Marillion’s “Heart of Lothian”?
- A The Tor of Glastonbury
- B Heart of Midlothian and the Royal Mile
- C Stonehenge
12. In which film was Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” originally featured?
- A The Piano
- B She’s Having a Baby
- C Say Anything
Tracklist
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1 . Spandau Ballet – To Cut A Long Story ShortFeatured on the 1980 album “Journeys to Glory”.
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2 . Madness – Our HouseFeatured on the 1982 album “The Rise & Fall”.
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3 . Pet Shop Boys – RentFeatured on the 1987 album “Actually“.
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4 . Duran Duran – RioFeatured on the 1982 album “Rio“.
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5 . Doctor & The Medics – Waterloo (w/Roy Wood)
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6 . ABC – King Without A CrownFeatured on the 1987 album “Alphabet City”.
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7 . Soft Cell – BedsitterFeatured on the 1981 album “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret“.
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8 . Ultravox – All Fall DownFeatured on the 1986 album “U-Vox”.
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9 . Supertramp – It’s Raining AgainFeatured on the 1982 album “…Famous Last Words…”.
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10 . Atmospherics – Listen To The RadioFeatured on the 1984 album “War Baby – Hope & Glory”.
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11 . Marillion – Heart of LothianFeatured on the 1985 album “Misplaced Childhood“. |
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12 . Kate Bush – This Woman’s WorkFeatured on the 1989 album “The Sensual World“.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Gary Kemp wrote “To Cut a Long Story Short,” marking Spandau Ballet’s debut. The song set a defining tone for the band’s image and style.
2. Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley produced “Our House,” crafting its unique pop sound that garnered awards and chart success.
3. The protagonist in “Rent” depends financially on a secret lover, complicating personal relationships with themes of dependency.
4. “Rio” is a metaphor for the United States, inspired by the band’s ambitions and experiences during their American tour.
5. Doctor & The Medics covered ABBA’s “Waterloo,” adding it to their collection of vibrant and eclectic renditions.
6. “King Without a Crown” topped the Italy Airplay Chart, showcasing ABC’s international appeal and musical versatility.
7. “Bedsitter” used a limited budget and basic equipment, such as a ReVox tape recorder, capturing the raw essence of Soft Cell’s early work.
8. The Chieftains contributed to Ultravox’s “All Fall Down,” adding a distinctive folk element to the song’s anti-war message.
9. “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring” is whimsically referenced at the end of the Supertramp song, blending nostalgia with pop rock melodies.
10. Hamburg is referenced in “Listen To The Radio (Atmospherics),” symbolizing the Cold War tensions experienced by Tom Robinson.
11. “Heart of Lothian” mentions the Heart of Midlothian and the Royal Mile, rooting the song in Edinburgh’s storied landscapes.
12. “This Woman’s Work” was originally featured in “She’s Having a Baby,” underscoring emotional cinematic moments with poignant music.