How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Meat Loaf, Nick Heyward, A~ha, Lloyd Cole And The Commotions, The Cure, Debbie Harry, Double, Yello, Paul McCartney, Culture Club, Alice Cooper, Bryan Adams
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (50/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. What unique format was used for Meat Loaf’s single release of “Nowhere Fast”?
- A Motorcycle-shaped vinyl
- B Heart-shaped vinyl
- C Picture disc format
2. Which theme is highlighted by Nick Heyward in his song “On a Sunday”?
- A Tranquility of the suburbs
- B Use of brass instrumentation
- C Era of disco dance
3. In which city does “Lost Weekend” by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions take place?
- A Paris
- B Amsterdam
- C Berlin
4. What was the original purpose of The Cure’s song “Let’s Go to Bed”?
- A To extend the tracklist of *Pornography*
- B A parody of romantic clichés
- C An antithesis to dark themes
5. Which 1980s television series featured Debbie Harry’s song “Brite Side”?
- A Miami Vice
- B Blackadder
- C Wiseguy
6. Which renowned musician contributed trumpet to the track “Devils Ball” by Double?
- A Herb Alpert
- B Miles Davis
- C Wynton Marsalis
7. What was the album *Flag* by Yello’s notable certification in Austria?
- A Silver
- B Gold
- C Platinum
8. Which famed guitarist contributed the guitar solos in Paul McCartney’s “No More Lonely Nights”?
- A Eric Clapton
- B David Gilmour
- C Mark Knopfler
9. What was the primary subject of “Victims” by Culture Club?
- A Heartbreak from a failed tour
- B Complex emotions in relationships
- C Boy George’s relationship with Jon Moss
10. Which famous guitarist played on Alice Cooper’s “House of Fire”?
- A Joe Perry
- B Slash
- C Richie Sambora
11. What unusual distribution feature did Bryan Adams’ “Christmas Time” have?
- A Sold with Christmas cards
- B Paired as B-side to “Reggae Christmas”
- C Free download with magazine
12. What was Laurie Sargent’s role in Fire Inc.’s “Nowhere Fast”?
- A Lyricist
- B Lead vocals
- C Bassist
For TWELVE more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 50/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Meat Loaf – Nowhere FastFeatured on the 1984 album “Bad Attitude”.
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2 . Nick Heyward – On a SundayFeatured on the 1984 album “North of a Miracle”.
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3 . A~ha – Cry WolfFeatured on the 1983 album “Scoundrel Days”.
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4 . Lloyd Cole And The Commotions – Lost WeekendFeatured on the 1986 album “Easy Pieces”.
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5 . The Cure – Let’s Go To BedFeatured on the 1985 album “Japanese Whispers”.
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6 . Debbie Harry – Brite sideFeatured on the 1982 album “Def, Dumb & Blonde”.
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7 . Double – Devils Ball (w/ Herb Alpert)Featured on the 1989 album “Dou3le”.
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8 . Yello – Tied UpFeatured on the 1987 album “Flag”.
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9 . Paul McCartney – No More Lonely NightsFeatured on the 1988 album “Give My Regards to Broad Street“.
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10 . Culture Club – VictimsFeatured on the 1984 album “Colour by Numbers“.
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11 . Alice Cooper – House of FireFeatured on the 1983 album “Trash”. |
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12 . Bryan Adams – Christmas Time
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. The single “Nowhere Fast” by Meat Loaf was indeed released in a quirky format—a motorcycle-shaped vinyl. This choice was part of a promotional strategy during an era when physical music formats saw creative experimentation.
2. Nick Heyward emphasized the use of brass instrumentation in “On a Sunday,” a feature he proudly showcased during public events, setting the track apart from others on the album *North of a Miracle*.
3. “Lost Weekend” unfolds in Amsterdam, painting a picture of melancholy and life’s trivial dramas. The song’s lyrics reflect on experiences and locales of the Dutch city.
4. Aside from its title, “Let’s Go to Bed” marked a deliberate shift by The Cure into lighter, more commercially viable territory, contrasting sharply with the dour themes of their previous work.
5. Television’s *Wiseguy* enlisted Debbie Harry’s “Brite Side,” aligning the song’s themes of optimism with a narrative backdrop where Harry appeared on screen, enhancing the mainstream appeal.
6. The trumpeting skills of Herb Alpert graced “Devils Ball,” infusing this Swiss duo’s track with a layer of jazz sophistication, resonating with both pop and jazz audiences.
7. *Flag* by Yello received gold certification in Austria, a testament to the album’s widespread appeal and success across multiple markets, including Germany and the UK.
8. David Gilmour, famed guitarist from Pink Floyd, provided the guitar solos that contributed significantly to the rich texture and warmth of “No More Lonely Nights,” adding to its acclaim.
9. The song “Victims” drew directly from Boy George’s relationship with bandmate Jon Moss, laying bare complexities and tensions through its reflective lyrics, though it was never released in America.
10. It’s Joe Perry of Aerosmith whose guitar licks enlivened “House of Fire,” bringing another layer of rock edge to Alice Cooper’s glam metal aesthetic on *Trash*.
11. “Christmas Time” by Bryan Adams saw wide distribution success, with the jazzy companion track “Reggae Christmas” as the B-side, securing holiday airplay for multiple seasons.
12. Laurie Sargent lent her vocal talents to “Nowhere Fast” on the *Streets of Fire* soundtrack, grounding the song with a powerful lead performance amid dynamic rock arrangements.