How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Pete Shelley, Big Audio Dynamite, ZZ Top, Julian Lennon, Soft Cell, Kajagoogoo, Gary Moore, The Wedding Present, Yoko Ono, Elton John, a-ha, Russ Ballard
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (09/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. What unique musical influence does Gary Moore’s “Wild Frontier” blend with hard rock?
- A Jazz
- B Celtic
- C Reggae
2. In which year did The Wedding Present release “Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm”?
- A 1988
- B 1990
- C 1985
3. What prophetic item was John Lennon carrying when he was tragically murdered in 1980?
- A A diary
- B A photograph
- C A tape of “Walking on Thin Ice”
4. Who directed the music video for Elton John’s “Cry to Heaven”?
- A Ridley Scott
- B Ken Russell
- C David Lynch
5. Which instrument features prominently in A-ha’s “Manhattan Skyline” before the hard rock chorus?
- A Violin
- B Harpsichord synthesizer
- C Flute
6. What TV show helped increase the exposure of Russ Ballard’s “Voices”?
- A Miami Vice
- B Magnum P.I.
- C Knight Rider
7. Which style did Fun Lovin’ Criminals aim to channel in their song “Loco”?
- A Carlos Santana
- B Bob Dylan
- C Led Zeppelin
8. On which charts did The Underdog Project’s “Summer Jam 2003” top due to the inclusion of Sunclub’s sample?
- A German
- B Belgian and Dutch
- C French
9. Which car model featured Télépopmusik’s “Breathe” in its advertisement campaign?
- A Toyota Camry
- B Mitsubishi Outlander
- C Honda Civic
10. From which debut album is Love Inc.’s single “Into the Night”?
- A Love Inc. Presents The Stars
- B Into the Night
- C It Doesn’t Matter
11. Whose song was sampled in David Guetta’s “The World Is Mine”?
- A U2
- B Simple Minds
- C Depeche Mode
12. Which potential legal concern prompted a name change for the group performing “Miracle”?
- A Conflict with Kaskade
- B Conflict with Cascade Sings
- C Conflict with Casecade Studios
For TWELVE more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 09/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . Pete Shelley – Telephone OperatorFeatured on the 1983 album “XL1”.
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2 . Big Audio Dynamite – V. ThirteenFeatured on the 1986 album “No. 10, Upping St.”.
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3 . ZZ Top – StagesFeatured on the 1985 album “Afterburner”.
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4 . Julian Lennon – Now You’re In HeavenFeatured on the 1989 album “Mr. Jordan”.
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5 . Soft Cell – Down In The SubwayFeatured on the 1984 album “This Last Night in Sodom”.
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6 . Kajagoogoo – The Lion’s MouthFeatured on the 1984 album “Islands”.
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7 . Gary Moore – Wild FrontierFeatured on the 1987 album “Wild Frontier”.
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8 . The Wedding Present – Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm
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9 . Yoko Ono – Walking on Thin Ice
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10 . Elton John – Cry To HeavenFeatured on the 1985 album “Ice on Fire”.
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11 . a-ha – Manhattan Skyline |
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12 . Russ Ballard – VoicesFeatured on the 1984 album “Russ Ballard”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Celtic influences are woven into the hard rock sound of “Wild Frontier,” reflecting Gary Moore’s Northern Irish heritage. The song peaked at No. 35 on the UK Singles Chart.
2. “Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm” came out in 1988, showcasing The Wedding Present’s shift to a poppier sound. Critically acclaimed, the single achieved notable chart success.
3. John Lennon held a tape of “Walking on Thin Ice” when he was shot. The song was the last collaboration with Yoko Ono during the Double Fantasy sessions.
4. British film director Ken Russell shot the “Cry to Heaven” video. Known for his dramatic style, he completed the project efficiently.
5. A-HA’s “Manhattan Skyline” begins with a harpsichord synthesizer, combining this baroque sound with a hard rock chorus. Inspired by experimental cut-and-paste techniques.
6. “Voices” by Russ Ballard became more widely known after featuring in Miami Vice. The song reached number 15 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
7. Fun Lovin’ Criminals channel the style of Carlos Santana in “Loco,” the band’s highest-charting UK single. Its Latin influences drove its popularity.
8. The 2003 remix of “Summer Jam” topped the Belgian and Dutch charts. It revived the track’s popularity by sampling Sunclub’s “Fiesta De Los Tamborileros.”
9. Télépopmusik’s “Breathe” was spotlighted in Mitsubishi Outlander ads, boosting the song’s chart success. It also appeared in Peugeot 307 promotions in the UK.
10. Love Inc.’s “Into the Night” features on its self-titled sophomore album. The Canadian dance-pop group achieved broader success with their debut album.
11. David Guetta sampled Simple Minds’ song in “The World Is Mine.” The track gained significant dance chart traction and marked his first Billboard number-one.
12. Cascada altered their name from Cascade to avoid legal issues with Kaskade. Their debut single “Miracle” gained international attention in the club scene.
















