How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : The Kinks, Nu Shooz, Haysi Fantayzee, Shakespears Sister, The Cure, Samantha Fox, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Public Image Limited, Yello, Captain Sensible, Spear Of Destiny, Marillion
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (30/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. Which year was The Weeknd’s chart-topping track “Blinding Lights” released?
- A 2018
- B 2019
- C 2020
2. From which studio album does the song “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd come?
- A *Starboy*
- B *After Hours*
- C *Beauty Behind the Madness*
3. Who among the following was not involved in writing “Blinding Lights”?
- A Max Martin
- B Oscar Holter
- C Quavo
4. What main musical genres characterize “Blinding Lights”?
- A Reggae and Dancehall
- B Synth-pop and Electropop
- C Country and Folk
5. As of November 2021, what U.S. chart title did “Blinding Lights” achieve according to *Billboard*?
- A The best-performing song in history
- B The most digitally downloaded song
- C The shortest song to reach number one
6. Which aspect of the 1980s does “Blinding Lights” capture musically?
- A Prominent synthesizers and energetic rhythm
- B Grunge guitar riffs
- C Early rap beats
7. Which certification did “Blinding Lights” receive from the RIAA?
- A Gold
- B Platinum
- C Diamond
8. What is the central lyrical theme of “Blinding Lights”?
- A A city skyline
- B Longing for a partner at night
- C Fame and fortune
9. Which single preceded “Blinding Lights” on the *After Hours* album?
- A Heartless
- B Save Your Tears
- C In Your Eyes
10. Who directed the “Blinding Lights” music video?
- A Christian Breslauer
- B Cliqua
- C Taylor Swift
11. How many countries did “Blinding Lights” top the charts in?
- A More than 30
- B More than 40
- C More than 50
12. What dangerous feature led the “Take My Breath” video release to IMAX postponement?
- A Nudity
- B Intense strobe lighting
- C Political content
1. Which personal loss inspired The Kinks’ “Come Dancing” by Ray Davies?
- A A neighbor’s tragedy
- B His sister’s death
- C A childhood illness
2. Whose remix helped Nu Shooz’s “Point Of No Return” gain popularity?
- A Larry Levan
- B Shep Pettibone
- C Frankie Knuckles
3. What distinguishes Haysi Fantayzee’s “John Wayne Is Big Leggy” music style?
- A Tie-dye vibes
- B Subversive lyrics
- C Soulful ballads
4. Which duo recorded Shakespears Sister’s “You’re History”?
- A Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit
- B Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart
- C Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie
5. Which music video location marked a style milestone for The Cure’s “Hanging Garden”?
- A York House Gardens
- B Glastonbury
- C Brighton Pier
6. What style does Samantha Fox’s “I Surrender [To The Spirit Of The Night]” prominently feature?
- A Synth-pop and disco
- B Blue-eyed soul
- C Punk rock
7. What caused controversy for The Jesus And Mary Chain’s “Some Candy Talking”?
- A Misinterpreted lyrics
- B Political message
- C Explicit language
8. In which film’s soundtrack did Public Image Limited’s “Warrior” appear?
- A “Sid and Nancy”
- B “Slaves of New York”
- C “The Crow”
9. What design feature was notable in Yello’s “Blazing Saddles” single release?
- A Nonsensical lyrics
- B Heat-sensitive cover
- C 3D hologram
10. Which format was distinctive in the release of Captain Sensible’s “There’s More Snakes Than Ladders”?
- A Cassette
- B 3-track 12-inch
- C Minidisc
11. Which producer mainly worked on Spear Of Destiny’s “Was That You”?
- A Tony Visconti
- B Brian Eno
- C Zeus B. Held
12. Which metaphor is central to Marillion’s “Sugar Mice” narrative?
- A Fallen leaves
- B Sugar mice in the rain
- C Desert dust
For TWELVE more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 30/52 – click here
Tracklist
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1 . The Kinks – Come DancingFeatured on the 1983 album “State of Confusion”.
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2 . Nu Shooz – Point Of No ReturnFeatured on the 1986 album “Poolside”.
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3 . Haysi Fantayzee – John Wayne Is Big LeggyFeatured on the 1982 album “Battle Hymns for Children Singing”.
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4 . Shakespears Sister – You’re HistoryFeatured on the 1989 album “Sacred Heart”.
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5 . The Cure – Hanging GardenFeatured on the 1982 album “Pornography“.
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6 . Samantha Fox – I Surrender [To The Spirit Of The Night]Featured on the 1987 album “Samantha Fox”.
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7 . The Jesus And Mary Chain – Some Candy Talking
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8 . Public Image Limited – WarriorFeatured on the 1989 album “9”.
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9 . Yello – Blazing SaddlesFeatured on the 1989 album “Flag”.
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10 . Captain Sensible – There’s More Snakes Than LaddersFeatured on the 1984 album “0”.
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11 . Spear Of Destiny – Was That YouFeatured on the 1987 album “Outland”. |
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12 . Marillion – Sugar MiceFeatured on the 1987 album “Clutching at Straws”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Ray Davies channeled the heartbreak of losing his sister Rene into the poignant narrative of “Come Dancing.” Her death at a dance hall underscored the personal history imprinted in the song’s nostalgic vibes.
2. Shep Pettibone’s remix expertise helped catapult “Point of No Return” to dancefloor fame. His distinctive mixing style lent the track a wider appeal.
3. Haysi Fantayzee’s “John Wayne Is Big Leggy” stands out for its subversive lyrical critique wrapped in catchy new wave packaging. Their visual style often mirrored their musical quirks.
4. Shakespears Sister’s “You’re History” was the first showcasing of Siobhan Fahey’s and Marcella Detroit’s combined talents. Their contrasting vocal styles gave the track a unique dynamic.
5. “The Hanging Garden” video, filmed in York House Gardens, debuted Robert Smith’s signature hairstyle. This visual identity became synonymous with The Cure’s ethereal and dark sound.
6. Samantha Fox’s track melds synth-pop and disco, creating an upbeat 80s singalong vibe. The song was emblematic of her shift towards dance-oriented music.
7. “Some Candy Talking” stirred debate due to an assumed heroin reference, despite Jim Reid’s denials. Still, it found itself barred from airwaves, enhancing its enigmatic allure.
8. PiL’s “Warrior” accompanied the 1989 film “Slaves of New York.” This placement complemented the film’s exploration of urban struggle and individuality.
9. Yello’s “Blazing Saddles” intrigued buyers with its heat-sensitive cover. This packaging gimmick was as innovative as their electronic soundscapes.
10. Captain Sensible’s song appeared in a 3-track 12-inch format, including a remix. This release approach reflected the market’s appetite for extended play versions during the era.
11. Zeus B. Held produced “Was That You?” shaping Spear Of Destiny’s anthem-like sound. His contributions were key to their distinctive power rock execution.
12. “Sugar Mice” revolves around the metaphor “sugar mice in the rain,” symbolizing fragile human connections and dreams washed away by life’s hardships.
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Released on November 29, 2019, “Blinding Lights” became one of The Weeknd’s standout tracks. It merged 1980s influences into a modern soundscape.
2. “Blinding Lights” is from The Weeknd’s album *After Hours*. This project further cemented his role as a driving force in contemporary music.
3. Among the contributors, Quavo did not partake in “Blinding Lights”. The song thrives through a collaboration of The Weeknd, Max Martin, and Oscar Holter.
4. Characterized by synth-pop and electropop, “Blinding Lights” also draws inspiration from new wave and synthwave, blending retro tones with modern flair.
5. The song was recognized by *Billboard* as the best-performing song in chart history as of November 2021, reflecting its enduring appeal.
6. With prominent synthesizers and an energetic rhythm, the track echoes the pop essence of the 1980s, marrying nostalgia with innovation.
7. “Blinding Lights” achieved diamond status from the RIAA, celebrating its enduring popularity and broad commercial success.
8. The lyrics convey a yearning for a partner, focusing on night-time longing and the deep significance of romantic connections.
9. Preceding “Blinding Lights”, “Heartless” was released as a lead single from *After Hours*, setting the stage for the album’s tone.
10. Directed by Cliqua, the “Blinding Lights” video captures the song’s essence through vivid visuals that complement its auditory impact.
11. Topping charts in more than 40 countries, “Blinding Lights” showcased its wide-ranging appeal and cultural significance across diverse markets.
12. “Take My Breath” faced an IMAX delay due to intense strobe lighting, highlighting safety considerations for audiences prone to epilepsy.