How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : EAV, XTC, Bad Manners, The Beautiful South, Dead Or Alive, Mike Oldfield, Hue And Cry, Cliff Richard, The Sugarcubes, Kissing The Pink, Asia, The Alarm
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (38/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. What is the English title for Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung’s original German song “Ba-Ba-Banküberfall”?
- A Bank Heist
- B Ba-Ba-Bankrobbery
- C Money or Life
2. Which 1917 British Music Hall song inspired XTC’s “Generals and Majors”?
- A Oh, It’s A Lovely War
- B Keep the Home Fires Burning
- C Pack Up Your Troubles
3. The track by Bad Manners that reached the UK singles chart is an arrangement of which famous piece?
- A The Blue Danube
- B Galop infernal
- C Ride of the Valkyries
4. Which historical events are metaphorically referenced in “You Keep It All In” by The Beautiful South?
- A Murder in 1973 and Robbery in 1962
- B World War I and II
- C The Moon Landing and Woodstock
5. What was the B-side to Dead or Alive’s “Brand New Lover”?
- A In Too Deep (Live Version)
- B My Heart Goes Bang
- C Something in My House
6. Which rock singer provided vocals for Mike Oldfield’s “Shadow on the Wall”?
- A Roger Daltrey
- B Roger Chapman
- C Roger Waters
7. What theme is central to Hue and Cry’s “Strength To Strength”?
- A Romantic relationships
- B Perseverance
- C Nostalgia for the past
8. What unique concept links Cliff Richard’s song “She’s So Beautiful” to its album?
- A It’s a concept album for a musical
- B It’s a soundtrack to his biopic
- C It was only performed once live
9. In the song “Regina” by The Sugarcubes, which celestial body does Regina metaphorically represent?
- A The Moon
- B The Sun
- C Venus
10. Which London studio was used to record Kissing the Pink’s “Maybe This Day”?
- A Abbey Road Studios
- B AIR Studios
- C Olympic Studios
11. With which band was Asia associated through one of its early members?
- A The Who
- B King Crimson
- C Pink Floyd
12. What inspired the lyrics of The Alarm’s “Sixty Eight Guns”?
- A A novel about the French Resistance
- B A book about Glasgow gangs
- C A biography of an Irish soldier
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 38/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
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1 . EAV – Ba Ba BankrobberyFeatured on the 1985 album “Geld Oder Leben”.
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2 . XTC – Generals And MajorsFeatured on the 1980 album “Black Sea”.
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3 . Bad Manners – Can-CanFeatured on the 1981 album “Gosh It’s… Bad Manners”.
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4 . The Beautiful South – You Keep It All InFeatured on the 1989 album “Welcome to the Beautiful South”.
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5 . Dead Or Alive – Brand New LoverFeatured on the 1986 album “Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know”.
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6 . Mike Oldfield – Shadow On The WallFeatured on the 1983 album “Crises”.
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7 . Hue And Cry – Strength To StrengthFeatured on the 1987 album “Seduced And Abandoned”.
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8 . Cliff Richard – She’s So BeautifulFeatured on the 1988 album “Private Collection”.
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9 . The Sugarcubes – ReginaFeatured on the 1989 album “Here Today, Tomorrow Next Week!”.
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10 . Kissing The Pink – Maybe This DayFeatured on the 1983 album “Naked”.
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11 . Asia – Only Time Will TellFeatured on the 1982 album “Asia”. |
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12 . The Alarm – Sixty Eight GunsFeatured on the 1983 album “Declaration”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Ba-Ba-Bankrobbery” is the English version of EAV’s “Ba-Ba-Banküberfall,” released in 1985. The song features themes of financial desperation and crime.
2. The song draws inspiration from “Oh, It’s A Lovely War,” which critiques wartime leadership. XTC’s track similarly juxtaposes upbeat tunes with serious subjects.
3. The track is an energetic ska arrangement of “Galop infernal,” famously linked to the can-can dance. Bad Manners creatively infused it with 2-tone elements.
4. The Beautiful South’s lyrics use a 1973 murder and a 1962 robbery as metaphors for emotional suppression. Their song critiques unspoken tensions in relationships.
5. “In Too Deep (Live Version)” served as the B-side to “Brand New Lover,” linking thematically to Dead or Alive’s exploration of transient relationships.
6. Roger Chapman lent his distinctive vocals to “Shadow on the Wall,” adding gravitas to Mike Oldfield’s track, popular especially in Germany.
7. “Strength To Strength” by Hue and Cry centers on persevering through adversity. Its hopeful message of determination resonates with listeners.
8. “She’s So Beautiful” ties into the concept album and musical “Time,” crafted by Dave Clark. Its narrative extends beyond traditional song releases.
9. Regina is likened to the sun in The Sugarcubes’ song. The metaphor elevates her significance and brilliance, reflecting her symbolic worth.
10. “Maybe This Day” was recorded at AIR Studios, a notable London location. The track marked Kissing the Pink’s entry onto US charts.
11. Asia’s early lineup included members from King Crimson, enhancing their musical depth. This connection contributed to their initial success.
12. “Sixty Eight Guns” by The Alarm was inspired by the Glasgow gang book, reflecting themes of youthful rebellion and societal struggle. The song achieved notable chart success.