How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Jane Wiedlin, Elton John, Marc Almond, Pat Benatar, Tony Banks & Fish, The Blow Monkeys, Jethro Tull, Spandau Ballet, Cutting Crew, That Petrol Emotion, David Sylvian, Kim Wilde
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (42/52) BUT … in the Eighties 80s.
1. Who produced Jane Wiedlin’s “Inside a Dream”?
- A Tony Visconti
- B Stephen Hague
- C Phil Spector
2. Which of the following was a B-side for Elton John’s song released in October 1984?
- A Candle in the Wind
- B Lonely Boy
- C Border Song
3. What is the title of the album that includes Marc Almond’s “Ruby Red”?
- A Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters
- B Vermin in Ermine
- C Soft Cell
4. “Invincible” by Pat Benatar served as the theme song for which movie?
- A The Goonies
- B The Legend of Billie Jean
- C Footloose
5. Which Genesis member collaborated with Fish on “Shortcut to Somewhere”?
- A Phil Collins
- B Mike Rutherford
- C Tony Banks
6. “It Pays to Belong” by The Blow Monkeys features a scene of what happening to passports in its music video?
- A Being burned
- B Being shredded
- C Being painted
7. What was unusual about Jethro Tull’s “Steel Monkey” compared to their typical style?
- A Lack of flute
- B Use of orchestral strings
- C Acoustic ballad form
8. The music video for Spandau Ballet’s single, released in 1984, was shot in which location?
- A Hong Kong
- B Paris
- C New York
9. Which folk band contributed to Cutting Crew’s “The Scattering”?
- A Planxty
- B The Whistle Binkies
- C Steeleye Span
10. What was the political dimension of That Petrol Emotion’s “Cellophane” related to?
- A Environmental issues
- B Media censorship
- C Social injustice
11. Which instrument does NOT feature in David Sylvian’s “Silver Moon”?
- A Soprano saxophone
- B Flute
- C Steel guitar
12. What is notable about Kim Wilde’s single “Child Come Away”?
- A Instrumental-only release
- B Exclusive to its single release
- C Features a choir
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 42/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
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1 . Jane Wiedlin – Inside A DreamFeatured on the 1988 album “Fur”.
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2 . Elton John – Who Wears These ShoesFeatured on the 1984 album “Breaking Hearts“.
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3 . Marc Almond – Ruby RedFeatured on the 1987 album “Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters”.
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4 . Pat Benatar – InvincibleFeatured on the 1985 album “Seven the Hard Way”.
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5 . Tony Banks & Fish – Shortcut To SomewhereFeatured on the 1986 album “Soundtracks”.
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6 . The Blow Monkeys – It Pays To BelongFeatured on the 1989 album “Whoops! There Goes the Neighbourhood”.
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7 . Jethro Tull – Steel MonkeyFeatured on the 1987 album “Crest of a Knave”.
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8 . Spandau Ballet – Highly StrungFeatured on the 1984 album “Parade”.
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9 . Cutting Crew – The ScatteringFeatured on the 1989 album “The Scattering”.
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10 . That Petrol Emotion – CellophaneFeatured on the 1988 album “End Of The Millenium Psychosis Blues”.
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11 . David Sylvian – Silver MoonFeatured on the 1986 album “Gone to Earth”. |
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12 . Kim Wilde – Child Come AwayFeatured on the 1982 album “Select”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Jane Wiedlin’s “Inside a Dream” was produced by Stephen Hague. This track was part of her 1988 solo album “Fur,” which saw Wiedlin embracing pop soundscapes.
2. The song by Elton John had “Lonely Boy” as a B-side in the US. It reflects the diverse approach in marketing singles during the 1980s, targeted toward different regions.
3. “Ruby Red” appears on Marc Almond’s album “Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters.” Released in 1987, the album showcases Almond’s distinctive avant-garde style.
4. “Invincible” was the theme song for “The Legend of Billie Jean.” It was a powerful anthem that achieved high chart success and displayed Benatar’s rock prowess.
5. “Shortcut to Somewhere” was a collaboration between Tony Banks of Genesis and Fish. It remains unique as the only solo Banks track performed live by Genesis.
6. The Blow Monkeys’ video for “It Pays to Belong” depicts passports being shredded. This visual metaphor aligns with the band’s thematic exploration of identity politics.
7. Jethro Tull’s “Steel Monkey” is notably missing the band’s iconic flute. The track instead emphasizes electric guitar and sequenced elements, marking a style shift.
8. The video for the Spandau Ballet single was filmed in Hong Kong. The city’s dense urban landscape complemented the song’s emotional narrative.
9. The Whistle Binkies contributed folk instrumental textures to “The Scattering.” Their inclusion added an acoustic depth to the Cutting Crew’s rock sound.
10. “Cellophane” incorporates themes of social injustice. The song serves as a critique of contemporary societal issues through its energetic alternative rock style.
11. “Silver Moon” features instruments like a soprano saxophone and steel guitar, but not a flute. The diverse instrumentation aids its ethereal, atmospheric vibe.
12. Kim Wilde’s “Child Come Away” was exclusive to its single release. This decision often piqued interest, adding a layer of rarity to Wilde’s discography.