1980s Hits

41 questions · Answers revealed below each question · Print this set

1.Which 1980s hit is Prince's 1984 title ballad from the film soundtrack?
- A. Hungry Like the Wolf
- B. Take On Me
- C. Like a Virgin
- D. Purple Rain
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Purple Rain
Did you know? Purple Rain was recorded live in a single studio take.
2.Which 1980s hit is the 1984 Phil Collins ballad from a film of the same name?
- A. Tainted Love
- B. Money for Nothing
- C. Take My Breath Away
- D. Against All Odds
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Against All Odds
Did you know? Phil Collins wrote the song during his first marriage's breakup.
3.Which 1980s hit is the 1987 U2 single from The Joshua Tree?
- A. Faith
- B. Let's Dance
- C. With or Without You
- D. West End Girls
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With or Without You
Did you know? With or Without You was U2's first American number-one single.
4.Which 1980s hit is the 1982 Michael Jackson single about a persistent dancer from the Thriller album?
- A. With or Without You
- B. Billie Jean
- C. Faith
- D. Every Breath You Take
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Billie Jean
Did you know? Bassist Louis Johnson played Billie Jean's famous bassline.
5.Which 1980s hit is the 1983 Police single written during island exile?
- A. With or Without You
- B. Take My Breath Away
- C. Walk Like an Egyptian
- D. Every Breath You Take
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Every Breath You Take
Did you know? Every Breath You Take was written by Sting about surveillance-like obsession.
6.Which 1980s hit is Queen's 1980 funk-driven chart topper?
- A. Flashdance... What a Feeling
- B. Another One Bites the Dust
- C. Every Breath You Take
- D. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
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Another One Bites the Dust
Did you know? Another One Bites the Dust was inspired by the Chic sound.
7.Which 1980s hit is the 1981 Journey anthem that closes their shows?
- A. Money for Nothing
- B. Walk Like an Egyptian
- C. Every Breath You Take
- D. Don't Stop Believin'
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Don't Stop Believin'
Did you know? Don't Stop Believin' found new life in the final scene of The Sopranos.
8.Which 1980s hit is the 1985 a-ha single famous for its rotoscoped video?
- A. Purple Rain
- B. Tainted Love
- C. Take On Me
- D. With or Without You
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Take On Me
Did you know? The video won six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.
9.Which 1980s hit is the 1984 Foreigner gospel-choir ballad?
- A. Karma Chameleon
- B. I Want to Know What Love Is
- C. Right Here Waiting
- D. Flashdance... What a Feeling
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I Want to Know What Love Is
Did you know? I Want to Know What Love Is became Foreigner's only US number one.
10.Which 1980s hit is David Bowie's 1983 Nile Rodgers-produced title single?
- A. Hungry Like the Wolf
- B. I Wanna Dance with Somebody
- C. Livin' on a Prayer
- D. Let's Dance
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Let's Dance
Did you know? Let's Dance was David Bowie's first number-one hit in years.
11.Which 1980s hit is Madonna's 1984 chart-topping dance opener?
- A. Right Here Waiting
- B. 99 Luftballons
- C. Tainted Love
- D. Like a Virgin
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Like a Virgin
Did you know? Like a Virgin was the first Madonna album to reach number one.
12.Which 1980s hit is the 1982 Toto hit blessing the rains in its famous chorus?
- A. Take On Me
- B. Purple Rain
- C. Billie Jean
- D. Africa
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Africa
Did you know? Keyboardist David Paich wrote the lyrics from documentary impressions of Africa.
13.Which 1980s hit is the 1985 Dire Straits hit with Sting's chorus cameo?
- A. Walk Like an Egyptian
- B. Money for Nothing
- C. Take On Me
- D. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
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Money for Nothing
Did you know? Money for Nothing's video was an early computer-animation landmark.
14.Which 1980s hit is the 1984 Wham! smash with a Choose Life era style?
- A. Faith
- B. Tainted Love
- C. Africa
- D. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
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Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Did you know? Wham! singer George Michael wrote Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go after a note from Andrew Ridgeley.
15.Which 1980s hit is the 1984 saxophone ballad credited to George Michael's Wham! era?
- A. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
- B. Flashdance... What a Feeling
- C. Careless Whisper
- D. Africa
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Careless Whisper
Did you know? George Michael co-wrote Careless Whisper as a teenager on a bus.
16.Which 1980s hit is Cyndi Lauper's 1984 number-one ballad?
- A. Total Eclipse of the Heart
- B. Hungry Like the Wolf
- C. Faith
- D. Time After Time
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Time After Time
Did you know? Time After Time was co-written with the Hooters' Rob Hyman.
17.Which 1980s hit is the 1986 Bon Jovi anthem of Tommy and Gina?
- A. West End Girls
- B. Walk Like an Egyptian
- C. Purple Rain
- D. Livin' on a Prayer
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Livin' on a Prayer
Did you know? Livin' on a Prayer's talk box guitar was played by Richie Sambora.
18.Which 1980s hit is George Michael's 1987 solo breakout single?
- A. 99 Luftballons
- B. Faith
- C. Total Eclipse of the Heart
- D. Take My Breath Away
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Faith
Did you know? Faith was George Michael's first solo US number one.
19.Which 1980s hit is the 1987 Guns N' Roses single built on its opening riff?
- A. Axel F
- B. Sweet Child o' Mine
- C. Faith
- D. West End Girls
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Sweet Child o' Mine
Did you know? Sweet Child o' Mine opened with guitarist Slash's warm-up exercise.
20.Which 1980s hit is the 1983 Eurythmics synth smash?
- A. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
- B. Blue Monday
- C. Hungry Like the Wolf
- D. Africa
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Did you know? The Eurythmics duo was Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.
21.Which 1980s hit is the 1987 U2 gospel-tinged follow-up single?
- A. Take My Breath Away
- B. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
- C. I Wanna Dance with Somebody
- D. Don't Stop Believin'
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I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Did you know? The song's chorus grew from a gospel-inspired chord cycle.
22.Which 1980s hit is the 1983 Bonnie Tyler epic written by Jim Steinman?
- A. Careless Whisper
- B. Flashdance... What a Feeling
- C. Total Eclipse of the Heart
- D. Love Shack
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Total Eclipse of the Heart
Did you know? Jim Steinman also wrote Meat Loaf's biggest songs.
23.Which 1980s hit is Whitney Houston's 1987 dance-pop opener?
- A. Money for Nothing
- B. West End Girls
- C. Karma Chameleon
- D. I Wanna Dance with Somebody
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I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Did you know? I Wanna Dance with Somebody opened Whitney's second album.
24.Which 1980s hit is the 1983 Frankie Goes to Hollywood banned-on-radio smash?
- A. Billie Jean
- B. Relax
- C. Total Eclipse of the Heart
- D. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Show answer
Relax
Did you know? Relax topped the UK chart despite the BBC ban.
25.Which 1980s hit is the 1985 Tears for Fears chart topper?
- A. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
- B. Take On Me
- C. Another One Bites the Dust
- D. I Wanna Dance with Somebody
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Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Did you know? Tears for Fears was formed in Bath, England, in 1981.
26.Which 1980s hit topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1988 for Rick Astley?
- A. Together Forever
- B. Take My Breath Away
- C. Purple Rain
- D. West End Girls
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Together Forever
Did you know? Together Forever was produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman team.
27.Which 1980s hit is the 1982 Duran Duran video-era hit?
- A. Time After Time
- B. Hungry Like the Wolf
- C. Purple Rain
- D. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
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Hungry Like the Wolf
Did you know? Duran Duran named the band after a film villain.
28.Which 1980s hit is the 1983 Culture Club chart topper?
- A. Together Forever
- B. Karma Chameleon
- C. I Want to Know What Love Is
- D. Flashdance... What a Feeling
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Karma Chameleon
Did you know? Culture Club fronted Boy George's androgynous style.
29.Which 1980s hit is the 1983 Irene Cara title hit from the dance film?
- A. Livin' on a Prayer
- B. Africa
- C. Flashdance... What a Feeling
- D. Right Here Waiting
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Flashdance... What a Feeling
Did you know? Irene Cara also sang Fame's theme.
30.Which 1980s hit is the 1986 number one by the Bangles?
- A. With or Without You
- B. Walk Like an Egyptian
- C. Purple Rain
- D. Relax
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Walk Like an Egyptian
Did you know? The Bangles rotated vocals among the band's members.
31.Which 1980s hit is the 1983 New Order electronic landmark?
- A. Livin' on a Prayer
- B. Blue Monday
- C. Billie Jean
- D. Africa
Show answer
Blue Monday
Did you know? Blue Monday became one of the best-selling twelve-inch singles ever.
32.Which 1980s hit is the 1985 Pet Shop Boys synth-pop number one?
- A. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
- B. West End Girls
- C. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
- D. Africa
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West End Girls
Did you know? The Pet Shop Boys duo is Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.
33.Which 1980s hit is the 1988 glam ballad by the band Poison?
- A. Money for Nothing
- B. Billie Jean
- C. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
- D. Eye of the Tiger
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Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Did you know? Every Rose Has Its Thorn was written after a phone call in a laundromat.
34.Which 1980s hit is the 1982 Survivor anthem from Rocky III?
- A. Livin' on a Prayer
- B. Walk Like an Egyptian
- C. Eye of the Tiger
- D. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
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Eye of the Tiger
Did you know? Sylvester Stallone asked for the song after Queen denied the rights.
35.Which 1980s hit is the 1989 party anthem of the B-52's?
- A. Together Forever
- B. Love Shack
- C. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
- D. Every Breath You Take
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Love Shack
Did you know? The B-52's formed in Athens, Georgia.
36.Which 1980s hit is the 1981 Soft Cell synth remake of a 1964 soul song?
- A. Relax
- B. Tainted Love
- C. West End Girls
- D. Money for Nothing
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Tainted Love
Did you know? Gloria Jones sang the original Tainted Love in 1964.
37.Which 1980s hit is the 1985 electronic theme from Beverly Hills Cop?
- A. Together Forever
- B. Billie Jean
- C. Axel F
- D. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
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Axel F
Did you know? The theme is named for Eddie Murphy's character Axel Foley.
38.Which 1980s hit is the 1982 Dexys Midnight Runners number one?
- A. Come On Eileen
- B. Money for Nothing
- C. Purple Rain
- D. I Wanna Dance with Somebody
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Come On Eileen
Did you know? The band wore denim overalls as a stage uniform.
39.Which 1980s hit is the 1986 Berlin ballad from the Top Gun soundtrack?
- A. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
- B. Like a Virgin
- C. Flashdance... What a Feeling
- D. Take My Breath Away
Show answer
Take My Breath Away
Did you know? The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
40.Which 1980s hit is the 1983 anti-war hit by Germany's Nena?
- A. With or Without You
- B. Take On Me
- C. 99 Luftballons
- D. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
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99 Luftballons
Did you know? An English version was retitled 99 Red Balloons.
41.Which 1980s hit is the 1989 Richard Marx piano ballad?
- A. 99 Luftballons
- B. Faith
- C. Right Here Waiting
- D. Take My Breath Away
Show answer
Right Here Waiting
Did you know? Richard Marx wrote the song for his wife while on tour.

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