1980 was the year everything changed. Disco's dominance was fading, but its influence remained in the grooves of hits like Blondie's "Call Me"—the best-selling single of the year—and Lipps Inc.'s irresistible "Funkytown." At the same time, rock was evolving: AC/DC released Back in Black, which would become one of the best-selling albums of all time, and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" became an anthem of rebellion that topped charts worldwide.
The new wave movement was gathering momentum. Talking Heads released the groundbreaking Remain in Light, blending African polyrhythms with post-punk energy. Devo's "Whip It" and Gary Numan's synth-driven sound signaled a shift toward electronic production that would define the decade. Meanwhile, artists like Pat Benatar were breaking barriers—her "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" earned her the first-ever Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
The year was also marked by tragedy. John Lennon was murdered in December, just weeks after the release of Double Fantasy, the comeback album he recorded with Yoko Ono. The album surged to number one, and "(Just Like) Starting Over" became a bittersweet chart-topper. Joy Division's Ian Curtis had taken his own life earlier that year; their second album Closer was released posthumously and is now considered a masterpiece.
For 1980 music trivia fans, this year is rich territory. From Christopher Cross sweeping the Grammys to Kool & the Gang's "Celebration" becoming the unofficial party anthem of the era, from Diana Ross's Chic-produced "Upside Down" to Kenny Rogers's crossover smash "Lady"—1980 packed an extraordinary variety of sounds and stories into twelve months. Our daily trivia challenge draws from chart data, production credits, and the stories behind these songs to test your knowledge across three difficulty tiers.
Test yourself with 18 multiple-choice questions about the music of 1980.
1. Which Blondie single became the first #1 hit of the 1980s on the Billboard Hot 100?
A) Heart of Glass
B) Call Me
C) Rapture
D) The Tide Is High
2. Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" topped the charts in 1980. What album was it from?
A) Animals
B) Wish You Were Here
C) The Wall
D) The Final Cut
3. Which Queen song, featured in the movie "Flash Gordon," became a hit in 1980?
A) Another One Bites the Dust
B) Crazy Little Thing Called Love
C) Flash
D) Under Pressure
4. What was the best-selling single of 1980 in the United States?
A) Call Me — Blondie
B) Another Brick in the Wall — Pink Floyd
C) Rock with You — Michael Jackson
D) Upside Down — Diana Ross
5. Which John Lennon album, released weeks before his death, topped the charts in late 1980?
A) Walls and Bridges
B) Imagine
C) Double Fantasy
D) Mind Games
6. Kenny Rogers had a massive crossover hit in 1980 with which song?
A) Islands in the Stream
B) Lady
C) The Gambler
D) Lucille
7. Which British band released the album "Closer" in 1980, just months after their lead singer's death?
A) The Smiths
B) New Order
C) Joy Division
D) Bauhaus
8. Bob Seger's "Against the Wind" album reached #1 in 1980. Which single from it was a top 5 hit?
A) Night Moves
B) Old Time Rock and Roll
C) Against the Wind
D) Hollywood Nights
9. Which Kool & the Gang single became a massive dance hit in 1980?
A) Get Down On It
B) Celebration
C) Jungle Boogie
D) Ladies' Night
10. Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" was released in late 1980. How many weeks did it spend at #1?
A) 5 weeks
B) 8 weeks
C) 10 weeks
D) 12 weeks
11. Which Christopher Cross single won Record of the Year at the 1981 Grammys for a 1980 release?
A) Ride Like the Wind
B) Sailing
C) Arthur's Theme
D) Think of Laura
12. AC/DC released which iconic album in 1980, their first with Brian Johnson?
A) Highway to Hell
B) For Those About to Rock
C) Back in Black
D) Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
13. Diana Ross scored a #1 hit in 1980 with which Chic-produced single?
A) I'm Coming Out
B) Upside Down
C) It's My Turn
D) Endless Love
14. Which Talking Heads album, considered a landmark of post-punk, was released in 1980?
A) Fear of Music
B) More Songs About Buildings and Food
C) Remain in Light
D) Speaking in Tongues
15. Billy Joel's "Glass Houses" album produced which hard-rocking single in 1980?
A) Piano Man
B) It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
C) Uptown Girl
D) My Life
16. Which Lipps Inc. one-hit wonder reached #1 on the Hot 100 in 1980?
A) Funkytown
B) Rock Lobster
C) Whip It
D) Cars
17. Stevie Wonder's "Hotter than July" was released in 1980. Which single was a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.?
A) Master Blaster (Jammin')
B) I Just Called to Say I Love You
C) Happy Birthday
D) Lately
18. Which Pat Benatar album and single won the first-ever Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance?
A) Hit Me with Your Best Shot / Crimes of Passion
B) Heartbreaker / In the Heat of the Night
C) Love Is a Battlefield / Live from Earth
D) Fire and Ice / Precious Time