Below are 20 multiple-choice questions about 1980s music — covering Billboard chart history, MTV, one-hit wonders, producers, and the stories behind the decade's biggest songs. The answer key is at the bottom of the page.
Questions
1. "Piano in the Dark" by Brenda Russell featuring Joe Esposito was a top-ten hit in 1988. The song appeared on which Brenda Russell album?
A) Two Eyes
B) Get Here
C) Kiss Me with the Wind
D) Love Life
2. "The Boys of Summer" by Don Henley is strongly associated with which 1980s visual motif in its title and lyrics?
A) Surfing competitions
B) Summer carnival rides
C) Hollywood nightlife
D) Baseball imagery
3. Which group recorded "Take Your Time (Do It Right)"?
A) Gap Band
B) Commodores
C) Kool & the Gang
D) The S.O.S. Band
4. “Gloria” by Laura Branigan was adapted from a hit originally recorded in Italian by which singer-songwriter?
A) Umberto Tozzi
B) Adriano Celentano
C) Toto Cutugno
D) Eros Ramazzotti
5. Which producer co-produced “Another Day in Paradise” with Phil Collins?
A) David Foster
B) Nile Rodgers
C) Hugh Padgham
D) Trevor Horn
6. “Union of the Snake” was produced by which collaborator?
A) Trevor Horn
B) Giorgio Moroder
C) Colin Thurston
D) Nile Rodgers
7. What 1987 George Michael hit was the best-selling single of 1988 in the United States?
A) Faith
B) Roll With It
C) One More Try
D) Never Gonna Give You Up
8. 'Drivin' My Life Away' by Eddie Rabbitt was co-written by Rabbitt, Even Stevens, and David Malloy. The song was released as the lead single from which 1980 album?
A) Horizon
B) Loveline
C) Rocky Mountain Music
D) Step by Step
9. “Leader of the Band” by Dan Fogelberg is widely understood as a tribute to whom?
A) His father
B) His older brother
C) His record producer
D) His high-school music teacher
10. The 1986 #1 single "Sara" by Starship was the second chart-topping hit from which of the band's multi-platinum albums?
A) Nuclear Furniture
B) Love Among the Cannibals
C) No Protection
D) Knee Deep in the Hoopla
11. The song "Personal Jesus," released in late 1989, marked a stylistic shift toward a bluesier, guitar-driven sound for which influential electronic group?
A) Depeche Mode
B) Pet Shop Boys
C) Erasure
D) New Order
12. “Mandolin Rain” was credited to Bruce Hornsby and which backing group?
A) The Range
B) The Blasters
C) The Attractions
D) The News
13. The 1987 George Michael hit "I Want Your Sex" was notably included on the soundtrack for the second installment of which film franchise?
A) Beverly Hills Cop
B) Lethal Weapon
C) Die Hard
D) Back to the Future
14. “Leather and Lace” was written by which singer-songwriter who also sang on the hit recording?
A) Linda Ronstadt
B) Carole King
C) Stevie Nicks
D) Carly Simon
15. Which 1981 Billy Squier record leans toward darker hard-rock tones compared to his swaggering 'The Stroke'?
A) Burnin’ for You by Blue Oyster Cult
B) Poor Man’s Son by Survivor
C) In the Dark
D) Urgent by Foreigner
16. Who wrote and produced “Opposites Attract” by Paula Abdul?
A) Babyface
B) Oliver Leiber
C) Terry Lewis
D) Jimmy Jam
17. “Looking for a Stranger” by Pat Benatar reflects which career-positioning move?
A) Using polished pop-rock production to keep a rock vocalist compatible with mainstream radio
B) Removing guitars in favor of orchestral cabaret
C) Recasting her as a novelty singer
D) Abandoning rock for country gospel
18. Which instrument drives the rhythm in “Let the Music Play”?
A) Acoustic piano
B) Electric bass
C) Drum machine
D) Brass section
19. "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" by Billy Ocean was taken from which 1988 studio album?
A) Suddenly
B) Greatest Hits
C) Tear Down These Walls
D) Love Zone
20. “Say It Isn’t So” by Hall & Oates appears on which compilation album?
A) Voices
B) Private Eyes
C) Rock ’n Soul Part 1
D) H2O
Answer Key
1. A) Two Eyes — "Piano in the Dark" was from Brenda Russell's 1988 album "Two Eyes," marking one of her most successful songs.
2. D) Baseball imagery — "The Boys of Summer" uses baseball imagery as a metaphor for lost youth and fleeting summer memories, captured in Don Henley’s nostalgic lyrics.
3. D) The S.O.S. Band — "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" was the breakthrough hit for The S.O.S. Band in 1980, blending R&B and funk.
4. A) Umberto Tozzi — “Gloria” was originally an Italian hit by Umberto Tozzi before Laura Branigan adapted it into an English-language version.
5. C) Hugh Padgham — Hugh Padgham co-produced the hit song “Another Day in Paradise” with Phil Collins, contributing to its polished sound and commercial success.
6. C) Colin Thurston — Colin Thurston produced “Union of the Snake,” helping shape Duran Duran’s synth-driven sound during the mid-1980s.
7. A) Faith — Released in late 1987, the rockabilly-infused 'Faith' had immense staying power, dominating the charts and ultimately becoming the biggest single of the following year, 1988.
8. A) Horizon — 'Drivin' My Life Away' was the lead single from Eddie Rabbitt's 1980 album 'Horizon,' blending country and pop styles.
9. A) His father — “Leader of the Band” is a heartfelt tribute to Dan Fogelberg's father, who was a music teacher and major influence on his career.
10. D) Knee Deep in the Hoopla — "Sara" was the second major hit released from Starship's album "Knee Deep in the Hoopla," which was a commercial success in 1986.
11. A) Depeche Mode — "Personal Jesus" introduced a more guitar-based and bluesy sound for Depeche Mode, departing somewhat from their earlier synth-pop style.
12. A) The Range — Bruce Hornsby & The Range performed “Mandolin Rain,” which charted in the mid 1980s.
13. A) Beverly Hills Cop — "I Want Your Sex" appeared on the soundtrack to "Beverly Hills Cop II," tying the hit song to the popular film sequel.
14. C) Stevie Nicks — Stevie Nicks co-wrote "Leather and Lace" and sang it as a duet with Don Henley, making it a memorable 1981-82 soft rock hit.
15. C) In the Dark — 'In the Dark' shows a darker hard-rock approach compared to the more confident style of 'The Stroke'.
16. B) Oliver Leiber — Oliver Leiber was the songwriter and producer behind Paula Abdul’s hit “Opposites Attract,” which showcased a blend of pop and hip-hop influences.
17. A) Using polished pop-rock production to keep a rock vocalist compatible with mainstream radio — Pat Benatar adapted her sound with polished pop-rock production to maintain mainstream radio appeal while keeping her rock vocalist identity.
18. C) Drum machine — A prominent drum machine pattern drives the rhythm of “Let the Music Play,” characteristic of early 1980s dance music.
19. C) Tear Down These Walls — "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" was one of the hits from Billy Ocean's 1988 album "Tear Down These Walls."
20. C) Rock ’n Soul Part 1 — “Say It Isn’t So” was released as a new track on Hall & Oates' 1983 compilation album 'Rock ’n Soul Part 1.'
This page includes a small public sample of 1980s music trivia from the 80s Music Chart Challenge question bank. For 7 new questions every day — play the daily quiz.