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40 80s music quiz questions and answers

Music of the 80s · Medium · answers included

Forty questions on the decade of synths, big hair and Live Aid: British pop, new wave, rock anthems and the Stock Aitken Waterman hit factory. It sits well next to the 90s round for a two-decade music section.

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  1. 1.Which Norwegian band released 'Take On Me' in 1985?

    • Duran Duran
    • Spandau Ballet
    • Tears for Fears
    • a-ha
    Show answer

    a-ha

  2. 2.Who sang 'Like a Virgin' in 1984?

    • Cyndi Lauper
    • Madonna
    • Whitney Houston
    • Kylie Minogue
    Show answer

    Madonna

  3. 3.Which band recorded 'Sweet Child o' Mine' in 1987?

    • Bon Jovi
    • Def Leppard
    • Guns N' Roses
    • Aerosmith
    Show answer

    Guns N' Roses

  4. 4.'Don't You Want Me' was the 1981 UK Christmas number one for which band?

    • The Human League
    • Soft Cell
    • Depeche Mode
    • Ultravox
    Show answer

    The Human League

  5. 5.Which charity single did Band Aid release in 1984?

    • We Are the World
    • Feed the World Tonight
    • Do They Know It's Christmas?
    • Heal the World
    Show answer

    Do They Know It's Christmas?

  6. 6.Which singer had a hit with 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' in 1983?

    • Madonna
    • Belinda Carlisle
    • Cyndi Lauper
    • Debbie Harry
    Show answer

    Cyndi Lauper

  7. 7.Simon Le Bon was the lead singer of which band?

    • Spandau Ballet
    • Wham!
    • ABC
    • Duran Duran
    Show answer

    Duran Duran

  8. 8.'Relax' was a controversial 1984 number one for which band?

    • Bronski Beat
    • Soft Cell
    • Culture Club
    • Frankie Goes to Hollywood
    Show answer

    Frankie Goes to Hollywood

  9. 9.Which Irish band released the album 'The Joshua Tree' in 1987?

    • The Pogues
    • Simple Minds
    • U2
    • The Cranberries
    Show answer

    U2

  10. 10.Which Michael Jackson album, released in 1987, followed 'Thriller'?

    • Dangerous
    • Off the Wall
    • Invincible
    • Bad
    Show answer

    Bad

  11. 11.What was Kylie Minogue's first UK number one, in 1988?

    • Locomotion
    • Better the Devil You Know
    • I Should Be So Lucky
    • Hand on Your Heart
    Show answer

    I Should Be So Lucky

  12. 12.Which band sang 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' in 1985?

    • Tears for Fears
    • Talk Talk
    • Simple Minds
    • a-ha
    Show answer

    Tears for Fears

  13. 13.Which Bon Jovi song includes the line 'Whoa, we're half way there'?

    • You Give Love a Bad Name
    • Wanted Dead or Alive
    • Bad Medicine
    • Livin' on a Prayer
    Show answer

    Livin' on a Prayer

  14. 14.Which duo had a 1981 hit with a cover of 'Tainted Love'?

    • Soft Cell
    • Pet Shop Boys
    • Erasure
    • Yazoo
    Show answer

    Soft Cell

  15. 15.Who had a 1984 hit with 'Careless Whisper'?

    • Andrew Ridgeley
    • Rick Astley
    • Paul Young
    • George Michael
    Show answer

    George Michael

  16. 16.Which 1984 Bruce Springsteen album has the Stars and Stripes on the cover?

    • The River
    • Nebraska
    • Born in the U.S.A.
    • Tunnel of Love
    Show answer

    Born in the U.S.A.

  17. 17.Which band had a 1983 hit with 'Gold'?

    • Duran Duran
    • ABC
    • Spandau Ballet
    • Heaven 17
    Show answer

    Spandau Ballet

  18. 18.What was Rick Astley's 1987 debut single?

    • Together Forever
    • Never Gonna Give You Up
    • Whenever You Need Somebody
    • Cry for Help
    Show answer

    Never Gonna Give You Up

  19. 19.Which duo released 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' in 1983?

    • Yazoo
    • Eurythmics
    • Tears for Fears
    • Pet Shop Boys
    Show answer

    Eurythmics

  20. 20.Complete the title of Whitney Houston's 1987 hit 'I Wanna Dance with...'

    • Somebody
    • Everybody
    • You Tonight
    • My Baby
    Show answer

    Somebody

  21. 21.In which year was the Live Aid concert held?

    • 1985
    • 1984
    • 1986
    • 1989
    Show answer

    1985

  22. 22.At which London stadium was Live Aid held?

    • Twickenham
    • Crystal Palace
    • Wembley Stadium
    • Highbury
    Show answer

    Wembley Stadium

  23. 23.Morrissey was the singer with which Manchester band?

    • The Smiths
    • New Order
    • The Stone Roses
    • Happy Mondays
    Show answer

    The Smiths

  24. 24.Which band had a 1983 number one with 'Karma Chameleon'?

    • Culture Club
    • Wham!
    • Kajagoogoo
    • Dead or Alive
    Show answer

    Culture Club

  25. 25.Who was the lead singer of Culture Club?

    • Boy George
    • Marilyn
    • Pete Burns
    • Limahl
    Show answer

    Boy George

  26. 26.Which heavy metal band released 'The Number of the Beast' in 1982?

    • Judas Priest
    • Motörhead
    • Iron Maiden
    • Def Leppard
    Show answer

    Iron Maiden

  27. 27.Which band had a hit with 'You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)'?

    • Bronski Beat
    • Erasure
    • Dead or Alive
    • Frankie Goes to Hollywood
    Show answer

    Dead or Alive

  28. 28.Which American girl group released 'Walk Like an Egyptian' in 1986?

    • The Go-Go's
    • Bananarama
    • Heart
    • The Bangles
    Show answer

    The Bangles

  29. 29.Which band had a 1982 number one with 'Come On Eileen'?

    • Madness
    • The Specials
    • UB40
    • Dexys Midnight Runners
    Show answer

    Dexys Midnight Runners

  30. 30.Who sang 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' in 1983?

    • Kim Wilde
    • Sheena Easton
    • Bonnie Tyler
    • Belinda Carlisle
    Show answer

    Bonnie Tyler

  31. 31.Which Scottish band sang 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' for 'The Breakfast Club'?

    • Simple Minds
    • Big Country
    • Deacon Blue
    • Del Amitri
    Show answer

    Simple Minds

  32. 32.Which 2 Tone band had a 1981 number one with 'Ghost Town'?

    • Madness
    • The Beat
    • The Specials
    • The Selecter
    Show answer

    The Specials

  33. 33.Which drummer and singer released 'In the Air Tonight' in 1981?

    • Sting
    • Peter Gabriel
    • Mark King
    • Phil Collins
    Show answer

    Phil Collins

  34. 34.Which band had 1981 hits with 'Stand and Deliver' and 'Prince Charming'?

    • Adam and the Ants
    • Bow Wow Wow
    • Spandau Ballet
    • Visage
    Show answer

    Adam and the Ants

  35. 35.In which year did the music channel MTV launch in the United States?

    • 1981
    • 1979
    • 1984
    • 1987
    Show answer

    1981

  36. 36.Which Wham! hit begins with the word 'Jitterbug'?

    • Club Tropicana
    • Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
    • Freedom
    • I'm Your Man
    Show answer

    Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

  37. 37.Which prog rock band had a 1983 hit with 'Owner of a Lonely Heart'?

    • Genesis
    • Asia
    • Toto
    • Yes
    Show answer

    Yes

  38. 38.Which American band released 'Africa' in 1982?

    • Journey
    • Foreigner
    • Toto
    • Chicago
    Show answer

    Toto

  39. 39.Which Tracy Chapman song about escaping a small town was a hit in 1988?

    • Talkin' 'bout a Revolution
    • Baby Can I Hold You
    • Give Me One Reason
    • Fast Car
    Show answer

    Fast Car

  40. 40.Which Dire Straits hit features the line 'I want my MTV'?

    • Walk of Life
    • Money for Nothing
    • Sultans of Swing
    • Brothers in Arms
    Show answer

    Money for Nothing

40 80s music quiz questions and answers: a free medium music of the 80s round from QuizCast

How to run this round

This is the round to play the intros if you can: most of these songs are recognisable in two seconds, and a quick burst before each question gets the room singing. Hold Live Aid and the charity single back for the middle of the round, they are the ones every table gets and they keep the scores close.

Answer sheet for the host
  1. a-ha
  2. Madonna
  3. Guns N' Roses
  4. The Human League
  5. Do They Know It's Christmas?
  6. Cyndi Lauper
  7. Duran Duran
  8. Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  9. U2
  10. Bad
  11. I Should Be So Lucky
  12. Tears for Fears
  13. Livin' on a Prayer
  14. Soft Cell
  15. George Michael
  16. Born in the U.S.A.
  17. Spandau Ballet
  18. Never Gonna Give You Up
  19. Eurythmics
  20. Somebody
  21. 1985
  22. Wembley Stadium
  23. The Smiths
  24. Culture Club
  25. Boy George
  26. Iron Maiden
  27. Dead or Alive
  28. The Bangles
  29. Dexys Midnight Runners
  30. Bonnie Tyler
  31. Simple Minds
  32. The Specials
  33. Phil Collins
  34. Adam and the Ants
  35. 1981
  36. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
  37. Yes
  38. Toto
  39. Fast Car
  40. Money for Nothing

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