Nine trivia questions about '80s music

Were the '80s the greatest decade for music? Well, no, not at all. But it was certainly the shiniest.

Thanks to the advent of MTV, popular music stopped being just about how you sound. Music videos motivated artists to up their glitz game, and they sure as hell met the challenge.

Here's a roundup of some of the best trivia questions we've asked our readers about '80s music. Throw on your leg warmers and get ready for a trivia montage.

What was the first music video aired on MTV?

There was a time when MTV was more powerful, in theory, than any other organization in the world. Yes, I'm counting the U.S. government.

I mean, even if he had wanted to, Reagan couldn't just point at a musician and say "You're the next big star!" and have it come true. MTV executives, however, could absolutely do that for the better part of two decades.

I can honestly say that we, unlike MTV, will always stay true to the music and will never become reality TV trivia ... unless someone gives us enough money.

Which music video launched it all?

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The answer is: Video Killed the Radio Star. Launched on August 1, 1981, MTV was a major influencer on the growth of music videos, and the spread of music in general, during the 1980s. As a nod to their concept, MTV chose to air The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" as their very first music video, which had previously only been available in New Jersey.Over the next 24 hours, 116 unique videos were played, a total of 209 video spins in total, featuring sensations such as Phil Collins, Hall & Oates, Rod Stewart, and REO Speedwagon. Source

What early ‘80s hit inspired thousands of unwanted phone calls?

Remember the days not only before cell phones but before caller ID? It was madness.

If your phone rang and you were home, not only did you definitely answer it, everyone in the house raced to be the first to pick it up. It could literally be anyone calling you for all you know, but you sure as hell weren't going to miss that chance to interact with the outside world.

Now if I get a call I don't recognize, and usually even when I do know who it is, I immediately decline it. Who the crap still wants to actually talk on a phone??

But that's why in the '80s there were simply more songs about calling people. And this one inspired a bunch of unwanted calls — and still does to this day. Which song is it?

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The answer is: 867-5309/Jenny. According to Jim Keller, a Tommy Tutone songwriter, the 1981 song was inspired by an actual Jenny with the phone number 867-5309, and “she thinks I’m a real jerk for writing it.” However, his co-writer Alex Call stated that the name and number were random. In any case, the song has inspired tens of thousands of nuisance calls to homes, schools, and businesses. The number has also been seen as an asset. In 2004 an eBay auction offered 867-5309 with a NY area code, and bidding reached $80,000. Verizon interfered with the sale, stating that a phone number couldn’t be sold unless it was part of a business deal. In 2009 a toll-free version 867-5309 was leased for $25 million by the nutrition company Natrient LLC. At last check, the 800 number was no longer in service. Source

Name the band that sings 1982's “Come On Eileen.”

According to so-called science, the 1960s had the most one-hit wonders of any decade. But boy, doesn't it feel like the '80s did?

I agree with the dude who did the actual work of determining which decade is the most one-hit-wondery-est as to why this is the case — MTV. Since MTV essentially controlled popular music throughout the '80s, or at the very least could turn whatever song they wanted to into a top 10 hit, it felt like an era of endless one-hit wonders.

I also prefer the one-hitters of the '80s because the band names were often obscure or just downright strange. Unlike the '60s when it was usually some studio band named after a TV show or a person's first name and some kind of plural noun, bands in the '80s wanted their name to mean something — even if most people who heard their one big song never knew what it was.

I know what a few of you are thinking — you want to get in an argument about whether the band that sings Come On Eileen is a bonafide one-hit wonder. But before we even get there, let's see if you know who that band is.

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The answer is: Dexys Midnight Runners. Dexys Midnight Runners, now known simply as Dexys, are a pop band from Birmingham, England. Their song “Come On Eileen” peaked at #1 on UK charts in 1982 and reached #1 in the US the following year. The band is sometimes called a one-hit wonder, but by Eileen’s time they were already well-known in Britain for the 1980 #1 single “Geno.” Source

Finish the lyrics: '80s pop edition

There's nothing more humbling than belting out the lyrics to your favorite song in your car, only to find out later you were totally wrong.

Pop music from the 1980s was catchy as hell, and there are probably hundreds of tunes you can hum to yourself from memory right now. But do you actually remember the lyrics to all those songs you used to play on your boombox while walking around the park?

Let's find out.

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The answer is: In a day or two. Here's a fun game: Pick a song that you're pretty sure you know all the lyrics to, and go with a group of friends to karaoke and decide to sing that song in public...And then find out you have no damn idea what the actual lyrics are. That was a recent experience for me with Aha's iconic 1985 hit, "Take on Me". Yep, that part where Morten Harket sings stupidly high is "in a day or two". Damn Norwegians. Source

What inspired the Bangles song “Walk Like an Egyptian”?

How songs come to be is a mystical, unknown process for most of us. Unless we're talking about this iconic '80s hit from the Bangles.

"Walk Like an Egyptian" actually has a really clear origin story. Any ideas what that story is?

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The answer is: Balancing on a boat. 1986's “Walk Like an Egyptian” was written by Liam Sternberg, a music producer who was a fan of the Bangles. While on a ferry crossing the choppy English Channel, he noticed that passengers made funny-looking moves to stay balanced.Sternberg made the note “Walk like an Egyptian” and soon wrote the song. When the Bangles received a demo, they liked how it gave each band member a vocal role. The song became a hit along with their second studio album, “Different Light.”Source

What movie star had a hit with “Respect Yourself” in 1987?

There are very few people who can do more than one thing really well.

Deion Sanders. Shohei Ohtani. Jennifer Lopez. Will Smith. Bo Jackson.

It's a small list — but every now and then, there's a little hint of a hidden talent. A brief moment where it seems that anything is possible. Or maybe it's just dumb luck.

In the late '80s, we glimpsed one such moment when this movie star had an unexpected top 10 hit. Who sang it?

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The answer is: Bruce Willis. Nowadays Bruce Willis is best known for his action films. In the 1980s though, he was famous for comedic acting on the dramatic comedy Moonlighting. In a comedic spirit, he also produced the HBO mockumentary The Return of Bruno in which he portrayed a fictitious famous blues singer. “Respect Yourself” was part of that HBO production, plus it became part of the Moonlighting soundtrack. Performed with June Pointer of the Pointer Sisters, the recording was strong enough to reach #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Respect Yourself” is a cover of a 1971 song by The Staples Singers.Source

What is Madonna's last name?

Some people only need one name to get the point across. Among this echelon are some of the greatest within their discipline: Pelé, Slash, Cher, Bono, and Flea, to name a few.

But then there's Madonna, who seems to hover above nearly all other one-namers in pop-culture history. And maybe all of history (sorry, Voltaire).

But she does have a last name, and in fact, she's never changed her name. What's Madonna's surname?

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The answer is: Ciccone. The Queen of Pop’s birth certificate lists her full name as Madonna Louise Ciccone. She hasn’t officially shortened it — “Madonna” is merely a stage name. As a child she was nicknamed Little Nonnie, since her mother was also named Madonna Louise. The surname Ciccone is traced to the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. It’s derived from Cicco, an affectionate form of the name Francesco. Source

When did "Never Gonna Give You Up" come out?

We all know the things Rick Astley will NEVER do, from letting us down to giving us up. Still hazy about what he actually WILL do, but hey.

Rick’s first no. 1 hit received an unlikely revival in the mid-2000s when the viral internet phenomenon of Rickrolling took off. What a dumb thing that was, right? (I Rickrolled my wedding.)

I’m sure you have a vague sense of when this song originally brought joy into our lives, but do you remember what year it actually came out?

Click START to answer.

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The answer is: 1987. “Never Gonna Give You Up” was the debut singer from one Richard Paul Astley, from his album Whenever You Need Somebody. It was released on July 27, 1987, and was a number one hit in 25 countries. Source

Who won the first-ever MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year in 1984?

When I was a kid I looked forward with hushed anticipation to the VMAs every year. I was the perfect target for MTV's incredible marketing engine that essentially controlled popular culture for the better part of two decades.

Video of the Year was THE big one, and if the one I was rooting for didn't win it was probably the worst thing that could happen to me.

From what I hear, the VMAs are actually still going in some form or another, but frankly, I couldn't care less. MTV has no credibility anymore when it comes to music videos.

But back in 1984, for the very first Video Music Awards, it felt like the world was changing.

Who won the very first VMA for Video of the Year?

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The answer is: The Cars. It's hard to remember, but there was a time when The Cars were one of the biggest bands on MTV.For the first-ever VMAs in 1984, they took home the coveted Video of the Year award for "You Might Think," which features the band showing up wherever what seems to be a perfectly nice young lady looks.That includes a bar of soap while she's taking a bath and seeing Ric Ocasek's head on a fly. Yeah ... kinda creepy.Sidenote: Shouldn't it be the Music Video Awards, not the Video Music Awards? Strange choice.Source

Which famous comedian had an '80s hit with "Party All the Time"?

Making a hit song doesn't seem that hard. All you need is a good hook, some backing music, and boom — just sit back and let the royalties come in.

There's just one key ingredient that many of us lack: talent.

Of course, some people get all the talent, and even when they're already really good at one thing — so good they're famous for it — they decide to go ahead and do something else really well too. Jerks.

That includes this comedian from the 1980s who had a hit single back in the mid-80s with the track "Party All the Time." Who was it?

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The answer is: Eddie Murphy. It all started when Richard Pryor bet Eddie Murphy he didn't have any singing talent. So Murphy went and teamed up with Rick James and released a best-selling single.He's not the best singer ever, but the song was a bona fide hit in 1985, hitting no. 2 and staying there for a few weeks.Source