80s Pop Quiz

100 quiz questions and answers on pop music from the 1980’s.

Some of these are quite tough so you really have to know your eighties!

A great resource for creating your next 80’s themed music quiz, whether you are preparing a pub quiz, questions for broadcasting or just for fun at home.

Need 80s Pop Quiz Questions? You Can Stop Searching The Internet Now! Take Your Pick Of These 100 Gem 1980’s Music Questions. Luckily you have found this post which will save you hours of research!

• Every single question on this post is hand-written & researched (no Ai chatbot was used to generate this content).
• Questions on this site are UK based so any references such as “reached number 1”, refers to number 1 in the UK. However there are plenty of questions that include international artists and global hit songs.
• Questions are split into sections of 10 for easy scrolling to the answers and PDF version of this page available by the link at the foot of the post.

So let’s go and good luck. As we test your knowledge on the “Decade of Decadence“… 1980’s pop music!

80s Pop Quiz – Rounds Menu

• 80’s Pop Quiz – Round 1
• 80’s Pop Quiz – Round 2
• 80’s Pop Quiz – Round 3
• 80’s One-Hit Wonders – Round 4
• 80’s Divas – Round 5
• 80’s Music Videos – Round 6
• 80’s Soundtracks and Movie Hits – Round 7
• 80’s Dancefloor Fillers – Round 8
• 80’s Boy Bands & Girl Bands – Round 9
• 80’s Song Lyrics Quiz – Round 10

80’s Pop Quiz Round 1

Random 80’s Pop Music Quiz Round

1 . According to Bon Jovi… “You gave love”, a what?

2 . Joe Fagan’s 1984 hit was a double-A side single. One one side was “Breakin’ Away”. What was on the other side?

3 . Which song did The Housemartins perform “a cappella”, that reached number 1 in 1986?

4 . The Specials were a ska, 2 tone revival band. They reformed in 1984 under a slightly different name urging that who should be free, free, free?

5 . Which Phil Collins song had the subtitle “Take A Look At Me Now”?

6 . Which stadium in Philadelphia hosted 89,000 people for Live Aid?

7 . Of these 3 acts, how many of them performed in Philadelphia for Live Aid? Simple Minds | Phil Collins | Mick Jagger

8 . Tears for Fears reworked and slightly renamed which of their songs to be the theme song for Sports Aid?

9 . Name both of the Pet Shop Boys?

10 . Siobhan Fahey, a former member of Bananarama, left the group in 1988 and formed which other group?

80’s Pop Quiz Round 2

Random 80’s Pop Music Quiz Round

1 . Let’s Go Crazy, “I Would Die 4 U” & “When Doves Cry” were all songs on which 1984 album?

2 . Which 80s pop band consisted of Paul Caplin on Keyboards, Kate Garner on Vocals and also on vocals, Jeremy Healy, who later became a world famous DJ?

3 . Which musician and producer, who had previously released some big disco hits, was the producer on David Bowie’s album “Lets Dance”?

4 . Tom Bailey, Pete Dodd and Jon Podgorski (known as “Pod”) were members of which 80’s trio?

5 . Wham’s “Last Christmas” didn’t reach number 1 until 2023. At the time of it’s release it was beaten to number 1 by which song?

6 . Which Human League song had the subtitle “I Believe In Love”?

7 . Tight Fit reached number 1 in 1982 with a cover of which 1960’s song by the Tokens?

8 . Which Stock Aitken Waterman singer reached number 1 in the 80’s with the song “You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You”?

9 . Which record producer founded a label called ZTT Records, signing acts such as Grace Jones, Art of Noise & Frankie Goes to Hollywood?

10 . Which Billy Joel song featured fast-paced lyrics listing political, sporting and cultural events that happened between 1949 and 1989?

80’s Pop Quiz Round 3

Random 80’s Pop Music Quiz Round

1 . Rick Astley’s 4th hit song had which 2x word title?

2 . The War Song & “The Medal Song” were two 80s singles by which band?

3 . Which animal features in the title of a 1983 studio album by Duran Duran?

4 . 2 word answer… 80’s hits for Kool & The Gang, Gap Band & Inner City. Also the name of a band produced by Stock Aitken Waterman?

5 . Which song, from the 1983 Paul McCartney’s album Pipes of Peace, featured Michael Jackson?

6 . Who was the lead singer of T’Pau?

7 . Radio 1 DJ Mike Read suddenly lifted the needle during which song playing, condemning it as obscene and refused to play it again?

8 . Which two Irish musicians who were formerly members of Thin Lizzy, recorded a song about the Irish Troubles called “Out in the Fields”?

9 . Which band, who’s name sounds like a haidressers salon, “Died in Your Arms Tonight”?

10 . In Spandau Ballet, the majority of the song royalties went to which member. (Later, in 1999, tensions rose as the others attempted to sue him for a share but the court ruled against them)

80’s One-Hit Wonders – Round 4

10x Questions on One-hit-wonders of the 80’s

1 . Name the artist that had a 1981 one-hit-wonder with… Japanese Boy?

2 . In her one-hit-wonder, which singer opens by singing “You and I in a little toy shop. Buy a bag of balloons with the money we’ve got”?

3 . Rockwell had a one-hit-wonder with “Somebody’s Watching Me”. Who was his famous Mowtown-record-producing father?

4 . Which Edgar Rice Burroughs character appears in the title of a one-hit-wonder by Baltimora?

5 . Which car maker or type of tree features in the act that had a 1983 one-hit-wonder called “First Picture Of You”?

6 . In the opening line and title of their 1982 one-hit-wonder, Toto Coelo claimed to consume what?

7 . A.R. Kane and Colourbox seeked additional help from DJs Chris “C.J.” Mackintosh and Dave Dorrel on which one-hit-wonder that included the line “Brother & Sisters”?

8 . Martha Wash and Izora Armstead formed which one-hit-wonder act, who announced that something would happen for the first time about half-past-ten?

9 . “Funkytown” was a global one-hit-wonder, reaching number 1 in 28 countries. What was the name of the artist?

10 . Matthew Wilder, in his one-hit-wonder, told people that nobody is going to slow him down, oh no, and they wouldn’t break his what?

80’s Divas – Round 5

The divas of the 80s – 10 questions

1 . Whitney Houston had her 3rd UK top 10 hit in 1986 with a cover of which song, that was originally recorded by George Benson?

2 . Which 80’s diva prolonged the recording of “We Are The World” because her excessive jewellery kept dangling?

3 . Who’s first two hits were called “Modern Girl” and “9 to 5”?

4 . “Shake Your Love” was a song from who’s debut album called “Out of the Blue”?

5 . Helen Folasade Adu’s music was often described as being “cocktail jazz” or “yuppie soul”. She was better known as who?

6 . “Holding Out for a Hero”, by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler, appeared on the soundtrack to which 1984 film?

7 . Where did Belinda Carlisle describe her circle to be round and round?

8 . Which “Straight Up” singer appeared in the music video to Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done for Me Lately”?

9 . Which song, originally recorded by British band The Arrows in the mid-seventies, was covered by Joan Jett & her band?

10 . Private Dancer was a song by Tina Turner, that was written by a singer from which band? Bee Gees | Dire Straits | Van Halen

80’s Music Videos – Round 6

This was the decade when music videos became almost as important as the song! Think A-ha, you visualise sketch drawings stepping out of mirrors!

1 . Which Madonna video did she mimic a Marilyn Monroe scene from “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” from the 1953 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”?

2 . The music video to which 1896 Peter Gabriel song featured stop motion animation by Stephen R. Johnson, similar to the video effects he’d used in Talking Heads “Road To Nowhere”?

3 . Which 1982 music video by Duran Duran was filmed on a yacht?

4 . The members of Queen all dressed in drag to perform which music video?

5 . The music video of which cover song premiered on the big screens at Live Aid, as 1985 technology wouldn’t allow them to perform it live in the UK & USA simultaneously?

6 . Which song was famously the first ever music video to be played on MTV?

7 . Which music video in the 80’s depicted Ronald Reagan and Konstantin Chernenko in a wrestling match?

8 . Which Michael Jackson music video saw the slabs on the pavement light up with every step he took?

9 . The video to which song featured fashion models called Patty Kelly, Mak Gilchrist & Julia Bolino playing guitar, even although the original recording of the guitar was played by Andy Taylor of Duran Duran?

10 . Which member of Friends cast appears in Bruce Springsteen’s music video for “Dancing in the Dark”?

80’s Soundtracks and Movie Hits – Round 7

It was the decade that saw films being used as platforms to promote songs and vice versa.

1 . Which song opens with the words “If there’s something strange. In your neighbourhood”?

2 . Kenny Loggins teamed up with Giorgio Moroder to create a song for which 1986 film?

3 . In Back To The Future, which famous guitarist performed Marty’s guitar riff when he was dressed in the style of Darth Vader?

4 . Who sang opposite Bill Medley in the song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”?

5 . Eye Of The Tiger was made for which Rocky film?

6 . “I’m the Dude”, “Fire in the Twilight” & “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” were songs from the soundtrack to which 80’s film?

7 . The Psychedelic Furs performed the title song to which 1986 film?

8 . Irene Cara performed the songs to which two 80’s blockbuster films?

9 . Who was the male lead singer on the song “Up Where We Belong”?

10 . Which former member of the band Eagles, performed “The Heat Is On” as heard in Beverly Hills Cop?

80’s Dancefloor Fillers – Round 8

Dancing around handbags, strobe lights, smoke machines and the DJ calling “bouncers to the dancefloor”. Yes, let’s take you back with these 10 questions.

1 . In the 12″ version of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”, which song by The Supremes transitions in about half-way through?

2 . Name both members of the pop duo that had a hit with the 1982 dancefloor favourite called “Don’t Go”?

3 . Peter Hook borrowed Ennio Morricone’s guitar bassline from “For a Few Dollars More” on which song?

4 . Steve “Silk” Hurley repeatedly urged people to do what… with their body?

5 . Gerald Simpson was a guy that crossed underground acid house music to mainstream chart success with which 1989 song?

6 . Which song had the subtitle “Get Fresh at the Weekend”?

7 . Originally a hit for Shocking Blue in the 60s, which cover version did Bananarama have success with in 1986?

8 . Miquel Brown performed the 1983 floorfiller “So Many Men – So Little Time”. Who is her famous daughter who also had hits in the 80s?

9 . Ya Kid K is a rapper & singer who provided the vocals on which 1989 dancefloor favourite?

10 . Produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, “My Heart Goes Bang”, “In Too Deep” & “Lover Come Back To Me” were all lesser-remembered hits for which group?

80’s Boy Bands & Girl Bands – Round 9

10 questions on all-girl or all-boy bands in the 1980s.

1 . Bobby Brown started his musical career as a member of which American boy band?

2 . Which fruit features within the title of a hit song in the 80s by Kajagoogoo?

3 . Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran formed which group as a side project in 1985?

4 . Brothers Jonathan and Jordan Knight were members of which boy band?

5 . Which Duran Duran song from the 80s shares it’s name with a 2006 BBC documentary series?

6 . Susanna Hoffs was a singer in which American girl band?

7 . Two members of which group, later went on to play Ronnie & Reggie Kray in the 1990 film The Krays?

8 . Which Wham song opens with the words “Wham! bam! I am! a man!”?

9 . Craig Logan was the “other”, non-twin member of which band?

10 . 50 / 50: Girl band or boy band. Which had an eighties hit called Maneater?

80’s Song Lyrics Quiz – Round 10

Name the song title. All UK Number 1’s in the 80s. We give you two lines from the song.

1 . I was sick and tired of everything. When I called you last night from Glasgow.

2 . Poor old Johnnie Ray. Sounded sad upon the radio.

3 . Sometimes you’re better off dead. There’s a gun in your hand it’s pointing at your head.

4 . Floating in the summer sky. Panic bells, it’s red alert!

5 . Wasn’t it good? (Oh, so good). Wasn’t he fine? (Oh, so fine).

6 . In the midnight hour. I can feel your power.

7 . Though it’s easy to pretend. I know you’re not a fool.

8 . You took a mystery and made me want it. You got a pedestal and put me on it.

9 . And those heads that turn. Make my back, make my back burn, yeah.

10 . For I’m the type of boy. Who is always on the roam.

End

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