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About This Quiz
"Beat it, beat it. No one wants to be defeated!" We're sure you don't want to get defeated by this '80s quiz, but let's see if you have the (mental) movies to make it through!
The '80s was an iconic time in music. Rock and roll was dominating, while Michael Jackson released, "Thriller" the best-selling album of all time. With hits like a-Ha's "Take On Me" and Run-DMC's "Walk This Way," how many music videos can you remember from the decade?
Would a photo of zombies remind you of Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself" or the Michael Jackson classic, "Thriller"? Do you remember the "99 Luftballons" popping in Nena's music video? Maybe you remember the image of Prince soaking in a bathtub?
While the '90s would be dedicated to tons of choreography, artists of the '80s were serious about setting the scene. A sidewalk lighting up is probably ingrained in your mind because of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean." The half live action, half comic book video by the Norwegian band, a-Ha, is probably a favorite of yours.
Just how many of these '80s music videos do you remember? Are you stuck in the right decade, or do you belong in the '70s or '90s? This quiz will prove just how big a fan you are!
"No one wants to be defeated!" Here's your chance to prove you won't be!
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Which iconic music video is shown here?
"Take On Me" by a-ha
"I Think We’re Alone Now" by Tiffany
"Venus" by Bananarama
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson
The music video for "Thriller" cost half-a-million dollars; at the time, it was the most expensive video ever made. The video 's iconic zombie dance routine was choreographed by Michael Peters who also played a zombie in the video and had also choreographed Michael's other big hit, "Beat It." The greatest number of people doing the "Thriller" zombie-dance routine, according to the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records was 13,597.
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Can you identify this unique music video?
"Don’t Believe The Hype" by Public Enemy
"Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel
"Take On Me" by a-ha
"Take On Me" is a song written by the band members of Norwegian synthpop band, a-ha. The second version of this song was produced for their debut studio album, "Hunting High and Low" released in 1985. The song became their only track to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100, partly because of the popularity of the video directed by Steve Barron and played repeatedly on MTV.
"Some Like It Hot" by Power Station
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What is the name of this long-form music video?
"Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits
"Nasty" by Janet Jackson
"Ask" by The Smiths
"Bad" by Michael Jackson
The music video for “Bad†took a similar short-film approach as “Thriller†spanning 18 minutes and featuring an underground subway battle between two rival gangs. The video featured a young Wesley Snipes as Jackson’s rival and was directed by Martin Scorsese.
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What is the name of the music video pictured here?
"Addicted to Love" by Robert Palmer
The "keyboardist" in the "Addicted to Love" video was Susie Verrico, who later appeared in the 2006 UK reality TV show "Big Brother." None of the models posing as a band knew how to play the instruments, as a result, each girl was keeping her own time and moving to a different beat.
"99 Luftballoons" by Nena
"A Million Miles Away" by Plimsouls
"Are We Ourselves" by The Fixx
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Can you identify one of the most iconic videos of all time?
"The Tide Is High" by Blondie
"Venus" by Bananarama
"I Love Rock n' Roll" by Joan Jett
"Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
After the video for "Billie Jean" aired, Michael Jackson's famous album "Thriller" went on to sell an additional 10 million copies. Michael Jackson’s head was set on fire by special effects explosions while filming a Pepsi-Cola commercial sound-tracked by "Billie Jean."
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What is the name of this music video by one of the era's icons?
"Borderline" by Madonna
"Borderline" was filmed on location in Los Angeles and was the first video that Madonna made with director Mary Lambert, who later also directed her other famous songs including "Like a Virgin," "Material Girl," "La Isla Bonita," and "Like a Prayer." The portrayal of the street life and high-fashion scene in the video was an homage to Madonna's life in the gritty streets in New York where she lived while her career was beginning, as well as the popularity and success she was experiencing at that moment.
"Words" by Missing Persons
"When Doves Cry" by Prince
"I Wanna Be a Cowboy" by Boys Don’t Cry
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Can you identify this famously fun music video?
"Pretty in Pink" by The Psychedelic Furs
"Patience" by Guns N' Roses
"Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" was Cyndi Lauper's first single as a solo artist and it became a huge part of '80s culture. It's now an anthem for female attitude and set fashion trends as the video showed Lauper wearing bright, flamboyant clothes that looked like they came from a thrift store (they often did).
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Which music video matches this image?
"Physical" by Olivia Newton-John
"Legs" by ZZ Top
The video "Legs" was parodied in a 1984 episode of "St. Elsewhere," in which ZZ Top themselves, as well as the Eliminator girls, appeared. In the scene, hospital orderly Luther played by Eric Laneuville falls asleep as the radio is playing "Legs," and he dreams the Eliminator girls come to his aid, helping him to seek revenge on senior hospital staff who oppressed him.
"Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard
"Rain" by Dragon
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What is the name of the music video pictured here?
"Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran
"Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran was released in 1982 in the United Kingdom and next week the song debuted at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart. The lyrics were inspired by the infamous wolf in the children's story "Little Red Riding Hood."
"Jack & Diane" by John Mellancamp
"Warrior" by Scandal
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson
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What music video matches the photo shown here?
"Tenderness" by General Public
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" is arguably Eurythmics' best known song. Marilyn Manson released a cover version of this song as the first single from the 1995 EP, "Smells Like Children." This version became an MTV staple and helped to establish the band in the mainstream.
"Kiss" by Prince
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Which famously misinterpreted music video is this?
"Every Breath You Take" by The Police
"Every Breath You Take" is one of the most misinterpreted songs of the '80s. It is about an obsessive stalker, but it sounds like a love song. Some people even used it as their wedding song. Front man Sting wrote it after separating from his first wife, Frances Tomelty.
"Punk Rock Girl" by The Dead Milkmen
"Der Kommissar" by After The Fire
"Somebody" by Depeche Mode
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Which quirky music video is shown here?
"Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel
The video for "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel was shot and edited in just over a week. Peter laid under a glass sheet for over 16 hours during filming.
"Mr. Roboto" by Styx
"A Million Miles Away" by Plimsouls
"A Little Respect" by Erasure
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What music video featuring movies stars is this?
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen
"One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head
"Bust a Move" by Young M.C.
"Pretty in Pink" by The Psychedelic Furs
The hit song “Pretty in Pink†came out in 1980 and is best known as the Molly Ringwald movie. The Psychedelic Furs actually re-recorded the track for the movie soundtrack, and the new version, the difference is evident in the opening riffs of the song.
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What is the music video shown in this image?
"Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits
The song lyrics for "Money for Nothing" were inspired by an overheard conversation between workers in a hardware store. It was Dire Straits' most commercially successful single and the video won Video of the Year at the third annual MTV Video Music Awards.
"Brand New Lover" by Dead or Alive
"Mr. Roboto" by Styx
"Our House" by Madness
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What is the name of music video shown here?
"Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads
With help of plenty of airtime on MTV, "Burning Down the House" became Talking Heads biggest hit. It didn't get a great deal of radio play at the time, but has endured as an '80s classic and has been shows and movies including "Gilmore Girls," "13 Going on 30," "Six Feet Under," "Revenge of the Nerds," and "Someone Like You."
"Into the Groove" by Madonna
"Jessie’s Girl" by Rick Springfield
"Jump"by Van Halen
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What is the name of this party themed music video?
"California Girls" by David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth released his version of "California Girls" in 1985 as his first solo single. The video featured a lineup of beautiful women and got loads of airplay on MTV. It set the tone for Roth's solo career as he perpetuated his image as a hedonistic party boy. Carl Wilson from The Beach Boys sang backup on Roth's version, which hit #3 in the US.
"Valley Girl" by Frank Zappa ft. Moon Unit
"Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
"Bust a Move" by Young M.C.
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Which groundbreaking music video is shown here?
"Sex (I’m A...)" by Berlin
"Rock this Town" by Stray Cats
"Here Comes the Rain Again" by Eurythmics
"Rapture" by Blondie
The music video for "Rapture" made its debut in the U.S. on January 31, 1981, and became the first rap video ever broadcast on MTV as well as the first #1 song in the U.S. to feature rap vocals. Much of the video is a one-take scene of Debbie Harry dancing along the street, passing by graffiti artists, Uncle Sam, an American Indian, and a goat.
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What is the name of this music video with this 80s icon?
"Dancing with Myself" by Billy Idol
"Dancing with Myself" is commonly thought to be about masturbation, but it's literally about dancing alone. Billy got the idea after watching Japanese kids at a Tokyo disco "dancing with themselves" in a nightclub. The kids would dance in a pogo-style up and down, and there were mirrors in the club so they could watch themselves doing it.
"Good Thing" by Fine Young Cannibals
"She Bop" by Cyndi Lauper
"Dirty Diana" by Michael Jackson
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Can you name the music video by this 80s icon?
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
"Faith" by George Michael
"Everybody" by Madonna
Madonna insisted on making a music video for her song, "Everybody." She said: "If I didn't have a video, I don't think all the kids in the Midwest would know about me. It takes the place of touring. Everybody sees them everywhere. That really has a lot to do with the success of my album."
"Dirty Diana" by Michael Jackson
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Can you name the music video pictured here?
"Hangin’ Tough" by New Kids on the Block
"Temptation" by New Order
"99 Luftballons" by Nena
"Luftballons" literally translates to "Air Balloons" in German, and means regular party balloons. The song "99 Luftballons" is about the dreams the German people had that were lost after World War II.
"Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart
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What music video featuring this icon is shown here?
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen
Having composed "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" on guitar, Freddie Mercury played rhythm guitar while performing the song live, which was the first time he played guitar in concert with Queen. An alternate version, featuring alternate angles, out-takes, and backstage footage from the original video shoot was included on the "Days Of Our Lives" DVD.
"Puttin’ on the Ritz" by Taco
"Rain" by Dragon
"Dancing With Myself" by Billy Idol
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What famous music video is pictured here?
"Faith" by George Michael
The video for "Faith" was directed by Andy Morahan, who also did the videos for George Michael's "Father Figure" and "I Want Your Sex." He was completely faking his guitar-playing in the video because he doesn't know how to play.
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
"Down Under" by Men at Work
"Hey Ladies" by Beastie Boys
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What is the name of this music video by this dance icon?
"Straight Up" by Paula Abdul
The video for "Straight Up" was directed by David Fincher, who also directed directed the movies "Seven," "The Game," and "Fight Club." The video won MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video, Best Dance, Best Choreography and Best Editing.
"Rhythm Nation" by Janet Jackson
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston
"What's Love Got to Do with It" by Tina Turner
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What is the music video pictured here?
"Luka" by Suzanne Vega
"Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling
"Brand New Lover" by Dead or Alive
The lyrics of "Brand New Lover" describe the singer's desire to leave his current partner for one who is more exciting. His motivation is that he admittedly does not desire a stable relationship with one partner, but rather is "a pleasure seeker." The song achieved international success after its release in 1989.
"When Doves Cry" by Prince
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Can you name the music video pictured here?
"I Think We’re Alone Now" by Tiffany
"Venus" by, Bananarama
"Hey Ladies" by Beastie Boys
"Hit Me with your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar
"Hit Me with your Best Shot" was written from a male standpoint, with the lyric, "Before I put another notch in your lipstick case." The song was a big hit when aerobics was catching on in America and often played in exercises classes. Benatar's colorful fashion choices were often emulated in aerobics classes.
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What is the name of this goth-inspired music video?
"Dancing with Myself" by Billy Idol
"Going Back to Cali" by LL Cool J
"(She’s) Sexy + 17" by Stray Cats
"White Wedding" by Billy Idol
The video for "White Wedding" helped launch Billy Idol into stardom. It was directed by David Mallet, who had also worked with Queen and David Bowie. The concept was a "nightmare wedding," with a Goth guy (Idol) marrying a normal girl, with some vampire imagery thrown in.
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Which music video is pictured here?
"Hit the Road Jack" by Buster Poindexter
"Hit the Road Jack" won a Grammy award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. The song is ranked number 387 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
"Some Like It Hot" by Power Station
"Tempted" by Squeeze
"If You See Kay" by April Wine
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Can you name the music video by this world famous musician?
"Bad" by Michael Jackson
"Beat It" by Michael Jackson
"Another Part of Me" by Michael Jackson
"Another Part of Me" was performed on the second leg of the "Bad" World Tour, with an extra instrumental section added at the end which was only briefly heard at the end of the single.
"Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
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Can you name this quirky music video is this?
"I Wanna Be a Cowboy" by Boys Don’t Cry
"I Melt with You" by Modern English
"Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order
The video for "Bizarre Love Triangle" was released in November 1986. It featured shots of a man and a woman in business suits, flying through the air as though propelled by trampolines. The video also features a black and white cut-scene where Jodi Long and E. Max Frye are arguing about reincarnation.
"True Faith" by New Order
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Which music video made famous in a movie is this?
"A Million Miles Away" by Plimsouls
The Plimsouls' big break came when their song, "A Million Miles Away," was used in the movie "Valley Girl." In fact, the band actually performs in a scene in the movie.
"Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’" by Michael Jackson
"Stray Cat Strut" by Stray Cats
"I Ran (So Far Away)" by Flock of Seagulls
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Which politically motivated music video is pictured here?
"Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil
"Beds are Burning" is a political song about giving native Australian lands back to the the Pintupi, who were among the very last people to come in from the desert. Midnight Oil performed this song at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics reaching millions of viewers.
"Pride (In the Name of Love)" by U2
"Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order
"Bust a Move" by Young M.C.
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Which emotional music video is shown here?
"Wrapped Around your Finger" by The Police
"Talking in Your Sleep" by The Romantics
"A Little Respect" by Erasure
The song "A Little Respect" is a plea for reconciliation from a heartbroken lover. Erasure lead singer Andy Bell was one of the first openly gay pop stars, and he would sometimes introduce the song on stage by saying, "When I was a little girl, I asked my mummy, 'Can I be gay when I grow up?' She replied, 'Yes if you show a little respect.'"
"True Faith" by New Order
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What is this music video pictured here?
"Are We Ourselves" by The Fixx
The Fixx explained the meaning behind the song "Are We Ourselves" by saying when they go where people don't know them, they take on a new persona, and that's what the song is about.
"Ask" by The Smiths
"Obsession" by Animotion
"867-5309/Jenny" by Tommy Tutone
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Can you name the music video that coincides with this image?
"Ask" by The Smiths
"Ask" was released as a single in October 1986, reaching #14 on the UK Singles Chart. With a brisk, cheerful and light tempo, it's represents a sentiment one doesn't necessarily associate with the Smiths.
One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head
"The One I Love" by R.E.M.
"Playing With The Boys" by Kenny Loggins
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What music video matches the photo shown here?
"Love Shack" by B-52s
"Me Myself and I" by De La Soul
"Material Girl" by Madonna
"Bust a Move" by Young M.C.
"Bust a Move" won a 1990 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance. The song stayed on the Billboard 100 for 39 weeks - and 20 weeks in the top 40 alone.
You Got:
/35
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