Discover mind-blowing 80s music facts that will shock every music lover! From the $1.2 million Thriller sales to the real MTV launch story - prepare to be amazed by decade-defining secrets you never knew existed.
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Questions (151 of 151)
đĸeasy
Which singer headlined Purple Rain, delivering a 1984 soundtrack with guitar heroics and lush Minneapolis sound?
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Who sang Girls Just Want to Have Fun, turning a Robert Hazard song into a 1983 pop anthem?
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Which exact chord does the bridge of a-ha Take On Me resolve to before the final chorus in the album version key?
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Which exact pressing plant code appears on the US 45 of Prince When Doves Cry with the purple label?
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Which exact city hosted the final show of The Police Synchronicity tour in 1984 before their long hiatus?
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What is the precise catalog number of the US Columbia 7-inch for Bruce Springsteen Dancing in the Dark?
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Which Irish singer is the one-word stage name frontman of U2 since the late 1970s?
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Which 1984 single made Frankie Goes to Hollywood the first act since 1964 to have their first three singles reach UK number one?
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Which 1985 charity single organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure topped the UK chart at Christmas?
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Which solo star topped charts in 1987 with Faith while strumming a distinctive acoustic riff?
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Which exact 10-digit UK catalogue number appears on the original 1982 Factory Records 12-inch of New Order Blue Monday?
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Which duo's Wake Me Up Before You Go Go became a neon bright 1984 chart topper?
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What exact piano chord opens Bruce Hornsby and the Range The Way It Is on the studio single?
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Which 1984 single by Bruce Springsteen became a stadium anthem with a chorus many misinterpret?
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Which Norwegian trio took a synth pop single to number one in 1985 with an iconic pencil sketched video?
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Which 1982 Simple Minds album finally broke them in the United States with the single Promised You a Miracle?
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Which 1982 hit by Soft Cell popularized an electro cover of a 1964 soul tune?
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Which exact guitar tuning is used on The Smiths The Headmaster Ritual studio recording?
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Which 1984 a cappella novelty hit by The Flying Pickets topped the UK chart at Christmas?
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What exact chord progression underpins the verse of Tears for Fears Everybody Wants to Rule the World in the original key?
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Which precise tape machine model captured the analog multitracks for Prince 1999 at Sunset Sound?
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Which exact venue hosted the first New York performance of Run DMC with Aerosmith for Walk This Way in 1986?
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What is the exact Dolby noise reduction type used on the original cassette of The Joshua Tree?
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Which 1985 Tears for Fears single opens with a massive drum thwack and the line 'welcome to your life'?
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Which exact guitar pick thickness did Johnny Marr prefer during The Queen Is Dead sessions?
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Which 1982 Hall and Oates single gave the duo their fifth US number one with a blue-eyed soul bounce?
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Which 1987 single became the first UK number one for Kylie Minogue after her Neighbours fame?
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What exact acoustic piano model was used on U2 One Tree Hill sessions in 1987 at STS Dublin?
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What precise Neve console model sat in Windmill Lane Studio One during U2 Joshua Tree tracking?
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Which 1988 George Harrison single became his first US number one since 1970?
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Which hip hop single became the first to hit the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 in 1980?
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Which song by New Order became a blueprint for club culture after its 1983 12-inch release?
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Which precise model of Yamaha DX series produced the famous bass line on Harold Faltermeyer Axel F?
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What exact mastering house cut the UK first press of Kate Bush Hounds of Love with timtom in the deadwax?
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Which 1986 top ten hit by the Bangles was written by Prince under a pseudonym?
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Which precise day did The Replacements perform Bastards of Young on Saturday Night Live leading to a future ban?
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Which exact UK chart record did Whitney Houston set in 1988 with I Wanna Dance with Somebody and One Moment in Time combined?
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Which 1988 British group topped the chart with the dance pop hit Never Gonna Give You Up already used in this quiz's meme clue?
đĸeasy
What was the first music video aired on MTV in the United States on August 1, 1981?
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Which 1982 single gave Joan Jett and the Blackhearts a seven-week US number one run?
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Which 1987 dance pop smash by Whitney Houston won a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance?
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What precise temperature setting was used in the claymation light rig during Sledgehammer stop-motion according to Aardman notes?
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Which precise model of Fairlight was used by Peter Gabriel during the So sessions for Sledgehammer's sampled horn stabs?
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Which 1988 Morrissey single went to UK number one after The Smiths split?
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Which precise catalog code appears on the UK original cassette of Neneh Cherry Raw Like Sushi 1989?
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Which new wave classic by The Human League features a deadpan duet between Susan Ann Sulley and Philip Oakey?
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Which vinyl cutting engineer's initials appear on the first US pressing of Metallica Master of Puppets on Elektra?
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Which precise lineup delivered R.E.M.'s first US top ten with The One I Love in 1987?
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Which band released Every Breath You Take, the most played radio song of the decade according to BMI?
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Which precise cutting lathe model was used at Masterdisk for Metallica Master of Puppets first US cut?
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Which 1987 single became the first UK chart topper based primarily on CD single sales?
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Which precise month and pressing plant produced the mispressed UK first run of The Smiths This Charming Man with the Troy Tate mix?
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What is the exact peak UK chart position for Kate Bush The Dreaming album in 1982?
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Which exact day did Prince premiere Sign o' the Times as a double album in the United States?
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Which power ballad by Journey features a soaring Steve Perry vocal and a piano opening that fans belt in arenas?
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Which 1985 a cappella UK Christmas number one was recorded by a group of miners' children?
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Which group's Africa reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1983?
đĄmedium
Which exact number of weeks did a-ha Take On Me spend at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985?
đĄmedium
Which producer crafted the gated reverb drum sound that defined Phil Collins In the Air Tonight?
đĄmedium
Which 1985 single marked Madonna's first US number one of that year?
đĄmedium
Which song knocked Billie Jean from number one in the United States in April 1983?
đĄmedium
Which exact day in 1985 did Dire Straits release Brothers in Arms on CD in the UK helping popularize the format?
đĄmedium
On which June 1985 week did Bryan Adams Summer of '69 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 5?
đ´hard
How many individual drum machine patterns are programmed in the Linn LM-1 sequence of Prince When Doves Cry studio version?
đĸeasy
Whose Live Aid performance on July 13, 1985 at Wembley Stadium is often called the greatest 20 minutes in rock?
đ´hard
What is the exact total running time of the original UK CD of The Joshua Tree including all 11 tracks to the second?
đĄmedium
Which 1986 album by Metallica is dedicated to bassist Cliff Burton who died that year?
đĄmedium
Which 1988 single made Tracy Chapman a breakout at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute?
đ´hard
What is the precise video frame rate used to achieve the live-action stop-motion effect in Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer?
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Which 1983 track gave U2 their first UK number one album via live exposure on Top of the Pops?
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Which 1983 Eurythmics single features a slinky synth riff and Annie Lennox's icy vocal?
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What exact tempo in beats per minute does Michael Jackson Billie Jean album version map to when measured over the first full minute?
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Which exact Philips CD plant pressed the first European run of Dire Straits Brothers in Arms with the smooth-sided jewel case?
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Who was the flamboyant lead singer of Queen celebrated for a four-octave range and magnetic stagecraft?
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Which exact mastering facility cut the first UK 12-inch of Pet Shop Boys West End Girls 1984 original version?
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Which 1988 NWA album introduced Straight Outta Compton and transformed West Coast rap?
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Which exact Neumann microphone model captured Bono's lead vocal on With or Without You at Danesmoate House?
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Which exact LinnDrum snare setting preset is cited for the Phil Collins Sussudio main beat?
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What is the exact printed BPM on the UK 12-inch of New Order Blue Monday 1988 reissue sleeve?
đĄmedium
Which exact month and year did The Stone Roses release Sally Cinnamon their first single on FM Revolver?
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Which 1982 Roxy Music single was Bryan Ferry's first UK number one with band or solo?
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Which precise drum machine drives New Order Blue Monday with a 12-inch swing setting?
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Which exact delay unit and setting gave The Edge the shimmer on Pride In the Name of Love live in 1985?
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Which precise cutting engineer mastered The Smiths The Queen Is Dead UK LP first press with the famous Porky signature?
đĸeasy
Which 1987 U2 anthem was inspired by gospel spirituals and desert imagery?
đĸeasy
Which band scored a number one hit with Sweet Child O' Mine in the United States in 1988?
đ´hard
What precise tape speed was used when printing the mix of Depeche Mode Never Let Me Down Again to half-inch?
đ´hard
What exact line begins verse two of New Order Blue Monday original 1983 12-inch vocal?
đĸeasy
Which British band filmed a James Bond theme A View to a Kill and hit number one in 1985?
đ´hard
What exact guitar string gauge set did The Edge favor on the Joshua Tree sessions for his Stratocaster?
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Which exact rack unit provided the shimmering chorus on The Cure Just Like Heaven guitar tracks?
đĸeasy
Which 1989 fine slice of house pop by Soul II Soul introduced Caron Wheeler to the charts?
đĄmedium
Which exact studio album finally earned AC/DC a US number one with a live feel and cannons on stage?
đĄmedium
Which 1980 single was Joy Division's only UK top ten hit during Ian Curtis's lifetime?
đĸeasy
Which 1986 Peter Gabriel song is famous for a stop-motion video with dancing raw chickens and clay faces?
đ´hard
Which exact SSL console model was used to mix Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer at Townhouse?
đ´hard
Which exact day did The Sugarcubes release Birthday in the UK launching BjÃļrk to international attention?
đ´hard
Which precise UK single pressing of The Smiths How Soon Is Now features the misaligned text on the back sleeve?
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What is the exact highest UK chart position reached by The Jesus and Mary Chain Just Like Honey in 1985?
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Which exact sampler preset provided the choir pad on New Order True Faith during the 1987 sessions?
đĸeasy
Which 1981 duet by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie dominated radio with a wedding-friendly title?
đĸeasy
Which 1983 Michael Sembello track about a steelworker dancer hit number one in the United States?
đĸeasy
Which 1984 hit by Nena sparked interest in German pop with a catchy count of balloons?
đ´hard
What is the exact printed length of The Smiths This Charming Man Manchester remix on the 12-inch UK single?
đĄmedium
Which exact week did The Pet Shop Boys West End Girls reach number one in the United States?
đ´hard
Which precise manufacturer made the black Steinberger bass used by Tony Levin during the So tour 1986?
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What is the exact time signature used in the opening guitar riff of The Police Message in a Bottle?
đĄmedium
Which 1981 Queen single was their only US number one on the Billboard Hot 100?
đĸeasy
What band delivered Livin' on a Prayer with talk box spice and a skyscraping key change?
đĸeasy
Which colorful pop band scored a 1983 UK and US number one with Karma Chameleon?
đĸeasy
What Blondie single tied to the film American Gigolo hit number one in 1980?
đ´hard
What exact number of tracks are listed on the original UK cassette of U2 The Joshua Tree including the unlisted snippet?
đ´hard
Which precise brand of tape was used for the multitrack reels of Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair?
đĄmedium
Which 1981 single was the first UK number one for a synth duo featuring Vince Clarke after he left Depeche Mode?
đĸeasy
Which 1982 album is widely recognized as the decade's best selling global blockbuster?
đĄmedium
Which 1983 single by Lionel Richie replaced All Night Long at number one on the Billboard Hot 100?
đĸeasy
Which Australian band's Down Under hit number one in both the United States and the United Kingdom in 1983?
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Which exact date did USA for Africa record We Are the World at A&M Studios in Los Angeles?
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What exact date did R.E.M. record Radio Free Europe for the Hib Tone single in Winston Salem?
đĸeasy
Which 1981 song by Kim Carnes paid tribute to the eyes of a silver screen legend?
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Which precise brand and model of digital reverb created the cavernous tail on U2 With or Without You vocals?
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What precise UPC barcode appears on the US CD of The Joshua Tree issued in March 1987?
đĄmedium
Which 1982 Toto album won Album of the Year at the Grammys in 1983?
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What precise studio did The Cure track the drum intro for In Between Days in 1985?
đ´hard
What is the exact running time printed on the UK 7-inch of The Cure Close to Me 1985 remix?
đĸeasy
Who recorded the 1984 Ghostbusters theme that hit number one for three weeks?
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Which precise date did Kate Bush perform Wuthering Heights on Wogan during the 1986 promotion for The Whole Story?
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What exact frequency is the main low note of the DX7 bass in a-ha Take On Me measured at concert pitch?
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What precise oscillator waveform shapes the main synth lead on Van Halen Jump Oberheim OB-Xa patch?
đĸeasy
What 1987 pop soul hit by Rick Astley became a modern internet meme decades later?
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Which exact reverb unit delivered the iconic snare ambience on Phil Collins In the Air Tonight mix?
đĄmedium
Which label released The Smiths debut single Hand in Glove in May 1983?
đĸeasy
Which duet from Dirty Dancing won the 1987 Academy Award for Best Original Song?
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Which exact size of drumstick did Stewart Copeland favor during the Synchronicity sessions?
đĸeasy
Which 1986 film anthem by Berlin took home the Academy Award and dominated adult contemporary radio?
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Which exact patch number on the Roland D-50 created the shimmering stack on Enya Orinoco Flow live recreations in 1988?
đĄmedium
Which 1987 Def Leppard song took 65 weeks to reach US number two showing unprecedented chart longevity?
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Which exact studio in Berlin housed the recording of Depeche Mode Strangelove 1987 single version guitar overdubs?
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Which exact date did George Michael's Faith album win Album of the Year at the Grammys?
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Which exact echo time on the TC 2290 creates The Edge dotted eighth delay for Where the Streets Have No Name at 126 BPM?
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What exact label number appears on the US Geffen 12-inch for a-ha Take On Me extended version?
đĄmedium
Which 1988 NME cover declared the second Summer of Love as house music swept the UK club scene?
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Which exact New Jersey stadium hosted Bon Jovi's famous 1989 homecoming concert captured for television?
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Which 1984 Van Halen single features Eddie's first Billboard Hot 100 number one with a synth lead?
đĸeasy
Which band powered the Rocky III soundtrack with Eye of the Tiger in 1982?
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Which 1982 Dexys Midnight Runners single features a fiddle-fueled singalong chorus?
đ´hard
Which exact pitch correction cents value was used to tune the sampled choir in New Order True Faith according to studio notes?
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What is the exact matrix inscription on side A of the original US 1984 Purple Rain LP mastered by Bernie Grundman?
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How many seconds long is the cold open synth note before vocals on a-ha Take On Me album version?
đĄmedium
Which exact single gave The Cure their first US top ten in 1989?
đĸeasy
Which sunny track by Katrina and the Waves became a feel-good staple after its 1985 release?
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