One-hit Wonders of the '80s Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
One-hit Wonders of the '80s Quiz
Image: refer to hsw

About This Quiz

Raise your hand if you wore high-waisted jeans and Reebok Pumps in the ‘80s. Now keep it raised if you love listening to ‘80s smash hits on Spotify. If your hand is up, you most certainly know these one-hit wonders… and you still rock out to them today!

Because who WOULDN’T rock out to songs that remind us of our favorite ‘80s movies? Remember a certain "Dirty Dancing" actor who wooed us with a blowing element? Or how about the amazing pop hits we first heard on MTV and VH1?

There were so many memorable songs that left us wanting more in the ‘80s… but in some cases, all we got was a lousy phone number! You probably don’t even remember “her” name because the only part you could remember was the number! You know what we’re talking about! That’s one thing all of these one-hit wonders had in common – they got stuck in your head - which wasn’t always a bad thing, especially when someone offered to stop the world and melt with you! (Yes please!)

So let's see how you do. It’s time to put on your best leotard and slouched leg warmers, then flaunt that maniac dance. We’re not gonna take it if you can’t!

Where did the band A-ha originate?
England
Norway
Canada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Norwegian A-ha came from Norway to score six trophies at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards thanks to the song "Take On Me."

Advertisement

What band hit No. 1 of the Billboard singles chart in 1986 with "(I Just) Died in Your Arms"?
Rockwell
Nena
Cutting Crew
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cutting Crew scored a major hit with "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" off their 1986 debut album "Broadcast."

Advertisement

What were singers Martha Wash and Izora Armstead better known as?
Nena
Rockwell
the Weather Girls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wash and Armstead formed a group known as the Weather Girls. They made it to No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1982 with the song "It's Raining Men."

Advertisement

Singer Marc Almond was the driving force behind this band, known for the song "Tainted Love."
Soft Cell
Modern English
Quarterflash
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Almond and Soft Cell hit No. 1 in 17 countries with their 1981 song "Tainted Love."

Advertisement

This song by Frankie Goes to Hollywood sold over a million copies in 1984.
"Just Dance"
"Cars"
"Relax"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Frankie Goes to Hollywood scored their biggest hit ever with the 1984 No. 1 song "Relax."

Advertisement

What Michael Sembello song was featured in the movie "Flashdance"?
"Maniac"
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
"Dancing Queen"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sembello's song "Maniac" was written about a psycho cat killer, but the lyrics were later changed to fit the wild dancing in "Flashdance."

Advertisement

True or false: "99 Luftballons" was a protest song.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Nena song — later recorded in English as "99 Red Balloons" — was written as a protest against the Cold War.

Advertisement

Two Oregon bands called Pilot and Seafood Mama joined forces to form this band, which was known for the song "Harden My Heart."
Devo
the Buggles
Quarterflash
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The two bands joined forces to form Quarterflash, which scored a hit with "Harden My Heart" in 1981.

Advertisement

Who sang the 1984 song "She Blinded Me With Science"?
Thomas Dolby
Rockwell
Matthew Wilder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thomas Dolby never had another major hit after "She Blinded Me With Science" and went on to teach music for film at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Advertisement

Who sang the cheerful ditty "Don't Worry, Be Happy"?
Jimmy McFerrin
Bobby McDonald
Bobby McFerrin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bobby McFerrin scored his biggest hit with "Don't Worry, Be Happy "off his 1988 album "Simple Pleasures."

Advertisement

What was the most famous song to come off the album "Rhythm of Youth" by the band Men Without Hats?
"I Ran"
"The Safety Dance"
"Break My Stride"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Men Without Hats scored a massive hit with "The Safety Dance," a song off of their 1981 debut album.

Advertisement

What band was the first to have its video shown on MTV?
the Buggles
the Outfield
Modern English
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Back when MTV played music videos, the very first one they played was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles.

Advertisement

What year did Kajagoogoo hit No. 5 on the charts with "Too Shy"?
1980
1983
1986
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kajagoogoo won fans with the 1983 hit "Too Shy." Vocalist Chris Hamill later sang the theme song for "The NeverEnding Story."

Advertisement

What band is best known for the song "Our House"?
Wild Cherry
Madness
Mad World
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thanks to heavy MTV airplay in 1983, Madness scored a top ten hit with "Our House."

Advertisement

What stage name did Motown founder Berry Gordy's son use when he released the song "Somebody's Watching Me"?
Rockwell
Joe Hill
Light
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To distance himself from his famous father, Gordy's son performed under the name Rockwell and had a hit with the 1983 song "Somebody's Watching Me."

Advertisement

What band instructed listeners to "whip it good!" in 1980?
Devon
Deva
Devo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Devo soared up the charts with their song "Whip It" from their 1980 debut album "Freedom of Choice."

Advertisement

Manager Malcolm McLaren helped get the Sex Pistols together and also helped form this "I Want Candy" band.
Weather Girls
the Outfield
Bow Wow Wow
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bow Wow Wow hit No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1982 with the cheerful "I Want Candy."

Advertisement

What Gary Numan album features the song "Cars"?
"Pink"
"Please Don't Go"
"The Pleasure Principle"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Cars" from the album "The Pleasure Principle" was a top ten hit for Gary Numan after it was released in 1979.

Advertisement

Before they declared "We're Not Gonna Take It," this band was known as Silver Star.
Twisted Sister
KISS
Kajagoogoo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Glam rock group Twisted Sister started off as Silver Star before hitting it big with the song "We're Not Gonna Take It."

Advertisement

What band released the 1983 Top 10 hit "I Melt With You"?
Modern English
Nena
Animotion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Modern English broke the Top 10 with the 1983 song "I Melt With You," which was later featured in the movie "Valley Girl."

Advertisement

What band sang the 1982 smash "Come On Eileen"?
Edison Lighthouse
Dexys Midnight Runners
Men Without Hats
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In a 2013 ranking of the best one-hit wonders of the '80s, VH1 put "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners in the top spot.

Advertisement

What song brought Matthew Wilder into the spotlight in 1983?
"Relax"
"Break My Stride"
"Obsession"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wilder had his biggest career song in 1983 with "Break My Stride" and went on to produce No Doubt's 1995 platinum "Tragic Kingdom" album.

Advertisement

What was the 1982 song "Electric Avenue" named after?
a dance craze
a street
a band
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Electric Avenue" was inspired by a real street in Britain — the first street in the area to get electric lights. Eddy Grant hit the No. 2 spot on the charts in both the U.K. and U.S. with his version of the tune in 1982.

Advertisement

What year did A Flock of Seagulls gain fame for the song "I Ran (So Far Away)"?
1980
1981
1982
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A Flock of Seagulls ran away with the top spot on the music charts in the summer of 1982 with "I Ran."

Advertisement

What song made Stacey Q a star in 1986?
"Two of Hearts"
"I Think We're Alone Now"
"Dancing in the Dark"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Teen pop queen Stacey Q won fans over with her 1986 tune "Two of Hearts" and with guest appearances on "The Facts of Life" and "Full House."

Advertisement

What year did Dead or Alive spin listeners 'round like a record player?
1983
1985
1987
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dead or Alive topped the charts with "You Spin Me Round" in 1985, while a Kesha and Flo Rida cover of the song hit No. 1 in 2009.

Advertisement

What band cracked the Top 10 in the U.S. in 1985 with "Obsession"?
Animaniacs
Animotion
Animated
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Animotion scored a top ten with "Obsession." Just four months later, their follow up "Let Him Go" barely made it into the Top 40.

Advertisement

What song was a big hit for British band the Outfield in 1985?
"Two of Us"
"Your Love"
A Little Bit Older"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Outfield made a career out of the 1985 song "Your Love." The band's other claim to fame is the song "Winning It All," which was featured on the soundtrack for "The Mighty Ducks."

Advertisement

True or false: Toni Basil's "Mickey" was about Monkee Micky Dolenz.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though Basil choreographed the 1968 movie "Head" for the band, the song was originally called "Kitty" and had nothing to do with Dolenz.

Advertisement

This song by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard charts in 1988.
"Easy Love"
"Two of Us"
"It Takes Two"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rob Base and E-Z Rock mixed hip-hop and dance house sounds to create the 1988 smash "It Takes Two."

Advertisement

You Got:
/30
refer to hsw