Can You Name These 1980s Singers?

Monica Lee

Image: YouTube

About This Quiz

Well, like, if anyone like, would know, it would be like you -- if you listened to pop, rock, jazz or punk in the '80s. It was TOTALLY RADICAL to hear and see your fav artists on MTV. Like duhhhh! If you read a few song titles right now, would you be psyched to name the artist? Do it with these titles for a test run -- "Young Americans," "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This" and "Get On Your Feet." Did you get David Bowie, Eurythmics, and Gloria Estefan? Right, like, that was waaaay too easy. This quiz will take you back to the songs that were so bad, from the King of Pop to the Queen of Jazz to The Spokesman of a Generation and Queen of Alt-Rock Angst.

But you can really show your smarts if you were into all kinds of music. We'll see if you can name European, Canadian and Latin-American chart-toppers as well. Don't have a cow if you get it wrong. This quiz is meant to bring back tubular times. As you know, each song brings up different memories. So, before you bounce, take this quiz and find out how choice you are. Word. 

Who is this material girl singer?

Madonna is a seven-time Grammy Award winner and has been known as the "Queen of Pop" since the 1980s.

Who is this "Thriller" of a singer from the 1980s?

Michael Jackson was dubbed the "King of Pop" and was one of the most popular entertainers in the world. His "Thriller" is the best-selling album of all time.

"Let's Dance" to this pop singer's music. Who is he?

From singing as his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, to his final album, Blackstar, David Bowie's record sales made him one of the world's best-selling music artists.

Wham! Do you know this singer's name?

George Michael, a British singer, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist rose to fame as a member of the music duo,, Wham!, then went on to a superstar solo career.

Will you need a sweet dream to remember this singer? Who is it?

Annie Lennox is a Scottish singer, songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving moderate success in the late 1970s as part of the new wave band, The Tourists, she joined Eurythmics and gained worldwide success.

You'll have to go back to the 1980s to remember the singer of "Summer of '69." Who is it?

Bryan Guy Adams is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist, photographer, philanthropist and activist. It's amazing he has time to give us songs like "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You."

You'll need to "Get On Your Feet" to answer this one. Who is this singer?

Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. As the lead singer of Miami Sound Machine, the group had a series of hit singles, including "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You."

"Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" Who is the singer who sings this song?

Elton John is one of the most highly acclaimed and successful solo artists of all time with more than 38 gold and 31 platinum or multi-platinum albums.

"Stop in the Name of Love" and answer this question: What is this singer's name?

The dynamic leader of the Supremes, Diana Ross went on her own and became the original pop-soul solo diva by the early 1970s. There "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" for this successful singer.

"Maybe I'm Amazed" you would need a hint to know this singer. Who is he?

After the Beatles, "Live and Let Die" was just one of the phenomenal solo hits Paul McCartney had. He is still creating new music today.

Need to jog your brain for this? Get "Physical" and name this singer.

From her album, Xanadu, to her starring role in "Grease," Olivia Newton-John is an all-around star.

There's not a "Cure" for this memory loss. Do you recall the name of this singer from the 1980s?

Robert James Smith is the lead singer, guitarist, multi instrumentalist, lyricist, and principal songwriter of the rock band, The Cure.

"My Heart Will Go On" even if you don't get the correct answer. Who is this singer?

Celine Dion made the theme song from the film, "Titanic," a success. This Canadian-born singer has received various awards, including 12 World Music Awards, five Grammy Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, seven American Music Awards, 20 Juno Awards, 45 Félix Awards and many more.

"Imagine" and you'll answer this correctly. What is this singer's name?

John Lennon was an English singer, songwriter, and peace activist who co-founded the Beatles. His solo career after their breakup was very successful with songs like "Instant Karma," which he wrote after he had announced his departure from the Beatles several months earlier.

Nothing compares to this singer. Who is she?

Sinéad O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album, "The Lion and the Cobra." Her most popular song is "Nothing Compares To You."

What "Rich Girl" was a popular singer in the 1980s and is still popular today?

Inspired by pop music from the 1980s, Gwen Stefani had three commercially successful singles that are still popular today - "What You Waiting For?" "Rich Girl," and "Hollaback Girl."

"You Oughta Know" this one. Who is this female artist who sang in the 1980s?

Morissette, an American-Canadian singer songwriter, has sold more than 75 million records worldwide and was dubbed the "Queen of Alt-Rock Angst" by "Rolling Stone Magazine."

The answer to this one is "Blowing in the Wind." Who is this?

Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and painter who won the Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."

If you guess this name correctly, we will give you "99 Red Balloons." Who is this singer?

Nena, a German singer-songwriter, actress, and comedian, rose to international fame when she re-recorded the song "99 Luftballons" in English.

If you can't guess this one, then "Hit the Road, Jack." Who was this singer?

Ray Charles was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and composer. He produced Top Ten-charting music for decades. He was often referred to as "The Genius."

"Give me Tonight" and "Let the Music Play" made this female singer famous. Who is she?

Shannon, a singer of freestyle and dance-pop music is also a songwriter. "Let the Music Play" brought her the attention she deserved and sold more than a million copies.

She was the undisputed "Queen of Jazz." Who was this amazing singer known for her decades of hits?

From the 1950s to the 1980s, Ella Fitzgerald has been referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, and Lady Ella. she had dozens of hits, including "Summertime."

Listening to his songs could make you feel like you were in Nirvana. Name this singer?

Cobain formed Nirvana with Krist Novoselic and Aaron Burckhard in 1987. With the song "Smells Like Teen Spirit," he was hailed as "the spokesman of a generation."

"Dream On" if you don't know the answer to this question. Who is this singer known for his hit songs in the '80s?

From "Janie's Got a Gun" to "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," Steven Tyler's hits cover more than the 1980s. Tyler is best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band, Aerosmith.

This guy knew enough that "It's Different for Girls." Who is this singer?

Joe Jackson is an English musician and singer-songwriter. His first release, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" became a hit in 1979.

We should all follow this singer's advice, "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Who is he?

Bobby McFerrin is a 10-time Grammy Award winner and has amazing vocal techniques such as rapidly alternating with arpeggios and harmonies, scat singing, polyphonic overtone singing, and improvisational vocal percussion.

This "Love and Affection" singer is well-known in British circles. Who is she?

Joan Armatrading is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Her album, "Love and Affection," was a critical and commercial success, going gold in the U.K. This album also helped make her a mainstream artist and three-time Grammy nominee.

Which of these singers sang "Mimi on the Beach"?

Do any of these songs ring a bell? "I Muse Aloud,","One More Color" and "Calling All Angels" were hits by Jane Siberry, a Canadian singer-songwriter.

This female singer had "The Right Stuff" to sing as well as be Miss America. Who is she?

The first African-American Miss America, Vanessa Williams is also a versatile vocalist with success on the pop, R&B and dance charts. She also recorded the Academy Award-winning song, "Colors Of The Wind" from Pocahontas.

If you know who the Pixies are, you know this singer. Who is he?

The alternative rock band, Pixies, had front man Black Francis who sang influential songs like "Headache" and "Hang On To Your Ego." You may have discovered him in the '80s, however. he became super popular in the '90s.

This "Wild Thing" claimed fame in the '80s. Who is he?

This rapper and actor is Anthony Terrell Smith, better known as Tone Loc. In 1989, he came out with the hit songs "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina."

He "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe." Who is he?

As if that distinctive bass-baritone voice and romantic image weren't enough, Barry White also won a Grammy Award three times. His two biggest hits were "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" and "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe."

He's known for his freestyle and Hi-NRG dance music. Who is this singer?

Were you into the freestyle and Hi-NRG dance music of the '80s? Then you should know Stevie B, who sang such hits as "Because I Love You" and "Spring Love."

A storyteller with heart-breaking melodies. Who is he?

"Tom Traubert's Blues" and" Downtown Train" are just two of his top-ten hits that feature Tom Waits' distinctive musical persona with his trademark growl.

Remember when "Werewolves of London" played on every radio station all the time? Who sang this sensational song?

What amazing songs Warren William Zevon wrote, composed and sang! "Werewolves of London," "Lawyers, Guns and Money" and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" were just a few.

This singer wants you to "Stand By Me." What is his name?

Singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me," this soul/R&B singer and record producer was also the lead singer of The Drifters. Ben E. King is known for his hit singles, "Stand By Me" and "Save the Last Dance for Me."

Without his makeup, you might not recognize the lead singer of Kiss. But do you recall his name?

Kiss had quite an impact on the musical scene with Paul Stanley taking center stage as rhythm guitarist and singer of this popular rock band. "I Was Made For Lovin' You" and "Rock and Roll All Nite" were just two of the band's many hits.

She was the Queen of Salsa. Who was this Cuban singer?

Celia Cruz had 23 gold albums during her career. She was also awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994.

What is the name of this German pop singer who had hits like "Innocent Love"?

Sandra is a German pop singer who enjoyed mainstream popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s with a string of European hit singles, including "Maria Magdalena" and "Johnny Wanna Live."

Popular for decades, she sang "What's Love Got to do with It" and "Proud Mary." Who is she?

The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll has won eight Grammy Awards and three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards. She is the only female artist to receive concurrent Grammy nominations for pop, rock, and R&B.

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