Do You Know Which '80s New Wave Bands Sang These Songs?

By: Isadora Teich
Estimated Completion Time
2 min
Do You Know Which '80s New Wave Bands Sang These Songs?
Image: YouTube

About This Quiz

What came after punk rock? New Wave! This popular genre took the '80s by storm with a number of hits, but how well do you know them? Test your New Wave knowledge with this HowStuffWorks quiz!
Which band sang "Come On Eileen"?
Dexy's Midnight Runners
Blondie
A Flock of Seagulls
Eurythmics
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1982 single topped charts in the US and UK. Unique for popular New Wave songs, it features a celtic fiddle.

Who is behind the hit "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"?
Soft Cell
Simple Minds
The Cars
Eurythmics
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1983 breakthrough hit established the Eurythmics worldwide as a musical force. This New Wave Synthpop duo was made up of Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart.

Who sings "We Got The Beat"?
The Go-Go's
The Flying Lizards
Billy Idol
David Bowie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Go-Go's 1980 single "We Got the Beat" is off their debut album Beauty and the Beat, which went double platinum. The Go-Go's became famous as an all-female new wave band that played their own instruments and wrote their own songs.

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Who sang "Don't You (Forget About Me)?"
Blondie
A-Ha
Simple Minds
Toto
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1985 song is mostly known for playing during the closing and opening credits of the classic '80s film "The Breakfast Club." It charted high around the world.

_________ wrote the song "Relax."
Blondie
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
David Bowie
Talking Heads
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1983 song was Frankie Goes to Hollywood's debut single and established them as one of the most controversial and successful UK acts of the '80s. Depsite being banned by the BBC, it hit number 1 in the UK charts.

Who is behind the song "Call Me"?
Blondie
Duran Duran
INXS
Pet Shop Boys
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1980 track was the theme song for the 1980 film "American Gigolo." It was the top selling single of 1980 in America.

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"Burning Down the House" is a song by:
Human League
The Vapors
INXS
Talking Heads
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1983 single charted well within North America, but not outside the country. It is their only single to break the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9.

________ sang "Tainted Love."
New Order
Thomas Dolby
Soft Cell
Men At Work
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Tainted Love" was originally performed and recorded by Gloria Jones in 1964. It became world famous after Soft Cell's 1981 single topped charts around the world.

The song "Down Under" is by:
a-ha
Men At Work
B-52s
Elvis Costello
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This track is by Australian New Wave band Men At Work. Released in 1981, it topped US charts in 1983.

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Who is behind the song "Roxanne"?
The Police
The Cars
Elvis Costello
Depeche Mode
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This track was released in 1978. It is widely considered to be one of the best rock songs of all time, even though it did not chart that highly in the countries where it charted.

Who sang "I Ran (So Far Away)"?
A Flock of Seagulls
New Order
Tears For Fears
Joe Jackson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is the best known international hit single from A Flock of Seagulls. They are known for their unique style, which has been parodied over the years.

"Don't You Want Me" is by ___________.
The Vapors
Blondie
Eurythmics
The Human League
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Don't You Want Me" is the best known and most successful single of the band The Human League. It has sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK since its 1981 release.

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Which band originally performed "Take On Me"?
David Bowie
a-ha
Prince
New Order
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Originally released in 1984, this international hit song became a smash largely due to its unique music video. This innovative music video combined rotoscoping and live action and won numerous awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.

"Hungry Like the Wolf" is by:
Thompson Twins
Devo
Duran Duran
Gary Numan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Duran Duran became an international sensation after this song's music video, which was filmed in the jungle of Sri Lanka, was played a lot on MTV. Released in 1982, the video won the first ever Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video in 1984.

Who sings "Whip It"?
Talk Talk
Naked Eyes
Devo
Adam Ant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Whip It" was a surprise international hit with nonsensical lyrics many people interpreted as being dirty, leading to a controversial music video. This was Devo's only song to break the top 40 on the Hot 100.

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Which band is behind "Blue Monday"?
New Order
The Vapors
The Police
Toto
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Originally released in 1983, this song is the best selling 12" single of all time and one of the most acclaimed songs ever. It charted highly around the world with every re-release.

Who sings "Shout"?
Devo
Tears For Fears
Culture Club
INXS
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Shout" is one of Tears For Fears' most successful songs. It was one of the biggest songs of 1985 and topped charts internationally.

"Brass in Pocket" is a __________ single.
The Pretenders
Gary Numan
Duran Duran
Pet Shop Boys
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1979 track charted around the world. It peaked at No. 1 on charts in the UK, South Africa, and Ireland.

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Who sings "She Blinded Me With Science?"
New Order
Blondie
Thomas Dolby
Psychedelic Furs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thomas Dolby is considered to a one-hit wonder in the US, because this is his most popular and commercially successful song by far. It was released in 1982.

"Ashes to Ashes" is by:
Blondie
XTC
David Bowie
Simple Minds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Released in 1980, this song charted around the world but only reached No. 1 in the UK. At the time its music video, which David Bowie co-directed, was the most expensive one ever made.

Who sings "Rock Lobster"?
Elvis Costello
The Police
Gary Numan
The B-52's
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Released in 1978, this song became a No. 1 hit in Canada. This song has been referenced in pop culture throughout the years, most famously on a "Family Guy" episode.

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Which band is known for the song "Need You Tonight"?
INXS
Devo
Adam And the Ants
The Cure
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also charted highly around the world. Its funky electronic sound is different from most of INXS's other material.

"Cars" is by:
Gary Numan
New Order
Depeche Mode
The Psychedelic Furs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Cars" was a 1979 single by Gary Numan. Despite it charting highly internationally, Numan has described the song as "average."

Who is behind "Stand And Deliver"?
David Bowie
Adam And the Ants
Nik Kershaw
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1981 track has sold more than 1 million copies in the UK. The iconic music video features Adam Ant as a glamorous highwayman.

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"Love My Way" is by:
Men At Work
Soft Cell
ABC
The Psychedelic Furs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

1982's "Love My Way" charted in the UK, US, New Zealand,and Australia. It has been featured in numerous movies and video games over the years.

_____________ sing "Shake It Up."
Gary Numan
The Cars
Dead Or Alive
A Flock Of Seagulls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Shake It Up" is a single off of the 1981 The Cars album of the same name. It's one of the band's most popular songs ever in the US, peaking No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Who sings "You Spin Me 'Round (Like A Record)"?
The Dream Academy
Falco
Roxy Music
Dead or Alive
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song charted around the world, reaching No. 1 in UK and Canada after its original 1984 release. It has been re-released several times over the years and charted each time.

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"The Safety Dance" is by:
Men Without Hats
Culture Club
INXS
Duran Duran
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1983 song was written by the lead singer of Men Without Hats after he was ejected from a club for pogoing. It topped the Billboard Dance Chart in America.

Who is behind "Karma Chameleon"?
INXS
David Bowie
Culture Club
The Human League
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1983 song topped charts around the world, in over a dozen countries. It has sold over 5 million copies globally, making it one of the best selling global singles ever recorded.

"Video Killed the Radio Star" is by:
The Cars
The Vapors
Eurythmics
The Buggles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The music video for this 1979 track was the first ever shown on MTV in the US on Aug . 1, 1981. It topped charts in over a dozen countries.

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Who sings "Just Can't Get Enough"?
Gary Numan
Depeche Mode
Adam and the Ants
Blondie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1981 song was the first Depeche Mode single released in the US. In 2009, it was turned into a soccer chant.

"The Cutter" is by:
The Pretenders
Echo & The Bunnymen
New Order
Frankie goes to Hollywood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Echo & the Bunnymen came into the mainstream with their 1983 Top 10 UK hit "The Cutter." It also charted in New Zealand and Australia.

Who sings "Mexican Radio"?
Culture Club
Wall of Voodoo
The Tubes
The Fixx
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1983 single charted in a few countries. The highest it reached was no 18 in Canada.

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Who is behind "Fade to Grey"?
The Go-Go's
The Pretenders
Echo & the Bunnymen
Visage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1980 single was Visage's most successful. It reached no. 1 in both Germany and Switzerland.

Who sings "West End Girls"?
David Bowie
Talking Heads
The Cars
Pet Shop Boys
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1984 single hit no. 1 in both the US and the UK. It was inspired by both hip-hop and T.S. Eliot's Poem "The Wasteland."

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