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!
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."
Cutting Crew scored a major hit with "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" off their 1986 debut album "Broadcast."
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."
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Almond and Soft Cell hit No. 1 in 17 countries with their 1981 song "Tainted Love."
Frankie Goes to Hollywood scored their biggest hit ever with the 1984 No. 1 song "Relax."
Sembello's song "Maniac" was written about a psycho cat killer, but the lyrics were later changed to fit the wild dancing in "Flashdance."
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The Nena song — later recorded in English as "99 Red Balloons" — was written as a protest against the Cold War.
The two bands joined forces to form Quarterflash, which scored a hit with "Harden My Heart" in 1981.
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.
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Bobby McFerrin scored his biggest hit with "Don't Worry, Be Happy "off his 1988 album "Simple Pleasures."
Men Without Hats scored a massive hit with "The Safety Dance," a song off of their 1981 debut album.
Back when MTV played music videos, the very first one they played was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles.
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Kajagoogoo won fans with the 1983 hit "Too Shy." Vocalist Chris Hamill later sang the theme song for "The NeverEnding Story."
Thanks to heavy MTV airplay in 1983, Madness scored a top ten hit with "Our House."
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."
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Devo soared up the charts with their song "Whip It" from their 1980 debut album "Freedom of Choice."
Bow Wow Wow hit No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1982 with the cheerful "I Want Candy."
"Cars" from the album "The Pleasure Principle" was a top ten hit for Gary Numan after it was released in 1979.
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Glam rock group Twisted Sister started off as Silver Star before hitting it big with the song "We're Not Gonna Take It."
Modern English broke the Top 10 with the 1983 song "I Melt With You," which was later featured in the movie "Valley Girl."
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.
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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.
"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.
A Flock of Seagulls ran away with the top spot on the music charts in the summer of 1982 with "I Ran."
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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."
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.
Animotion scored a top ten with "Obsession." Just four months later, their follow up "Let Him Go" barely made it into the Top 40.
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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."
Though Basil choreographed the 1968 movie "Head" for the band, the song was originally called "Kitty" and had nothing to do with Dolenz.
Rob Base and E-Z Rock mixed hip-hop and dance house sounds to create the 1988 smash "It Takes Two."
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