Quizzes

Music of the 1980s

Whether you danced through it or simply remember the tunes on the radio, this quiz will put your memory to the test.

Shai K. 6/30/2026

Get ready to rewind to one of the most colorful decades in music history. The 1980s gave us big hair, bold synthesizers, and the dawn of the music video, all set to a soundtrack we still love today. From the King of Pop and the Queen of Pop to power ballads, new wave, and the birth of MTV, this was a decade that knew how to make an entrance. Whether you danced through it or simply remember the tunes on the radio, this quiz will put your memory to the test.

Michael Jackson's 1982 album, the best-selling album of all time, was titled what?

Off the Wall

Thriller

Bad

Dangerous

Bruce Springsteen, nicknamed "The Boss," released which blockbuster album in 1984?

Born in the U.S.A.

Born to Run

Nebraska

The River

The British duo Wham! featured which singer who later went solo?

Elton John

George Michael

Rod Stewart

Boy George

The band Toto had a 1982 hit named after which continent?

Africa

Asia

Europe

America

"Every Breath You Take" (1983) was a huge hit for which band?

The Clash

The Police

The Cure

Dire Straits had a 1985 hit, with an early computer-animated video, called what?

Sultans of Swing

Money for Nothing

Money

Walk of Life

Cyndi Lauper's tender 1984 ballad was titled what?

True Colors

Time After Time

Eternal Flame

Open Arms

Prince's backing band on "Purple Rain" was known by what name?

The E Street Band

The Revolution

The Heartbreakers

The Wailers

Guns N' Roses' 1987 debut album, featuring "Sweet Child o' Mine," was titled what?

Use Your Illusion

Appetite for Destruction

Slippery When Wet

Hysteria

Paul Simon's acclaimed 1986 album, recorded with South African musicians, was called what?

Brothers in Arms

Graceland

Tunnel of Love

Born in the U.S.A.

The Norwegian band a-ha had a 1985 smash, famous for its sketch-animation video. What was the song?

Tarzan Boy

Take On Me

Sunglasses at Night

Major Tom

Lionel Richie had a number-one hit in 1984 with which ballad?

Hello

Careless Whisper

Time After Time

Against All Odds

The 1985 song "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News appeared in which hit film?

A) Ghostbusters

Back to the Future

The Breakfast Club

Footloose

Which Australian band had a 1982 worldwide hit with "Down Under"?

INXS

Midnight Oil

Men at Work

AC/DC

The 1981 ballad "Endless Love" was a duet between Lionel Richie and which star?

Donna Summer

Diana Ross

Whitney Houston

Tina Turner

Room for Improvement

Well, it seems a few of these tunes faded out before you could name them, and that is perfectly alright. The 1980s packed an astonishing amount of music into ten short years, with new stars and styles arriving almost weekly. The wonderful thing is that these songs are only a click away, ready to be rediscovered. Why not put on a classic 80s playlist, let the memories flood back, and give this quiz another spin? You may surprise yourself next time. Thanks for playing along with us today!

Music Aficionado!

Nicely done! You clearly remember the sounds of the 80s, from the chart-toppers to a few of the deeper cuts. You can tell your Madonna from your Cyndi Lauper and your power ballads from your new wave, and many of these songs are old friends. A few of the trickier ones slipped past you, but that is no surprise, as the decade was packed with talent. With another listen or two, you would ace it. A toe-tapping result to be proud of!

You're a Star!

Outstanding! You are a true child of the 80s, and it shows. From the biggest superstars to the bands that defined new wave and rock, you breezed through this quiz without missing a beat. The albums, the one-hit wonders, the movie themes, none of them caught you off guard. You clearly hold this golden decade of music close to your heart, and your knowledge does it full justice. Take a well earned bow, crank up your favorite track, because this was a chart-topping performance from start to finish!