Here’s a fun feature to complement another music feature, such as Throwback Thursdays or Feature: 5 O’Clock Flashback. The 80s Pop Quiz is a trivia game that can be adapted to any era. You could just as easily make it the 90s quiz, etc.
Before you begin, follow the guidelines for playing games in the Game Strategy section here.
Then, choose the best method to play this game based on your show and how you’ll use the game.
80s Pop Quiz
The feature is exactly as the title indicates: It is a simple trivia game based on a theme. Follow the guidelines for playing in the Pop Quiz Game here.
Be creative in developing the game. It’s fine to ask general pop culture questions, but you can adapt the 80s Pop Quiz to virtually any theme. For example, make it artist-specific to celebrate their birthday, a concert, or a special event.
Best Practices
Questions should be somewhat challenging but easy enough for everyone to at least guess.Â
- For more difficult questions, offer a multiple-choice option.Â
- This game can stand independently but works best as part of a music-based feature (like the 80s at Noon) to complement a strategic music position.
- It’s a nice touch to make the last question about an artist or song, then play that song coming out of the feature.
- Promote it online! Post the questions and answers each day on a branded landing page on your website. When you have accumulated 50 questions, turn the collection into a more formal quiz, similar to the example below. Once another 50 questions are collected, update the big quiz!
Music Questions
“Take On Me” is a song by________? A-ha/
Who does the number 867-5309 belong to? Jenny
The lead singer of the Culture Club is_________? Boy George
What is Blondie’s real name? Debbie Harry
Gargamel’s trusty feline sidekick is________? Azriel
Who replaced David Lee Roth as the lead singer in Van Halen? Sammy Hagar
Who wanted us to “Whip It”? Devo.
What was “Weird” Al Yankovic’s hit song that parodied a #1 Michael Jackson hit? Eat It.
Who sang Every Rose Has Its Thorn? Poison
What is REM’s first line of the song “It’s the End of the World”? That’s great, and it starts with an earthquake, Birds and snakes, and an airplane.
Who sang “Puttin’ On The Ritz”? Taco
Who sang “Celebration”? Kool and the Gang
Other than George Michael, name the other member of Wham! Andrew Ridgley.
Name 3 songs from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album.
Name 3 songs off of Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” album
Who sang You Give Love A Bad Name? Bon Jovi.
Which Madonna song got her in trouble with the catholic church? Like a Virgin (you might also accept Papa Don’t Preach)
What is the name of the guitar player in U2? The Edge.
Spandau Ballet is a) a popular dance from the 80s, b) an 80’s rock group, and c) a garment that ballet dancers wear. B
Who is the drummer for Genesis? Phil Collins.
Movies
The movies Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Indiana Jones and the Temple Doom, and The Karate Kid all came out in what year? 1984
Name two movies Anthony Michael Hall was in the 80s. Six Pack, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Out of Bounds, Johnny Be Good.
What is Ferris Bueller’s best friend’s name? Cameron Frye
What were the names of the two rich guys in “Pretty in Pink”? Blaine and Stephan.
Who was the male lead in Tron? Jeff Bridges
Name three movies featuring Molly Ringwald from the 80s. Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc.
Name the most famous movie featuring Jennifer Beals from the 80s. Flashdance
Who played Merlin in Top Gun? Tim Robbins
Name 2 80s movies Madonna was in. Vision Quest, Desperately Seeking Susan Susan, Shanghai Surprise Gloria Tatlock Actress, Who’s That Girl, Bloodhounds of Broadway
What movie was the song “In Your Eyes” in? Say Anything.
Name 2 movies Kevin Bacon was in the 80s. Hero at Large, Friday the 13th, Only When I Laugh, Diner, Forty Deuce, Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, Footloose, The Little Sister Probation Officer, Quicksilver, White Water Summer, End of the Line
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, She’s Having a Baby, Criminal Law, The Big Picture
Who played Axel Foley? Eddie Murphy.
Name two movies Kenny Loggins wrote the main theme for. Caddyshack, Footloose, Top Gun.
Television
Name two crew members of The Love Boat. Captain Stubing, Isaac, Gopher, Doc Bricker, Julie, Vicki.
Name one of Alex P. Keaton’s siblings. Malory, Jennifer, and Andy.
Jo and Blair are on which 80s TV show? The Facts Of Life
Which movie does “High Tower” belong to? Police Academy
Finish the title of this popular 80’s TV show: “You can’t do that______” On Television. Nickelodeon (Alanis Morrissette got her start on this show).
Who got into their car through the windows? The Dukes of Hazard
Name 3 Scooby-Doo characters. Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne & Velma
What does K.I.T.T. stand for? Knight Industries Two Thousand
Name three members of the A-Team. BA Barackus, Face, Murdock, Hannibal.
General Questions
Name two most important Corey’s in the 80s are________? Corey Haim and Corey Feldman (bonus points if you can name a movie they starred in together…..The Lost Boys, License to Drive, etc…..). You could also accept Corey Hart.
Who was in the main event at the 1st Wrestlemania? Hulk Hogan
Complete this phrase “Now I know, and knowing_______?” …is half the battle” (G.I.Joe)
Who was He-Man’s nemesis? Skelator
What is an Atari? Video game system
Who was the president for most of the decade? Ronald Reagan
Scoring
If you post the entire 80s Pop Quiz online, here’s a clever scoring scale to borrow:
0-19: Did your mother let you eat too many Pop Rocks as a child? Did all that Aqua Net affect your brain? Some of those questions were SO easy!
20-29: Nice try, but maybe you should rent the Wedding Singer and catch up on some of the questions you missed!
30-39: Okay, so you don’t know everything about the ’80s, but at least you can say you’ve watched each Rob Lowe movie at least 10 times!
40-49: You’re a totally rad 80’s trivia buff! You may know absolutely nothing about the ’90s, but at least you can name every member of The Brat Pack!
50: Stop it! Nobody gets 50.
